Bespopovtsy

Bespopovtsy (Russian: Безпоповцы, "priestless ones") are a branch of the Old Believers, a cluster of Russian religious groups that split from the official Orthodox Church after the Nikonian reforms of the 17th century. The Bespopovtsy emerged among communities that rejected the legitimacy of the reformist priesthood and episcopate, arguing that the true church should be led by lay believers and by senior lay elders rather than ordained clergy.

Beliefs and practices of the Bespopovtsy center on the rejection of a formal priestly hierarchy. They maintained the pre-reform Old Believer liturgy and church discipline but did not recognize the authority of ordained priests or bishops introduced after Nikon. Worship and rites were typically conducted by lay leaders or by designated elder figures within the community, rather than by a clergy in sacramental orders. This priestless approach varied in form among different Bespopovtsy groups, with some communities observing stricter lay-led arrangements and others adopting more flexible practices.

Historically, the Bespopovtsy faced persecution and surveillance from Russian authorities and from other Old Believer factions that accepted priests (the Popovtsy). Over time, their communities formed in various regions of Russia, especially in more remote areas, and some dispersed to diaspora settlements abroad. Today, Bespopovtsy remain a distinct current within the Old Believers, preserving secondarily the priestless model in many communities while existing alongside Popovtsy groups that maintain sacerdotal authority.