Popovtsy

Popovtsy are one of the two main branches of the Old Believers, a movement that arose in Russia after the mid-17th-century liturgical reforms of Patriarch Nikon. The term, meaning “priests’ followers,” denotes their acceptance of ordained clergy and episcopal authority, in contrast to the Bespopovtsy, who rejected priestly ordination and hierarchical leadership.

Beliefs and practices: Popovtsy preserve the pre-reform liturgical tradition and sacraments administered by priests and bishops. They maintain a hierarchical church structure and canonical order, with regional variations in rites and customs. While their liturgical books and practices differ in places from the official church, they generally uphold priestly ordination and church authority as essential to sacramental life.

History: The split from the official Russian Orthodox Church occurred during Nikon’s reforms in the 1650s–1660s. Popovtsy formed autonomous parishes and networks that recognized bishops and priests within Old Believer communities. In the 18th century, the Belokrinitsky Monastery near Yaroslavl became a key center for Popovtsy in Russia, providing bishops who could ordain priests for Old Believer congregations. This established a lasting internal hierarchy distinct from Bespopovtsy. The movement also produced diaspora communities, notably the Lipovans who settled in the Danube region (Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Moldova) and other parts of Eastern Europe, as well as settlements in North America.

Today: Popovtsy remain a major branch of the Old Believers, with several independent groups and jurisdictions that preserve traditional rites, icons, and liturgical languages, while adapting to modern life. They are distinguished from Bespopovtsy by their retention of ordained clergy and hierarchical church organization.