RUSSIAN SECTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 291, 27 June 1857, Page 8

RUSSIAN SECTS.

BARBAROUS CEREMONIES.

The Self-Immolators : The doctrines of the first class of this -sect are quite obscure ; it is only occasionally some horrible fact comes to light which reveals their continued existence ; this occurs nearly every year, and in all parts of the Empire, but particularly in the north, in Siberia, the government of Saratof, and elsewhere. A large deep hole is dug in the earth with peculiar and solemn ceremonies, and is surrounded with straw, wood, and other infiammable materials, then a small congregation of the fanatics— twenty, thirty, fifty, or a hundred — leap into the hole together, set fire to the fuel on all sides with the accompaniment of wild songs, and burn themselves to death with a stoical indifference. Sometimes they will assemble in a house, which they have previously surrounded with heaps of straw, and then set fire to it. The neighbours collect around, but no one interferes, for the act is considered sacred, and these fanatics are receiving the baptism of fire. The authorities and police hear nothing of the affair until long after it has taken place, and it is too late to interfere.

The Eunuchs: This sect does not believe in the resurrection of the body ; they recognize no sanctity of the Sunday, they have a sort of mysterious communion in a' kind of bread, which is consecrated by being put into the grave of one of their mystical pereonages, and of which each, of them eats a mors,el on the first day in Easter, the only holiday in the year. They generally assemble in the night between Saturday and Sunday, .and go through all

kinds of strange secret ceremonies. • • • The members of this sect have secret signs by which they, reepgniseeach other ; one of -these consists inlaying a red -cloth upon the right knee, and striking it with the right hand. • • • A large portion of the jewellers and

goldsmiths in St. Petersburg;, Moscow,.. Rigo, Odessa, &c, belong ,, to thitf . sect. , They are ve"ry jßealotfß in making . eonyertS to their doc-trines,-and in performirig the operation alluded to ' upon their disciples^ They seek converts most frequently among. the soldiers, and pay large sums for- onej Often several thousand roubles. * . * "• Outwardly, arid at the first glance, the' abnormal, state of these people is not perceptible; the households, wives, children, 1 &c.* are all orderly arranged. The members of the sect actually marry, and it is only when they 1 hav'e^a son that they subject themselves to the operation ; most of the children, however, are said to spring frommeh and the yOung lads in the neighbourhood; That, however makes' no difference j the Skoptzi live very peaceably with their wives, and provide for their children like f e'a'l fathers.

The Scourgers :' Nothing certain is known of their doctrines and belief.. At their meetings, which take, place in rooms where no pictures are permitted, they jump about in circles and flagellate themselves. A vessel containing water stands in the middle, and at intervals they wet their heads with this, or drink the water out of their hands, until they fall down with fatigue.' Then convulsions often take place when the spirit moves them, and they begin to prophesy. On Easter night the Skoptzi and Khlisti all assemble for a great solemnity, the worship of ,the Mother of God. A virgin fifteen years of age, whom they have induced to act the part by tempting promises, is bound and placed in a tub of warm water ; some old women come and first make alargeincisioninthe left breast, then cut it off, and staunch the blood in a wonderfully short time. During the operation a mystical picture of the Holy Spirit is put into the victim's hand, in order that she may be absorbed in regarding it. The breast which has been removed is laid upon a plate and cut into small pieces, which are eaten by all the members of the sect present ; the girl in the tub is then raised upon an altar which stands near, and the whole congregation dance wildly round it, singing at the same time —

Po pliasakhom ! Up and dance ! Po garokhom ! Up and jump ! Na Sionskuyu Goru ! Toward Sion's hill ! The jumping grows madder and wilder; at last all the lights are suddenly extinguished, and horrible orgies commence. Among the Khlistovschina, and occasionally the Skoptzi, individuals are found who mortify the flesh, wear shirts of mail' or horsehair shirts upon their bare skin. • I saw one man — and I was told there are many — who wore upon his breast a cross, and on his back a picture, both of metal, the meaning of which I did not understand; they were suspended from a leathern strap round the neck, and united by two small chains under the arms; they had penetrated through the skin.