DUKHOBORTZI. — The Dukhobortzi, or “spirit-wrestlers,” are one of the principal sects that arose in Russia. They are also called “molokani,” i.e., “milk-drinkers,” because they do not observe the abstinence from dairy products prescribed by the Church on certain days.
The origin of the sect is very obscure. It seems akin to that of the Quakers, having been introduced into Russia in 1740 by a Prussian Anabaptist. Toward the end of the 18th century the Dukhobortzi appear in Ukraine in the governments of Kharkov, Tambov, and Ekaterinoslav. Persecuted under Paul I (1798-1801), tolerated under Alexander I, and again persecuted under Nicholas I and his successors, they were forced to emigrate by the thousands, through the intervention of English Quakers, to the island of Cyprus and to Canada as early as 1898.
Like many other sects, they have merged with the Soviets, and this the more readily inasmuch as their social doctrine is communism. At present their numbers and condition are unknown.
Their doctrine is openly rationalistic, denying all Christian mysteries beginning with that of the Trinity. For them the Father is memory, the Son is reason, and the Holy Spirit is the will; and it is under this threefold aspect that God manifests Himself to the human soul.
The souls, created before the world, fell and were united to a body. They are destined to perpetual migrations. Of Holy Scripture they have retained only the *Psalms*, and the recitation of these is the principal act of their devotion. They themselves have composed a great number of them.