GIUDAIZZANTI. — This was the name given in Russia toward the end of the 15th century (1487–1503) to the deniers of the Trinity, who were especially numerous at Novgorod but also present at the court of the Grand Duke of Moscow, GIOVANNI III (1462–1505). They may have arrived with the wife of his son, whom he had by his marriage to HELENA, a native of Moldavia, while those at Novgorod spread as far as Kiev and then into the Balkans.
Their books were largely the work of Jews, such as the *Logica* of Aristotle, which bears the influence of MOSES MAIMONIDES, or the astrological work *Le sei ali* [The Six Wings], which goes back to the French Jew BONFILS of Tarascon. They also made use of cabalistic writings. Their aim was to obtain direct translations from Hebrew of the Sacred Books into Old Slavonic, which at the time was a great novelty. Thus the G. contributed something original to Russian culture. GENNADIUS (v.), Archbishop of Novgorod, immediately denounced the G. to the Metropolitan of Moscow, but did not succeed in having his strict methods accepted until the third Synod (1504), which was held against the G. and in which their leaders were condemned to death. GENNADIUS was supported by JOSEPH of Volokolamsk, who in turn was opposed by certain circles in Moscow and by some hermits living near the River Sorus, notably NILUS of SORSK.
The Russian Church rejected, along with the heresies of the G., their cultural novelties. It is possible, however, that the translation of the Bible undertaken by GENNADIUS was due to the work of the G. The victory over them also meant a stricter isolation of Russia from the West.