Editing Khlysts (section)

==Beliefs and practices==
{{Further|Baptism with the Holy Spirit}}
The Khlysty renounced priesthood, holy books and veneration of the saints (excluding the [[Theotokos]]). They believed in the possibility of direct communication with the [[Holy Spirit]] and of its embodiment in living people.<ref name=Clay70/> Each of their leaders was a "living god", and each congregation (or "ark") had its own "Christ" and "Mother of God", appointed by the overall leader of the sect.<ref name=File40/><ref>{{harvnb|Buss|2003|p=74}}</ref> Furthermore, they believed that the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]] could descend upon any one of them during the state of ecstasy which they attained during the ritual of ''radenie'' ("rejoicing").

This ritual, which formed the focus of their worship, took place on holy feast days. The congregation would gather during the evening at a prearranged location, such as a member's house. They would remove their outer clothing, and enter the sacred space dressed only in an undershirt. After a period of singing or chanting the [[Jesus Prayer]] ("Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner"), some of the worshippers would feel the Holy Spirit come upon them, and would begin dancing wildly, prophesying in [[Speaking in tongues|unintelligible language]]. This would continue for half an hour or more, until the dancers collapsed with exhaustion. Finally, they would share a sacramental meal of nuts, bread, pastry and [[kvass]].<ref>{{harvnb|Clay|1985|pp=88–91}}</ref>

The Khlysty practiced an extreme [[asceticism]], in order to prepare themselves for the reception of the Holy Spirit into their bodies. They abstained from alcohol, and often fasted for days or weeks at a time. Although marriage was permitted for practical purposes, "because the help of a wife was indispensable for a peasant", it was a sin to engage in sexual intercourse, even with one's own wife.<ref>{{harvnb|Buss|2003|pp=74–75}}</ref> Connected with this [[mortification of the flesh]] was the practice of [[self-flagellation]] which often accompanied the ''radenie'' rite.

Russian author [[Edvard Radzinsky]] has described a ''radenie'' ritual which he witnessed on the island of Chechen in 1964:<ref name=File41>{{harvnb|Radzinsky|2000|p=41}}</ref>

{{blockquote|In white flaxen shirts worn over naked bodies they went down into the cellar of a peasant lodge. There in the dry cellar they lit candles. They started to sing something sacred in the half-light – as was later explained, a verse from the Easter canon: "Seeing, we are gladdened, for Christ has risen." After that a little old man with joyful, light-coloured eyes – the local Christ – began to chant a ''Khlyst'' prayer in the flickering candlelight. And then with youthful energy he started to "rejoice", that is, to whirl wildly in place, crossing himself and continually whipping his body. The choir chanted prayers, their voices ever more savagely, ever more fervently and passionately praying, so that some of them were already screaming and sobbing. But at this point the old man stopped in his whirling and cried out wildly, "Brothers! Brothers! I feel it, the Holy Spirit! God is within me!" And he began to prophesy, shouting out incoherent sounds mixed into which were the words, "Oh, Spirit!" "Oh, God!" "Oh, Spirit Lord!" After that began the main communal rite of "rejoicing", or general whirling and dancing.}}

Radzinsky says that they referred to the whirling dance as "spiritual beer", on account of its intoxicating effect. He reports that after the dance had continued for some time, the worshippers fell to the floor: "And that was the end of it. But apparently only because I was present."<ref name=File41/> Radzinsky claims that in some arks, the Khlysts would at this point engage in "group sinning" – a frenzied sexual orgy, which they believed would purify them from the lusts of the flesh.<ref>{{harvnb|Radzinsky|2000|pp=41–2}}</ref> Similarly, [[C. L. Sulzberger]], in his book ''The Fall of Eagles'', writes that the Khlysty's "foremost idea was that salvation could be attained only by total repentance and that this became far more achievable for one who had truly transgressed. 'Sin in order that you may obtain forgiveness,' was the practical side of the Khlysty."<ref name=Sulzberger>{{harvnb|Sulzberger|1977|p=214}}</ref>

Other scholars have dismissed these rumours. [[Frederick Cornwallis Conybeare]], referencing a study by Karl Konrad Grass, writes:<ref>{{harvnb|Coneybeare|1921|page=353}}</ref>

{{blockquote|[The Khlysty] have been accused of ending their ''radenia'' or religious dances with wholesale debauchery, the lights being first put out. Grass examines the evidence very carefully and impartially, and rejects the story as calumny. The only thing that gives it colour is that often, when the ecstasies are over, the exhausted votaries drop down on the floor and sleep till dawn, the men on one side of the apartment, the women on the other. Their doing so, instead of going home at once, is a necessity dictated either by the climate or by fear of the Russian police, whose suspicions would be roused if they trooped home at a late hour.}}

Historian Joseph T. Fuhrmann claims that "splinter groups practiced 'holy intercourse,' but most khlysty were devout [[Pentecostalism|pentecostalists]] who condemned such behaviour."<ref>{{harvnb|Fuhrmann|1990|page=7}}</ref>