Editing Khlysts (section)

==Later history==
Around 1750, some doctrinal changes took place within the sect, and they became known as the [[Postniki]] ("Fasters"). The leaders of the sect were now seen as "personifications of Christ", rather than only playing host to his spirit. It was no longer considered possible for ordinary members to receive the Holy Spirit during ''radenie'', although the ritual still held a central position in their worship.<ref name=lane>{{harvnb|Lane|1978|pp=92–3}}</ref>

In 1840, a new splinter sect broke away from the Postniki. Calling themselves Israelites, they shortly afterwards split again into Old Israel and [[New Israel]]. The beliefs of the latter group departed considerably from the traditional teachings of the Khlysts,<ref name=lane/> and the sect still exists today in [[Uruguay]].<ref>{{harvnb|Shubin|2004|page=158}}</ref>

These schisms weakened the movement, and their numbers began to decline. By the start of the twentieth century, estimates of the Khlysty's numbers ranged at around one hundred thousand.<ref>{{harvnb|Etkind|2013|p=570}}</ref> Prior to the outbreak of [[World War I]], there were reported to be around 20,000 New Israelites, 15,000 Old Israelites and 3,000 Postniki in Russia. By the 1970s, there were only "a few isolated groups" remaining.<ref name=lane/>