Isbraniki

Isbraniki a sect of Russian dissenters, which arose about the middle of the 16th century. The name which they assumed means the company of the elect, but they were reckoned by the adherents of the established religion among the Raskolniks (q.v.) or Schismatics. The cause of their separation was a difficulty concerning the revision of the church books. These books were printed in 1562, under the czar, John Basilides, from manuscript copies, which, being considered incorrect, were somewhat altered in their printed form. The changes introduced were regarded by some as teaching unsound doctrine, and a sect arose who adhered to the former books, and called themselves Starovertsi, or believers in the old faith. These dissenters, however, were comparatively few in number till about the middle of the following century, when, in consequence of a revision of the church books by the patriarch Nikon, the cry of unsound doctrine was again raised, and the number of dissenters increased. This sect was tolerated by the state under Alexander I.