Filippians or Philippians (Russian: Филипповцы) was a soglasiye (confession, literally, "agreement") of the Bespopovtsy (the "priestless") strain of Old Believers. They detached themselves from Pomortsy under the leadership of a "teacher" Filipp at the beginning of the 18th century. Because of the repressions of the government, they started practicing self-immolation as a means for the "preservation of the faith". In the second half of the 18th century their fanaticism decreased, and several other confessions were spun off: Aaronovtsy (Aaron's confession), Shepherd's convefession (пастухово согласие), etc. In criminal proceedings, a confession is a document in which a suspect admits having committed a crime. ... Bespopovtsy (Russian: , priestless) is one of the two major strains of Old Believers, the one that rejects priests and a number of church rites, such as eucharist. ... A fragment of painting Boyarynya Morozova by Vasily Surikov depicting a defiant Old Believer arrested by Czarist authorities in 1671. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Pomorian Old-Orthodox Church. ... Immolation is destruction by fire, that is, burning something to destroy it. ... Fanaticism, from French fanatique or Latin fanaticus of a temple, inspired by a god. Fanatical character, spirit or conduct. ...