Paulicianism was a Gnostic and Manichaean Christian sect that florished between 650 and 872 in Anatolia, outgoing from Armenia and the Eastern Themes of the Byzantine Empire. Gnosticism is a blanket term for various religions and sects most prominent in the first few centuries A.D. General characteristics The word gnosticism comes from the Greek word for knowledge, gnosis (γνῶσις), referring to the idea that there is special, hidden mysticism (esoteric knowledge) that only a few possess. ... Manichaeism was one of the major ancient religions. ... As a noun, Christian is an appellation and moniker deriving from the appellation Christ, which many people associate exclusively with Jesus of Nazareth. ... A sect is a small religious or political group that has branched off from a larger established group. ... Events Arab conquest of Persia, establishment of Islam as state religion Hindu empire in Sumatra Croats and Serbs occupy Bosnia Khazars conquer Great Bulgarian Empire in southern Russia building of St. ... Events Battle of Hafrsfjord in Norway, Harald Finehair first king of Norway. ... Asia Minor lies east of the Bosporus, between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. ... Themes (singular thema) were administrative units of land in the Byzantine Empire. ... Byzantine Empire (Greek: Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων) is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ...

The adherents of the sect called themselves Christians. The name Paulicians was given by others, derived from their respect for the apostle Paul, rather than from their third leader, the Armenian Paul, as Photius and Petrus Siculus affirm. Paulicians deduced that Jesus is not the son of Mary. They honoured the Gospel According to Luke and the Letters of St. Paul and rejected the Old Testament and the Letters of St. Peter. The Twelve Apostles (in Koine Greek απόστολος apostolos [1], someone sent forth/sent out, an emissary) were probably Galilean Jewish men (10 names are Aramaic, 4 names are Greek) chosen from among the disciples, who were sent forth by Jesus of Nazareth to preach the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles... An early portrait of the Apostle Paul. ... Photius (b. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth; for other uses, see Jesus (disambiguation). ... Saint Mary and Saint Mary the Virgin both redirect here. ... The Gospel of Luke is the third of the four canonical Gospels of the New Testament, which tell the story of Jesus life, death, and resurrection. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Note: Judaism commonly uses the term Tanakh, but not Old Testament, because it does not recognize the concept of a New Testament. ... Petrus, by Francesco del Cossa Saint Peter, also known as Peter, Simon ben Jonah/BarJonah, Simon Peter, Cephas and Kepha—original name Simon or Simeon (Acts 15:14)—was one of the twelve original disciples or apostles of Jesus. ...

History

The founder of the sect was Constantine-Silvanus, who hailed from Mananalis, a dualistic community near Samosata, and was a strong Christian. He studied the Gospels and Epistles, combined dualistic and Christian doctrines, and, upon the basis of the former, vigorously opposed the formalism of the church. Regarding himself as called upon to restore the pure Christianity of Paul, he adopted the name Silvanus, one of Paul's disciples, and about the year 656 founded his first congregation at Kibossa in Armenia. Twenty-seven years later he was stoned to death by order of the emperor. Simeon-Titus, originally plain Simeon, the court official who executed the order, was himself converted, and, adopting the name Titus, became Constantine's successor, but was burned to death in 690 (the punishment pronounced upon the Manichaeans). Constantine-Silvanus († 684) was the founder of the Paulicians. ... Samosata, meaning sun, was an ancient city whose ruins still exist at the modern Turkish city of Samsat. ... For the genre of Christian-themed music, see gospel music. ... The word epistle is from the Greek word epistolos which means a written letter addressed to a recipient or recipients, perhaps part of exchanged correspondence. ... Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the life, teachings, and actions of Jesus, the Christ, as recounted in the New Testament. ... Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the life, teachings, and actions of Jesus, the Christ, as recounted in the New Testament. ... Silas or Silvanus (flourished 1st century) was an early Christian who was a companion of Paul and Peter. ... Centuries: 6th century 7th century 8th century Decades: 610s - 620s - 630s - 640s - 650s - 660s - 670s - 680s - 690s - 700s - 710s Years: 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 Events: The Synod of Whitby Categories: 660s ... Burning of two sodomites at the stake outside Zürich, 1482 (Spiezer Schilling) Execution by burning has a long history as a method of punishment for crimes such as treason and for other unpopular acts such as heresy and the practice of witchcraft. ... Events Beginning of Wu Zetians Zhou Dynasty in China. ... Manichean priests, writing at their desk, with panel inscription in Sogdian. ...

The adherents of the sect fled, with an Armenian named Paul as their head fled to Episparis. The sect went into hiding. Paul died in 715, leaving two sons, Gegnaesius (whom he had appointed his successor) and Theodore. The latter, giving out that he had received the Holy Ghost, rose up against Gegnaesius, but was unsuccessful. Gegnaesius was taken to Constantinople, appeared before Emperor Leo III, was declared innocent of heresy, returned to Episparis, but, fearing danger, went with his adherents to Mananalis. His death (in 745) was the occasion of a division in the sect; Zacharias and Joseph being the leaders of the two parties. The latter had the larger following and was succeeded by Baanies, 775. The sect grew in spite of persecution, receiving additions from the opponents of image-worship. In the middle of the 8th century the emperor Constantine Copronymus settled a number of Armenian Paulicians in Thrace. These were noted heretics and were persecuted by the Greek Church with fire and sword. Several notable people were called by the single name Paul: Saint Paul for a disambiguation page. ... Events August 11 - Germanus is translated from the bishopric of Cyzicus to the Patriarch of Constantinople Umayyad caliph al-Walid I ibn Abd al-Malik succeeded by Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik End of the reign of Empress Gemmei of Japan, she is succeeded by Empress Gensho. ... Theodore, or the Latin equivalent Theodorus, can refer to: Theodorus of Cyrene a mathematician from Greek antiquity Theodore of Amasea, a Christian saint Theodore the Studite, a saint of the Eastern Orthodox Church Pope Theodore I, Pope from 642 to 649 Theodore, Syrian Patriarch of Antioch from 649 to 667... Map of Constantinople. ... Leo III (disambiguation). ... Events Births November 10 - Musa al-Kazim, Shia Imam (d. ... In the Gospel Zacharias (common modern English spelling: Zechariah), spoken of in the Gospel according to Luke 1:5-25, 39-40, 57-79, 3:2, was a priest of the course of Abia (alternative spelling: Abijah) during the reign of King Herod the Great of Judaea and became known... Joseph is a given name originating from Hebrew, recorded in the Hebrew Bible, as יוֹסֵף, Standard Hebrew Yosef, and Tiberian Hebrew YôsÄ“pÌ„. In Arabic, including in the Quran, the name is spelt يوسف or YÅ«suf. ... Events Leo IV succeeds Constantine V as Byzantine Emperor. ... (7th century — 8th century — 9th century — other centuries) Events The Iberian peninsula is taken by Arab and Berber Muslims, thus ending the Visigothic rule, and starting almost 8 centuries of Muslim presence there. ... Constantine V Copronymus (The Dung-named) was Byzantine emperor from 741 to 775. ... Thrace (Greek Θρᾴκη, ThrákÄ“, Bulgarian Тракия, Trakija, Turkish Trakya; Latin: Thracia or Threcia) is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe spread over southern Bulgaria, northeastern Greece (Western Thrace), and European Turkey. ...

Baanes, an immoral man, was supplanted by Sergius-Tychicus, 801, who was very active for thirty-four years, and received into the number of the saints. He expanded the sect into Cilicia and Asia Minor. His activity was the occasion of renewed persecutions on the part of Emperor Michael I Rhangabes and Leo V. Obliged to flee, Sergius and his followers settled at Argaum, in that part of Armenia which was under the control of the Saracens. At the death of Sergius, the control of the sect was divided between several leaders. The empress Theodora killed, drowned or hanged no fewer than 100,000 Paulicians in Grecian Armenia. Events December 28 - Louis the Vrome occupies Barcelona. ... Cilicia as Roman province, 120 AD In Antiquity, Cilicia (Ki-LIK-ya) was a region, and often a political unit, on the southeastern coast of Asia Minor (modern Turkey), north of Cyprus. ... Anatolia (Greek: ανατολη anatole, rising of the sun or East; compare Orient and Levant, by popular etymology Turkish Anadolu to ana mother and dolu filled), also called by the Latin name of Asia Minor, is a region of Southwest Asia which corresponds today to the Asian portion of Turkey. ... Michael I on a contemporary coin Michael I Rhangabes, an obscure nobleman who had married Procopia, the daughter of Nicephorus I, and been made master of the palace. ... This article is about the Byzantine Emperor. ... Argaon ( or Adgaon ) is a village located near Akot in Akola District of Maharashtra, India, 32 mi north of Akola. ... For the rugby club Saracens see Saracens (rugby club) The term Saracen comes from Greek sarakenoi. ... Theodora was the wife of the Byzantine emperor Theophilus. ...

Under Karbeas, who fled with the residue of the sect, two fortified cities were built, Tephrica (now Divrigi) and Amara (now Amran Köyü). His successor, Chrysocheres, devastated many cities; in 867 advanced as far as Ephesus, and took many priests prisoners. Under Karbeas and Chrysocheir the number and power of the Paulicians were greatest. Events September - Basil I becomes sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire. ... Ephesus ( Turkish: Efes, Greek: Έφεσσος; see also List of traditional Greek place names) was one of the great cities of the Ionian Greeks in Asia Minor, located in Lydia where the Cayster river flows into the Aegean Sea (in modern day Turkey). ...

In 868 the emperor, Basil I, despatched Petrus Siculus to arrange for their exchange. His sojourn of nine months among the Paulicians gave him an opportunity to collect many facts, which he preserved in his ..." History of the empty and vain heresy of the Manichæans, otherwise called Paulicians"). The propositions of peace were not accepted, the war was renewed, Chrysocheres killed and the military power of Paulicians was broken (872). Events 11 May: Printing of The Diamond Sutra, the oldest dated printed book. ... Basil, his son Constantine, and his second wife, emperess Eudoxia Ingerina. ... Events Battle of Hafrsfjord in Norway, Harald Finehair first king of Norway. ...

In 970 the emperor John Tzimisces, himself of Armenian origin, transplanted no less than 200,000 Armenian Paulicians to Europe and settled them in the neighbourhood of Philippopolis in Thrace, which henceforth became the centre of a far-reaching propaganda. Settled along the Balkans as a kind of bulwark against the invading Bulgarians, the Armenians on the contrary soon fraternized with the newcomers, whom they converted to their own views; even a prince of the Bulgarians adopted their teaching. Events Major volcano eruption in Mashu Japan Devastating decade long famine begins in France Byzantine Emperor John I successfully defends the Eastern Roman Empire from massive barbarian invasion Construction completed on Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo, worlds oldest Islamic university Births Leif Ericson, Norse explorer Seyyed Razi, important Muslim... John I, last name Kourkouas and surnamed Tzimisces (Greek: Ioannes Tzimisces Kourkouas, written Ιωάννης «Τζιμισκής» Κουρκούας), lived c. ... Ancient Theater, Plovdiv International Fair, Plovdiv Plovdiv is a city in Bulgaria and the capital of the Plovdiv Oblast (district). ... Thrace (Greek Θρᾴκη, ThrákÄ“, Bulgarian Тракия, Trakija, Turkish Trakya; Latin: Thracia or Threcia) is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe spread over southern Bulgaria, northeastern Greece (Western Thrace), and European Turkey. ...

References

• Conybeare, F. G. The Key of Thruth, 1898.
• R. M. Bartikian: "Quellen zum Studium der Geschichte der paulikianischen Bewegung." (Eriwan 1961, in armenischer Sprache).
• A. Lombard: Pauliciens, Bulgares et Bons-hommes. Geneva 1879
• Herzog: "Paulicians". In Philip Schaff (ed.): A Religious Encyclopaedia or Dictionary of Biblical, Historical, Doctrinal, and Practical Theology, 3rd edn, Vol. 2. Toronto, New York & London: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1894. pp. 1776-1777.
• Kurkjian, Vahan M., A History of Armenia (Chapter 37, The Paulikians and the Tondrakians), New York, 1959, 526 pp.
• Nina G. Garsoian: The Paulician Heresy. A Study in the Origin and Development of Paulicianism in Armenia and the Eastern Provinces of the Byzantine Empire. Publications in Near and Middle East Studies. Columbia University, Series A 6. The Hague: Mouton, 1967, 296 pp.
• Edouard Selian: Le dialect Paulicien. In: The Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Armenian Linguistics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 1995. Publisher: Caravan books, Delmar, New York, 1996, 408 pp.

See also

• Albigensians
• Bogomilism
• Cathars