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900 - 10th century  

900 - 10th century  

The Gnostic social-religious movement and doctrine of Bogomilism originated in the time of Peter I of Bulgaria (927–969), alleged in the modern day to be a reaction against state and clerical oppression by the Byzantine church. It was an outcome of many factors that had arisen in the beginning of the 10th century, most probably in the region of Macedonia.

 

 

 

The Gnostic social-religious movement and doctrine of Bogomilism that originated in the time of Peter I of Bulgaria (927–969), is alleged in the modern day to be a reaction against state and clerical oppression by the Byzantine church. It was an outcome of many factors that had arisen in the beginning of the 10th century, most probably in the region of Macedonia.

In 970 the Byzantine emperor John I Tzimiskes transplanted 200,000 Armenian Paulicians to Europe and settled them in the neighborhood of Philippopolis (today's Plovdiv in Thrace). Bogomilism as an outcome of the many factors of unrest that had arisen in the beginning of the 10th century was also strongly influenced by the Paulicians who had been driven out of [[Armenia]]. The earliest description of the Bogomils is in a letter from Patriarch Theophylact of Bulgaria to Tsar Peter of Bulgaria.  

In 970 the Byzantine emperor John I Tzimiskes transplanted 200,000 Armenian Paulicians to Europe and settled them in the neighborhood of Philippopolis (today's Plovdiv in Thrace). Bogomilism as an outcome of the many factors of unrest that had arisen in the beginning of the 10th century was also strongly influenced by the Paulicians who had been driven out of [[Armenia]]. The earliest description of the Bogomils is in a letter from Patriarch Theophylact of Bulgaria to Tsar Peter of Bulgaria.  

Much of Bogomil literature has been lost or was destroyed by the contemporary Christian Churches. The main source of doctrinal information is the work of Euthymius Zigabenus, who says that they believe that God created man's soul but matter was the invention of Satan, God's older son, who in seducing Eve lost his creative power. Concerning the Bogomils, something can be gathered from the polemic ''Against the Newly-Appeared Heresy of the Bogomils'' written in Slavonic by Cosmas the Priest, a 10th-century Bulgarian official. The Slavonic sources are unanimous on the point that the teaching of the priest Bogomil was Manichaean. The names of Bogomil's pupils or "apostles", were said to be Mihail, Todur, Dobri, Stefan, Vasilie and Peter. Zealous missionaries carried the doctrines of Bogomil far and wide.  

Much of Bogomil literature has been lost or was destroyed by the contemporary Christian Churches. From the imperfect and conflicting data that is available, one undeniable result can be gathered that the Bogomils were gnostics, adoptionists and dualists. Their dualism was initially moderate (or "[[Monarchianism|monarchian]]").

 

The main source of doctrinal information is the work of Euthymius Zigabenus, who says that they believe that God created man's soul but matter was the invention of Satan, God's older son, who in seducing Eve lost his creative power. For Bogomils "the Logos was not the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Eternal Word incarnate, but merely the spoken word of God, shown in the oral teaching of Christ". Concerning the Bogomils themselves, something can be gathered from the polemic ''Against the Newly-Appeared Heresy of the Bogomils'' written in Slavonic by Cosmas the Priest, a 10th-century Bulgarian official. The Slavonic sources are unanimous on the point that the teaching of the priest Bogomil was Manichaean. The names of Bogomil's pupils or "apostles", were said to be Mihail, Todur, Dobri, Stefan, Vasilie and Peter. Zealous missionaries carried the doctrines of Bogomil far and wide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As there are no sources giving evidence of Bogomil persecution during the reign of Samuil of Bulgaria (976–1014) as he revolted against the authority of the Byzantine Empire, it is most probable that he relied on the popular support of the movement.

1000 - 11th century

1000 - 11th century

The state religion of the Uighur kingdom of Turkestan in Central Asia remained Manichaeism and this territory itself became part of the [[Islamic world when Turkestan was conquered. Around the year 1000, Islamic writers such as Ebn al-Nadim were writing about Manichaeism <ref>See Ebn al-Nadim, al-FEHREST iii. The Representation of Manicheism in the Fehrest.</ref>.

The state religion of the Uighur kingdom of Turkestan in Central Asia remained Manichaeism and this territory itself became part of the [[Islamic]] world when Turkestan was conquered. Around the year 1000, Islamic writers such as Ebn al-Nadim were writing about Manichaeism <ref>See Ebn al-Nadim, al-FEHREST iii. The Representation of Manicheism in the Fehrest.</ref>.  

 

The Bogomils first appeared in the tenth-eleventh century in the Balkans between about 1000 and 1400. They arose as Christian heretics who promulgated a neo-Gnostic [[Anarchism|anarchic]] dualist doctrine in Bulgaria, and spread throughout the Byzantine Empire.  

In 1004, scarcely 25 years after the introduction of Christianity into Kievan Rus (Ukraine), we hear of a priest Adrian teaching the same doctrines as the Bogomils. He was imprisoned by Leontius, Bishop of Kiev.  

In 1004, scarcely 25 years after the introduction of Christianity into Kievan Rus (Ukraine), we hear of a priest Adrian teaching the same doctrines as the Bogomils. He was imprisoned by Leontius, Bishop of Kiev.  

Their criticism of the church attracted the accusation of being ‘Manichaeans,’ an epithet derived from the writings of Augustine. The existence of Manichaeans in Europe was first reported in 1020. Many similar reports were to follow.  

Their criticism of the church attracted the accusation of being ‘Manichaeans,’ an epithet derived from the writings of Augustine. The existence of Manichaeans in Europe was first reported in 1020. Many similar reports were to follow.  

The religious distribution at the time of the East–West Schism of 1054 shows the Bogomils concentrated in the [[Balkans]].  

 

The religious distribution at the time of the East–West Schism of 1054 shows the Bogomils concentrated in the [[Balkans]].<ref>See [[Pentarchy]] and [[Petrine Primacy]], also [[Orthodox Church]].</ref>

Much may also be learned from the doctrines of the numerous ''variations'' of Bogomilism which spread in Medieval Kievan Rus' after the 11th century.

Much may also be learned from the doctrines of the numerous ''variations'' of Bogomilism which spread in Medieval Kievan Rus' after the 11th century.

Providing refuge to heretics, including bogomils, was a recurrent pretext for Hungarian rulers to declare crusades against Bosnia and extend their influence in the region. A first Hungarian complaint to the Pope was averted by the public abjuration of the Bosnian ruler Ban Kulin, close relative of Stefan Nemanja, in 1203.  

Providing refuge to heretics, including bogomils, was a recurrent pretext for Hungarian rulers to declare crusades against Bosnia and extend their influence in the region. A first Hungarian complaint to the Pope was averted by the public abjuration of the Bosnian ruler Ban Kulin, close relative of Stefan Nemanja, in 1203.  

When the Crusaders took Constantinople (1204), they found some Paulicians.  

When the Crusaders took Constantinople (1204), they found some Paulicians.  

Finally the church turned to its ultimate weapon, launching a crusade against the Cathars in Southern France from 1204, the same year as the beginning of the [[Franciscan|Franciscans founded 1207-08]]. Pope Innocent III officially in 1208 announced the ‘''Crusade against the Albigensians''’ (the synonym for Cathars). Thus there was a domestic crusade in Europe, between the fourth and fifth crusades against the [[Saracen]]s.  

Finally the church turned to its ultimate weapon, launching a crusade against the Cathars in Southern France from 1204, the same year as the beginning of the [[Franciscan|Franciscans founded 1207-08]]. Pope Innocent III officially in 1208 announced the ‘''Crusade against the Albigensians''’ (the synonym for Cathars). Thus there was a domestic crusade in Europe, between the fourth and fifth crusades against the [[Saracen]]s.  

A ''Synodikon'' from the year 1210 adds the names of Bogomil's pupils or "apostles", Mihail, Todur, Dobri, Stefan, Vasilie and Peter, saying that zealous missionaries carried their doctrines of Bogomilism far and wide.  

A ''Synodikon'' from the year 1210 adds the names of Bogomil's pupils or "apostles", Mihail, Todur, Dobri, Stefan, Vasilie and Peter, saying that zealous missionaries carried their doctrines of Bogomilism far and wide, deeply influencing the religious spirit of the nations and sowing the seeds of the [[Protestant Reformation]].

 

On the death of Kulin in 1216 a mission was sent to convert Bosnia to Rome but failed.  

A second Hungarian crusade against Bosnia on the pretext of bogomil heresy was launched in 1225, but failed.

A second Hungarian crusade against Bosnia on the pretext of bogomil heresy was launched in 1225, but failed.

The Cathars were often persecuted in horrifying ways by returned veteran Crusader princes and knights in defense of the Church against the poison of Catharism. The situation reached its nadir with the conquest of the fortress of Montségur in 1244, when 205 Cathar priests (''parfaits'' or ''perfecti'') died at the stake. The Cathars retreated into the [[Pyrenees]]. The Bogomils are identified with the Messalians in Slavonic documents from the 13th century.

The Cathars were often persecuted in horrifying ways by returned veteran Crusader princes and knights in defense of the Church against the poison of Catharism. The situation reached its nadir with the conquest of the fortress of Montségur in 1244, when 205 Cathar priests (''parfaits'' or ''perfecti'') died at the stake. The Cathars retreated into the [[Pyrenees]].  

 

In Slavonic documents from the 13th century the Bogomils are identified with the Messalians.

In 1254, rebelling against the Papal order to accept a Hungarian bishop, the Bosnian Church chose [[schism]] (autonomous but mainly following Orthodox doctrine).  

In 1252, Pope Innocent IV decided to put Bosnia's bishop under the Hungarian Kalocsa jurisdiction. This decision provoked the resistance of the Bosnian Christians, who refused to submit to the Hungarians and broke off their relations with Rome.  

The possibility that Manichean ideas reached the Bogomils in the Balkans through the Islamic expansion has been dismissed by some scholars. According to the ''Encyclopaedia of Islam'' (de Blois, p. 510a) this is highly improbable as conversions to Islam only started in the Balkans about 1260, and the main Ottoman colonization was between 1300-1400.

 

The possibility that Manichean ideas reached the Bogomils in the Balkans through the Islamic expansion has been dismissed by some scholars. According to the ''Encyclopaedia of Islam'' <ref>de Blois, p. 510a.</ref> this is highly improbable as conversions to Islam only started in the Balkans about 1260, and the main Ottoman colonization was between 1300-1400.

Under Byzantine and then later Ottoman rule, the Armenian Paulicians lived in relative safety in their ancient stronghold near Philippopolis, and further northward. Linguistically, they were assimilated into the Bulgarians, by whom they were called ''pavlikiani'' (the Byzantine Greek word for Paulician).

Under Byzantine and then later Ottoman rule, the Armenian Paulicians lived in relative safety in their ancient stronghold near Philippopolis, and further northward. Linguistically, they were assimilated into the Bulgarians, by whom they were called ''pavlikiani'' (the Byzantine Greek word for Paulician).

Due to the scarcity of documents after the Ottoman conquest, in the following centuries, the Bosnian Church and the heretical sect of the bogomils came to be identified with each other.  

Due to the scarcity of documents after the Ottoman conquest, in the following centuries, the Bosnian Church and the heretical sect of the bogomils came to be identified with each other.  

1300 - 14th century

1300 - 14th century

The last Cathars, a group in the caves of Lombrive, were not eliminated until 1330, when the only access to the caves was bricked over.

The last Cathars, a group in the caves of Lombrive, were not eliminated until 1330, when the only access to the caves was bricked over.

In spite of all measures of repression, the Gnostic social-religious movement and doctrine of the Bogomils remained strong and popular until the fall of the Second Bulgarian Empire in the end of the 14th century. Bogomilism was an outcome of many factors that had arisen in the beginning of the 10th century, most probably in the region of Macedonia. It was also strongly influenced by the Paulicians who had been driven out of Armenia.  

In spite of all measures of repression, the Gnostic social-religious movement and doctrine of the Bogomils remained strong and popular until the fall of the Second Bulgarian Empire in the end of the 14th century. According to the ''Encyclopaedia of Islam'' <ref>de Blois, p. 510a.</ref> ''en masse'' conversions of the Bogomils and Cathars to Islam occurred with the main Ottoman colonization between 1300-1400.

1400 - 15th century

1400 - 15th century

The Bogomils were still being persecuted in Bosnia in 1462. A year later, Bosnia was conquered by the [[Ottoman]]s, and the Bogomils apparently adopted [[Islam]], as they did elsewhere following Islamic conquests <ref>Bozoky</ref>.

The [[Inquisition]] reported the existence of a dualist sect in Bosnia in the late 15th century and called them "Bosnian heretics", but scholarly research suggests that this sect was most likely not the same as the Bosnian Church.  

The old Slavonic lists of forbidden books of the 15th and 16th century also give us a clue to the discovery of their heretical literature and of the means the Bogomils employed to carry on their teachings.

Bogomilism had been eradicated in Bulgaria, Rascia and Byzantium in the 13th century, but some smaller elements survived in Rascia's principality of Hum and Bosnia by embracing the eastern traditions of the Bosnian Church. The Hungarians undertook many crusades against the heretics in Bosnia, but toward the close of the 15th century, the conquest of that country by the Turks put an end to their persecution. The Bogomils were still being persecuted in Bosnia in 1462. A year later, Bosnia was conquered by the [[Ottoman]]s, the Ottoman Empire gained control of the region in 1463, and the Bogomils apparently adopted [[Islam]], as they did elsewhere following Islamic conquests <ref>Bozoky</ref>.

 

Few or no remnants of Bogomilism have survived in Bosnia. The surviving old Slavonic lists of forbidden books of the 15th and 16th century give us a clue to the discovery of Bogomil heretical literature and of the means the Bogomils had employed to carry on their teachings.  

1500 - 16th century

1500 - 16th century

1700 - 18th century

1700 - 18th century

1800 - 19th century

1800 - 19th century

1900 - 20th century

1900 - 20th century

2000 - 21st century  

2000 - 21st century  

   

   

 

 

 

Although Bogomils regarded themselves as "Trinitarian", [[anathema]]s against Bogomils (circa 1027) charge Bogomils with rejection of the Trinity.

Bogomilism was eradicated in Bulgaria, Rascia (one of Serbian medieval states) and Byzantium in the 13th century, but some smaller elements survived in Rascia's principality of Hum (present day - Herzegovina) and Bosnia by embracing eastern tradition of the Bosnian church [25] until the Ottoman Empire gained control of the region in 1463. Some scholars, who sought certain ideological backgrounds and justifications for their political narratives, argue that both Catholics and Orthodox persecuted the Bogomils as heretics and according to them, the pressures drew Bosnia to Bogomilism. Later, with the introduction of Ottoman rule, Bosnians (this is not an ethnic name but a regional one. The only ethnic names known from the contemporary sources in medieval Bosnia were "Serbs and Vlachs" [26] were often more likely to convert to Islam since they were not friends of either the Roman Catholic or Serb Orthodox churches.[citation needed]. These claims have been completely rejected today [27][28] as an anachronism from the Austro-Hungarian era. Although this narrative has been debunked, it continues to be emphasized by the Bosniak academic community.

From the imperfect and conflicting data that is available, one positive result can be gathered that the Bogomils were gnostics, adoptionists and dualists.[6]

Their dualism was initially moderate (or "monarchian"): according to their teachings, God created and rules the spiritual part of the world, and Satan the material, but Satan is ultimately inferior to God and his side by virtue of being God's son.[31] However, Bogomils were not quite free from the absolute dualism of Manichaeism and Paulicianism, and over time adopted an absolute position too, believing God and Satan as eternal opponents, similar to the one maintained by the posterior Cathars.[31]

The Bulgarian priest Jeremiah's "The Story of the Cross-tree" and "The Prayer against Fever"[32]

Bogomils accepted the four Gospels, fourteen Epistles of Paul, the three Epistles of John, James, Jude, and an Epistle to the Laodiceans, which they professed to have. They sowed the seeds of a rich, popular religious literature in the East as well as the West. The Historiated Bible, the Letter from Heaven, the Wanderings through Heaven and Hell, the numerous Adam and Cross legends, the religious poems of the "Kalēki perehozhie" and other similar productions owe their dissemination to a large extent to the activity of the Bogomils of Bulgaria, and their successors in other lands.[6]

Cosmology[edit]

In order to free Adam and his offspring, Michael was sent in the form of a man, becoming identified with Jesus Christ, and was "elected" by God after the baptism in the Jordan. When the Holy Ghost appeared in the shape of the dove, Jesus received power to break the covenant in the form of a clay tablet (hierographon) held by Satanail from Adam. He had now become the angel Michael in a human form, and as such he vanquished Satanail, and deprived him of the termination il (meaning God), in which his power resided. Satanail was thus transformed into Satan. However, through Satan's machinations the crucifixion took place, and Satan was the originator of the whole Orthodox community with its churches, vestments, ceremonies, sacraments and fasts, with its monks and priests. This world being the work of Satan, the perfect must eschew any and every excess of its pleasure, though not so far as asceticism.[6]  

They held the "Lord's Prayer" in high respect as the most potent weapon against Satan, and had a number of conjurations against "evil spirits". Each community had its own twelve "apostles", and women could be raised to the rank of "elect". The Bogomils wore garments like those of mendicant friars and were known as keen missionaries, travelling far and wide to propagate their doctrines. Healing the sick and exorcising the evil spirit, they traversed different countries and spread their apocryphal literature along with some of the books of the Old Testament, deeply influencing the religious spirit of the nations and preparing them for the Reformation.[6]

For Bogomils "the Logos was not the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Eternal Word incarnate, but merely the spoken word of God, shown in the oral teaching of Christ".[37] Although Bogomils regarded themselves as "Trinitarian",[38] anathemas against Bogomils (circa 1027) charge Bogomils with rejection of the Trinity.[39]