This study attempts to examine the trinitarian beliefs of the fifteenth-century Novgorod-Moscow movement, analyzing both their own writings and the polemical writings of those who considered their teaching antitrinitarian.
The main objective of the present research is to contribute to the restoration of the authentic theological identity of this movement. Chapter 1 defines the problem, which has already been raised by some nineteenth-century scholars who have pointed out that the allegedly antitrinitarian character of the Subbotniks' movement must be open for further discussion. It also shows that no systematic research on Subbotniks' theology has ever been produced.
The second chapter of this historical-theological study surveys the historical background of the Novgorod-Moscow movement and briefly analyzes the religious, political, and cultural context of fifteenth-century Russia. It demonstrates that the struggle surrounding this movement was motivated not only theologically, but also politically and culturally.
Chapter 3 analyzes the polemical documents, giving priority to the primary sources contemporary to the Novgorod-Moscow movement, such as Archbishop Gennadii's letters and Iosif of Volotsk's Instructor. In general, the documents presented in this chapter differ in their charges of antitrinitarianism against the Subbotniks.
Chapter 4 analyzes the Subbotniks' sources, which include all the passages directly or indirectly dealing with their trinitarian views. The writings of the Subbotniks in general represent the trends common for European reform movements of the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. The study of the Subbotniks' literature shows that the antitrinitarian character of this movement cannot be confirmed by the writings of the Subbotniks themselves.
Chapter 5 presents a systematic-analytical and historical evaluation of the question of the trinitarian status of the Novgorod-Moscow movement. The present research found no traces of antitrinitarianism in the Subbotniks' movement.
","abstract_html":"<p>This study attempts to examine the trinitarian beliefs of the fifteenth-century Novgorod-Moscow movement, analyzing both their own writings and the polemical writings of those who considered their teaching antitrinitarian.</p> <p>The main objective of the present research is to contribute to the restoration of the authentic theological identity of this movement. Chapter 1 defines the problem, which has already been raised by some nineteenth-century scholars who have pointed out that the allegedly antitrinitarian character of the Subbotniks' movement must be open for further discussion. It also shows that no systematic research on Subbotniks' theology has ever been produced.</p> <p>The second chapter of this historical-theological study surveys the historical background of the Novgorod-Moscow movement and briefly analyzes the religious, political, and cultural context of fifteenth-century Russia. It demonstrates that the struggle surrounding this movement was motivated not only theologically, but also politically and culturally.</p> <p>Chapter 3 analyzes the polemical documents, giving priority to the primary sources contemporary to the Novgorod-Moscow movement, such as Archbishop Gennadii's letters and Iosif of Volotsk's <em>Instructor.</em> In general, the documents presented in this chapter differ in their charges of antitrinitarianism against the Subbotniks.</p> <p>Chapter 4 analyzes the Subbotniks' sources, which include all the passages directly or indirectly dealing with their trinitarian views. The writings of the Subbotniks in general represent the trends common for European reform movements of the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. The study of the Subbotniks' literature shows that the antitrinitarian character of this movement cannot be confirmed by the writings of the Subbotniks themselves.</p> <p>Chapter 5 presents a systematic-analytical and historical evaluation of the question of the trinitarian status of the Novgorod-Moscow movement. The present research found no traces of antitrinitarianism in the Subbotniks' movement.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Zhigankov, Oleg"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Religion, Theological Studies PhD","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Miroslav M. Kis","Denis Fortin","Jerry A. Moon"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2000,"date_issued":"2000-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2000-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T00:53:34Z","subjects":["History of Christianity","Religion","Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion","Slavic Languages and Societies"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/172","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Miroslav M. Kis","Denis Fortin","Jerry A. Moon"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Zhigankov, Oleg"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Religion, Theological Studies PhD"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["History of Christianity","Religion","Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion","Slavic Languages and Societies"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/172"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This study attempts to examine the trinitarian beliefs of the fifteenth-century Novgorod-Moscow movement, analyzing both their own writings and the polemical writings of those who considered their teaching antitrinitarian.
The main objective of the present research is to contribute to the restoration of the authentic theological identity of this movement. Chapter 1 defines the problem, which has already been raised by some nineteenth-century scholars who have pointed out that the allegedly antitrinitarian character of the Subbotniks' movement must be open for further discussion. It also shows that no systematic research on Subbotniks' theology has ever been produced.
The second chapter of this historical-theological study surveys the historical background of the Novgorod-Moscow movement and briefly analyzes the religious, political, and cultural context of fifteenth-century Russia. It demonstrates that the struggle surrounding this movement was motivated not only theologically, but also politically and culturally.
Chapter 3 analyzes the polemical documents, giving priority to the primary sources contemporary to the Novgorod-Moscow movement, such as Archbishop Gennadii's letters and Iosif of Volotsk's Instructor. In general, the documents presented in this chapter differ in their charges of antitrinitarianism against the Subbotniks.
Chapter 4 analyzes the Subbotniks' sources, which include all the passages directly or indirectly dealing with their trinitarian views. The writings of the Subbotniks in general represent the trends common for European reform movements of the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. The study of the Subbotniks' literature shows that the antitrinitarian character of this movement cannot be confirmed by the writings of the Subbotniks themselves.
Chapter 5 presents a systematic-analytical and historical evaluation of the question of the trinitarian status of the Novgorod-Moscow movement. The present research found no traces of antitrinitarianism in the Subbotniks' movement.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Issue of Antitrinitarianism in the Fifteenth-Century Novgorod-Moscow Movement: Analysis and Evaluation"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Miroslav M. Kis","Denis Fortin","Jerry A. Moon"],"dc:creator":["Zhigankov, Oleg"],"dc:description.abstract":["This study attempts to examine the trinitarian beliefs of the fifteenth-century Novgorod-Moscow movement, analyzing both their own writings and the polemical writings of those who considered their teaching antitrinitarian.
The main objective of the present research is to contribute to the restoration of the authentic theological identity of this movement. Chapter 1 defines the problem, which has already been raised by some nineteenth-century scholars who have pointed out that the allegedly antitrinitarian character of the Subbotniks' movement must be open for further discussion. It also shows that no systematic research on Subbotniks' theology has ever been produced.
The second chapter of this historical-theological study surveys the historical background of the Novgorod-Moscow movement and briefly analyzes the religious, political, and cultural context of fifteenth-century Russia. It demonstrates that the struggle surrounding this movement was motivated not only theologically, but also politically and culturally.
Chapter 3 analyzes the polemical documents, giving priority to the primary sources contemporary to the Novgorod-Moscow movement, such as Archbishop Gennadii's letters and Iosif of Volotsk's Instructor. In general, the documents presented in this chapter differ in their charges of antitrinitarianism against the Subbotniks.
Chapter 4 analyzes the Subbotniks' sources, which include all the passages directly or indirectly dealing with their trinitarian views. The writings of the Subbotniks in general represent the trends common for European reform movements of the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. The study of the Subbotniks' literature shows that the antitrinitarian character of this movement cannot be confirmed by the writings of the Subbotniks themselves.
Chapter 5 presents a systematic-analytical and historical evaluation of the question of the trinitarian status of the Novgorod-Moscow movement. The present research found no traces of antitrinitarianism in the Subbotniks' movement.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/172"],"dc:subject":["History of Christianity","Religion","Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion","Slavic Languages and Societies"],"dc:title":["The Issue of Antitrinitarianism in the Fifteenth-Century Novgorod-Moscow Movement: Analysis and Evaluation"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Religion, Theological Studies PhD"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T00:53:34Z"}