raskolnik means any of those who separated from the official Russian Orthodox Church after 1666 as a protest against church reforms introduced by Patriarch Nikon between 1652 and 1666. It carries an Arena rating of 1356, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, raskolnik ranks #2,328 of 14,438 for Most Storied Words, #2,580 of 14,456 for The Improbable, #7,082 of 14,423 for Most Sublime Words, #7,084 of 14,414 for Most Elegant Words.
Why “raskolnik” is a great word
A member of a group that separated from the Russian Orthodox Church in the 17th century in opposition to the liturgical reforms of Patriarch Nikon. Borrowed from Russian раско́льник (raskólʹnik, 'schismatic'), from раско́л (raskól, 'schism'), itself from the verb raskolótʾ ('to split'), first attested in English in 1723. Unlike a 'heretic,' who rejects core doctrine, or a 'dissenter,' a general term for disagreement, the raskolnik cleaved to the old rites—the precise number of fingers for the sign of the cross, the spelling of a sacred name—as the very architecture of salvation. It is the hand tracing two fingers against a world of three, the hermit fleeing to the Siberian forests to preserve the old ways, the community choosing fire over submission; the body of faith splitting like seasoned wood along its grain, the crack audible across centuries.
Etymology
Borrowed from Russian раско́льник (raskólʹnik, “schism-maker, schismatic”), from раско́л (raskól, “schism”).
noun
- Any of those who separated from the official Russian Orthodox Church after 1666 as a protest against church reforms introduced by Patriarch Nikon between 1652 and 1666.
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