Paulicianism

Paulicians (Classical Armenian: Պաւղիկեաններ, Pawłikeanner; Greek: Παυλικιανοί;Arab sources: Baylakānī, al Bayālika) were a Christian Adoptionist sect, also accused by medieval sources of being Gnostic and quasi-Manichaean Christian. They flourished between 650 and 872 in Armenia and the eastern themata of the Byzantine Empire. According to medieval Byzantine sources, the group's name was derived from the 3rd century Bishop of Antioch, Paul of Samosata.

History

The sources show that most Paulician leaders were Armenians. The founder of the sect is said to have been an Armenian by the name of Constantine, who hailed from Mananalis, a community near Paytakaran. 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.

According to Christian historian and scholar Samuel Vila, "in the year 660 [ Constantine ] received a deacon in his house, who put in his hands a precious and rare treasure in those days before the invention of the printing press: a New Testament. Upon reading the same he came to know about the whole salvation in Christ; and upon sharing said good news with others, he formed a group of sincere believers; later on, of preachers... who became known as Paulicians...."