Bogomilist Faith ID

Introduction to Bogomilism

Bogomilism was a Gnostic dualistic sect that originated in the First Bulgarian Empire, now known as Bulgaria, in the 10th century. This Christian neo-Gnostic or dualist sect was both adoptionist, heretical, and ascetic, while influences of the Paulicians and the Manicheans are also evident. Many researchers believe that Bogomilism was the response to the social inequality that happened due to the Byzantine conquest led by Tsar Simeon I of Bulgaria.

Beliefs and Practices

The essence of Bogomilism is the duality of the spiritual and the physical world. According to the Bogomils, the physical world is the work of an evil demiurge (Satan) while the spiritual world is the creation of a benevolent God. In correlation to this, they also believed that Jesus was an emissary of the spiritual realm, not a physical being, who came to Earth to liberate people from the materialism that the physical world champions.

They denounced the Orthodox Church for its lavish use of icons and relics, considering it a form of idolatry. Bogomils were also known for their ascetic lifestyle, abstaining from meat, wine, and sexual activity.

Impact and Influence

Despite its controversial outlook, Bogomilism spread across the Balkans into what is now Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and also to Italy and Southern France. In these regions, the movement became the foundation of the Cathar and other similar heretical movements. The Bogomils were often persecuted by the Orthodox Church and the state but managed to maintain their presence and influence for several centuries.

Persecution and Decline

Due to their heretical beliefs, Bogomils were subject to significant opposition and persecution, particularly from Orthodox Church authorities. Efforts to suppress the movement increased, culminating in the expulsion of the Bogomils from Constantinople in the 11th century and the execution of their leader, Basil, around 1118.

Bogomilism began to decline in the 14th century with the growth of the Ottoman Empire, though remnants of the group survived into the 15th century, blending with the emerging Protestant Reformation. Despite its eventual extinction, Bogomilism left a significant imprint on the religious and socio-political landscapes of Southeast Europe.

In Conclusion

Bogomilism, while no longer a functioning religious group, provided an interesting and unique outlook on the Christian faith that differed significantly from mainstream Christianity. It reflects the diverse and rich tapestry of spiritual interpretations that our world has experienced throughout history.

In-Game Description

Electing their spiritual leaders from amongst the general populace, Bogomils reject all worldly trappings and institutions of power, advocating instead for a return to the earlier methods of spiritual teaching practiced by Christ and his disciples.

The Bogomilism was a dualist sect that emerged in the 10th century in the First Bulgarian Empire and spread throughout the Balkans by the Ottoman conquests. It combined Christian Gnostic, dualistic principles, and incorporated elements from the Orthodox Christianity, rejecting ecclesiastical hierarchy, the material world, and certain Christian teachings, favoring a more spiritually-focused practice.