Meet The Skoptsy, The Russian Religious Zealots Who Castrated Themselves To Be Closer To God

[Utomobong]

In their devout faith, followers of Tsarist Russia’s Skoptsy sect could be compared to Orthodox Christians. They both believed in saints and sinners, heaven and hell, and that Jesus Christ died on the cross to give the world salvation. But only the Skoptsy believed Jesus was also castrated.


This was really how Jesus absolved the world, according to Skoptsy founder Kondraty Selivanov. So fiery was his passion that soon enough, his sect amassed thousands of members — up to 1 million by some estimates. They were fervent proselytizers, reportedly coercing children and prisoners to join them in order for their ranks to reach the magic number of 144,000 — at which point Jesus Christ would return.

In a ritual ceremony reportedly called “the seal,” men and women removed parts of their sexual organs to seal their faith in God and live in true imitation of Christ on the cross.

Men who opted for the “lesser seal” removed their scrotums and testes, while those who took the “great seal” removed it all — including the penis. It often happened in one swift motion; as one medical study put it, “the operator seized the parts to be removed with one hand and struck them off with the other.” Women, in turn, had their breasts cut off and their genitalia mutilated.

These dismemberments were called “fiery baptisms,” perhaps because they were often performed with red-hot iron rods.



Today we have chemical means ... So easy to get the eunuch calm..... The heavenly goals are not the case today cos ladies going almost naked these days is a thorn to the flesh of many a gentlemen

[WheelyFixed]

Certainly possible that JC was fixed, but evidence seems to be lacking... (IMHO there is a somewhat stronger case that St. Patrick was...) However a lot of different things have been claimed about him so who knows?

I do find it ironic that there were estimates of about a million Skoptsy, while they claimed that the magic number to make JC show up was 144K - last time I checked that is considerably less than one million - didn't someone notice?

WheelyFixed

[Friotler7]

I read about them. I see them as a "village of schizos", similar to other sects in isolated villages we see across USA.

[JesusA]

I do find it ironic that there were estimates of about a million Skoptsy, while they claimed that the magic number to make JC show up was 144K - last time I checked that is considerably less than one million - didn't someone notice?

WheelyFixed

The general interpretation of the Skoptsy is that the 144,000 were to be those who sat at the right hand of God after the Resurrection. That to meet the criteria stated in Revelation, they all needed to be devout Christians who had been castrated before puberty so that we were absolutely celibate. Estimates are that the exceeded that number.

[WheelyFixed]

I do find it ironic that there were estimates of about a million Skoptsy, while they claimed that the magic number to make JC show up was 144K - last time I checked that is considerably less than one million - didn't someone notice?

WheelyFixed

The general interpretation of the Skoptsy is that the 144,000 were to be those who sat at the right hand of God after the Resurrection. That to meet the criteria stated in Revelation, they all needed to be devout Christians who had been castrated before puberty so that we were absolutely celibate. Estimates are that the exceeded that number.

Interesting... My understanding was that many of them took the seal after puberty, so didn't count towards the magic number? (or get the free pass?) It is amazing how many folks seem to claim knowledge of what will make JC show up for the Resurrection, but never seem to quite manage getting him to put in an appearance....

Of course there is also the joke about the little kid being asked what he learned about the Resurrection in Sunday School, who responded that he wasn't sure just what it was, but if it lasted longer than four hours you should seek medical attention... Not totally off base, as it is still dealing with raising the dead....

WheelyFixed