Raskolnik

[ ruh-skawl-nik ]

noun

, plural Ras·kol·niks, Ras·kol·ni·ki [r, uh, -, skawl, -ni-kee].

1. a member of any of several sects founded by dissenters from the Russian Orthodox Church who opposed the liturgical reforms of Nikon in the 17th century.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Raskolnik¹

< Russian raskólʾnik schismatic, equivalent to raskól split, schism (noun derivative of raskolótʾ to split; ras- v. prefix marking dissolution, fracture + kolotʾ to chop) + -nik agent suffix

Example Sentences

Raskolnik, ras-kol′nik, n. in Russia, a schismatic, a dissenter from the orthodox or Greek Church.

From Project Gutenberg

Even the Raskolnik is more tolerable.

From Project Gutenberg

Among the crowd are seen the "raskolnik" Cornelius, old Vitalya of the "runners," deserters, the merchant Ivanov, the clerk Dokounine ... and several others.

From Project Gutenberg

They hated her when she persecuted the raskolnik or Old Believers, that is, the men who objected to the reforms of Nicon.

From Project Gutenberg

A fever of fanaticism broke out; fifty-three raskolnik in Russia, and one hundred and seventy-two in Siberia, burned themselves to death.

From Project Gutenberg