Stereotypes Oncerning Marriage and Intimate Life of Khlysts in the 19th - early 20th century (on Kharkiv Province Example)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of marriage and intimate life of khlysts in the 19th – early 20th century. The conclusion about the stereotypes in Russian society was made. These stereotypes about khlyst’s immorality had been formed by official Orthodox Church and representatives of the civil authorities. They were used as a form of the fighting against the spread of khlysts religious persuasion in the Russian society. The investigation of archival sources indicates the khlysts strict asceticism in matters of sexual life, rejection of sexual relations as a way to salvation of the soul.