Heresy of the Week: Bogomilism

This week's heresy is a branch of Gnosticism, from which one of the heresies we already covered (Albigensism) comes.

Bogomilism is a heresy of the Gnosticism branch founded in the First Bulgarian Empire, and was formed as a political movement in opposition to both the Bulgarian church and state. Bogomils called for a return to early Christianity by rejecting church hierarchy and resisting both church and state authorities. Bogomils were dualists, believing the world was not created by God but by the Devil (the spiritual realm was good and governed by God, the material world was sinful and governed by Satan). They eschewed icons and buildings, preferring the outdoors for worship. Bosnianism was a localized sect of Bogomilism. They were believed to be influenced by Euchitism. Bogomilism was accused of being a Neo-Manichaean (Manichaeism) movement.

Heresy of the Week: Euchitism

While not still practiced (at least en masse), many themes from this week's heresy are present in modern protestantism, particularly, dismissal of the sacraments, that God "reveals" Himself to us mystically (rather than through His Word), and that we can save ourselves (even though most protestant churches would deny teaching that, they clearly do).

Euchitism, also known as Messalianism (both of which mean “one who prays” in Greek and Syriac, respectively), was first condemned as heretical at a synod in 383, and persisted well into the 12th century, being condemned again by resolution at the 1231 Council of Trier. It is considered to have influenced Bogomilism. This heretical sect taught “mystical materialism” and promoted a few strange teachings: first, that the essence (“ousia”) of the Trinity can be perceived by human senses; second, that the threefold (not triune) God transforms Himself into a single substance to unite with the souls of the perfect; third, that God takes different forms in order to reveal Himself to human senses; fourth, such revelations to the senses, and only such revelations, confer perfection upon a Christian; and fifth, that this state of perfection, which frees one from the world and passion, is only attained through prayer, therefore they eschewed the church, baptism and any sacraments. Once a person had experienced God with their senses, they were called the “perfecti” and freed from all moral obligations (Antinomianism). Some opponents have accused this sect of incest, cannibalism and other debauchery.