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Definition of Popovtsy in English:

Popovtsy

Pronunciation /pəˈpɒftsi/

noun

Christian Church

  • The members of one of the two main divisions of Old Believers, characterized by their retention of the priesthood after the schism of 1667 and their restoration of an episcopal hierarchy in the 19th century. Compare Bezpopovtsy . See also "Old Believer", Raskol .

Origin

Late 19th century; earliest use found in McBride's Magazine. From Russian popovcy, plural of popovec from popovščina Old Believers who have priests, priests collectively, ultimately from pop priest.