The Bogomils: Origins and Doctrine

# **The Bogomils: Origins and Doctrine**  

The **Bogomils** were a medieval Christian sect that emerged in the **10th century** in **Bulgaria** under the reign of **Tsar Peter I (927–969)**. They were influenced by earlier dualist traditions, including **Paulicianism** and **Manichaeism**, and they rejected both the **Orthodox Church** and the **Byzantine state**. Their name is traditionally linked to a priest named **Bogomil**, meaning "Beloved of God," who is said to have been their founder.  

## **Origins and Spread**  

The origins of the Bogomil movement were deeply connected to the social and religious unrest in the **First Bulgarian Empire**. As Byzantine Christianity became dominant in the region, many rural populations resisted the hierarchical and state-controlled church. The Bogomils gained popularity by criticizing the **oppressive nature of the Byzantine church and government**, aligning themselves with the common people.  

They soon spread beyond Bulgaria into **Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Dalmatia, Italy, and France**, influencing the **Cathars (Albigensians)** in southern France. By the **13th century**, Bogomilism had become a major target of both the **Byzantine Orthodox** and **Catholic** Inquisitions, leading to its persecution and eventual decline, especially after the **Ottoman conquest** in the **15th century**.  

## **Doctrinal Beliefs**  

The Bogomils adhered to a **strict form of dualism**, rejecting the material world as the creation of **Satanail (Satan)** and upholding the supremacy of **God the Father**. Their teachings contained elements of **Gnosticism, Adoptionism, and Christian Anarchism**, reflecting an opposition to established religious and political structures.  

### **1. Rejection of the Trinity**  

The **Bogomils rejected the doctrine of the Trinity**, claiming that the Father alone was the **true God**. They denied the **deity of Jesus Christ**, viewing Him as a **created being** who was **chosen by God** at His baptism. Their belief in **Adoptionism** held that Jesus became divine only after receiving the Holy Spirit in the Jordan, similar to **Paul of Samosata’s** teachings.  

### **2. The Two Gods: Good and Evil**  

Their cosmology taught that:  

- **God the Father** ruled the **spiritual realm**.  

- **Satanail** (later just "Satan") was a **rebellious angel** who created the **physical world, including human bodies**.  

- Humans were originally **spiritual beings**, but Satan trapped them in **material bodies**.  

- The **soul** (which they equated with the body) could be **freed** through **spiritual knowledge (gnosis) and asceticism**.  

### **3. Jesus as the Archangel Michael**  

The Bogomils identified Jesus with **the archangel Michael**, who was sent to **rescue humanity from Satan's control**. They **denied the incarnation**, rejecting the idea that Jesus was physically born of Mary, instead teaching that He came in **spiritual form**.  

### **4. Rejection of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches**  

The Bogomils **rejected the Orthodox and Catholic churches** as institutions of Satan. They condemned:  

- **Church buildings** (considered dwellings of demons).  

- **Priests and bishops** (viewed as servants of Satan).  

- **Icons, relics, and the cross** (considered **idolatry**).  

- **Baptism with water** (replaced by a spiritual "baptism" of prayer).  

- **The Eucharist** (rejected as a false sacrament).  

- **Marriage and procreation** (considered the work of Satan).  

They believed that the **"true church"** was a **spiritual community**, not an institution. Their meetings were simple, consisting of **prayer, fasting, and scripture reading**.  

### **5. Opposition to Government and War**  

The Bogomils were **Christian anarchists**, rejecting:  

- **The state and its laws** (which they saw as Satanic).  

- **Kings and rulers** (considered agents of the devil).  

- **Military service and violence** (they were strict pacifists).  

Their opposition to both **Church and State** made them dangerous in the eyes of the Byzantine Empire, leading to severe persecution.  

## **Texts and Influence**  

The **Bogomils had their own sacred texts**, many of which were later destroyed by the Inquisition. Some of their known writings include:  

- **"The Secret Supper"** – A Bogomil and Cathar gospel where Jesus speaks of a **spiritual Father** and warns against **material creation**.  

- **"The Ascension of Isaiah"** – A text describing the **fall of Satan and the heavenly realms**.  

- **"The Gospel of the Secret John"**  – is a first-person narrative beginning "I, John…" in which John the Evangelist poses a series of questions to Jesus at a secret supper in the kingdom of heaven**.  

They also revered certain apocryphal books, including:  

- **The Ascension of Isaiah**  

- **The Apocalypse of Abraham**  

- **The Second Book of Enoch**  

## **Persecution and Decline**  

By the **11th and 12th centuries**, the Byzantine Empire had begun **violent crackdowns** against the Bogomils. **Emperor Alexios I Komnenos** personally debated the Bogomil leader **Basil the Physician**, who was later burned at the stake in **1111**.  

In the **13th century**, the Catholic Church launched the **Albigensian Crusade (1209–1229)** to eliminate the **Cathars**, who were heavily influenced by the Bogomils. Many Bogomils were tortured and executed by the **Dominican-led Inquisition**.  

By the **15th century**, the **Ottoman conquest of the Balkans** ended Catholic and Orthodox persecution of Bogomils, but many **converted to Islam** to escape oppression. Others assimilated into mainstream Christianity.  

## **Legacy**  

Despite their extinction, the Bogomils had a lasting impact on Christian history:  

1. **Influenced the Cathars in France**, who shared their **dualistic and anti-Trinitarian beliefs**.  

2. **Inspired the Waldensians and Lollards**, who rejected **church hierarchy and wealth**.  

3. **Shaped later Protestant movements**, such as **Anabaptists** and **Unitarians**, who questioned **church traditions and the Trinity**.  

Some historians suggest that **Bosnian Bogomils** played a role in **the spread of Islam in Bosnia**, as they were **already outside the Catholic and Orthodox Churches**.  

## **Conclusion**  

The Bogomils were **one of the most radical Christian movements of the medieval era**, challenging both **political and religious authorities**. Their **rejection of the Trinity**, **dualistic cosmology**, and **Christian anarchist beliefs** made them **heretical** in the eyes of both the **Byzantine and Catholic Churches**. However, their influence can still be seen today in various **non-Trinitarian and anti-clerical Christian traditions**.  

Their story remains a testament to the **power of belief against institutionalized oppression**.