The Paulicians^753 are the most important sect in our period. They were confined to the
territory of the Eastern church. They flourished in Armenia, where Christianity came in conflict
with Parsism and was mixed with dualistic ideas. They probably inherited some traditions of the
Manichaeans and Marcionites.
I. Their name is derived by their Greek opponents^754 from two brothers, Paul and John sonsof a Manichaean a woman Kallinike, in Samosata; but, more probably, by modern historians^755
from their preference for St. Paul whom they placed highest among the Apostles. They borrowed
the names of their leading teachers from his disciples (Sylvanus, Titus, Timothy, Tychicus,
Epaphroditus), and called their congregations after his (Corinth, Philippi, Achaia, etc.). They
themselves preferred simply the name "Christians" (Cristianoiv, Cristopoli'tai), in opposition to
the professors of the Roman state-religion ( JRwmaivou").
II. The founder of the sect is Constantine a Syrian from a Gnostic (Marcionite) congregation
in Mananalis near Samosata. Inspired by the epistles of St. Paul and pretending to be his genuine
disciple, he propagated under the name of Sylvanus dualistic doctrines in Kibossa in Armenia and
in the regions of Pontus and Cappadocia, with great success for twenty-seven years, until the
Emperor Constantine Pogonatus (668–685) sent an officer, Symeon, for his arrest and execution.
He was stoned to death in 684, and his congregation scattered. But Symeon was struck and converted
by the serene courage of Constantine-Sylvanus, revived the congregation, and ruled it under the
name of Titus. When Justinian II. heard of it, he condemned him and the other leaders to death by
fire (690), according to the laws against the Manichaeans.
But in spite of repeated persecution and inner dissensions, the sect spread throughout Asia
Minor. When it decayed, a zealous reformer rose in the person of Sergius, called Tychieus, the
second founder of the sect (801–835). He had been converted by a woman, visited the old
congregations and founded new ones, preached and wrote epistles, opposed the antinomian practices
of Baanes, called "the Filthy" (oJ rJuparov"), and introduced strict discipline. His followers were
called Sergiotes in distinction from the Baanites.
The fate of the sect varied with the policy of the Greek emperors. The iconoclastic Leo the
Isaurian did not disturb them, and gave the leader of the sect, Gegnaesius, after a satisfactory
examination by the patriarch, a letter of protection against persecution; but the wily heretic had
answered the questions in a way that deceived the patriarch. Leo the Armenian (813–820) organized
an expedition for their conversion, pardoning the apostates and executing the constant. Theodora,
who restored the worship of images, cruelly persecuted them, and under her short reign one hundred
thousand Paulicians were put to death by the sword, the gibbet, or the flames (844). Perhaps this
large number included many iconoclasts.
Provoked by these cruelties, the Paulicians raised the standard of revolt under the lead of
Karbeas. He fled with five thousand to the Saracens, built a strong fort, Tephrica,^756 on the Arab
frontier, and in alliance with the Moslems made successful military invasions into the Byzantine
territory. His son-in-law, Chrysocheres, proceeded as far as Ephesus, and turned the cathedral into
753
Παυλικοί,Παυλικιανοί,Παυλιανι̑τοι.(^754) Peter the Sicilian and Photius, followed by Mosheim and Schroeckh.
(^755) Gibbon, Gieseler, Neander, Baur, Hardwick.
(^756) Now Divrigni in the mountains between Sirvas and Trebizond, still occupied by a fierce people.