1620
The birth of Avvakum Petrov, ecclesiastical rebel and founder of the Old Believers.
In 1652 Nikon, Patriarch of Moscow, instituted a number of reforms to the Orthodox Church, ostensibly to bring Russia closer to practices in other countries, or, according to his enemies, to centralize more authority in his hands. Where once the sign of the cross was made with two fingers, Nikon now commanded that it be done with three; two tiny amendments were made to the Creed; priests processed in a different direction and; “alleluia” was to be said three times instead of twice.
The changes to ritual aroused deep antagonism in large sections of the Church; opposition was led by archpriest Avvakum who protested to the Tsar and who attracted a considerable body of followers who would come to be known as the Old Believers. The Church cracked down hard on dissent; the old service books and those who clung to their use were all anathematized. Many Old Believers were arrested and some including Avvakum were sent into harsh Siberian exile north of the arctic Circle. For his continued defiance Avvakum was burnt at the stake in 1682.