The peculiar semi-monastic religious communities, which had up till that time existed only in the forests of the northern and western provinces, began to appear in Moscow, and were officially recognised by the Administration.

At first they took the form of hospitals for the sick, or asylums for the aged and infirm, but soon they became regular monasteries, the superiors of which exercised an undefined spiritual authority not only over the inmates, but also over the members of the sect throughout the length and breadth of the Empire.
* The term is derived from two Russian words--ras, asunder; and kolot, to split.

Those who belong to the Raskol are called Raskolniki.

They call themselves Staro-obriadtsi (Old Ritualists) or Staroveri (Old Believers).
From that time down to the present the Government has followed a wavering policy, oscillating between complete tolerance and active persecution.

It must, however, be said that the persecution has never been of a very searching kind.