Fedor Kuritsyn's “Laodikijskoe Poslanie” and the Heresy of the Judaisers

Around 1470 the Heresy of the Russian Judaisers (Zhidovstvujuschie) arose in Novgorod. It soon spread to Moscow where it was able to win protection from important government personages which enabled it to survive until the Council of 1504 initiated active persecution of the heretics. It has long been believed that the writings of the Judaisers shed little light on the beliefs of that movement. In addition it has been stated by Ja. Lur'e, the leading Soviet historian of the heresy, that no signs of Judaism can be found in the heretics' writings. It can be demonstrated, however, that the introduction of the heretic Fedor Kuritsyn's “Laodikijskoe Poslanie” is an exception.