MALAKANS, a religious sect in the Russo-Greek church. The name in Russian is Molocani, i.e., milk-eaters, who contrary to the rule of the eastern church take milk. on fast-days. The term Malakan is a term of reproach. They prefer to be called Gospel men. A Prussian prisoner of war settled about the middle of the last century in a village of southern Russia, and spent his time visiting from house to house, and explaining the scriptures to the people. After his death they acknowledged him as the founder of their new belief. The Malakans receive the Bible as the word of God. They believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, the fall of Adam, the resurrection of Christ, receive the ten commandments, and forbid idolatry and the worship of saints. They consider the taking of an oath sinful, and enjoin a strict observance of the Lord's day. They firmly believe in the millennium. A meinber of their body, Terenti Beloreff, a fanatic, -.announced in 1833 that Christ would come in two and a haU years. Many Malakans Abandoned their callings, and awaited the event with fasting and prayer. Beloreff believed that he himself, like Elijah, would ascend to heaven on a certain day in a chariot of fire. Thousands of Malakans came from all parts of Russia to witness the miracle. Ile appeared seated in a chariot, ordered the multitude to prostrate themselves,
snd then, extending.his arms as an eaale does its wings, be sprung into the air, fell ou the heads of the gazing crowds, was selzed and dragged to prison as an impostor. Ife -died soon after, insanelv declaring himself the prophet of God. But many of the Mala kans still believe in hisilivine mission. Many of his followers afterwards emigrated to *Georgia, in western Asia, and settled in sight of mount Ararat, expecting the millennium.
This sect spend whole days and nights in prayer, and have all things in common. They deny the sanctity and necessity of fasts, especially for men who have to work. They oppose popes and monks. Under the late emperor Nicholas they were severely perse cuted, 16,000 men and women being seized by the police, arranged in gangs, and driveir with rods and thongs across the steppes and mountains into the Caucasus. A great many fled across the Pruth into Turkey, where the sultan gave them a village callett Tulcha for their residence. Dixon in his Free Russia has described this sect.