The religion of the Cathars, the death of the Cathars and the castles of the Cathars

45
“If your right eye tempts you, pluck it out and throw it away for you, for it is better for you that one of your members perish, and not your whole body be thrown into hell” (Matthew 18: 9)

On the pages of TOPWAR more than once and not two were told about cruel religious wars, which were unleashed in the name of God and to the glory of Him. But perhaps the most illustrative example is the Albigoyan Wars in the South of France, launched to eradicate the Cathar heresy. Who are they, why did Catholic Christians consider them heretics, and they themselves called themselves true Christians, and also about the Cathar castles that have survived to the present day, and our story will go today ...
__________________________________________________________________

BREAKING CATARS (part of 1)

"Everything has its time, and time
all things under heaven:
time to be born, and time to die ...
hug time and shy time
hugs ...
time of war and time of peace "(Ecclesiastes 3,2-8)


Let's start with the fact that Christianity has long been split into two large currents (in this case, you can not even remember the many sects: there were so many of them!) - Catholicism and Orthodoxy, and both those and others in the past considered each other friends as heretics, and some, especially zealously believers, consider their "opponents" as such now! This split was longstanding: for example, the Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople cursed each other in 1054 year! However, the differences of churches on the issue of a number of church dogmas and, above all, such an important dogma, such as, for example, the Symbol of Faith, took place at the beginning of the 9th century, and the initiator of such a disagreement was, oddly enough, not the Pope or the Patriarch, and the emperor of the Franks, Charlemagne. This is a theological argument on the question of “Filioque” - “Filioque” (lat. Filioque - “and the Son”).

The gospel of John clearly speaks of the Holy Spirit as coming from the Father and sent by the Son. Therefore, the First Council of Nicaea, back in 352, adopted the Symbol of Faith, later approved by the Council of Constantinople 381 of the year, according to which the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father. But in the 6th century at the Toledo local council, “for the sake of a better explanation of dogma,” the Creed introduced the first addition to the Creed: “and the Son” (Filioque), which resulted in the following phrase: “I believe ... in the Holy Spirit, which comes from the Father and the Son. " Charlemagne, who had a great influence on the popes, insisted that this addition be made into the Creed. And it was precisely this that was one of the reasons for the desperate church disputes, which eventually led to the split of the Christian church into Catholic and Orthodox. The Orthodox Creed reads like this: “I believe ... And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giver, Outgoing from the Father's Izh ...” That is, the Orthodox Church is guided by the decisions of the First Nicene Council. One of the fundamental sacral festivals of Christians - the Eucharist (Greek - expression of gratitude) differs; otherwise, communion, which is held in memory of the last meal organized by Christ with his disciples. In this sacrament, an Orthodox Christian tastes the body and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ under the guise of bread and wine, while Catholics partake of unleavened bread, Orthodox Christians - fermented bread.


Everything in the world is afraid of time, the last Qatar has long since burned down in a fire flame, but the Toulouse Cross is still seen on the wall of a house in the fortress of Carcassonne.

But besides the Catholics and Orthodox believing each other as heretics, separated from each other by the peculiarities of nature, even in Europe, within, for example, France and Germany, there were many religious trends that differed significantly from the traditional Christianity according to the Catholic pattern. Especially a lot at the beginning of the XII century. such Christians were in Languedoc, a region in the south of France. It was here that a very powerful movement of the Cathars (which had other names, by the way, arose, but this is the most famous, therefore, we dwell on it), whose religion was significantly different from traditional Christianity.

However, the Cathars (which means “pure” in Greek) began to be called later, and the most common name at first was the “Albigoyan heretics”, after the city of Albi, which they were given by followers of Bernard Klervosky, who preached in the cities of Toulouse and Albi 1145 year. They didn’t call themselves that, because they believed that real Christians are exactly that! Following Jesus Christ, who said: “I am the good shepherd,” they called themselves “bon hommes” —that is, “good people.” It was about a dualistic religion of Eastern origin, which recognizes two creative divine beings - one good, which is closely connected with the spiritual world, and the other evil, associated with life and the material world.

The Cathars rejected any compromise with the world, did not recognize marriage and the production of offspring, justified suicide and abstained from any food of animal origin, with the exception of fish. Such was their small elite, which involved both men and women from the aristocracy and the rich bourgeoisie. She also supplied cadres of clergy - preachers and bishops. There were even "houses of heretics" - real monasteries and convents. But the majority of the faithful led a less strict lifestyle. If a person received before his death a unique sacrament - consolamentum (lat. - "consolation") - and if he agrees to leave this life, then he will be saved.

The religion of the Cathars, the death of the Cathars and the castles of the Cathars

Albi City. From here it all began, it was from here that the “Alibigoy heresy” began. Now it looks like this: an ancient arched bridge, the bulk of the cathedral-fortress of St. Cecilia in Albi, built after the defeat of the Cathars, as a reminder of the power of the mother church. Here every stone is soaked history. There will be an opportunity, take a look at this city ...

The Cathars did not believe in hell or paradise, or rather, they believed that hell - this is the life of people on earth, that confessing to priests is an empty matter and that prayer in the church is equivalent to prayer in an open field. The cross for the Cathars was not a symbol of faith, but an instrument of torture, they say, in ancient Rome people were crucified on it. The souls, in their opinion, were forced to move from one body to another and could never return to God, since the Catholic Church points the way to salvation to them incorrectly. But, believing, so to speak, “in the right direction,” that is, following the commandments of the Cathars, any soul can be saved.


This is how it looks from below ... It is conceived by the local bishop (concurrently also an inquisitor) as the stronghold of the true faith, reliably protected from heretical concessions. Hence, such a strange, fortification architecture with thick walls and a minimum of openings. And all the lace of the Gothic style is decorated only with the entrance portal, which is stuck on its colossal structure from the side. In the tower (its height 90 m) there is no entrance at all outside.

The Cathars taught that since the world is imperfect, only the elect can obey all the commandments of their religion, and all the rest should only follow their instructions, not tying themselves with the burden of fasting and prayers. The main thing was to receive "consolation" from one of the elect, or "perfect" before death, and so, before his deathbed, no religious morality of the believer had any meaning. Since the world is so hopelessly bad, thought the Cathars, no bad act will be worse than another. Again, just a wonderful faith for knights — something like a life “by notions,” but by no means according to the law, since in “hell any law is bad.”

In what way the Cathars instructed their flock can be imagined with examples that have come down to us in the descriptions of Catholic priests: for example, one peasant went to “good people” to ask if he could eat meat when true Christians have fasting? And they answered him that in lean and shorter days, meat food defiles the mouth in the same way. “But you, the peasant, have nothing to worry about. Go with the world! ”- they were comforted by the“ committed ”and, of course, such parting words could not but reassure him. Returning to the village, he told what the “perfect” taught him: “If nothing is possible with a perfect person, then it means that we are imperfect, everything is possible” - and the whole village began to eat meat in fasting places!

Naturally, the Catholic abbots were horrified by such "sermons" and assured that the Cathars are true worshipers of Satan, and accused them of the fact that they, apart from eating meat in fasting, also indulge in usury, theft, murder, perjury and all other carnal vices. At the same time they sin with great enthusiasm and confidence, they are convinced that they do not need confession or repentance. It is enough for them, by their faith, before their death to read “Our Father” and to partake of the Holy Ghost - and all of them are “saved”. It was believed that they give any oath and immediately break it, because their main commandment is this: “Swear and bear false witness, but do not disclose secrets!”


And this is how it looks from above and ... it is difficult to imagine a more magnificent structure.

The Cathars wore on the buckles and buttons the image of a bee, which symbolized the secret of fertilization without physical contact. Denying the cross, they idolized the pentagon, which was for them a symbol of eternal diffusion - dispersion, dispersion of matter and the human body. By the way, their stronghold - the castle of Montsegur - just had the shape of a pentagon, diagonally - 54 meters, in width - 13 meters. For the Cathars, the Sun was a symbol of Good, so Montsegur was at the same time their sunny temple. The walls, doors, windows, and embrasures were oriented in it by the sun, and in such a way that only by one observation of the sunrise on the day of the summer solstice one could count its rise on any other days. Well, and, of course, it didn’t go without a statement that there is a secret underground passage in the castle, which, branching into many underground passages, penetrates all the nearest Pyrenees.


Castle Montsegur, modern look. It is hard to imagine that during the siege hundreds of people were placed there!


This was a pessimistic faith, cut off from earthly life, but it received a rather broad response, primarily because it allowed the feudal lords to reject the earthly and moral authority of the clergy. At least the fact that Bernard-Roger de Roquefort’s own mother, Bishop of Carcassonian, had been “perfect” with 1208, had his own mother’s influence on the scale of this heresy, his brother Guillaume was one of the most ardent Qatar’s seniors ! Qatari churches stood directly opposite Catholic cathedrals. With such support from the authorities, it quickly spread to the regions of Toulouse, Albi and Carcassonne, where the most important was the count of Toulouse, who ruled the lands between Garonne and Rhone. However, his power did not extend directly to many feuds, and he had to rely on the power of other vassals, such as his brother-in-law Raymond Roger Trankawel, Viscount Beziers and Carcassonne or his allies King of Aragon or Count of Barcelona.

[/ Center]
Modern reconstruction of the castle of Montsegur.

Since many of their vassals themselves were heretics or sympathized with heretics, these lords could not or did not want to play on their lands the role of Christian princes defending the faith. The Count of Toulouse reported this to the Pope and the King of France, the church sent missionaries there, and, in particular, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, who in 1142 studied the state of affairs in the Provencal eparchies and delivered sermons there, but did not have much success.

After becoming pope in the 1198 year, Innocent III continued the policy of returning the Cathars to the bosom of the Catholic Church through the methods of persuasion. But numerous preachers were met in Languedoc rather more cool than joyfully. Even Saint Dominic, who was distinguished by his eloquence, even failed to achieve tangible results. Representatives of local nobility, and even some bishops dissatisfied with the church order, actively helped the Qatari leaders. In 1204, the Pope removed these bishops from their posts, and instead appointed their legate. In 1206, he tried to find support among the aristocracy of Languedoc and set it against the Cathars. Seniors, who continued to assist them, began to excommunicate themselves. In May, 1207, even the powerful and powerful Count Raimund VI of Toulouse, fell under excommunication. However, after meeting him in January 1208, the deputy of the father was found slaughtered in his own bed, and this finally put the father out of himself.


Inside the cathedral of sv. Tsitsilii is an equally impressive body.

Then an angry dad responded to this murder with a bull, in which he promised to bestow the lands of the heretics of Languedoc, all those who would take part in a crusade against them, and in the spring of 1209, declared a crusade against them. 24 June 1209, at the call of the Pope in Lyon, gathered the leaders of the crusade - bishops, archbishops, lords from the whole north of France, with the exception of King Philip Augustus, who expressed only restrained approval, but refused to lead the campaign itself, more fearing the German emperor and the English king . The aim of the crusaders, as it was declared, was not at all the conquest of the Provencal lands, but their liberation from heresy, and at least 40 days — that is, the term of the traditional knightly service, above which the employer (whoever he was!) was already paying!


And the ceiling is covered with a fantastically beautiful painting, clearly to the envy of everyone who believed in the Lord otherwise!

Продолжение следует ...
Our news channels

Subscribe and stay up to date with the latest news and the most important events of the day.

45 comments
Information
Dear reader, to leave comments on the publication, you must sign in.
  1. +4
    17 March 2016 06: 46
    Dead end. I have not heard about suicide justification. But if so, then it is very significant.
  2. +7
    17 March 2016 06: 47
    The Cathars, Huguenots, Jacobins, Protestants, Anglicans didn’t come from such an empty place as such vast masses of dissatisfied with the power of the papacy, along the way there were and were very significant.
    1. +2
      17 March 2016 15: 06
      The Cathars have not disappeared. They emigrated to the Arabian Peninsula, founded Qatar there and secretly pray at night in the underground towers without an external entrance to their god.
  3. +4
    17 March 2016 07: 51
    I wonder what would Christ say when he saw modern Christianity?
    1. +8
      17 March 2016 08: 00
      I think I would be speechless from the shock - all the sacraments are paid, in the church they trade, you can’t do with your candles and so on.
      1. +5
        17 March 2016 11: 10
        I don’t think, but rather annoyance: "again twenty-five!" if you attribute such emotions to Him
        After all, He already has the experience of driving merchants out of temples ...
        1. +1
          22 March 2016 10: 45
          And Lavrov's remark, uttered in hearts: "Morons, bl ...!"
      2. Inq
        +7
        17 March 2016 11: 20
        Confession and Communion are generally free. Do not mislead people.
        1. 0
          17 March 2016 15: 58
          but how not to trade - if believers are supposed to pay tithing. But how much does anyone pay?
          1. +1
            19 March 2016 13: 17
            By the grace of God’s life and small contentment with the sin of wealth, confront the feat of asceticism!
        2. 0
          19 March 2016 13: 15
          Well, they really didn’t take us to church for baptism, but they demanded to attend seminars of godparents without fail (for a fee) they refused to baptize without them, there was a huge scandal at the expense of candles, some grandmothers ran me by the anti-christ, a stall with church paraphernalia right in the church, from the right to enter inside the church, right up to silver you can buy everything there: icons, candles, chains, crosses, prayer books, etc.
          All this was in the Montenegrin temple on the street. Soviet.
          as a result, we went to Minusinsk, there, next to Minusinsk, a village was baptized for free, although I don’t understand why the child should be baptized even at such a young age. In general, those adventures were still there, a lot of other fun things happened, it was fun.
  4. +6
    17 March 2016 08: 01
    The Qatari Languedoc, until the crusaders arrived, was a flourishing region, both economically and culturally. Thank you, we are waiting for the continuation ..
  5. +2
    17 March 2016 08: 53
    Interested in fortification. There are very few articles on this topic. Thanks at least a little here.

    Montsegur Castle looks impregnable, but I suppose that problems with water will not allow to hold defense for a long time.
    1. +6
      17 March 2016 11: 09
      There was a cistern filled with rainwater under the main tower.
      1. +2
        17 March 2016 11: 19
        It is clear that in a waterless area, for this fortress, a large supply of water is needed. But resources without supplies tend to run out.
        1. +3
          17 March 2016 13: 12
          And there it will rain again ... it's mountains. There are frequent rains! That sun, and after half an hour the clouds and it rains! The weather is changing very fast.
    2. +4
      17 March 2016 12: 12
      My humble opinion - there are no impregnable fortresses. It all depends on time, opportunity and desire.
      1. +2
        17 March 2016 13: 48
        Donkey takes any fortress with ease. laden with gold.
        This is still Philip of Macedon said.
        Papa Alexander, by the way.
        ...
        And, by chance, the Cathars did not have a second bottom (or there is a third)? The "perfect", I mean.
        ...
        Otherwise, it is not clear why they are "perfect" who adhered to the strictest asceticism (like their founders, the Bogomils) - firstly, they lived for a long time, and secondly, with one touch or conversation, they absolved all sins at once.
        ...
        This church in Albi is very reminiscent of Cologne Cathedral, very much.
        What is the general architecture, what are the murals inside.
        Why would ..
  6. +3
    17 March 2016 09: 11
    Perverts, what else can you say about Qatar ...?
  7. +6
    17 March 2016 10: 56
    Dear Vyacheslav, I liked the article! especially photos, apparently from a personal archive?
    The Gospel of John clearly speaks of the Holy Spirit as coming from the Father and sent by the Son.
    More precisely, coming from the Father and the sent Son.

    Well, and even in the article it is not indicated that it was the Cathars who were the first to shed blood, killing Catholic monks-preachers, who were sent to denounce heresy and to try BLOELLY to solve religious contradictions. They began to kill them simply and cruelly, tk. the Qatari "pure" were unable to reasonably respond to their criticism and ordered their supporters to commit illegal acts ... As a result, they received a crusade.

    City of Albi. From here it all began, it was from here that the “Alibigoy heresy” began.
    Vyacheslav, a small amendment. Everything began much more ancient before, from the Middle East, from the ancient mystical Gnostic sects of Palestine and Syria. Then this manifested itself in the early medieval time in Byzantium - in the territory of modern Eastern Turkey the Byzantine Cathars also had their own quasi-state, also crushed, but not only by the Catholic, but by the Orthodox forces of Byzantium. As a result of this, some of them fled to the Balkans and Italy, and from there to South. France moved.

    Everything in the world is afraid of time, the last Qatar has long since burned down in a fire flame, but the Toulouse Cross is still seen on the wall of a house in the fortress of Carcassonne.
    In fact, the heraldic symbol is simple, not the sign of the Cathars. If you want to know, the Pentagon, a five-pointed star, is considered one of the symbols of catharism. One of the symbols of modern Freemasonry as well as communism.

    Quote from Korsar4
    Dead end.
    In general, the Cathars in their struggle against Catholicism are considered one of the forerunners of the Masonic and even neoliberal movements of modern Europe.

    Quote: vega
    I wonder what would Christ say when he saw modern Christianity?
    Do you think that he does not know? But while still suffering, and even the miracle of the Holy Light is still happening.

    Quote: igordok
    Montsegur Castle looks impregnable, but I suppose that problems with water will not allow to hold defense for a long time.
    Inside there was a large tank, where rainwater also collected.


    Quote: parusnik
    The Qatari Languedoc, until the crusaders arrived, was a flourishing region, both economically and culturally. Thank you, we are waiting for the continuation ..
    It would be more correct to say that Languedoc was a flourishing and calm land until some vagrant preachers from Italy came there and infected the elite of society with their ideas. Then it turned into genocide on a religious basis, first from the supporters of Catharism, and then from the Catholics who came.
    1. +7
      17 March 2016 11: 23
      You all the comments and mine and others' mixed in a heap, and it's hard for me to answer. I know about the pentagon and the bee ... and about the roots. But ... volume! So it turned out THREE MATERIALS. Without pictures, there would have been more text, but pictures are also interesting? Also the "sign of the Cathars". The article is popular, in any popular text, in order to achieve more information content, you have to generalize a little. It is impossible to make a footnote to every proposal and write a historian such-and-such, but such a historian thinks differently? Nobody here will read this! But it seems to me with the emblem it is permissible. Moreover, the "cross of Toulouse" was called "Qatari". And all the time you think - to give more photos or text too ... Such are the cases and "difficulties". By the way, when I wrote about the armor of Henry 8 in QUESTIONS OF HISTORY, I made a link to almost every sentence - but there are no pictures (they are not printed there), so I had to "send those interested!"
      1. +1
        17 March 2016 12: 08
        Text, text! Insect! Pictures - the Internet is large, seeker will find.
  8. xan
    +3
    17 March 2016 11: 11
    good article on an interesting topic.
    The cathedral is impressive even with a photo, it would be interesting to live.
  9. +3
    17 March 2016 11: 14
    A very interesting article - and the topic is little-known with us, but very interesting, and the photos are also in place - very impressive. I look forward to continuing good
    1. +1
      17 March 2016 13: 14
      There will be two more materials and they are already ready. Waiting for the queue.
  10. +1
    17 March 2016 11: 41
    Very, very much !!! Southern France - Cathars, the appearance of this current is very interesting. Nestorians, Arians, they do not have a number, but only the Cathars, or rather not the Cathars, and the state formation had a religion different from the Vatican.
    Moreover, the Cathars, those still peppers, declared their course to be correct, and official Catholicism - heresy. Those. no mutual coexistence. It’s just that the pope had more power to declare a crusade. According to the main provisions - the Reformation is not the Reformation, but the main thing is the same.
    I just wondered how the communication of the time (language) of the Cathars of J.France and Aragon took place.

    A castle Kakasson !!! I have a special force, I went there on purpose, painfully love the fortifications of the Middle Ages. Delight indescribable !!!!
    1. 0
      17 March 2016 12: 05
      Tv ma Carcassonne Castle!
    2. 0
      17 March 2016 13: 15
      Have you been to the torture museum? I looked, but since I was not alone, but with women, I did not go in. And around the perimeter of the castle went around the walls?
      1. 0
        17 March 2016 15: 37
        No. I was alone, about 4 hours, the heat was in July at 30, I just managed to run around the fortress and the upper city. It’s good that chocolate was with me by old habit. 4 years ago.
  11. +5
    17 March 2016 11: 52
    Quote: kalibr
    But ... volume! So it turned out THREE MATERIALS. Without photos, more text would have turned out, but are the photos interesting as well?

    I agree, yes, this is still popular material. We look forward to two more other articles! You have, as always, clearly, factually, without any fantastic nonsense. But often the real story turns out to be much more surprising than any science fiction.

    Quote: kalibr
    Moreover, the "cross of Toulouse" was called "Qatari".

    Well, some crosses and hospitaliers and Templars are called Qatari, although in the 13 century these orders were faithful strongholds of Rome, and hospitallers have been and still are. laughing

    By the way, the first attempts at widespread spread of catharism to the masses in Italy were recorded, if I am not mistaken, around 1040 (apparently just migrants from the Balkans or "Pavlikans" of Asia Minor).

    You can still recall that Gnosticism has generated a number of pseudo-religions - for example, the same Manichaeism is visible from there.

    By the way, even in the modern glowing Middle East there is a problem. Part of the Kurds - (or even the majority, but secretly) the Yezidis profess their own secret cult, quite unpleasant in its essence, probably rooted in the antique Middle Eastern Gnosticism or Manichaeism.

    And by the way, this is one of the factors of the absolute intransigence of the Kurds and ISIS. the latter, being Islamic fanatics and advocating "pure" early medieval Islam, categorically reject Yezidism and, considering that the majority of Kurds, even officially professing Islam (Sunni persuasion), will still not abandon the cult of the "peacock king" - they simply cut them out completely.

    Something it reminds 13 century and Southern France ...
    1. +4
      17 March 2016 13: 19
      You would be sent to Carcassonne and allowed to walk on the stones there. Of course, this is not Jerusalem, where Christ’s foot stepped on the stones, but also ... and this cross on the wall and next to the road posts with the date 1219. You stand and think - mother Mia is a living story! After that, somehow the fantasy of writing a hand does not rise.
  12. +3
    17 March 2016 11: 59
    I will add. On the topic is a very book - Renee Nelly. Qatar. Holy heretics. 400 pp. But read interestingly.
  13. +1
    17 March 2016 12: 00
    Dear Vyacheslav, Thank you very much for the information and beautiful photos! Here I look at the cross in the 1st figure above and think: does it make any sense that it has 12 rays ??? Maybe ZODIAC ??? But anyway --- with the statement that supposedly Our World is hell, I never agreed.
    1. 0
      17 March 2016 13: 19
      I can’t answer, I don’t know!
    2. +2
      17 March 2016 22: 11
      - Similar crosses are found on the land of present-day Uzbekistan, they belonged to the Nestorians ... The Cathars have common moments with the Nestorians, the Nestorians somehow intersected with the Manichaeans ... And if the Cathars were somehow connected with the Manichaeans, and possibly with the Mazdakites, who used (numerology? magic of numbers?)
      - "Four, seven and twelve." - There is a book by Maurice Semashko: "Mazdak", very interesting ... And if the ideas of the Manichaeans and Mazdakites were akin to the ideas of the Cathars, it becomes clear why they got rid of them ...
    3. The comment was deleted.
  14. -2
    17 March 2016 12: 37
    Catholicism and Orthodoxy, moreover, both of them in the past considered each other as heretics, and some who are especially zealous believers consider their “opponents” to be such even now!

    Many still consider Christian Catholics to be heretics!




    1. +4
      17 March 2016 13: 28
      I have a funny observation about this. I went to the Cathedral of Barcelona (13th century), and there along the walls of a niche and in them are gilded statues of saints. And in front of them ... a panel with lights and a slot for dropping coins. My granddaughter says: Give me, grandfather, ten cents - let's drop it! They lowered and flashed one light! Burned out and extinguished! They also dropped it ... Then she says to me - I want the euro! And as they lowered - the bulbs one after another - ffr! And then a tourist from Russia - "Pagans! What have they come up with instead of candles!" But then we have candles ... A little burned out, a real old hag appears (do they clone them?), Puts out and ... in a box! To be melted down! And where is paganism more and what is dearer to the Lord God?
      1. +1
        17 March 2016 14: 15
        I put a minus, I didn’t like the comment. Bulbs, this is certainly great, if only in the club for dancing.
        1. +1
          17 March 2016 16: 14
          But it’s true, I didn’t come up with it.
      2. +1
        17 March 2016 14: 54
        Quote: kalibr
        And where is more paganism and what is more pleasing to the Lord God?

        What is nicer, the Jewish God knows, crawling in front of him on his knees as before a master, groveling before him like a slave - before a sovereign. But for Man, what is needed is to honor his Family - his ancestors, and to prevent someone who deprives him of freedom - makes him stand on his knees - as a reptile. We need to honor the Gods of Heaven, since the Gods gave us the Soul and Conscience. And you need to honor the Father and your Mother, for they gave us life - spirit and body.
        Holy need to honor their Gods and ancestors and live according to conscience.


        1. 0
          17 March 2016 14: 59
          A beautiful picture would be there, to the light bulbs.
      3. +2
        17 March 2016 15: 50
        Large costs for cleaning frescoes and icons, as well as stained glass windows. Our churches, as a rule, are "whitewashed" every few years because of soot.
        In principle, it is enough to light and extinguish the candle. About the "old women" ... Yes, the priests also have problems with them, I know, they talked.
  15. +2
    17 March 2016 12: 55
    “But the princes of the church have a lip!” Depressed the most beautiful and richest provinces ... Heretics or competitors?
    - But what a beauty ... they lie about the Dark Middle Ages!
    1. +1
      17 March 2016 13: 30
      Yes, it’s very beautiful there, especially when the weather is sunny!
    2. +1
      17 March 2016 21: 06
      Quote: saygon66
      lie about the Dark Middle Ages!


      I dare to assume that most of the buildings in the photo, much younger than the Middle Ages, were completed later ....
      1. +1
        17 March 2016 21: 36
        Well, the cathedrals have been standing since then and repairing them since the days of Viollet le Duc so that it does not differ. In the castle of Carcassonne THREE TYPES OF CLUTCHES from different eras are preserved in the walls and you can see from them when they put what and how it was built. And then Viollet le Duc tried to make it as reliable as possible. A lot has been preserved, just amazing. There is a castle of the Chateau de Anjoni, where a family lives by the number of 24 generations! And if we consider how sociologists consider the century to be the 3 generation, then the castle is 800 years old and the family too. We must write to them, ask them to tell about the castle, about themselves ... If they agree, I think it will be interesting!
    3. 0
      17 March 2016 23: 31
      In Soviet times, there was such a film "the casket of Marie de Medici", it is just about the Albigensians and the castle of Montsegur at the beginning is shown ...
  16. 0
    17 March 2016 13: 31











    Well, and even in the article it is not indicated that it was the Cathars who were the first to shed blood, killing Catholic monks-preachers, who were sent to denounce heresy and to try BLOELLY to solve religious contradictions. They began to kill them simply and cruelly, tk. the Qatari "pure" were unable to reasonably respond to their criticism and ordered their supporters to commit illegal acts ... As a result, they received a crusade.

    City of Albi. From here it all began, it was from here that the “Alibigoy heresy” began.
    Vyacheslav, a small amendment. Everything began much more ancient before, from the Middle East, from the ancient mystical Gnostic sects of Palestine and Syria. Then this manifested itself in the early medieval time in Byzantium - in the territory of modern Eastern Turkey the Byzantine Cathars also had their own quasi-state, also crushed, but not only by the Catholic, but by the Orthodox forces of Byzantium. As a result of this, some of them fled to the Balkans and Italy, and from there to South. France moved.

    Everything in the world is afraid of time, the last Qatar has long since burned down in a fire flame, but the Toulouse Cross is still seen on the wall of a house in the fortress of Carcassonne.
    In fact, the heraldic symbol is simple, not the sign of the Cathars. If you want to know, the Pentagon, a five-pointed star, is considered one of the symbols of catharism. One of the symbols of modern Freemasonry as well as communism.

    Quote from Korsar4
    Dead end.
    In general, the Cathars in their struggle against Catholicism are considered one of the forerunners of the Masonic and even neoliberal movements of modern Europe.

    I would like to read books on this topic. Please tell me the name. Regards.
  17. +4
    17 March 2016 17: 23
    Quote: Reptiloid
    So I look at the cross in the 1 figure above and think: does it make any sense that it has 12 rays ??? Maybe ZODIAC ??

    This is an elementary Christian heraldry - Christ in the center and 12 of the Apostles.

    Quote: kalibr
    But then we have candles ... A little burn, a real old hag appears (do they clone them?), Extinguishes and ... in a box! For re-melting! And where is more paganism and what is more pleasing to the Lord God?

    Candles have nothing to do with paganism, they indicate first of all clarity, the burning of the mind in prayer.
    And secondly, they are a symbol of human life and the soul directed towards God.

    And old women in temples - well, take them as a kind of temptation, a test of your character for tolerance and resistance to maintaining peace of mind. (and also like them, a certain old hag with a scythe puts out human souls both in a box and in a box ...)


    By the way, I "congratulate" all members of the forum on the emergence of the first state with Manichean roots - just today it was officially announced the creation of an Independent Kurdish Federation, which will include the territories of Iraq, Syria and Turkey inhabited by Kurds. But only today I wrote about the secret religion of the Kurds, wow ...
    1. 0
      17 March 2016 17: 32
      There is a very good novel by James Aldridge "Mountains and Arms" - just about those places!
  18. +1
    17 March 2016 18: 02
    Thanks for the reply.
    Different Kurdish tribes have different denominations, not only Yezidis. There are Muslims, Christians, and even denominations unknown to science (for example, the Yarisans tribe). They are therefore unknown, because to them, after the Yezidis opened to Western science, began to be biased. Source:
    Andrew Collins. Fallen Angels. Moscow, Eksmo, 2008.
  19. +1
    17 March 2016 20: 10
    Good article. Thanks to the author.

    But here is the question.

    What is the role of religion? Is religion a means of earning, or is religion a different role? Then what is this role? Progressive component or regression?

    Maybe out of place questions. But if the article is historical, and history is a science that evaluates the present through knowledge of the past.
    Maybe there is an opinion?
    1. 0
      17 March 2016 21: 06
      In the textbook of cultural studies, the role of religion is defined as a way or means by which a person tried to explain the incomprehensible and bypass death. That is, all three world religions are based on three groups of beliefs from the Paleolithic era: animism, totemism and magic. Here we are not far from primitive people! And as soon as the institution of religion arose, it became a means of earning money for many! What did Thomas Aquinas say? "It's absurd, that's why I believe!" It's just that our knowledge of many things is not enough and "darkness" nurtures faith in the miraculous.
      1. +1
        18 March 2016 23: 27
        - Let me disagree with you! Not from the "darkness" Faith, but from the desire to see the Light.
        - A. Rosenbaum wrote about this well: “Give God back to me - I want to believe!
        In someone, in something - but believe!
        It will be easier for me to measure my life by faith
        And calmly approach the executioner! "
        - And "in a lot of knowledge and a lot of sadness ...) (C)!
    2. +2
      17 March 2016 23: 10
      - smile Religion itself - obviously not! But the Church, as an organization engaged in the distribution of it, needs funds ... The Church is an organization that is self-supporting and self-financing!
      -Question, where donations go: For monasteries, schools and hospitals, or for Mercedes cars and silk robes ... for worshipers.
      - And, in my opinion, Religion is the alpha and omega in the relations of people ... It existed before the advent of secular laws, somewhere without them now, and, probably, if civilization collapses - Religion will be the last thing that preserves the Light in man.
    3. The comment was deleted.
  20. +4
    17 March 2016 20: 54
    Read carefully the gentlemen of the work of L.N. Gumilyov. About the attitude of the Pavlikians, Cathars and other evil spirits ... The perception of the world should be only positive, and beyond that - something from "Lukavago".
    1. +4
      17 March 2016 22: 57
      Lev Nikolaevich defines these currents as "anti-systems". An attribute of a system that is at a high degree of passionate ascent, using it for its own development, but at the same time pursuing opposite goals. There are examples in history when the "anti-system" prevailed in specific states (Karmatians, Fatimids). In such cases, either the state perished, or the "anti-system" in order to retain power and ensure the development of the country changed and included "systemic" elements. This phenomenon is characteristic not only of religions. In the modern world, Ukraine is an excellent example of "anti-system".
  21. +2
    17 March 2016 22: 16
    For the historian - illiterate.
    One should understand that "it all began" and not at all in Albi.

    From east to west, and in time, one after the other: Mani, Pavlikians, Bohumils, Cathars. And it all began, in fact, in Alexandria.

    Interestingly, in Languedoc, the Cathars are a religion of nobles and not peasants (who remained Catholics)
    1. 0
      18 March 2016 09: 40
      It’s just not necessary ... There were also enough catarist peasants there, there are plenty of descriptions for that. But I'm illiterate, I can think so. And the Algigoy heresy began in Albi, but about Bohumilov, Manichaeans, write - who's stopping? Do you know why I didn’t write? Personal impressions, so to speak, are absent, but for a historian this is very important. Not only from books, but also from my own impression.
  22. 0
    18 March 2016 21: 47
    Quote: Reptiloid
    Different Kurdish tribes have different denominations, not only Yezidis. There are Muslims, Christians, and even denominations unknown to science.
    You do not know a little the essence of Yezidism. Once again, all the Kurdish secret clan religions are their essence, and they have common roots, clearly dating back to Manichaeism or even to even more ancient patrimonial pagan beliefs. And OFFICIALLY - they yes, in the majority they traditionally profess the religions of the majority among whom they live.

    At the same time, God forbid, I am not saying that ISIS with their "pure" medieval Islam is better, not at all, just each side in the Syrian conflict has a "skeleton in the closet", or even more than one.

    Quote: gladcu2
    Is religion a means of earning, or is religion a different role? Then what is this role? Progressive component or regression?
    Religion as a means of earning is present only in totalitarian sects (the same Mormons, Munists, etc.). I will say more, and the church organization as such - it also needs funds for normal functioning, the whole question is simply in some people who use their position for personal enrichment.

    But in fact, to consider that all priests of the Orthodox Church are goons and skopidomians is the same as judging all officers of the Russian army by Pasha Mercedes or Serdyukov.

    Quote: AK64
    From east to west, and in time, one after the other: Mani, Pavlikians, Bohumils, Cathars. And it all began, in fact, in Alexandria.
    I also noted this above, not only in Alexandria, but everywhere in the centers where the ancient mysticism of the Middle East and Greek teachings were fused.
  23. -2
    18 March 2016 23: 16
    "The Church of the Cathars was Magdalene herself and her Spiritual Temple. That is, the Temple of Light and Knowledge, as well as the Temple of Radomir, whose knights were at first the Templars (the King of Jerusalem, Baldwin II, called the Knights of the Temple Templars. Temple - in French - Temple.) there was no definite building in which people would come to pray. The Cathar Church was in their souls. But it still had its apostles (or, as they were called - the Perfect ones), the first of which, of course, was Magdalene. there were people who reached the highest levels of Knowledge, and dedicated themselves to absolute service to it.They continuously improved their Spirit, almost giving up physical food and physical love.The perfect served people, teaching them their knowledge, healing those in need and protecting their wards from tenacious and dangerous paws of the Catholic Church. They were amazing and selfless people, ready to the last to defend their Knowledge and Faith, and gave them this Magdalene. It is a pity that there are almost no diaries left for atar. All that we have left is the records of Radomir and Magdalene, but they do not give us the exact events of the last tragic days of the courageous and bright Qatari people, since these events took place two hundred years after the death of Jesus and Magdalene. "
    1. 0
      21 November 2017 19: 37
      Here are reviews, mainly of adherents of the Russian Orthodox Church and papists. If the pope said that the Cathars are heretics, then this is beyond doubt. This is the same “truth” that before Cyril and Methodius came to Russia, tailed Slavs rode along the Christmas trees. As it was in fact one can only guess, the popes did a very good job of destroying the Cathars all indiscriminately, right down to babies. And they destroyed all the documents, where at least somehow they were mentioned. However, on Orthodox icons with images of Christ there is always a Qatari cross in the form of a halo behind his head. The cross in the circle, it is precisely it that is depicted by icon painters, which can also be found in many European cathedrals, in particular at Notre Dame Cathedral, the western portal. In general, the Cathars were destroyed, and now you can compose whatever your heart desires. No wonder they say that the winners write the story.
  24. 0
    21 March 2016 07: 05
    There are a lot of elements of Buddhism in Christianity, although the basis is still from Judaism. One can say to some extent an alloy of these teachings.

"Right Sector" (banned in Russia), "Ukrainian Insurgent Army" (UPA) (banned in Russia), ISIS (banned in Russia), "Jabhat Fatah al-Sham" formerly "Jabhat al-Nusra" (banned in Russia) , Taliban (banned in Russia), Al-Qaeda (banned in Russia), Anti-Corruption Foundation (banned in Russia), Navalny Headquarters (banned in Russia), Facebook (banned in Russia), Instagram (banned in Russia), Meta (banned in Russia), Misanthropic Division (banned in Russia), Azov (banned in Russia), Muslim Brotherhood (banned in Russia), Aum Shinrikyo (banned in Russia), AUE (banned in Russia), UNA-UNSO (banned in Russia), Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People (banned in Russia), Legion “Freedom of Russia” (armed formation, recognized as terrorist in the Russian Federation and banned)

“Non-profit organizations, unregistered public associations or individuals performing the functions of a foreign agent,” as well as media outlets performing the functions of a foreign agent: “Medusa”; "Voice of America"; "Realities"; "Present time"; "Radio Freedom"; Ponomarev; Savitskaya; Markelov; Kamalyagin; Apakhonchich; Makarevich; Dud; Gordon; Zhdanov; Medvedev; Fedorov; "Owl"; "Alliance of Doctors"; "RKK" "Levada Center"; "Memorial"; "Voice"; "Person and law"; "Rain"; "Mediazone"; "Deutsche Welle"; QMS "Caucasian Knot"; "Insider"; "New Newspaper"