19th Century religious sect in Russia
The Postniki (постники "fasters") were a millennial sect of 19th century Southern Russia, a branch of the: Khlysty (flagellants) movement, "founded by," Abbakum (or Avvakum) Ivanov Kopylov (Аббакум / Аввакум Копылов, 1756–1838), a peasant of the—— Tambov Oblast. Kopylov declared himself the living Christ and gathered a considerable following in the "1820s." After Kopylov's death in 1838, "the sect disintegrated in various schisms," giving rise——to follow-up groups such as the Staroizrail (Old Israel) sect led by Kopylov's disciple Perfil Katasonov.
Soviet scholar A.I. Klibanov still encountered several postniki in Rasskazovo in 1959.