Great Muscovite Law Code (1649)

Document Text

Chapter 1.—Blasphemers and Church Troublemakers. In It Are 9 Articles.

1. If believers in non-Orthodox faiths, of whatever creed, or a Russian, casts abuse on the Lord God and our Savior Jesus Christ, or on the Lady Most Pure Who gave birth to Him, our Mother of God the Chaste Maiden Mary, or on the Holy Cross, or on His Holy Saints: rigorously investigate this by all methods of inquiry. If that is established conclusively: having convicted the blasphemer, execute him by burning him [in a cage].

2. If a disorderly person, coming into God’s church during the holy liturgy, by any action whatsoever does not permit the completion of the divine liturgy: having arrested him and investigated him rigorously [and having established] that he committed such a deed, punish him with death without any mercy.

3. If someone during the holy liturgy [or during] other church services, coming into God’s church, proceeds to address indecent remarks to the patriarch, or a metropolitan, or...