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Thondracians

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Thomson, William, D.D.

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an Armenian sect, founded by Sembat about A.D. 840, and taking its name from Thondrac, where he established himself. A Paulician by birth and education, he formed the acquaintance of Medshusic, a Persian physician and astronomer, whose influence led him to attempt a combination of Parseeism and Christianity. This sect, though meeting with no favor from the bishops, continually revived, and spread widely in Armenia. At one time in particular, about A.D. 1002, it made the most alarming progress, when it was joined by bishop Jacob, spiritual head of the province of Harkh. He was noted for the austerity of his life, and both he and his followers denounced the false confidence which was placed in masses, oblations, alms, and Church prayers; and he declared himself opposed to the animal sacrifice in the Armenian Church. He was taken by the catholicos, branded with the heretical mark, proclaimed a heretic, thrown into a dungeon, from which he escaped, but was finally killed. Many of the reports respecting the doctrines and morals of the Thondracians, coming as they do from their enemies, are doubtless false, or at least exaggerated. See Neander, Hist. of the Christ. Church, 3, 588 sq.