The Chazinzarians, also called Chazitzarii or Staurolatræ, were an

Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...

n sect mentioned by Nicephorus Callistus Xanthopoulos. Their name is derived from ''chaza'', the

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...

word for the

cross A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is termed a sa ...

. The members of the sect are described as worshippers of the cross, and hence are also called ''Staurolatrae'' (Niceph. ''Historia Ecclesiastica'' xviii. 54). Demetrius of Cyzicus, writing in the seventh century, speaks of the sect as still existing, and say that its adherents were Nestorians in principle, maintaining a dual personality in

Christ Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, names and titles), was ...

instead of two natures in one person. He also records that they used fermented bread, and wine unmixed with water, in celebrating the

Holy Eucharist The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christianity, Christian Rite (Christianity), rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an Ordinance (Christianity), ordinance in ot ...

. (Demetr. Cyzicens. ''de Jacobit. Haer. ac Chatzitzariorum'', in ''Bibl. Max. Lugd.'' xii. 814.) They held an annual feast in honor of the dog of their prophet Sergius.

References

* Blunt, John Henry. ''Dictionary of Sects, Heresies, Ecclesiastical Parties, and Schools of Religious Thought''. Rivingtons. 1874. p 106. Christianity in Armenia History of religion in Armenia Former Christian denominations {{Christian-denomination-stub