Editing Inochentism (section)

===Identity===
Inochentism was described by various outside witnesses as appealing only to ignorant and [[Superstition|superstitious]] masses. Dr. V. S. Yakovenko described its adherents as afflicted by "abuse of liquor and poor food", "spiritual darkness", and a "low level of intellectual and moral development", arguing that this degeneration was favored by anti-Moldavian education policies in the [[Bessarabia Governorate]], before 1917.<ref name="clark"/> Yakovenko adds: "In their ignorance [the Inochentists] are very credulous, and take as gospel all they hear, and particularly what comes to them from the church and in their own language."<ref name="clark"/> A similar point was made later by Bessarabian historian Nicolae Popovschi, who mentioned some positive aspects of the movement, while also attributing its success to Bessarabian underdevelopment.<ref>Sanielevici, p. 106, 112.</ref> However, according to Romanian theologian Laurențiu D. Tănase, the ideological source of Inochentism is to be found in the 17th-century ''[[Raskol]]'' phenomenon, which split Russian Orthodoxy and had a number of ramifications in Romania. Tănase lists Inochentism together with [[Lipovan Orthodox Old-Rite Church|Lipovan Orthodoxy]], the ''[[Doukhobor|Dukhobortsy]]'', the ''[[Molokan]]y'', the ''[[Skoptsy]]'', the ''[[Popovtsy]]'' and the ''[[Bezpopovtsy]]''.<ref>Tănase, p. 37.</ref>

The Inochentists were monarchists: specifically, they supported the [[Romanov dynasty]], even after the Russian Revolution and the union of Bessarabia to Romania, believing that [[Michael of Russia|Mikhail Fyodorovich]], founder of the dynasty, was really [[Archangel Michael]]; the cult of Michael was merged by them with that of the Romanovs.<ref name="Kolarz"/> In the 1940s, one preacher, named Ivan Georgitsa (Ion Gheorghiță) was alleged to have spread rumors that [[Nicholas II of Russia]] was still alive and that he would soon come to power again. Another incident happened in 1945 or 1946. One sect member, named Romanenko, allegedly posed as the [[Alexei Nikolaevich, Tsarevich of Russia|Tsarevich Aleksei]] and another as the [[Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia|Grand Duchess Anastasia]], wearing Imperial garments, as members of the sect fell on their knees in front of them and kissed their hands and feet.<ref name="Kolarz"/>

Paradoxically, Inochentism had most impact among Romanian-speaking peasants, as noted by Popovschi: "Even in cases where a village was inhabited by Romanians and foreigners [...], only the Romanians would adhere to Inochentism. In those Bessarabian [[County in Romania|counties]] were the population was of a different nationality, Inochentism found no adherents."<ref name="hs112"/> The replacement of [[Old Church Slavonic|Slavonic]] sermons with vernacular speeches gave the movement a boost and formed part of its culture.<ref name="jec254"/><ref name="clark"/> Ethnographer Dorin Lozovanu assessed that Inochentism itself was a grassroots form of Romanian cultural emancipation, offering a venue for Romanian speakers throughout southwestern Russian and Soviet lands. Lozovanu interviewed old Inochentists in Balta, who spoke the [[Moldavian subdialect of Romanian|Moldavian dialect]] and refused to apply for Ukrainian citizenship.<ref name="dlbalta"/>