Communities of old believers-capitons in the central Russia and the governmental searches of churchs decedents in the XVII c.
The article describes the condition of the communities on old believers-capitons in the central Russia of the XVII c. The author investigates location, activity and social composition of old believers communities. The interconnection of governmental searches of old believers and the division of the first old believers organizations is analyzed for the first time. The centers of old believers have been studied as well as their interrelations with the patronage communities. The problems of relations the old believers leaders and their attitude to the collapse of the united movement is being investigated.