True Russian Orthodox Church

A suicidal doomsday cult that isolated themselves in a cave in anticipation of the coming apocalypse

early 2000s - 2008

Members leaving the cave

The True Russian Orthodox Church, founded by Pyotr Kuznetsov in the early 2000s, rose to prominence through the charismatic leader's manifestos based on the teachings of the Russian Orthodox Church. The movement quickly gained a following of devout individuals who, inspired by Kuznetsov's message, began separating themselves from society and taking up residency in a shared building.

As they became increasingly devoted to him, Kuznetsov's followers stockpiled an underground bunker with food and explosives, which they entered to wait for the apocalypse, threatening to blow themselves up if anyone intervened. This move resulted in a long standoff between cult members and authorities, where not even Kuznetsov could convince his followers to leave the cave.

Eventually, the cult agreed to leave the cave after the decomposing bodies of dead members became too toxic. In the end, Kuznetsov attempted suicide after realizing he was wrong, and the group disbanded.

Religion: Christianity

Denomination: Russian Orthodox

Founder: Pyotr Kuznetsov ("Brother Maxim")

Founded: early 2000s

Ended: 2008

Location: Nikoskoye, Russia

Size: 30

Also called: Heavenly Jerusalem

Communal

29 followers of Pyotr Kuznetsov lived in a cave together for several months (source)
Members of the True Russian Orthodox Church lived in the same building before they entered the cave (source)

Conspiracy Theorists

Members of the True Russian Orthodox Church believed that bar codes and credit cards were satanic (source)
Pyotr Kuznetsov tried to convince his followers to leave, but they stopped trusting him and suspected that he was being manipulated by the government (source)

Doomsday

The True Russian Orthodox Church believed the world would end on May 20, 2008 (source)
Cult members isolated themselves in a cave/bunker to protect themselves from an upcoming apocalypse (source)

Leader-Prophet

Leader Pyotr Kuznetsov was a self-described prophet (source)
Members of the True Russian Orthodox Church were told that they would determine who went to Heaven or Hell (source)

Separation from World

Members of the True Russian Orthodox Church isolated themselves in a cave (source)
Pyotr Kuznetsov forbid his followers from watching television, listening to the radio, or handling money (source)
The cult rejected products with barcodes on them and destroyed their passports, believing both were evil (source)
Members refused to register for social security (source)
Instead of giving a list of demands to authorities, cult members simply asked to be left alone (source)

Suicide

The True Russian Orthodox Church brought 100 gallons into the cave with them to blow themselves up if authorities tried to intervene (source)
Two cult members died inside the bunker (source)
Pyotr Kuznetsov attempted suicide after realizing his predictions were false (source)

Other info:

Leader Pyotr Kuznetsov did not enter the cave with his followers (source)
Kuznetsov has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and sleeps in a coffin (source)
Cult members would only accept food if it had not been processed with modern factory equipment (source)

Other tags:

Renunciation of Private Property

Podcast episode on the cult