Bogomili

Bogomili (from Slav, words meaning Gods' mercy), a religious sect which arose in the 12th century at Philippopolis in Bulgaria, under a monk named Basil. Their theology was dualistic. From the Ultimate Reality proceeded a good and an evil principle, the latter - conceived as the creator of the world - being finally overcome by Christ. They were extreme ascetics, and rejected the Church, with its priesthood and other sacraments. Their leader was burnt by the Emperor Alexius Comnenus, but the sect continued to exist in Bosnia, where its presence tended to facilitate the reception of Mohammedanism upon the Turkish conquest by the Turks.