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Pirnensians

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Pirna, John

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a mediaeval sect, taking its name from John Pirna or Pirnensis, an anti- sacerdotal schismatic of Silesia, A.D. 1341. His principles were those common to the mediaeval sects, and illustrated especially in the Beghards and the Brethren of the Free Spirit. It is thought probable that they were in some way connected with the Strigolniks of Russia, although the latter belong to a much more recent time. The Pirnensians regarded the pope as Antichrist, and were especially distinguished by great hatred of the clergy. They disappeared on the Continent by merging with the Hussites. See Krazinski, Hist. of the Reformation in Poland, 1, 55; Hardwick, Hist. of the Church in the Middle Ages, p. 374.