The term “Cathari” refers to members of a medieval Christian sect known as the Catharism, which emerged in the 12th century in southern France. The Cathars held dualistic beliefs, emphasizing a distinction between a good spiritual world and an evil material world. They rejected the authority of the Roman Catholic Church and were known for their ascetic lifestyle, advocating for purity and simplicity. The movement was ultimately deemed heretical, leading to significant persecution, most notably during the Albigensian Crusade in the early 13th century. The term “Cathari” itself is derived from the Greek word “katharos,” meaning “pure.”
