The Life of the Holy Martyr and Confessor Avvakum of = Pustozersk

In Tobolsk=20 the Archbishop appointed me to a church, = ¹⁴=20 and there I suffered great trials. In a year = and a=20 half, I was accused five times of treason against the = Tsar. A=20 certain Ivan Struna, secretary of the Archbishop's = Chancery,=20 persecuted me; while the Archbishop was away in = Moscow, Struna=20 was inspired by the devil to fall on me. Without cause = he=20 tormented Deacon Anthony, and the latter ran away from = him and=20 came to my church. Ivan Struna called his attendants = and also=20 came to the church on another day. I was singing = Vespers, and=20 he rushed into the choir and clutched Anthony by the = beard,=20 while I closed the church doors and let no one in. = Struna was=20 alone in there, carrying on like the devil. And I,=20 interrupting the office, seated Struna in the middle = of the=20 church with the help of Anthony and thrashed him with = a=20 leather strap for disturbance in church. And the = others, about=20 twenty strong, fled, driven by the Holy Ghost. Having = received=20 Struna's repentance. I sent him = home.

But=20 Struna's kinsmen, monks and priests, set the whole = city astir=20 in order to bring about my undoing. At midnight they = came in a=20 sleigh to my door and tried to break in and seize me, = in order=20 to have me drowned; but the fear of God dispersed them = and=20 made them turn back. For a month I suffered, having to = hide=20 myself; I would sleep one night at the church and = another=20 night at the governor's house. I even begged to be = locked in=20 prison but was not admitted.

There came=20 an ukase ordering that I should be taken away from = Tobolsk,=20 because I had condemned Nikon for his heresy, speaking = from=20 the Scriptures. At that time I received a letter from = Moscow,=20 informing me that two of my brothers, who lived in the = palace=20 in the Tsarina's apartments, ¹⁵=20 had died of the plague, with their wives and = children;=20 and many others among my kinsmen and friends had also = died.=20 God had let flow on the Kingdom the vial of His wrath, = and the=20 wretched ones did not repent; they continue to cause = trouble=20 in the Church. Neronov had often warned the Tsar: = There will=20 be three visitations resulting from the schism in the = Church:=20 plague, the sword, division. And this is what has = happened=20 today.

But the=20 Lord is merciful; having punished us, so that we may = repent,=20 He forgives us; having cured the ills of our souls and = bodies,=20 He will give us peace. I hope and trust in Christ, I = await His=20 mercy and expect the resuirection of the=20 dead.

Once more I=20 sailed in my ship, as had been shown to me in the = vision=20 already described. I made my way to the Lena River. = When we=20 reached Yeniseisk there came another ukase ordering me = to=20 Dauria, ¹⁶=20 twenty thousand versts and more from Moscow; = I was to=20 be given over to Afanasy Pashkov and his regiment. He = had six=20 hundred men under his command. He was a rough man, for = my=20 sins, and he burned, flogged and tortured people = unceasingly.=20 I had often tried to stay him, but finally I had = fallen into=20 his hands. From Moscow he had received Nikon's orders = to=20 torment me.

After we=20 left Yeniseisk, as we reached the great Tunguzka = River, a=20 storm almost wrecked my barge; it floated in midstream = and=20 filled with water, and its sails were torn. All but = the deck=20 was submerged. My wife, bareheaded, ¹⁷=20 pulled the children out of the water, and I, = lifting my=20 eyes to heaven, cried: "Lord, help us and save us!" By = the=20 will of God we were blown toward the shore. 'Tis a = long story=20 to tell. Two men in another barge were pitched = overboard and=20 drowned. And we, having regained our composure on = shore,=20 resumed our journey.

As we came=20 to the Shaman rapids, we met other folk sailing on the = river;=20 among them were two widows, one about sixty and the = other even=20 more advanced in age; they were on their way to a = convent to=20 take the veil. And Pashkov wanted them to turn back = and be=20 compelled to marry. I said to him: "According to the = law of=20 the Church, it is not fitting to have them married." = But=20 instead of heeding my words, he became enraged and = began to=20 torture me. When we reached the Long Rapids, he = started to=20 push me out of the barge, saying: "Tis because of you = that the=20 barge makes such slow progress, you are a heretic. Go = into the=20 mountains, your place is not among=20 Cossacks."

Ah, poor=20 me! the mountains were high, the forest dense; the = cliffs=20 stood like a wall, one could break one's neck looking = up at=20 them. In these mountains live great snakes, and geese = and=20 ducks with red feathers fly overhead, black crows and = grey=20 jackdaws. In these mountains there are also eagles and = hawks=20 and gerfalcons and guinea-fowl, pelicans and swans, = and other=20 wild birds of different kinds in great numbers. And = many=20 beasts roam likewise in these mountains: wild bucks = and deer,=20 aurochs, elks, boars, wolves, wild sheep, which are = plainly to=20 be seen but cannot be captured.

Pashkov=20 wanted to cast me out into these mountains, to live = among the=20 birds and beasts. So I wrote him a short letter, and = it=20 started thus: "Man, fear God, Who sits on the Cherubim = and Who=20 watches over the abyss, before Whom tremble the = heavenly=20 powers and all creatures, including man. You alone = despise Him=20 and cause disturbance," and so on. There was much I = wrote in=20 that letter, and I had it taken to him. About fifty = men came=20 running, and they took my barge and towed it to where = he was,=20 about three versts away. I cooked some porridge for = the=20 Cossacks and fed them, poor souls; they were eating = and=20 trembling at the same time, and some of them wept out = of pity=20 for me.

When the=20 barge was towed ashore, the executioners seized me and = led me=20 before him. He stood, sword in hand, and shaking. = First he=20 asked me: "Are you a true pope ¹⁸=20 or an unfrocked one?" I answered: "I am = Avvakum,=20 Archpriest. Speak, what is it you want of me?" He = roared like=20 a wild beast and struck me on one check and then on = the other,=20 and beat me on the head, and knocked me down, and = seizing his=20 battle-axe, he struck me three times on the back, as I = lay=20 there. Then, tearing off my garment, he applied = seventy-two=20 strokes of the whip on that very same back of mine. = And I=20 cried: "Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, help me!" And I = repeated these words unceasingly, and he was sorely = vexed,=20 because I did not say: "Have mercy." At each stroke of = the=20 whip, I recited the prayer; then, in the middle of the = thrashing, I cried out: "Enough of this beating," and = he=20 ordered the thrashing to be stopped. I asked him: "Do = you know=20 why you beat me? Why?" And once more he ordered that I = should=20 be struck in the ribs, and then they let me go, I = trembled and=20 fell. And he had me placed in the ammunition-boat; = they=20 fettered me hand and foot and threw me onto a beam. It = was=20 autumn, and rain beat on me all night. I lay under the = downpour. While they had been flogging me, I had felt = no pain,=20 thanks to my prayer, but now, as I lay there, a = thought=20 crossed my mind: "Son of God, why didst Thou permit = such a=20 hard beating? Did I not defend Thy widows? Who shall = be the=20 judge between Thee and me? When I was committing evil = Thou=20 didst not afflict me so cruelly. And now, I know not = in what=20 way I have sinned." Ah, what virtue I displayed! I, = another=20 dung-faced pharisee, dared to take issue concerning = the Lord's=20 justice! If Job could speak thus, it is because he was = just=20 and sinless; moreover, he did not know the Scriptures, = for he=20 lived outside the Law in the land of barbarians, and = knew God=20 through the creation. As to myself, I am first of all = a=20 sinner; and secondly, I am supported by the Law, = fortified in=20 all things by the Scriptures, "We must through much=20 tribulation enter the Kingdom of God." And I had = committed=20 such folly. Woe to me! How was it that the boat did = not sink=20 with me?

Then it was=20 that my bones began to ache, and my veins grew taut, = and my=20 heart failed me and I was near death. They blew water = in my=20 mouth, and I breathed again and repented before the = Lord. The=20 sweet Lord is merciful; he forgets our former = transgressions=20 in view of our repentance. And once more nothing = pained=20 me.

In the=20 morning they threw me into a small boat and towed it = along. We=20 reached the great Padun Rapids, where the river is one = verst=20 wide. There are three steep reefs stretching across = the river.=20 If you do not sail through the channel, your craft = will be=20 smashed into splinters. I was brought to the rapids; = it was=20 raining and snowing, and I had on nothing but a thin = kaftan.=20 The water splashed over my back and belly. Great was = my=20 distress! They took me out of the boat and dragged me = in=20 chains over the rocks round the rapids. It was = painful, but=20 good for the soul, and this time I did not murmur = against God.=20 I recalled the words of the prophets and apostles: = "Whom the=20 Lord loveth, He chastiseth: and He scourgeth every son = whom He=20 receiveth ... For what son is there whom the father = doth not=20 correct?" And with these words I was=20 comforted.

Then I was=20 taken to Fort Bratsky and thrown into jail, and given = a little=20 straw. I remained there till St. Philip's fast,=20 ¹⁹=20 in a frozen tower; it is already winter at = that time in=20 this land, but God warmed me in want of clothing. I = lay like a=20 little dog on the straw; some days they would feed me = and some=20 days not; there were a great many mice, and I hit them = with my=20 biretta -the fools would not even give me a stick. I = lay all=20 the time on my belly: my back was sore, and there were = many=20 fleas and lice. I wanted to cry out to Pashkov: = "Pardon!" but=20 God's will forbade it and ordered me to be patient. = Later I=20 was transferred to a warm house, and there I spent the = winter=20 in chains with the hostages ²⁰=20 and the dogs. My wife and children had been = sent far=20 from me, some twenty versts away. And all that winter = she was=20 plagued and rebuked by her servant Xenia. My son Ivan, = a small=20 lad, came to stay with me for a while after Christmas. = Pashkov=20 had him thrown into the cold cell where I had lain. He = spent=20 the night there, poor dear lad, and almost froze to = death. In=20 the morning, he was sent back to his mother. He = reached home=20 with his hands and feet frozen.

In spring=20 we went once more on our way. There was not much left = of our=20 supplies; all had been pilfered; even books and = clothing and=20 utensils had been stolen. On Lake Baikal again I came = close to=20 drowning. Pashkov made me pull the towing-rope on the = Khilok=20 River; it was a hard run, and no time for eating or = sleeping.=20 All summer I was tormented by this towing in the = water. The=20 men died, and my feet and belly were swollen. Two = summers we=20 towed in the water, and in winter we had to haul on = dry land.=20 It was on that river Khilok that, for the third time, = I was=20 nearly drowned. The boat was carried away; the other = boats=20 remained near the shore, but mine was seized and drawn = by the=20 current. My wife and children had remained on shore, = but I was=20 carried away with the helmsman. The stream was swift, = it=20 turned the boat upside down, and I crawled onto it, = crying:=20 "Our Lady, help! Our Hope, do not drown us!" Now my = feet would=20 be under water, and then again I would scramble onto = the boat;=20 we drifted a verst or so, and then the men caught us.=20 Everything was soaked through and through. But what is = to be=20 done if such is the will of the Mother of God? I came = out of=20 the water laughing, but the men heaved many sighs and = spread=20 my clothing on the bushes: coats of satin and taffeta = and some=20 other trifles which still filled the chests and sacks. = From=20 that day on everything went to rot. We were without = clothing.=20 Pashkov wanted to give me another beating: "You have = made=20 yourself a laughing-stock!" But I once more entreated = the good=20 Mother: "Gracious Queen, stop that fool." And she, Our = Hope,=20 appeased him, and he took pity on = me.

That spring=20 we began to sail on rafts down the Ingoda River. This = was my=20 fourth year of navigation since I had left=20 Tobolsk.

We floated=20 lumber for the building of houses and forts. There was = nothing=20 to eat; men died of hunger, and from working in the = water.=20 Shallow was the river and the rafts heavy, the = taskmasters=20 pitiless, the sticks hard, the cudgels knotty, the = whips=20 cutting, our sufferings cruel: fire and rack and = people=20 starving! One more stroke and a man would fall dead. = Alas,=20 what times were these! I know not how he could lose = his mind=20 in this way.

My wife had=20 only one cloak left that had not rotted. It would have = been=20 worth twenty-five rubles in Russia, and more over = here, but he=20 gave four sacks of rye for it, and they lasted one or = two=20 years, while we lived on the river Nercha, eating = mostly=20 grass. He let all his men die of hunger; there = remained a=20 small troop, roaming through the steppes, digging for = roots=20 and grass, and we did as the others. In winter we fed = on=20 pine-bark, and sometimes, by luck, on horse flesh and = the=20 carcasses of beasts killed by wolves. What the wolves = did not=20 devour, we ate. And some would feed on frozen wolves = and foxes=20 and every other kind of filthy beast they could find. = If a=20 mare foaled, the foal was devoured in secret, together = with=20 the caul. When Pashkov heard about it, he would have = them=20 flogged to death. ²¹=20 Sometimes the mare would die because she had = not been=20 allowed to foal naturally: they tore the foal out as = soon as=20 the head appeared, and they drank the foul blood. Ah, = what sad=20 times were these!

I also lost=20 two small sons in those hard days. They roamed the = hills with=20 the others, naked and barefoot on the sharp stones, = feeding on=20 grass and roots as best they could. I myself, = miserable=20 sinner, had to eat that horse-flesh and the foul = carcasses of=20 bird and beast. Alas for my sinful soul! Who shall = freshen my=20 eyes with the source of tears, that I may weep over my = poor=20 soul, for having lost itself to the delectations of = the=20 world!

But we were=20 helped in Christ by the lady Eudokia Kirillovna,=20 daughter-in-law of Afanasy, the governor, also by his = wife,=20 Fekla Semenovna. They preserved us secretly from = starvation=20 and death by sending us, without his knowing anything = about=20 it, now a piece of meat, now a loaf of bread, = sometimes a=20 little flour and oats, whatever she could gather, ten = pounds,=20 and some money, and even sometimes as much as twenty = pounds.=20 Or else she would scrape up some food from the = chickens'=20 trough.

My=20 daughter, the poor maid Agrippina, would secretly go = up to her=20 window. It made us feel like weeping and laughing at = the same=20 time. Sometimes they would drive her away, without the = lady=20 being warned, but sometimes she would come home with = an=20 armload. She was then but a small child; she is = twenty-seven=20 today and still a maid, living in Mezen with her two = younger=20 sisters, in grief and uncertainty. Her mother and = brother are=20 imprisoned underground. But what can be done about it? = Let=20 them all suffer bitterly for Christ's sake. So be it, = with=20 God's help. It is fitting to suffer for the Christian = faith.=20 This Archpriest formerly enjoyed intercourse with the = great,=20 and now, poor wretch, let him delight in suffering to = the end;=20 for it has been written: Blessed is not he who begins, = but he=20 who perseveres to the end. But enough on that subject. = Let us=20 resume our previous topic.

These great=20 calamities lasted six or seven years in the land of = Dauria,=20 but sometimes there was a respite. Yet he, Afanasy,=20 unceasingly sought to bring about my death, upon all = kinds of=20 charges. During this time of calamity he sent me two = widows,=20 Mary and Sophia, two women-servants of his, who were = possessed=20 by the devil. He had tried sorcery and spells of all = kinds on=20 them, but saw it was of no avail, that rather, a = tumult was=20 arising. They would shriek and writhe in convulsions. = So he=20 called me and, bowing to me, said: "Take these two and = doctor=20 them by prayers." I answered: "My lord, this is above = my=20 strength. But through the prayers of the holy fathers, = everything is possible to God." So I took the poor = women home,=20 may it be forgiven me! I have had some experience of = these=20 matters in Russia, where three or four possessed would = sometimes be brought to me, and through the prayers of = the=20 holy fathers, the devils would be cast out by the = command and=20 through the action of the loving God and our sweet = Lord Jesus=20 Christ: I would sprinkle them with tears and water and = would=20 anoint them with holy oil, and would chant some = prayers in=20 Christ's name, and the divine power would cast out the = evil=20 spirit, and the man would be healed, not through my = own or any=20 other person's merits, but because of these men's=20 faith.

So the=20 possessed women were brought to me. According to = custom, I=20 fasted and made them fast; I prayed and anointed them, = and=20 performed all that I saw fit. And the women were cured = and=20 became sound of mind. I confessed them and gave them=20 Communion. They lived under my roof and prayed, and = they loved=20 me and did not go home. He learned that I had acquired = two=20 spiritual daughters, and was again greatly enraged = against me;=20 and, more than ever, he wanted to burn me alive: "You = have=20 extorted my secrets from them!" he cried. Now how = could I have=20 given them Communion without confession? And without = Communion=20 the evil one cannot be entirely cast out. The devil is = not a=20 poltroon; he does not fear the cudgel: he fears the = Cross of=20 Christ, holy water and holy oil, but he is completely = routed=20 before the body of Christ. I know not how to heal = otherwise=20 than by these sacraments.

In our=20 Orthodox faith, Communion cannot be given without = confession;=20 it is done in the Roman faith, where confession is = neglected,=20 but for us who practise Orthodoxy, it is not fitting; = in any=20 case we must seek penance.

Pashkov=20 took the two widows away from me. Instead of thanks, = all I=20 received was abuse. He thought that Christ's work had = been=20 perfected, but the women carried on more evilly than = before.=20 He locked them up in an empty house, letting no one go = near=20 them, and summoned a monk to attend them, but they = threw logs=20 at him, so he dragged himself away. In my home, I = wept,=20 knowing not what I should do. I dared not go to his = house, for=20 his animosity towards me was very great. I sent them = holy=20 water in private, telling them to wash in it and drink = it: so=20 they, poor things, were somewhat relieved. Then they = visited=20 me secretly, and I anointed them in the name of = Christ, and=20 once more, thank God, they were healed, and they = returned to=20 their home; but they would come running to me under = cover of=20 darkness to pray to God. They became good spiritual = children;=20 all derangement left them, and afterwards they went to = live=20 with their lady at the Voznesensky Monastery. Glory be = to God=20 for them.

From the=20 Nercha River we turned back once more to Russia. For = five=20 weeks we drove on icy roads in our sleighs. They gave = me two=20 nags to draw the children and the baggage. Dame = Avvakum and=20 myself journeyed on foot, stumbling on the ice. We = travelled=20 through a barbarous land, the natives were hostile; we = dared=20 not lag behind and could not keep up with the horses. = We were=20 hungry and weary. Dame Avvakum, poor thing, tramped on = and on,=20 and then she would fall. It was exceedingly slippery, = and once=20 another man, no less weary, stumbled over her and fell = too.=20 Both cried out and could not get to their feet again. = The man=20 cried: "Oh, good mother, dear lady, pardon me!" And = she: "Do=20 you want to crush me?" I came up to her, and she, poor = lady,=20 put all the blame on me: "How long, Archpriest, are we = to=20 suffer thus?" I answered: "Until our very death, = Markovna!"=20 And she replied, with a sigh: "So be it, Petrovich, = let us=20 plod on."

We had a=20 little black hen that would lay two eggs a day for the = feeding=20 of our children, by the will of God, helping us in our = need.=20 Thus had the Lord ordained. But during our journey by = sleigh,=20 the little hen was crushed to death, for our sins, and = even=20 today I am sorry for that fowl, every time I think of = her.=20 'Twas no ordinary hen, but a real miracle-worker; she = laid her=20 eggs all the year round and every day; a hundred = roubles for=20 her? - spittle and trash! That little bird, a creature = of God,=20 fed us, and would peck in the pan where our broth of = pine was=20 cooking; or else, if we had fish, she would peck at it = too,=20 and she would give us two eggs a day. Glory to God, = who has=20 ordered all things well!

The way we=20 got that little hen was extraordinary too. All our = lady's hens=20 had become blind and were dying; she placed them in a = basket=20 and sent them to me: "Let Father come and pray for the = hens."=20 And I said to myself, she is our provider and has = small=20 children, she needs these chickens. I chanted prayers, = blessed=20 the water, and sprinkled the hens with it and incensed = them.=20 Then I went into the woods and made them a trough to = feed in,=20 and sprinkled it and sent it to her. The fowl = recovered and=20 grew strong, by the hand of God and thanks to the = lady's=20 faith. Our hen was of that brood. But enough of this; = 'tis=20 nothing new, that Christ does these things. Cosmas and = Damian=20 in their day blessed and healed both man and beast in = the name=20 of Christ. All things are good in the eyes of God. = Cattle and=20 fowl have been made for the glory of the great = undefiled Lord,=20 and also for the good of man.

Then we=20 journeyed back to the Lake Irgen. My lady took pity on = us, and=20 sent us a pan of wheat, and we had pudding to eat. = Eudokia=20 Kirillovna was out true provider, but with her too the = devil=20 prompted me to quarrel, and this is how it happened. = She had a=20 son, Simeon, who was born in that land. I had churched = the=20 mother and baptized the child, and each day she sent = her son=20 to me, that I should bless him; I would bless him with = the=20 cross and sprinkle him with holy water, and kiss him = and let=20 him go. The child was healthy and strong, but one day, = when I=20 was away, he became sick. The lady, angry with me and = faint of=20 heart, sent the baby to a witch-doctor. When I was = informed of=20 this, I was angry with her in turn, and so there was a = bitter=20 quarrel between us. The child grew worse, his right = arm and=20 leg became like sticks. Seized with remorse, she knew = not what=20 to do, and God struck even more heavily. The child was = well-nigh dead, and the nurses came to me weeping, and = I said:=20 "Since she's a wicked woman, leave her alone!" And I = waited=20 for her repentance. I saw that the devil had hardened = her=20 heart, and I prayed for her, asking the Lord to bring = her back=20 to reason. And the Lord, God of mercy, freshened the = arid=20 fields of her heart; in the morning, she sent me her = second=20 son, John. Weeping, he begged my forgiveness for his = mother,=20 bowing low by my stove. I was lying on the stove, = naked under=20 some birch-bark; Dame Avvakum was in the stove, and = the=20 children lying about here and there. It was raining, = and we=20 had nothing to cover ourselves with, and water was = leaking=20 through the roof into our shack. We were managing as = well as=20 we could. In order to mortify the lady, I sent this = message to=20 her: "Tell your mother to beg Aretha, the = witch-doctor, for=20 this grace." Then they brought the child to me; she = ordered=20 him to be laid before me. They were all weeping and = bowing. I=20 rose, picked up my stole from the mud, and found the = holy oil;=20 having prayed and incensed the child, I anointed him = and=20 blessed him with the cross. And he - it was God's = action - was=20 healed, and his hand and leg became sound. I gave him = holy=20 water to drink and sent him back to his mother. = Observe, you=20 who listen to me, how great a virtue there is in a = mother's=20 contrition; she healed her own heart and restored her = child's=20 health. But what of that? 'Tis not only from this day = that=20 there is a God for penitents.

In the=20 morning, she sent some fish and pies for us, who were=20 starving; indeed it was a timely gift. From that day = on, I=20 made my peace with her. After she came back from = Dauria, she=20 died in Moscow, dear little lady, and I buried her in = the=20 Assumption Monastery.

Pashkov had=20 heard the story of the child; she had told him about = it. Then=20 I went to him and he said, bowing low: "God save you, = you have=20 been a father to us, you have forgotten our evil = doings." It=20 was his favorite grandson; he had baptized the child = and had=20 been deeply grieved on his account. And at that time = he sent=20 us much food.

But soon he=20 wanted to put me to torture once more; listen to the = reason=20 for this: He had sent his son Jeremy on a military = expedition=20 to the kingdom of the Mongols. There were seventytwo = Cossacks=20 and twenty native soldiers with him. And he ordered = one of the=20 natives to act as "shaman" - that is, a soothsayer: = Would the=20 campaign be successful and would they return = victorious? Now=20 one night this magician brought a live ram close to my = but and=20 started to work his spell over it; he spun the ram = round and=20 round, twisted its neck off, and cast away its head. = Then he=20 started jumping and dancing and invoking the devils; = with loud=20 shouts, he flung himself on the ground, foaming at the = mouth.=20 The devils pressed upon him, and he asked them: "Will = the=20 campaign be successful?" And the devils answered: "You = will=20 return with great fame and much booty." The captains = were=20 delighted and they all joyfully declared: "We shall = come back=20 rich!"

Oh, my=20 heart was bitter, and it has not yet softened! Bad = shepherd=20 that I was, I lost my sheep. In my grief I forgot what = is said=20 in the Gospels when the sons of Zebedee questioned Our = Lord=20 about the stubborn townsmen: "Lord, wilt thou that we = command=20 fire to come down from heaven and consume them? And = turning,=20 He rebuked them, saying: You know not of what spirit = you are.=20 The son of man came not to destroy souls, but to save. = And=20 they went into another town." But I, accursed one, did = not do=20 this! In my sheepfold, I cried out to God: "Hear me, = Lord,=20 hear me, radiant King of Heaven, let not one of them = return!=20 Prepare a grave for them all in that land. Visit evil = upon=20 them, visit them, O Lord; let them perish, so that the = diabolical prophecy may not be fulfilled." And I = uttered many=20 other words to that effect, and in secret I prayed to = God=20 silently in like manner. They told him about these = prayers I=20 had said, but he was content with reproving me. He = sent his=20 son with the soldiers. They left by night, under the = stars.=20 Then I began to pity them; in a vision I saw, with the = eyes of=20 my soul, their defeat and massacre - and I had called = down=20 this disaster upon them! Some of them came to bid me = farewell,=20 and I said to them: "You shall perish in that=20 land."

As they=20 departed, their horses began to neigh and the cows to = low, the=20 sheep and goats to bleat, the dogs to howl, and the = natives=20 likewise began to howl like dogs. Panic had gripped = them all.=20 Jeremy sent me an urgent message - "Lord Father, pray = for me"=20 - and I was full of pity for him. He was my friend in = secret=20 and had suffered for me. When his father beat me, he = had tried=20 to stay his hand, and Pashkov had pursued his son with = his=20 sword.

And so they=20 rode away to war. I had pity on Jeremy and began to = solicit=20 God most urgently to spare him. They were expected = home, but=20 on the appointed day they did not return. Pashkov = would not=20 let me come near him. He had a torture-chamber made = ready and=20 a fire lighted; he intended to torture me. I recited = the=20 prayer of the dying, for I knew his kind of cooking, = and that=20 few survived his fire. I waited for them to come and = seize me;=20 and sitting there, I said to my wife and children: = "Let God's=20 will be done. 'For whether we live, we live unto the = Lord; and=20 whether we die, we die unto the Lord.'" Marvellous are = the=20 works of God, and ineffable the ways of the Lord! For = at that=20 very moment Jeremy, wounded and accompanied by another = horseman, rode past my house and yard. He beckoned to = the=20 executioners and led them away. Pashkov came out of = the=20 torture-chamber and went to meet his son like a man = drunk with=20 grief. Then, having exchanged greetings with his = father,=20 Jeremy related to him everything in detail: how his = troops had=20 been massacred to the last man and a native had helped = him=20 escape through desert country; how he had roamed for = seven=20 days over rocky hills and in the forests, without food = (he had=20 eaten one squirrel); and how in his sleep there had = appeared=20 to him a man resembling me, who had shown him the way = and had=20 blessed him; and joyfully springing to his feet, he = had found=20 the right way. As Jeremy was telling his story to his = father,=20 I came in to greet them both. And Pashkov, lifting his = eyes to=20 me - the very image of a white sea-bear he was - was = ready to=20 devour me alive, but the Lord would not deliver me to=20 him.

He only=20 heaved a sigh and said: "So that's what you've been = doing! How=20 many men have you destroyed?" But Jeremy said to me: = "My lord=20 Father, pray you, go home and say nothing." And I went = away.

For ten=20 years he torrhented me-or I him, I know not which! God = will=20 decide on the day of judgment. Then he was appointed = to a new=20 post, and I received a letter; I was to return to = Moscow.=20 Pashkov left but did not take me with him. He said to = himself:=20 "If he journeys alone, the natives will kill him." He = sailed=20 in boats with men and weapons, and I learned from the = natives=20 that he was shaking with fear. One month after his = departure,=20 I gathered the old, the sick and the wounded, who were = of no=20 use over there, about ten men - with my wife and = children,=20 seventeen persons in all - and we got on a boat; = trusting in=20 Christ and with a cross on our prow, we sailed by the = grace of=20 God, afraid of nothing.

I gave the=20 bailiff the Book of the Pilot (of the Canon Law), and = he in=20 exchange gave me a pilot to steer our boat. And I = ransomed my=20 friend Basil, the same one who, under Pashkov, had = denounced=20 his companions and shed their blood, and who had = sought my own=20 head. One day, after beating me, he was going to = impale me,=20 but once again, God saved me. After Pashkov left, the = Cossacks=20 wanted to kill him, but I obtained his pardon in the = name of=20 Christ, and I paid the ranson and took him to Russia, = out of=20 death to life. Let the poor wretch repent of his sins. = And I=20 took with me another lout of the same breed; they = would not=20 give him up to me, and he ran away into the woods to = escape=20 death; waiting until I should pass by, he threw = himself=20 weeping into my boat. They started in pursuit of him, = and I=20 knew not where to hide him. Then, may I be pardoned, I = committed a sin; as Rahab, the harlot of Jericho, hid = the men=20 of Joshuah, the son of Nun, even so did I hide him in = the=20 bottom of the boat, and threw our bedding over him and = told=20 Dame Avvakum and my daughter to lie down. The men = hunted=20 everywhere for him but did not disturb my wife. They = only said=20 to her: "Take some rest, mother, you have suffered = enough=20 grief." And I, forgive me for the love of God, lied at = that=20 time, saying: "Nay, he is not here." I did not want to = give=20 him up to destruction. So, having looked all around, = they went=20 away, and I took him back to = Russia.

The bailiff=20 gave me some ten pounds of flour and a cow and six = lambs and=20 some dried meat. We lived on that all summer on the = river. He=20 was a good man, that bailiff. He had been godfather to = my=20 daughter Xenia. She was born in Pashkov's days, and he = would=20 not give me chrism and oil; so she had not been = christened for=20 a long time. I baptized her after he was gone. I = myself=20 churched my wife and baptized the children, with the = bailiff=20 as godfather and my elder daughter as godmother, while = I acted=20 as priest for them. In the same way I baptized my son = Afanasy,=20 and saying mass on the Mezen, I gave him Communion. I=20 confessed my children and gave them Holy Communion, = but could=20 not do so for my wife, it is thus written in the Canon = Law,=20 and we must act accordingly.

Thus we=20 left Dauria. Food became scarce, so I prayed to God = together=20 with my companions, and Christ sent us a buffalo, a = huge=20 beast. Thanks to this we reached Lake Baikal. A number = of=20 Russians had come to the shores of this lake, = sable-hunters=20 and fishermen. They were glad to welcome us, and they = dragged=20 our boat high onto the rocky shore. The good Terenty = and his=20 companions wept at the sight of us, and we looked at = them.=20 They gave us plenty of food, as much as we needed, = about forty=20 fresh sturgeons, saying: "Let this be your share, = Father, God=20 put them in our nets, take them all." I bowed to them, = blessed=20 the fish, and told the fishermen to take it back. What = should=20 I do with so much food? After we had stayed with them = for=20 awhile, I had to accept some of their supplies, and = having=20 repaired our boat and rigged up a sail with a woman's = old=20 smock, we started across the lake.

During the=20 crossing the wind fell, and we had to use our oars. In = that=20 place the lake is not very wide, only eighty to one = hundred=20 versts or so. When we reached the other shore, a storm = began=20 to blow up, and we could scarcely land because of the = waves.=20 From the shore rose steep hills and sheer cliffs. I = have=20 dragged myself twenty thousand versts and more, but = never have=20 I seen such high mountains. And their summits are = crowned with=20 halls and turrets, pillars and gates, and walls and = courts,=20 all made by the hand of God. In those hills grow = garlic and=20 onion, the bulbs larger than those of Romanov onions, = and very=20 sweet. And there is also hemp, sown by God's hand, and = in the=20 courts, beautiful grass and sweet-smelling flowers. = There are=20 wild fowl in great number geese and swans floating on = the=20 lake, like snow. And there are also fish: sturgeon and = salmontrout, sterlet and omul and white-fish, and many = other=20 kinds. This is a fresh-water lake, but great seals and = sea-hares live in it. I never saw the like in the = great ocean,=20 when I lived on the Mezen River. And the fish is = abundant; the=20 sturgeon and salmon-trout are so fleshy, one cannot = fry them=20 in a skillet, it would be nothing but fat. And all = this has=20 been created by Christ for man, that he should find = pleasure=20 in it and praise God. But man, who is enslaved by = vanity - his=20 days pass like a shadow; he leaps, like a goat; he = puffs=20 himself out, like a bubble; he rages, like the lynx; = seeks to=20 devour, like a serpent; at the sight of another's = beauty, he=20 neighs like a foal; is wily, like the devil; having = had his=20 fill, he falls asleep without observing the rule of = prayer. He=20 puts off repentance until the day when he shall be = old, and=20 then he is vanished, I know not where, into the light = or into=20 the darkness. It shall be revealed upon the day of = Judgment.=20 Pardon me, I have sinned more than any=20 man.

Then we=20 reached the towns of Russia, and I became aware, = concerning=20 the Church, that "it prevailed nothing, but rather a = tumult=20 was made." I was saddened, and sitting myself down, I=20 reflected: What am I to do? must I preach the word of = Christ=20 or go into hiding? For I was bound to wife and = children.=20 Seeing my distress, Dame Avvakum came up to me = respectfully=20 and asked: "What troubles you, my lord?" And I told = her=20 everything in detail: "Wife, what shall I do? 'Tis the = winter=20 of heresy. Shall I speak or be silent? You have = shackled me."=20 And she replied: "God forgive! What say you, = Petrovich? Did=20 you not read the words of the Apostle: 'Art thou bound = to a=20 wife, seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a = wife? Seek=20 no wife.' I and the children bless you. Continue to = preach the=20 word of God as fearlessly as before, and be not = concerned=20 about us, as long as God shall allow it. If we are = separated,=20 then do not forget us in your prayers. Christ is = mighty and=20 will not abandon us. Go, go to church, Petrovich, and = convict=20 the heretics of their whoredom!"

At these=20 words, I bowed to her, and, having shaken off my = grievous=20 blindness, I began once more to preach the word of God = and to=20 teach in towns and everywhere, and boldly to condemn = Nikon's=20 heresy.

I spent the=20 winter at Yeniseisk; that summer I sailed once more, = and I=20 spent the second winter at Tobolsk. And on my way to = Moscow,=20 in all the towns and villages, in churches and in=20 market-places, I cried out, preaching the word of God, = teaching, and condemning the godless heresy. Then I = arrived in=20 Moscow. It had taken me three years to journey from = Dauria;=20 and to reach that land, I had toiled upstream for five = years.=20 In those days, I had been taken further and further = east,=20 amidst the camps and dwellings of the natives. It = would take=20 much telling. Several times I fell into the hands of = the=20 natives: on the great river Ob, twenty Christians = perished=20 before my eyes, and having taken counsel concerning = me, they=20 let me go. Another time, on the Irtish River, they = assembled=20 in wait for our men from Berezov and their boat, in = order to=20 slay them. Unaware of their designs, I went to them = and landed=20 on their shore. They surrounded us, armed with bows, = and I=20 went up to them and embraced them as if they were = monks,=20 saying: "Christ be with me and with you also." And = their=20 hearts softened toward me, and they brought me their = wives.=20 Dame Avvakum played the hypocrite with them, in the = flattering=20 way of intercourse in the world. So the women were = coaxed into=20 kindliness - and it is well enough known that when = women are=20 kind, then all are kind in Christ. So the men put away = their=20 bows and arrows. I bought some bear furs from them, = and they=20 let me go. When I arrived in Tobolsk, I related what = had=20 happened, and everyone marvelled, for throughout = Siberia,=20 Bashkirs and Tatars were at war in those days, and I, = trusting=20 in Christ, had journeyed among them. When I reached=20 Verkboturie, my friend Ivan Bogdanovich Kaminin was = also=20 greatly surprised at seeing me. He asked me: "How did = you pass=20 through?" I answered: "God carried me through, and His = most=20 Holy Mother guided me. I am afraid of no one. I fear = Christ=20 alone."

Then I=20 arrived in Moscow and the Tsar received me joyfully, = as if I=20 were an angel of God. I went to Fedor Rtishchev;=20 ²²=20 he came out of his chamber to meet me, asked = for my=20 blessing, and we talked for a long while: he would not = let me=20 go for three days and three nights, and then he = announced my=20 presence to the Tsar. The Tsar immediately received me = in=20 audience and spoke to me kindly: "How fares it with = you,=20 Archpriest? God has let us meet once more." I kissed = his hand=20 and pressed it, answering: "God lives and my soul = lives, Tsar,=20 my Lord! From now on, It will be as God ordains." And = he, dear=20 soul, sighed and went to attend to some business. We = had=20 spoken a few words more, but it is no use recalling = them, it=20 all belongs to the past. He ordered that I should be = given=20 lodgings in a monastery in the Kremlin; when he passed = my=20 house, he would bow to me, saying: "Bless me and pray = for me."=20 One day, as he rode by on horseback, he took off his = hat. And=20 when he drove in a carriage, he would lean out of the = window=20 to see me. And all the boyars did as much, each one = bowing to=20 me: "Archpriest, bless us and pray for=20 us."

How should=20 one not pity such a Tsar and such boyars? Yes, indeed, = they=20 are to be pitied. See how good they were, offering me = parishes=20 to choose from, and even suggesting that I should = become=20 confessor to the Tsar, if only I would consent to be = reunited=20 to them. I counted all this as dung, that I might gain = Christ,=20 thinking of death, for all these things pass=20 away.

When I was=20 still in Tobolsk, I had received a warning in a light = sleep:=20 "Beware that you be not slit in two by Me." Seized = with great=20 fear, I sprang to my feet and fell before the icon, = saying:=20 "Lord, I shall not go there, where they chant the = office=20 according to the new way." I had attended Matins at = the=20 Cathedral for the namesday of a princess; I had = committed the=20 folly of entering that church in the presence of the=20 governors; and upon my arrival, two or three times I = had=20 watched the celebration of the oblation, = ²³=20 standing in the sanctuary near the = sacrificial table;=20 and I had reproved them for the way they celebrated, = but when=20 I grew accustomed to it, I did not scold any more. I = was stung=20 by the spirit of the Antichrist. And my dear Lord = Christ put=20 fear into my soul: "Do you want to perish after so = much=20 suffering? Beware lest I slit you in two." I did not = go to the=20 Mass, but I went to dine with the prince and told them = everything. And the good boyar, Prince Ivan = Andreievich=20 Khilkov, ²⁴=20 began to weep. Accursed am I, if I forget = God's=20 mercy.

They saw=20 that I was not going to be reconciled with them. So = the Tsar=20 ordered Rodion Streshnev to persuade me to be silent. = And I=20 did so, in order to please him. He was the = Godestablished=20 Tsar, and good to me. I hoped he would advance little = by=20 little. On St. Simeon's day ²⁵=20 I was promised an appointment to the Printing = Office,=20 to correct the books, and I was extremely pleased; I = liked=20 this better than being confessor to the Tsar. He did = me a=20 favor, sending me ten rubles, and the Tsarina gave me = ten=20 rubles; and Lucas, the Tsar's confessor, ten; and = Rodion=20 Streshnev, ten. As for my old friend Fedor Rtishchev, = he told=20 his treasurer to put sixty rubles in my bonnet - to = say=20 nothing of the others. Each one brought me something = or=20 other.

I spent all=20 my time with my dear Feodosia Prokofievna Morozova, = for she=20 was my spiritual daughter; and so was her sister, = Princess=20 Eudokia Prokofievna, dear martyrs in Christ! I = likewise=20 visited Anna Petrovna Miloslavsky constantly, and I = went to=20 Fedor Rtishchev, to have disputes with the apostates. = I lived=20 in this manner for about half a = year.

Then I saw=20 that "it availed nothing" in the Church, "but that = rather a=20 tumult was made," and so I began once more to grumble. = I wrote=20 a long letter to the Tsar, asking him to reestablish = the old=20 ways of piety, to defend our common mother, Holy = Church,=20 against heresy, and to place on the patriarchal throne = an=20 Orthodox pastor instead of the wolf and apostate = Nikon,=20 scoundrel and heretic. When I had finished writing, I = fell=20 seriously ill; and I sent the letter to be given to = the Tsar=20 on his journey by my spiritual son, Theodore, fool in = Christ,=20 who was afterwards hanged by the apostates on the = Mezen.=20 Theodore boldly approached the Tsar's carriage, letter = in=20 hand, and the Tsar had him arrested and taken under = the grand=20 staircase of the palace. He did not know that the = letter was=20 from me. Then, taking it from Theodore's hands, he let = him=20 go.

From that=20 time on the Tsar was hostile towards me. He did not = like my=20 speaking again. He wanted me to be silent, but this = did not=20 suit me. And the bishops sprang on me like goats. They = wanted=20 to exile me once more from Moscow, for many came to me = in=20 Christ's name, and, when they had heard the truth, = gave up=20 attendng their mendacious services. The Tsar = reprimanded me:=20 "The bishops complain of you, they say you have = emptied the=20 churches. You shall be exiled once more." It was Boyar = Peter=20 Mikhailovich Saltikov who brought me the message. They = took me=20 to Mezen. The good people had given me many things in = the name=20 of Christ, but I had to leave everything behind and = was=20 accompanied on my journey only by my wife, children = and=20 family. And again I taught the people of God in the = towns and=20 condemned the piebald beasts. So they brought me to = Mezen.=20 ²⁶=20 After holding me there a year and a half, = they took me=20 back to Moscow with two of my sons, Ivan and Procopy. = Dame=20 Avvakum and all the others remained at Mezen. Having = brought=20 me to Moscow, they first took me to the Monastery of = St.=20 Paphnutius. ²⁷=20 And there they sent me a message, always = repeating the=20 same thing: "How long will you torment us? Reunite = yourself=20 with us, dear brother Avvakum." I rejected them like = the=20 devils, and they flew into my eyes. And I wrote a long = and=20 wrathful declaration and sent it through Cosmas, = deacon of=20 Yaroslavl and clerk in the Patriarch's chancery. This = Cosmas=20 was I know not what kind of man. In public he tried to = persuade me, and in private he upheld me, saying: = "Archpriest,=20 do not renounce the old (way of) piety. You will be a = man=20 great in the eyes of God if you suffer to the end. Do = not heed=20 us if we perish." And I said to him that he should = return to=20 Christ. He answered: "This I cannot do; Nikon has = caught me in=20 his snares." To say the truth, the poor man had = renounced=20 Christ for Nikon and could not get back on his feet. I = wept,=20 blessed him, poor wretch; that was all I could do for = him. God=20 knows how it will go with him.

Thus, after=20 I had spent ten weeks in chains at the Monastery of = St.=20 Paphnutius they took me back to Moscow, an exhausted = man on an=20 old nag; a guard behind me, a guard in front of me. = Whip your=20 horse and on you ride! At times, the horse would fall = into the=20 mud, its four legs in the air, and I tumbling over its = head.=20 One day we galloped ninety versts and I was half dead = at the=20 end of it. In Moscow, at the Patriarch's chapel, the = bishops=20 held a disputation with me. Then I was led to the = cathedral,=20 and after the Great Entry I was shorn, together with = Deacon=20 Theodore; they cursed me, and I cursed them. Great = indeed was=20 the tumult at that Mass. Having stayed some time at = the=20 Patriarch's Court, I was taken by night to the Chamber = of the=20 Palace. There a colonel examined me and sent me to the = Secret=20 Gates on the Waterfront. I supposed that they would = throw me=20 into the river, but here Dementy Bashmakov, the man of = Private=20 Affairs and the agent of Antichrist, awaited me. He = said to=20 me: "Archpriest, the Tsar ordered me to tell you: = 'Fear no=20 one; place your trust in me.' I bowed to him, saying: = "My=20 thanks for his favor. What security has he for me? My = trust is=20 in Christ." Then they led me over the bridge to the = other bank=20 of the river, and on my way, I said to myself: "Put = not your=20 trust in princes, in the children of men in whom there = is no=20 salvation."

Then=20 officer Joseph Salov and his musketeers took me to St. = Nicholas' Monastery at Ugresha. ²⁸=20 They sheared off my beard, the enemies of = God! And why=20 not? They are wolves and have no pity for the sheep. = They tore=20 off all my hair - the dogs! - leaving but a forelock, = such as=20 the Poles have on their heads. They drove us to the = monastery,=20 not along the roads, but through marshes and mire, so = that=20 people should not see us. They were well aware of = their folly,=20 but were unable to give it up. The devil had clouded = their=20 minds. How can we blame them? Were it not they, it = would be=20 others. The time is at hand when, according to the = Gospels:=20 "It must needs be that scandals come." And the other=20 evangelists teaches us: "It is impossible that = scandals should=20 not come. But woe to him through whom they=20 come."

Take heed,=20 you who listen to me: Our misfortune is inevitable, we = cannot=20 escape it. If God allows scandals, it is that the = elect shall=20 be revealed. Let them be burned, let them be purified, = let=20 them who have been tried be made manifest among you. = Satan has=20 obtained our radiant Russia from God, so that she may = become=20 crimson with the blood of martyrs. Well planned, = devil! It=20 pleases us, too, to suffer for our dear Christ's=20 sake.

At St.=20 Nicholas I was locked up in a cold hall above the = icecellar=20 for seventeen weeks. There I had a vision sent by God. = You may=20 read about it in my letter to the Tsar. = ²⁹=20 And the Tsar came to the monastery and walked = around my=20 prison and sighed, but did not come in to see me. They = had=20 prepared the road and sprinkled it with sand. He = thought and=20 thought, and did not come in. I think he pitied me, = but such=20 was the will of God. When I had been shorn, there had = been a=20 great dispute at the palace between the Tsar and the = late=20 Tsarina. The dear lady was at that time on our side, = and she=20 had preserved me from mutilation. ³⁰=20 There would be much to say about that. May = God forgive=20 them. I do not hold them responsible for my = sufferings, not=20 even in the other world; it is fitting that I should = pray for=20 them, alive or dead. The devil has cleft us in two, = but they=20 were always kind to me. Enough of = this.

Then they=20 took me once more to the monastery of St. Paphnutius = and=20 locked me up in a dark hall and kept me in chains for = a little=20 less than a year. Here Nicodemus, the cellarer, was = good to me=20 in the beginning, but hater he became cruel, poor = wretch. He=20 well-nigh suffocated me, blocking the windows and the = door, so=20 that there was no vent for the smoke. The nobleman = Ivan=20 Bogdanovich Kaminin, a good man, who provided an = endowment for=20 the monastery, came to see me; he reprimanded the = cellarer and=20 tore off the shutters of bark and all the rest, and = from that=20 day on I had a window and air to breathe. But why be = surprised=20 at that cellarer? He had drunk of that tobaccoplant, = sixty=20 pounds of which were discovered at the house of the = Bishop of=20 Gaza, together with a lute and other objects for = merrymaking.=20 ³¹=20 I have sinned, forgive me; 'tis none of my = business,=20 but his own; let him stand or fall before his Master. = I just=20 happened to mention it. Such were the teachers of = God's law=20 most favored among them.

On Easter=20 day I asked this cellarer Nicodemus to let me breathe = and sit=20 awhile on the threshold before the open door. But he = abused me=20 and cruelly refused my request; such was his whim. = Then, when=20 he went to his cell, he was taken mortally sick, so = that he=20 was anointed and given Communion, and he could = scarcely=20 breathe. This took place on Easter Monday, and on = Tuesday=20 night, there came to him a man resembling me, holding = a censer=20 in his hand and clad in radiant vestments. Having = incensed=20 Nicodemus, he took him by the hand and raised him, and = he was=20 healed. That very night Nicodemus came to my dungeon=20 accompanied by his serving-man. On his way, he said: = "Blessed=20 is this monastery for containing such a dungeon! = Blessed is=20 the dungeon for containing such sufferers! Blessed = also are=20 the fetters!" And he fell at my feet, seizing my chain = and=20 saying: "Forgive, in the name of the Lord, forgive me, = for I=20 have sinned before God and before you. I have offended = you,=20 and therefore God has punished me." I asked him: "Tell = me, how=20 did God punish you?" And he: "You, yourself, came, and = having=20 incensed me, you did me the favor of raising me. Why = do you=20 conceal this?" And the servant who stood at his side = added:=20 "Lord Father, I myself led you out of the cell, = supporting you=20 and bowing to you. And you came back here." I ordered = that=20 this secret should be revealed to no one. He asked my = advice,=20 how he should live from now on for Christ. Should I = order him=20 to go and live in the wilderness? I admonished him and = bade=20 him not to give up his functions of cellarer, but to = observe,=20 at least in secret, the old traditions of the Fathers. = He,=20 having bowed to me, retired, and next morning, at the=20 refectory, he related everything to the brethren. Then = people=20 came to me boldly and openly, requesting my prayers = and my=20 blessing.

And I=20 taught them from the Scriptures and healed them with = the word=20 of God. At that time, even such enemies as I had, made = peace=20 with me. Alas, when shall I emerge from this time of = vanity?=20 It has been said: "Woe to you when men shall bless = you." In=20 truth, I know not how I shall endure to the end. Good = deeds=20 there have been none, and yet God glorified me. He = knows, 'tis=20 His will!

There also=20 came to me in secret, with my children, the late = Theodore, the=20 same that was to be hanged. He consulted me: "Shall I = wear my=20 shift, as before, or must I put on other garments? The = heretics are after me, seeking to destroy me." And he = said: "I=20 was at Riazan, under penance, in the Archbishop's = court, and=20 he, Hilarion, tormented me cruelly. Few days passed = without a=20 thrashing, and he held me in chains, forcing on me the = new=20 sacraments of the Antichrist. I was exhausted, and in = the=20 night I prayed and wept, saying: 'Lord, if Thou dost = not save=20 me, they will defile me and I shall perish. What then = wilt=20 Thou do to me?' And thus I went on, weeping; and = suddenly,=20 Father, my chains fell rattling to the ground, and the = door=20 was unlocked and opened of itself. Bowing before God, = I went=20 forth; I came to the gates, and they too were open, so = I took=20 the Moscow road. At dawn they started in pursuit on = horseback.=20 Three men rode past me without seeing me. Trusting in = Christ,=20 I went my way. And soon they turned back and passed me = once=20 more, complaining: 'The son of a harlot has escaped = us, where=20 shall we find him now?' And again they rode by and did = not see=20 me. And finally I reached Moscow. Now I have come to = ask you:=20 Must I go on suffering tortures, or shall I put on = garments=20 and live in Moscow?" And I, miserable sinner, ordered = him to=20 put on garments and to live in obscurity among men. = But I did=20 not save him from the hands of the heretics. They had = him=20 strangled on the Mezen, hanging him on the gallows. = Eternal=20 remembrance to him and to Luke Lavrentievich. My dear = little=20 ones, they suffered for Christ's sake! Glory be to God = for=20 them!

That=20 Theodore had led a life of great austerity. In the = daytime he=20 behaved like a fool in Christ, ³²=20 and he spent the night in weeping and = praying. I have=20 known many a good man, but never such an ascetic. He = stayed=20 with me six months in Moscow; I was still sick at the = time. We=20 lived in the back room. He would lie down for not more = than an=20 hour or two, and then he would rise and make a = thousand=20 prostrations; and at other times he would sit on the = floor, or=20 stand, weeping for three hours at a time. Meanwhile, I = would=20 lie there, sleeping or restless with pain. And he, = having wept=20 his fill, would come up to me, saying: "Look here, = Archpriest,=20 how long will you lie there? Only think, you are a = priest!=20 Shame upon you!" And he would end by dragging me out = of bed;=20 and he made me say my prayers seated there, he doing = the=20 prostrations for me. He was my friend true of=20 heart.

And now I=20 shall tell you again about my tribulations. From St.=20 Paphnutius, they took me back to Moscow and placed me = in the=20 court of the Monastery. And they dragged me many times = to the=20 Chudov Monastery, before the ecumenical patriarchs; = and our=20 bishops all sat there like foxes. ³³=20 I discussed many things with the patriarchs = in the=20 words of the Scriptures. God opened my sinful lips and = Christ=20 confounded them. Their last words to me were: "Why are = you=20 stubborn? All our people of Palestine, and the Serbs, = and the=20 Albanians and Valachians and Romans and Poles, all = cross=20 themselves with three fingers. You alone in your = obstinacy=20 cross yourself with two fingers. This is not fitting." = And I,=20 miserable wretch, how bitter I felt! But I could do = nothing. I=20 reproved them as well as I could, and my last word = was: "I am=20 uncorrupted, and I shake the dust from my feet, for it = is=20 written: 'better is one that feareth God, than a = thousand=20 ungodly.' " So they cried out even louder against me: = "Take=20 him, take him, he has dishonored us all." And they = began to=20 shove me and beat me. And the patriarchs themselves = rushed at=20 me; about forty of them, I believe - 'twas a great = army of the=20 Antichrist that had mustered. Ivan Uvarov seized me = and=20 dragged me along; and I cried: "Hy, wait, don't beat = me!" They=20 staggered back and I said to the interpreter, an=20 archimandrite: "Tell the patriarchs: Paul the Apostle = says:=20 'It was fitting that we should have such a = high-priest, holy,=20 innocent,' and so forth. But you, how shall you = celebrate Mass=20 after beating a man?" Then they were seated, and I = retired to=20 the door and lay down on my side, saying: "Stay = seated, and I=20 shall lie down for a while." They laughed and said: = "This=20 Archpriest is a fool, without respect for patriarchs." = I=20 answered: "We are fools for Christ's sake ... we are = weak but=20 you are strong, you are honorable, but we are without = honor."=20 Then the bishops returned and began to discuss the = Alleluia,=20 and Christ helped me to confound their Roman heresy = with the=20 help of Dionysius the Areopagite. And Euthymius, the = cellarer=20 of the Chudov Monastery, said to me: "You are right; = it is of=20 no use to discuss anything further with=20 you."

So they put=20 me in chains; the Tsar sent an officer and musketeers, = and=20 they led me to the Vorobiev hills. With me were the = priest=20 Lazarus and the monk Epiphanius, shorn and abused as = if they=20 were village peasants, the dear souls! A man in his = senses=20 could only weep at the look of them. But let them = suffer, why=20 be troubled on their account? Christ was better than = they, and=20 yet - our beloved! - He had to suffer as much from = their=20 forefathers, Annas and Caiaphas. Why wonder at the men = of=20 today? They imitate their model. It is on their = account we=20 should be troubled, the wretches! Alas, poor = Niconians! You=20 shall perish of your wicked and stubborn=20 tempers!

Then we=20 were returned to Moscow, to the court of the St. = Nicholas=20 Monastery, and again they sought from us a profession = of=20 orthodoxy. And the gentlemen of the bedchamber, = Artemon and=20 Dementy, were sent to me many a time, and they = repeated the=20 Tsar's words to me: "Archpriest, I know your innocent, = spotless, and godly life. I ask your blessing, = together with=20 the Tsarina and my children. Pray for us." Thus spoke = the=20 messenger, bowing, and I always wept for the Tsar. I = had the=20 greatest pity for him. And he went on: "I pray you, = listen to=20 me, reunite yourself with the ecumenical patriarchs, = at least=20 in part." I answered: "Let me die if God wills it so, = but I=20 will not be reunited with the apostates. You are my = Tsar - but=20 they? - what have they got to do with you? They have = lost=20 their own Tsar, and now they drag themselves here to = devour=20 you! I will not lower my arms, which are lifted to = heaven,=20 until God shall give you back to me!" There were many = messages=20 of this kind. One thing and another was discussed. = Their last=20 word was: "Wherever you are, do not forget us in your=20 prayers." Even today, miserable sinner that I am, I = pray for=20 him as well as I can.

Then, after=20 mutilating our brothers, but not me, they banished us = to=20 Pustozersk. ³⁴=20 From there I wrote two letters to the Tsar, = the first=20 one short, and the second, longer. I told him various = things,=20 among them, of certain signs that God had shown me in = my=20 prisons. Let him who reads understand. Moreover, I and = the=20 brethren sent, as a gift to the followers of the true = faith in=20 Moscow, the Deacon's manuscript entitled Answer of the = Orthodox, along with a condemnation of heresy and = apostasy. It=20 declared the truth about the dogmas of the Church. And = two=20 letters were also sent to the Tsar by the priest = Lazarus. And=20 for all this, we too received some gifts in return: in = my=20 house on the Mezen they hanged two men, spiritual = children of=20 mine, Theodore, the fool in Christ already mentioned, = and Luke=20 Lavrentievich, servants of Christ.

At that=20 time came the order that my own two sons, Ivan and = Procopy,=20 should be hanged, but they, poor wretches, lost their = heads=20 and missed the chance to seize the crown of victory; = fearing=20 death, they made submission. So, with their mother, = were they=20 imprisoned underground. There you are: death in the = absence of=20 death! May you repent in your prison, while the devil = thinks=20 of some other device. Death is terrifying? Little = wonder!=20 There was a time when Peter, the dear friend of = Christ, was a=20 traitor, and went out and wept bitterly, and was = forgiven=20 because of his tears! So why should we wonder about = these=20 children! 'Twas because of my sins that their weakness = was=20 permitted. Well, so be it. Christ has power over our=20 forgiveness and our salvation!

After that,=20 the same officer Ivan Yelagin who had been with us at = Mezen=20 came to Pustozersk, and he received from us a = profession which=20 ran thus: "Such and such a year and month. We = inalterably=20 observe the traditions of the Holy Fathers, and we = anathematize the heretical = assembly of=20 Pa=95sius, the Patriarch of Palestine, and his = followers." And=20 this profession declared many other things, and Nikon, = the=20 maker of heresies, received his share in it. For this = we were=20 taken to the scaffold, and the verdict was read = to us;=20 I was taken to prison without mutilation. The verdict = stated:=20 "Let Avvakum be imprisoned in a wooden framework = underground=20 and be given only bread and water. In answer, I spat. = I wanted=20 to starve myself to death, and did not eat for eight = days and=20 more, until the brethren ordered me to eat=20 again.

They took=20 the priest Lazarus and cut his tongue out of his = throat; there=20 was little blood, and soon it stopped flowing. And he = went on=20 speaking, without a tongue. Then, placing his right = hand on=20 the scaffold, they cut it off at the wrist, and as the = severed=20 hand lay on the ground, the fingers disposed = themselves for=20 the sign of the Cross according to tradition - and the = hand=20 remained thus for a long time for people to see, = making its=20 profession of faith, poor thing! I myself marvelled at = this;=20 the lifeless condemning the living! On the third day I = put my=20 finger in his mouth; it was smooth, tongueless, but he = felt no=20 pain. God healed him in no time. In Moscow they had = cut part=20 of his tongue, some of it had remained. But this time, = they=20 plucked it out entirely. And for two years he could = speak as=20 clearly as though he had a tongue. After two years = there was=20 another miracle: in three days there grew in his mouth = another=20 tongue only a little blunt, but he praised God = constantly and=20 condemned the apostates.

Then they=20 took the hermit from Solovki, a monk of strict = observance, the=20 elder Epiphany, and also cut out the whole of his = tongue and=20 severed four fingers from his hand. And at first he = spoke with=20 difficulty. Then he prayed to the immaculate Mother of = God,=20 and in a vision two tongues were shown to him: the = tongue of=20 Moscow and that of this land, suspended in mid-air. = Taking one=20 of them, he placed it in his mouth, and from that day = on he=20 could speak clearly and distinctly, and a perfect = tongue grew=20 in his mouth. Marvellous are the works of God and = ineffable=20 the ways of the Lord. He permits execution, and then = again=20 heals and forgives. But why speak of it at length? God = is of=20 old a miracle-worker.

Then they=20 covered us with earth. They placed a wooden framework = under=20 the earth and another one nearby, and a common = enclosure=20 around them with four locks, and guards were placed = before the=20 prison doors. And we, imprisoned here and everywhere - = sing=20 before our Lord Christ, Son of God, a canticle such as = Solomon=20 sang as he looked upon his mother,=20 Bathsheba.

Having=20 first gone from us to Mezen, Pilate ³⁵=20 journeyed to Moscow. And in Moscow the rest = of us were=20 roasted and baked. They burned Isaiah and they burned = Abraham,=20 and a great many other champions of the Church were=20 annihilated. God will count their numbers. It is = amazing that=20 the Niconians refuse to regain their senses: they = propose to=20 establish the faith through fire, whip and gallows. = Who were=20 the apostles that taught them these things? I do not = know. My=20 Christ did not order His apostles to teach in this = way, to=20 lead men to the faith with fire, whip and gallows. He=20 commanded the Apostles: "Go ye into the whole world = and preach=20 the gospel to every creature." ³⁶ =

Now I beg=20 the forgiveness of every true believer: there are = things=20 concerning my life of which perhaps I ought not to = speak. But=20 I have read the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles = of Paul:=20 the Apostles said of their deeds, when God was working = through=20 them: "Not unto us but to our God be the praise." And = I am=20 nothing. I have said and I repeat: I am a sinner, a = fornicator=20 and a ravisher, thief and murderer, friend of = publicans and=20 sinners, and to every man a wretched hypocrite. So = forgive me=20 and pray for me; and I must pray for you who read me = or listen=20 to me. I can do no better, and what I do, I relate to = men; let=20 them pray to God for my sake. On the day of judgment = they=20 shall know my actions, for good or evil. I am untaught = in=20 words, but not in knowledge; I am not learned in = dialectic,=20 rhetoric and philosophy, but I have Christ's wisdom = within me.=20 As the Apostle says: "Although I be rude in speech, = yet not in=20 knowledge."

Forgive me,=20 and concerning my ignorance, I shall moreover tell you = the=20 following: yes, I foolishly transgressed my spiritual = Father's=20 law; and because of this my house was punished. = Listen, for=20 the love of God, how this came about: at the time when = I was=20 still an ordinary priest, the Tsar's confessor, = Archpriest=20 Stephen Vonifatievich, gave me as a blessing the icon = of=20 Metropolitan Philip and the book of St. Ephraem the = Syrian,=20 for my own profit and for that of others. But I, = wretched one,=20 ignoring the fatherly blessing and instructions, = bartered that=20 book against a horse of my cousin's, because of his = insistent=20 demands. At that time my brother Yefimy was staying = with me;=20 he was experienced in the reading of books and zealous = for the=20 Church. Later he became the chief lector of the elder=20 Princess, but died of the plague along with his wife. = This=20 Yefimy fed and watered the horse and cared for it in = every=20 way, very often neglecting his prayers on that = account. God=20 beheld our unrighteous conduct: I bartering the book = and my=20 brother neglecting prayer and giving all his = attentions to a=20 beast. And the Lord deigned to punish us in the = following=20 manner: devils began to torment the horse day and = night; it=20 was continually in a sweat and a state of exhaustion, = more=20 dead than alive. I did not as yet understand why the = devil was=20 after us. Once on Sunday, after supper, my brother = Yefimy was=20 reciting, at Lauds, the 119th psalm. Crying out: "Look = down=20 upon me and have mercy on me," he dropped the book and = fell to=20 the ground, struck down by the devil, and he began to = shriek=20 and howl in dreadful tones, for the demons were = tormenting him=20 cruelly. I had staying with me two other brothers of = mine,=20 Cosmas and Gerasim, and although they were larger than = he,=20 they could not restrain him. And all those of my = household,=20 some thirty persons or so, were holding him and = weeping and=20 crying out: "Lord, have mercy upon us, we have sinned = before=20 Thee, we have outraged Thy bounty, have mercy upon us, = miserable sinners! By the prayers of our Holy Fathers, = forgive=20 this youth!"

But he,=20 even more bedevilled, howled and trembled and writhed = in=20 convulsions.

But at that=20 moment, with the help of God, I did not let myself be = troubled=20 by that diabolical tumult. Having recited my Office, I = prayed=20 with tears to Christ and the Mother of God, saying: = "Our Lady,=20 most Holy Mother of God! Pray, show me for what sin I = have=20 deserved such punishment, so that knowing it, I may = repent=20 before your Son and you, and commit this sin no more!" = And,=20 weeping, I sent to the church, for the breviary and = holy=20 water, my spiritual son Symeon, about the same age as = my=20 Yefimy, fourteen years old or so; these two youths, = Yefimy and=20 Symeon were friends and associates, sustaining and = comforting=20 each other with books and prayer, both living in = strict=20 fasting and penance. Symeon wept over his friend, went = to the=20 church and brought back the book and the holy water. I = started=20 to recite over the bedevilled youth the prayers of = Basil the=20 Great, and Symeon assisted me; he tended the censer = and the=20 candles, and offered me the holy water; all the others = held=20 the possessed. I said the words of the prayer: "In the = name of=20 the Lord, I command thee, mute and deaf spirit, go out = of this=20 creature, do not reenter into him, but go into the = deserts,=20 where man liveth not, and God alone looketh down." But = the=20 devil did not obey and did not go out of my brother. = And again=20 I repeated these words, but the devil did not obey, = but=20 tormented my brother even more than before. Oh, = misfortune=20 upon me! How shall I tell this? I am ashamed and do = not dare!=20 But according to the orders of the elder Epiphanius, I = shall=20 describe the way in which it = occurred.

I took the=20 censer and incensed the icons and the possessed, and = then I=20 fell on the bench and wept for a long time. Then, = rising, I=20 repeated the prayer of St. Basil and cried to the = devil: "Go=20 out of that creature." The devil twisted my brother = into a=20 ring, and, writhing, went out of him and sat on the = window;=20 and my brother was like one dead. I sprinkled the = window, and=20 the devil came down and hid in the millstone corner; = and my=20 brother pointed at him, and again I sprinkled. The = devil then=20 climbed onto the stove, and my brother pointed there. = Once=20 more I sprinkled the holy water, and my brother = pointed under=20 the stove and crossed himself. I did not pursue the = devil any=20 further, but I gave my brother holy water to drink in = the=20 Lord's name. And he sighed from the very depths of his = heart=20 and spoke to me thus: "God save you, Father, for = having freed=20 me from the prince of devils and his two princelings. = My=20 brother Avvakum will thank you for your kindness. And = God=20 bless that youth who went to fetch the book and the = holy water=20 and helped you to fight them. He was in the likeness = of my=20 friend Symeon. They brought me to the river Sundovik, = and=20 there they beat me, saying: "You have been delivered = to us=20 because your brother Avvakum bartered his book against = a horse=20 and because you loved that beast. So tell your brother = to take=20 the book and pay back the money to his cousin." I said = to him:=20 "I, dear soul, am your brother." And he answered: "How = should=20 you be my brother? You are my Father, you took me away = from=20 the prince and the princelings; as for my brother, he = lives at=20 Lopatishchi, and he will thank you." = ³⁷=20 I gave him some more holy water to drink, and = he took=20 the vessel from my hands and wanted to drain it, so = sweet was=20 that water to him. And when there was no more, I = rinsed the=20 vessel and again made him drink, but he rejected it. I = spent=20 all that winter night tending him. I lay a while at = his side,=20 and then I went to Matins; and in my absence, the = devils once=20 more assailed him, but less = vigorously.

When I came=20 back from church, I anointed him, and again the devils = went=20 out of him and he was sound of mind. But he was weak, = broken=20 by the devils; he would glance at the stove and become = fearful; when I left, the devils would return. I = fought the=20 devils like dogs for three weeks for my sins, until I = took the=20 book back and paid for it with money. I went to see my = friend,=20 Abbot Hilarion; he offered a particle from the = Eucharistic=20 bread for my brother's recovery; in those days = Hilarion led a=20 good life, but since becoming Archbishop of Riazan, he = has=20 been a persecutor of the Christians. And I requested = the help=20 of other ecclesiastics for my brother; by their = prayers they=20 obtained forgiveness for us, miserable sinners, and my = brother=20 was freed from the devils. Such was the punishment for = transgressing my father's commandment. How, then, = shall we be=20 punished for violating the commandments of the Lord? = Ah, we=20 shall deserve but fire and torment! I know not how to = pass my=20 days! I am full of weakness and hypocrisy and enmeshed = with=20 lies! I am clothed with hatred and self-love! I am = lost=20 because I condemn all men; I think of myself as = something,=20 whereas I - accursed! - am but excrement and rot, yea, = dung!=20 Foul of soul and body. 'Twould be good if I lived with = pigs=20 and dogs in their kennels; they too are evil-smelling, = like my=20 soul. Their stench is from nature, but I am = evil-smelling=20 because of my sins, like a dead dog left lying in the = streets=20 of the city. God bless the bishops who buried me = underground;=20 at least, giving out stench to myself for my sins, I = offer no=20 scandal to others. Yea, this is = good.

And in=20 Moscow also, upon my return from Siberia, I had with = me a=20 possessed man, Philip by name. He was chained to the = wall in=20 the corner of the house, for the devil in him was = harsh and=20 cruel, he beat and fought, and no one in my household = could=20 master him. And when I, miserable sinner, came up to = him with=20 the cross and holy water, he became obedient, and fell = senseless before the cross of Christ and dared do = nothing=20 against me. And with the prayers of the Holy Fathers, = the=20 devil was cast out of him by the power of God, but his = mind=20 was not wholly restored. He was cared for by Theodore, = the=20 fool in Christ, who was afterwards hanged on the Mezen = by the=20 apostates. He recited the psalms over Philip and = taught him=20 the prayer of Jesus. I myself would be absent from my = house in=20 the daytime and could tend Philip only at night. One = day I=20 returned from Fedor Rtishchev filled with depression, = for at=20 this house I had engaged in much noisy quarreling with = the=20 heretics concerning the faith and the law. Meanwhile = there was=20 disorder in my own house: Dame Avvakum had quarreled = with a=20 servant-woman, the widow Fetinia; the devil had = precipitated=20 them into unreasoning anger against each other. When I = entered=20 the house, I beat them both and gave them great = offence,=20 because of my own sour temper: I sinned before God and = before=20 them. And then the devil was aroused in Philip and = began to=20 break his chain, raging and shrieking horribly. The = servants=20 were seized with panic, and there was a great tumult. = I,=20 without having repented, went up to him, wanting to = tame him,=20 but things did not go as usual. He seized me, and = started to=20 beat and thrash me, tearing at me as if I were a = cob-web,=20 crying out: "You have fallen into my hands!" I recited = a=20 prayer, but prayer without deeds is of no use. The = servants=20 could not tear me out of his hands; I gave myself up = to him. I=20 knew I had sinned, so let him beat me! But God works = miracles:=20 he beat me, but I felt no pain. Then he thrust me away = from=20 him, saying: I do not fear you." And I was much = aggrieved,=20 saying to myself: "The devil has the better of me!" I = lay down=20 for a while and collected myself. Rising, I went and = found my=20 wife, and with tears asked her forgiveness, bowing to = the=20 ground before her and saying: "Nastasia Markovna, = forgive me,=20 miserable sinner. And she bowed to me in the same way. = And I=20 asked likewise Fetinia's forgiveness. Then I lay down = in the=20 middle of the room and ordered each man to beat me = with a=20 scourge, each giving me five strokes on my wretched = back.=20 There were about twenty people, and my wife and = children, and=20 they all lashed me, weeping. I said: "He, who does not = beat=20 me, shall have no share with me in the Kingdom of = Heaven." And=20 they beat me unwillingly and with tears, while I = recited a=20 prayer with each stroke. When every one of them had = scourged=20 me, I rose and asked their forgiveness, and the devil, = seeing=20 that it was inevitable, again went out of Philip. And = I=20 blessed him with the cross, and he was as before. = Later, he=20 wholly recovered, by the grace of God in Jesus Christ, = Our=20 Lord. Glory be to Him!

When I was=20 an ordinary priest and had but begun my striving for=20 perfection, this is the way the devil terrified me. My = wife=20 fell sick and her spiritual Father came to visit her. = In the=20 dead of night I went to the church to get the book for = her=20 confession. As I entered the porch, there was a small = table=20 there, which, by the devil's device, began to jump = about where=20 it stood. And I, fearing nothing, prayed before the = icon, and=20 going up to the table, I made the sign of the cross = and put it=20 back into its place, and it stopped dancing around. As = I came=20 to the nave, there was another trick of the demons: a = corpse=20 lay in its coffin on the bench, and through a device = of the=20 devil, the lid of the coffin was lifted, and the = shroud began=20 to wave about, filling me with fear. And I, praying to = God,=20 blessed the dead, and everything was as before. As I = entered=20 the sanctuary, I saw the chasubles and dalmatics = flying=20 around, to frighten me. But I prayed and kissed the = altar and=20 blessed the vestments, and going up, touched them, and = they=20 hung motionless as before. So I took the book and left = the=20 church. Such are the devices of the devil against us. = But=20 enough of this! What is the power of the cross and of = holy oil=20 unable to perform on the possessed and on the sick, by = the=20 grace of God! And we must remember this: not for our = sake and=20 because of us, but to His own name doth God add glory. = I who=20 am but mud, what could I do, were it not for Christ? = It befits=20 me to weep about myself. Judas was a miracle-worker, = but=20 because of his greed for money, fell into the devil's = hands.=20 And the devil himself was in heaven, but was cast out = because=20 of his pride. Adam was in paradise, but was driven out = of it=20 for his gluttony and condemned to hell for 5,500 = years.=20 Knowing this, let every man who believes he is able to = stand,=20 beware lest he fall. Clasp the feet of Christ and pray = to the=20 Mother of God and all the saints, and all will be=20 well.

And so, my=20 Elder, you have heard a great deal of my cackle. In = the name=20 of the Lord, I order you to write likewise for the = servants of=20 Christ, relating how the Mother of God broke that = devil in her=20 arms and gave him over to you, and how the ants = devoured the=20 secret part of your body, and how the demon set fire = to your=20 wood, and your cell was burned, but everything in it = remained=20 intact, and how you cried out to heaven, and what else = you may=20 recall for the glory of Christ and the Mother of God.=20 ³⁸=20 Listen, then, to what I say: If you do not = write, I=20 shall be angry. You listened to me with enjoyment - = why, then,=20 be ashamed? Relate it, if only a little. At the = Council of=20 Jerusalem the Apostles Paul and Barnabas told "what = great=20 signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles = by them."=20 And the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And we = find many=20 instances in the Epistles and the Acts. And so, speak = without=20 fear, only keep a firm conscience. Say that you do not = seek=20 your own glory, but that of Christ and the Mother of = God. Let=20 the servant of Christ rejoice reading this account. = When he=20 reads us and we are dead, he will remember us before = God. And=20 we shall pray to God for those who read us and listen = to us.=20 They shall be our kin, there, at Christ's side, and we = shall=20 be theirs, for ever and ever,=20 Amen.

Footnotes

1=20 There are three versions of Avvakum's life, known in = Russian=20 scholarly research as A., B., and C. One manuscript of = the=20 first version is in Avvakum's own hand; the others are = obviously copies done by Old Believers. In 1927 the = three=20 texts were simultaneously published (after a number of = earlier=20 editions) by the Leningrad Academy of Science in the = series:=20 "The Russian Historical Library" as Volume XXXIX, = devoted to=20 the history of the Old Believers in the seventeenth = century.=20 The three texts offer several variations, but as I. L. = Barskov=20 writes in his introduction, all three present = indubitably=20 Avvakum's own story, and he himself may have = introduced the=20 variations while the Life was being copied. Avvakum = sent this=20 story to a number of his spiritual children and to = groups of=20 Old Believers - wherefor, the copying. But, as Barskov = points=20 out, none of his contemporaries would have dared or = would have=20 been able to invent new episodes or to add new facts = to the=20 Life. It is Avvakum's own voice we hear in each one of = these=20 documents. The translator has mainly used the version = A=20 (Avvakum's autographed text), but has also borrowed = from the=20 other texts, episodes and variations which are either=20 particularly characteristic and colorful or which help = to=20 clarify the sequence of the events=20 narrated.

2=20 The city of Nizhny-Novgorod, situated at the middle of = the=20 Volga River's course, is once again called that, being = Gorkiy=20 in Soviet times.

3=20 They were imprisoned in a subterranean=20 dugout.

4=20 Acts 8: 26-39.

5=20 Some objects of Avvakum's zeal for reform: the trained = bears,=20 like all kinds of theatrical or musical or jugglers'=20 entertainments, were prohibited by the Church; the = shaving was=20 condemned by the "Stoglav" Council of 1551, yet began = to be=20 practised in the seventeenth century under Western=20 influence.

6=20 St. Philip was deposed and strangled by the order of = Ivan IV=20 (called "The Terrible").

7=20 St. Stephen, a missionary bishop among the heathen = Finnish=20 tribe of Zyrians in Northern Russia (fourteenth=20 century).

8=20 The patriarchate had just become vacant with the death = of=20 Joseph (1652).

9=20 In 1653.

10=20 Our Lady of Kazan, destroyed by order of Stalin, = but=20 rebuilt in the 1990's in Red Square,=20 Moscow.

11=20 A main point of difference between the old and the new = rites=20 is the number of fingers used in making the sign of = the cross:=20 two for the Old Believers, three for the Established=20 Church.

12=20 This is part of the rite of the degradation of a=20 priest.

13=20 With his usual realism regarding ritualistic = symbolism,=20 Avvakum sees the sundering of Christ's body in the = obviously=20 new ritual gesture of the Patriarch, who took the = paten and=20 the chalice separately from the = deacon.

14=20 Since Avvakum had not been degraded (shorn) like his=20 colleagues, he was accepted in Tobolsk as a parish=20 priest.

15=20 The Tsarina Maria Miloslavsky, the first wife of = Alexis, was=20 in sympathy with the Old = Believers.

16=20 Dauria was the name given in the seventeenth century = to the=20 country on the left bank of the Amur River. The = Russians had=20 recently undertaken the conquest of this country, and = Pashkov=20 was the captain of the expedition.

17=20 It was considered indecent for a married woman to go=20 bareheaded.

18=20 Pope means priest in ancient and popular=20 Russian.

19=20 November 15, in 1656.

20=20 Hostages from the native tribes (in Bratsky it was the = Buriats) were kept in Siberian forts to secure the = payment of=20 tribute.

21=20 The eating of "unclean" food was considered a great=20 sin.

22=20 Rtishchev was an influential boyar and one of the most = cultivated and tolerant statesmen of the seventeenth=20 century.

23=20 The preparation of bread and wine for the Eucharist = which=20 constitutes the first part of the Eastern=20 Liturgy.

24=20 An influential boyar and a personal friend of Tsar=20 Alexis.

25=20 September 1, 1662, the day of New Year in old=20 Russia.

26=20 The Mezen is a river discharging itself into the White = Sea=20 eastward from Arkhangelsk. There, on the sea coast, = was a=20 small Russian settlement (now the town of=20 Mezen).

27=20 St. Paphnutius Monastery at Borovsk, about one hundred = miles=20 from Moscow.

28=20 About ten miles from Moscow, on the Moskva=20 River.

29=20 In this letter to the Tsar, Avvakum tells that while = reading=20 the Gospel, he had a vision of his guardian angel and = Christ=20 the Lord, Who said to him: "Have no fear; I am with=20 thee."

30=20 The companions of Avvakum had their tongues cut off = before=20 they were sent into their place of=20 deportation.

31=20 Tobacco was prohibited in Muscovy in the seventeenth = century=20 and is abhorred by the Old Believers up to the present = time.=20 The Metropolitan of Gaza (in Palestine) Paisius = Ligarides,=20 came to Russia as a theological expert in=20 1662.

32=20 Sham madness or folly was the essence of the ascetical = form of=20 life called, in Russian, "foolishness for Christ's = sake." Such=20 holy fools were a prophetic voice in Holy Russia and = hid their=20 saintliness by their behaviour. They were very = popular,=20 particularly in the sixteenth and seventeenth century. = Many of=20 them, such as Basil the Blessed and Nicholas of=20 Pskov were canonized, although the Church in the=20 seventeenth century began to prohibit such an = ostentatious and=20 disorderly way of life.

33=20 The famous council of 1666-7, in which two Greek = patriarchs=20 participated. The council condemned the schism of the = Old=20 Believers and deposed the Patriarch Nikon=20 himself.

34=20 Deacon Theodore was banished to Pustozersk in 1668, = some=20 months later than Avvakum and his group=20 (1667).

35=20 This name is given by Avvakum to the officer who = executed his=20 sons and friends in Mezen. He gives, besides, his = proper name,=20 Ivan Yelagin.

36=20 This is the end of the autobiography proper; what = follows is=20 the account of miracles wrought through Avvakum's = prayers=20 during his life.

37=20 This is the delirium of the possessed, failing to = recognize=20 the place where he is.

38=20 All these miraculous events and many others here = omitted are,=20 indeed, related in the autobiography of=20 Epiphanius.