The last diocese of the Russian Church is divided

Chistopol diocese

- diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church in the administrative boundaries of Aksubaevsky, Alekseevsky, Alkeevsky, Nizhnekamsky, Novosheshminsky, Nurlatsky, Spassky, Cheremshansky and Chistopolsky districts of the Republic of Tatarstan. It is part of the Tatarstan Metropolitanate[1].

Content

• 1. History
• 2 Bishops
• 3 Structure of the diocese 3.1 Deaneries
• 3.2 Departments

Story

On March 1, 1899, by decree of the Holy Governing Synod, the Chistopol Vicariate of the Kazan Diocese was established specifically for the rectors of the Kazan Theological Academy (before its closure). The bishops of Chistopol were considered the first vicars of the Kazan diocese[2]. After 1935 it was not replaced.

By the decision of the Holy Synod of June 6, 2012, an independent Chistopol diocese was formed, which was separated from the Kazan diocese and included in the Tatarstan Metropolis.[1].

Bishops

Chistopol Vicariate

• Anthony (Khrapovitsky) (March 1, 1899 - July 14, 1900)
• Alexy (Molchanov) (September 10, 1900 - March 26, 1905)
• Feodosius (Oltarzhevsky) (July 18 - August 27, 1905)
• Alexy (Dorodnitsyn) (August 27, 1905 - January 17, 1912)
• Anastasy (Alexandrov) (March 4, 1912 - May 30, 1913)
• Anatoly (Grisyuk) (June 29, 1913 - February 28, 1922)
• Joasaph (Udalov) (April 12, 1922 - end of 1929)
• Andrey (Solntsev) (April 26, 1934 - September 17, 1935)

Chistopol diocese

• Anastasy (Metkin)
  (June 6, 2012 - May 18, 2015) supreme, Metropolitan of Kazan and Tatarstan
• Parmen (Shchipelev) (since May 18, 2015)[3]

Archpastors

The future Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky) served as the first bishop in 1899 until mid-summer 1900.

Archbishop Alexy (Molchanov), the future theologian and exarch of Georgia, succeeded Bishop Anthony in 1900, and for five years headed the vicariate.

For just a few months in 1905, Bishop Theodosius (Oltarzhevsky), who had previously served as rector of the Kyiv Theological Seminary, ruled over diocesan affairs.

From the autumn of 1905, for seven long years, the Kazan diocese was headed by Bishop Alexey (Dorodnitsyn), a writer and theologian, rector of the Theological Seminary in Kazan.

In the spring of 1912, Archimandrite Anastasy (Alexandrov) was consecrated bishop of Chistopol and second vicar.

Temple in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness”, Chistopol

Several times a year, the Church commemorates the Hieromartyr Anatoly (Grisyuk), an extraordinary professor who served as an archimandrite in 1913-1921, was martyred in Bolshevik prisons and exile, and died in a prison hospital.

Bishop Anatoly was replaced by the holy martyr Josaphat (Udalov), who experienced the most difficult years (1922-1929) of the anti-religious movement in Russia. Canonized at the Council of New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.

The last bishop of the Kazan diocese before its closure in 1935 was Vicar Andrei (Solntsev).

After the revival and founding of the Chistopol separate diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Tatarstan Metropolis, it was headed by Metropolitan Anastasy (Metkin), he was replaced by Bishop Parmen (Shchipilev).

Structure of the diocese

Deanery

The diocese is divided into six deaneries (deaneries):

• Chistopolsky (Chistopolsky and Novosheshminsky districts; dean - Archpriest Sergiy Aleksandrovich Kuznetsov - rector of the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness”, Chistopol);
• Aksubaevsky (Aksubaevsky and Nurlatsky districts; dean - Archpriest Alexander Vladimirovich Kachaev - rector of the Church of St. Theodosius of Totemsky in the urban village of Aksubayevo);
• Alekseevsky (Alekseevsky and Alkeevsky districts; dean - Archpriest Pavel Mikhailovich Churashov - rector of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in the urban village of Alekseevskoye);
• Nizhnekamsk (Nizhnekamsk district; dean - Archpriest John Petrovich Buhenko - rector of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in the city of Nizhnekamsk);
• Spassky (Spassky district; dean - priest Anastasy Golovin - rector of the Holy Abraham Church, city of Bolgar [www.bolgar-hram.info/]. .])
• Cheremshansky (Cheremshansky district, dean - priest Alexander Filimonov - rector of the Church of the Nativity of Christ in the village of Cheremshan).

Departments

There are seven departments within the diocesan administration:

• for church charity and social service,
• religious education and catechesis,
• in prison ministry,
• on working with youth,
• missionary department,
• on interaction with the Cossacks,
• for the protection of motherhood and childhood.

There is a functioning diocesan church court (chaired by Archpriest Dimitry Churashov, rector of the parish of the Intercession of the Mother of God Church in the village of Sheremetyevka, Nizhnekamsk region).

And about. Secretary of the diocese - Priest Nikolai Rybochkin - cleric of the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Chistopol

Deanery

There are no monasteries in the Chistopol diocesan department; on the territory of the deanery there are 86 parishes, in which 78 clergy serve, seven of whom have taken monastic rank.

Bishop Ignatius heads the Chistopol diocese

The diocese has the following deaneries:

• Aksubaevskoe is headed by Archpriest Alexander Kachaev;
• Alekseevskoe is under the guardianship of Archpriest Pavel Churashov;
• Alkeevsky is under the care of father Andrei Zinkov;
• Archpriest John Buchenko serves in Nizhnekamsk;
• Nurlatskoye is headed by Priest Vladimir Borkov;
• Novosheshminskoe under the protection of Archpriest Pyotr Yarushkin;
• in Pokrovskoye - Archpriest Vitaly Kuzmin;
• in Spassky, Archpriest A. Zinkov serves as dean;
• Chistopol district under the deanery of Sergius Kuznetsov;
• Cheremshanskoe is headed by priest Alexandrov Filimonov.

The Alekseevsky deanery is known for its society of sisters of mercy and the “Transfiguration” ministry, which helps alcohol-dependent people.

Temples and other places of worship

Aksubaevsky district

• temple of St. Feodosiya Totemsky (urban-type settlement Aksubaevo);
• prayer house in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (urban-type settlement Aksubaevo);
• Church of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius (Voskhod village);
• Church of the Ascension of the Lord (village Suncheleevo);
• house of worship in honor of St. mchch. Faith, Hope, Love and Sofia (village of Nizhnyaya Balanda);
• Temple of the Kazan Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Russian Kiremet village);
• prayer house in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov (the village of Staroye Timoshkino);
• Church in honor of the Nativity of John the Baptist (Old Uzeevo);
• chapel (Myud village).

Alekseevsky district

• Church of the Resurrection of Christ (urban-type settlement Alekseevskoye);
• chapel in honor of the Akhtyrka Icon of the Mother of God (urban-type settlement Alekseevskoye);
• chapel in honor of St. Vmch. St. George the Victorious (urban-type settlement Alekseevskoe);
• chapel of St. Trinity (cemetery) (assigned to the parish of St. Alexy in the urban village of Alekseevskoye);
• Church in honor of the Nativity of Christ (Sakharovka village);
• Church of the Archangel Michael (Bilyarsk village);
• Chapel of All Saints (cemetery) (Bilyarsk village);
• a source in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Spring” (the village of Bilyarsk);
• prayer house of the Nativity of Christ (Rodniki village);
• Church in honor of the Holy Trinity (Kurkul village);
• Church in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (Rechnoe village);
• temple in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (Erykla village);
• Temple of the origin (deterioration) of the Honest Trees of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord (Novospasskoye village);
• Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Maslovka village);
• Temple of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (village of Balakhchino);
• Church in honor of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God (Bazyakovo village);
• temple in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh (Chuvashskaya Maina village);
• source of St. St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (Maslovka village);
• family chapel at the grave of A. M. Butlerov (Bolshiye Polyanki village).

Alkeevsky district

• temple of st. Nicholas (village of Sikterme - Khuzangaevo);
• Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (village Yukhmachi);
• Church of the Holy Trinity (Koshki village);
• Church of the Nativity (Boriskino village);
• Church of the Resurrection of the Lord (Chuvashskoe Burnaevo village);
• Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary (village of Nizhneye Kocheevo);
• Church of the Archangel Michael (Chuvashskoye Shapkino village);
• temple of st. Nicholas (village of Nizhneye Kolchurino);
• Church of the Holy Trinity (village of Bazarnye Mataki).

Nizhnekamsk district

• Church of the Resurrection of Christ (city of Nizhnekamsk);
• Church of St. Roman Sladkopevets Ave. (city of Nizhnekamsk, Nizhny Borok);
• Church of St. right John of Kronstadt (city of Nizhnekamsk, Krasny Klyuch);
• Church of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called (Borok village);
• Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God (village of Bolshoye Afanasovo);
• Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God (Bolshie Aty village);
• Church of St. bessr. Kosma and Damiana (urban-type settlement Kamskie Polyany);
• parish of the Holy Trinity Church (village of Karmaly);
• Church of John the Baptist (monastery of the Raifa Mother of God Monastery, village of Kashaevo);
• Church of St. Alexander Nevsky (Narimanovka village);
• Epiphany Prayer House (Starosheshminsk village);
• prayer house of St. Basil the Great (Verkhnyaya Uratma village);
• Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God (Sheremetyevka village);
• source of St. John the Baptist (Sheremetyevka village);
• temple in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (village of Sukharevo);
• Temple of the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles (village of Achi);
• chapel in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on the territory of the cemetery (Beryozovaya Griva village) (consecrated on November 25, 2012)[4].

Novosheshminsky district

• Church of the Ascension of the Lord (village of Sloboda Arkhangelskaya);
• prayer house in honor of the Intercession of the Mother of God (village Novosheshminsk);
• Church of St. Apostles Peter and Paul (village of Sloboda Petropavlovskaya);
• Church of St. Vmch. Demetrius of Thessalonica (village of Lenino);
• Church of the Archangel Michael (village of Cheryomukhovaya Sloboda).

Nurlatsky district

• Church of St. Prophet Elijah (Nurlat);
• temple of St. Seraphim of Sarov (Nurlat);
• Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord (village of Bilyar-Ozero);
• Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God (Turnyasevo village);
• Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (the village of Starye Chelny);
• prayer house in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (village of Mamykovo).

Spassky district

• parish of St. Abraham's Church (Bolgar);
• source of St. Martyr Abraham of Bulgaria and Vladimir miracle worker (city of Bolgar);
• prayer room in the Spasskaya Central District Hospital (Bolgar) (assigned to the parish of St. Abraham's Church in Bolgar);
• prayer room in Spassky DIPI (Bolgar) (assigned to the parish of St. Abraham's Church in Bolgar);
• chapel in honor of the Don Icon of the Mother of God (“Cossack Sloboda” near the city of Bolgar) (assigned to the parish of the Holy Abraham Church in the city of Bolgar);
• Trinity Prayer House (Bolgar city);
• Assumption Church on the territory of BGIAMZ (Bolgar city);
• temple in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Joy of All Who Sorrow” (Antonovka village);
• a source in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (the village of Nikolskoye);
• temple in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (Nikolskoye village);
• Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Polyanka village);
• Trinity Prayer House (village Rzhavets);
• Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (village Three Lakes);
• Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Kuznechikha village);
• Church of the Holy Martyr Theodore of Bulgaria (Kim village);
• Church in honor of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia (Kuralovo village);
• Church of the Holy Trinity (Tankeyevka village);
• prayer house in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (Burakovo village).

Cheremshansky district

• Temple of the Archangel Michael of God (Cheremshan village);
• Church of the Nativity (Cheremshan village);
• Epiphany Church (Kutema village);
• Church of St. Basil the Great (Akkireevo village);
• Church of St. Nicholas (village of Nizhnyaya Karmalka);
• Temple of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (Ulyanovka village);
• Temple in honor of the Archangel Michael (the village of Staroe Ilmovo).

Chistopolsky district

• St. Nicholas Cathedral (city of Chistopol);
• Temple of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (city of Chistopol);
• Church of the Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” (city of Chistopol);
• Church of the Holy Trinity (village of Chistopolskie Vyselki);
• Church of the Holy Trinity (Maly Tolkish village);
• prayer house of St. vlmch. Ekaterina (Ekaterinovka village);
• Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (village of Nizhnyaya Kondrata);
• Temple of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (Verkhnyaya Kondrata village);
• temple in honor of St. top App. Peter and Paul (village of Bakhta);
• Church in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (Bolshoi Tolkish village).

Patron saints of the Chistopol and Nizhnekamsk diocese

The veneration of the martyr Abraham of Bulgaria dates back to the 13th century. Once a Muslim accepted the Christian faith, suffered martyrdom for it and became famous for his incorruptible miraculous relics, which are still kept in the Church of St. Abraham in Bolgars.

Icon of the Holy Martyr Abraham of Bulgaria

As mentioned above, the holy martyr Josaphat (Udalov), bishop of the Kazan diocese, was canonized for his loyalty to Orthodoxy, having stood in faith during the difficult years of hard labor and prison.

Metropolitan of Odessa, metropolis, holy martyr Anatoly (Grisyuk) proved his loyalty to the Orthodox Church, going through all the circles of hell in Soviet prisons and exiles.

Hieromartyr Mikhail (Votyakov) is especially revered in the village of Chistopol settlements, where he served in the Church of the Holy Trinity for his arrest, and remained in the memory of people as an example of special love for people

Notes

1. ↑ 12
   [www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/2269360.html JOURNALS of the meeting of the Holy Synod of June 6-7, 2012 / Official documents / Patriarchia.ru]
2. [www.kds.eparhia.ru/bibliot/istoriakazeparhii/arhipastyri/arhipast_19/ Kazan Theological Seminary of the Russian Orthodox Church / Electronic library of the Kazan Theological Seminary / History of the Kazan Diocese / Kazan Archpastors 1555-2011 / Vicar Archpastors: SV ...]
3. [www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/4067545.html JOURNAL No. 11 // JOURNALS of the meeting of the Holy Synod of May 5, 2015]
4. [chistopol-eparhia.ru/index.php/news/224-id291112 Consecration of the chapel in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the village. Birch Mane of Nizhnekamsk Deanery // Chistopol and Nizhnekamsk Diocese]

The last diocese of the Russian Church is divided

Today, in the Throne Hall of the Patriarchal and Synodal Residence in the Danilov Monastery in Moscow, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' chaired the first meeting of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2021.

The Synod heard a message from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on the life and activities of the Russian Orthodox Church during the coronavirus epidemic.

Gratitude was expressed to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill for his wise primate care of the Russian Orthodox Church in the context of the coronavirus epidemic and related restrictions.

The synodals thanked all the clergy, monastics and laity who have worked hard and are working in the field of helping people who find themselves in a particularly difficult life situation due to the spread of the disease, and called on bishops, clergy, monastics and laity to offer a special prayer for the repose of the brothers who died from the consequences of coronavirus infection and sisters in Christ and for the consolation of their relatives and loved ones, and also not to give up prayer to the Lord for deliverance from the harmful epidemic that has found itself.

The decision to divide the huge Moscow diocese into five dioceses and unite them into the Moscow Metropolis, headed by Patriarch Kirill, became sensational.

The following dioceses were formed in the Moscow region:

— Kolomenskaya in the territory of urban districts: Kolomna, Ramensky, Bronnitsy, Zhukovsky, Zaraysk, Kashira, Serebryanye Prudy, Lukhovitsy, Voskresensk, Yegoryevsk;

— Balashikhinskaya in the territory of urban districts: Balashikha, Reutov, Orekhovo-Zuevsky, Shchelkovo, Losino-Petrovsky, Bogorodsky, Chernogolovka, Shatura, Pavlovsky Posad, Elektrogorsk, Fryazino, Elektrostal, ZATO Zvezdny Gorodok;

— Odintsovo in the territory of urban districts: Odintsovo, including the cities of Zvenigorod, Krasnogorsk, Naro-Fominsk, Istra, Volokolamsk, Lotoshino, Mozhaisky, Ruzsky, Shakhovskaya, ZATO Vlasikha, ZATO Krasnoznamensk, ZATO Molodezhny, ZATO Voskhod;

— Podolskaya on the territory of the urban districts: Podolsk, Lyubertsy, Dzerzhinsky, Kotelniki, Lytkarino, Serpukhov, Protvino, Pushchino, Domodedovo, Chekhov, Stupino, Leninsky with the administrative center in the city of Vidnoye;

— Sergiev Posad in the urban districts: Sergiev Posad, Pushkin, Mytishchi, Korolev, Lobnya, Dmitrovsky, Taldomsky, Dubna, Khimki, Klin, Dolgoprudny, Solnechnogorsk.

The Metropolis was headed by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill. The Synod thanked the Primate for his willingness to continue caring for the parishes and monasteries of the Moscow region.

Juvenaly, Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomna, Patriarchal Vicar, was appointed diocesan bishop of the Kolomna diocese. Metropolitan Krutitsky and Kolomensky were given the rights to govern the Moscow Metropolis with powers determined by the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Bishop Nikolai of Balashikha and Orekhovo-Zuevsky was appointed Bishop of Balashikha and retained his position as editor-in-chief of the Publishing House of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Bishop Panteleimon of Orekhovo-Zuevsky was appointed Bishop of Vereisky.

Bishop Thomas of Pavlovo Posad was appointed His Eminence of Odintsovo and Krasnogorsk, while retaining his position as head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Bishop Irinarch of Krasnogorsk was appointed Bishop of Ramensky.

Bishop Porfiry of Odintsovo was appointed Bishop of Ozersk.

Bishop Thomas of Sergiev Posad was appointed His Eminence of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov, retaining his position as Vicar of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra.

Bishop Theophylact of Dmitrov was appointed Bishop of Mytishchi.

Bishop Aksy of Yuzhno-Sakhalin and Kuril was appointed His Eminence of Podolsk and Lyubertsy.

Archbishop Tikhon of Podolsk was appointed Archbishop of Ruza.

Bishop Nikanor of Minusinsk and Kuraginsk headed the Yuzhno-Sakhalin and Kuril diocese.

Temporary administration of the Minusinsk and Kuragin diocese was entrusted to Metropolitan Panteleimon of Krasnoyarsk and Achinsk.

Bishop Tikhon of Vidnovsky and Bishop Roman of Serpukhov were appointed vicars of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'.

Bishop Konstantin of Zaraisk and Bishop Peter of Lukhovitsky were appointed vicars of the Metropolitan of Krutitsky and Kolomna.

The Synod made another important decision. Bishop Stefan of Klin, vicar of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', was relieved of his post as chairman of the Synodal Department for interaction with the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies, with an expression of gratitude for the work incurred. Bishop Savvaty of Tara and Tyukalin was appointed Chairman of the Department, with his release from the administration of the Tara diocese. The Bishop was appointed Bishop of Bronnitsky, vicar of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. Temporary administration of the Tara diocese was entrusted to Metropolitan Vladimir of Omsk and Tauride. Priest Oleg Ovcharov, cleric of the Yaroslavl diocese, was appointed deputy chairman of the Department.

Bishop Paramon of Naro-Fominsk, vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', has been relieved of his position as chairman of the Financial and Economic Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate. Archimandrite Elijah (Rudnev), who was relieved of his post as deputy governor of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Valaam stauropegic monastery, was appointed Chairman of the Office.

The hierarchs had a judgment about the state of affairs in the Chelyabinsk diocese. As a result, Bishop Parmen of Kopeisk, vicar of the Chelyabinsk diocese, was appointed vicar of the Kurgan diocese with the title “Vargashinsky”.

The Synod reviewed the state of affairs in the Chistopol diocese. As a result, Bishop Ignatius of Chistopol and Nizhnekamsk was released from the administration of the Chistopol diocese and appointed vicar of the Kemerovo diocese with the title “Guryevsky”. Temporary administration of the Chistopol diocese has been entrusted to Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan, head of the Tatarstan Metropolis.

Bishop Nikon of Kudymkar and Vereshchagin has been retired due to health reasons. Temporary administration of the Kudymkar diocese has been entrusted to Metropolitan Methodius of Perm and Kungur, head of the Perm Metropolis.

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An excerpt characterizing the Chistopol diocese

“You can’t help but finally understand that besides your pleasure there is happiness, the peace of other people, that you are ruining your whole life because you want to have fun. Have fun with women like my wife - with these you are in your right, they know what you want from them. They are armed against you with the same experience of depravity; but to promise a girl to marry her... to deceive, to steal... Don’t you understand that this is as vile as killing an old man or a child!... Pierre fell silent and looked at Anatole no longer with an angry, but a questioning look. - I do not know this. A? - said Anatole, cheering up as Pierre overcame his anger. “I don’t know this and I don’t want to know,” he said, without looking at Pierre and with a slight trembling of his lower jaw, “but you told me these words: vile and the like, which I comme un homme d’honneur [as an honest man ] I won’t let anyone. Pierre looked at him in surprise, unable to understand what he needed. “Although it was face to face,” Anatole continued, “but I can’t...” “Well, do you need satisfaction?” - Pierre said mockingly. “At least you can take back your words.” A? If you want me to fulfill your wishes. A? “I’ll take it back,” said Pierre, and I ask you to excuse me. Pierre glanced involuntarily at the torn button. - And money, if you need it for the trip. – Anatole smiled. This expression of a timid and mean smile, familiar to him from his wife, exploded Pierre. - Oh, vile, heartless breed! – he said and left the room. The next day Anatole left for St. Petersburg. Pierre went to Marya Dmitrievna to report the fulfillment of her wish - the expulsion of Kuragin from Moscow. The whole house was in fear and excitement. Natasha was very ill, and, as Marya Dmitrievna told him in secret, on the same night it was announced to her that Anatole was married, she poisoned herself with arsenic, which she quietly obtained. Having swallowed a little of it, she was so frightened that she woke up Sonya and told her what she had done. In time, the necessary measures were taken against the poison, and now she was out of danger; but still she was so weak that it was impossible to think of taking her to the village and they sent for the countess. Pierre saw the confused count and the tear-stained Sonya, but could not see Natasha. Pierre had lunch at the club that day and heard talk from all sides about an attempt to kidnap Rostova and stubbornly refuted this talk, assuring everyone that nothing more happened than that his brother-in-law proposed to Rostova and was refused. It seemed to Pierre that it was his responsibility to hide the whole matter and restore Rostova’s reputation. He fearfully awaited the return of Prince Andrei and every day he came to see the old prince about him. Prince Nikolai Andreich knew through M lle Bourienne all the rumors circulating around the city, and read that note to Princess Marya, which Natasha refused to her fiancé. He seemed more cheerful than usual and was looking forward to his son with great impatience. A few days after Anatole's departure, Pierre received a note from Prince Andrei, notifying him of his arrival and asking Pierre to come see him. Prince Andrei, having arrived in Moscow, at the very first minute of his arrival received from his father a note from Natasha to Princess Marya, in which she refused the groom (she stole this note from Princess Marya and gave it to Prince m lle Bourienne) and heard from his father, with additions, stories about the abduction Natasha. Prince Andrei arrived the evening before. Pierre came to him the next morning. Pierre expected to find Prince Andrei in almost the same position in which Natasha was, and therefore he was surprised when, entering the living room, he heard from the office the loud voice of Prince Andrei, animatedly saying something about some kind of St. Petersburg intrigue. The old prince and another voice occasionally interrupted him. Princess Marya came out to meet Pierre. She sighed, pointing her eyes at the door where Prince Andrei was, apparently wanting to express her sympathy for his grief; but Pierre saw from Princess Marya’s face that she was glad both about what happened and about how her brother accepted the news of his bride’s betrayal. “He said he expected it,” she said. “I know that his pride will not allow him to express his feelings, but still better, much better, he endured it than I expected.” Apparently, it had to be this way... - But is it really all over? - said Pierre. Princess Marya looked at him in surprise. She didn’t even understand how she could ask about this. Pierre entered the office. Prince Andrei, very changed, obviously healthier, but with a new, transverse wrinkle between his eyebrows, in civilian dress, stood opposite his father and Prince Meshchersky and argued heatedly, making energetic gestures. It was about Speransky, news of whose sudden exile and alleged betrayal had just reached Moscow. “Now he (Speransky) is being judged and accused by all those who admired him a month ago,” said Prince Andrei, “and those who were not able to understand his goals.” It is very easy to judge a person in disgrace and blame him for all the mistakes of another; and I will say that if anything good has been done during the current reign, then everything good has been done by him - by him alone. “He stopped when he saw Pierre. His face trembled and immediately took on an angry expression. “And posterity will give him justice,” he finished, and immediately turned to Pierre. - How are you? “You’re getting fatter,” he said animatedly, but the newly appeared wrinkle was carved even deeper on his forehead. “Yes, I’m healthy,” he answered Pierre’s question and grinned. It was clear to Pierre that his smile said: “I’m healthy, but no one needs my health.” Having said a few words with Pierre about the terrible road from the borders of Poland, about how he met people in Switzerland who knew Pierre, and about Mr. Desalles, whom he brought from abroad as his son’s teacher, Prince Andrei again heatedly intervened in the conversation about Speransky , which continued between two old men. “If there had been treason and there had been evidence of his secret relations with Napoleon, then they would have been publicly announced,” he said with vehemence and haste. – I personally do not like and did not like Speransky, but I love justice. - Pierre now recognized in his friend the all-too-familiar need to worry and argue about a matter alien to himself, only in order to drown out too heavy spiritual thoughts. When Prince Meshchersky left, Prince Andrei took Pierre's arm and invited him into the room that was reserved for him. The room had a broken bed and open suitcases and chests. Prince Andrei went up to one of them and took out a box. From the box he took out a bundle in paper. He did everything silently and very quickly. He stood up and cleared his throat. His face was frowning and his lips were pursed. “Forgive me if I’m bothering you...” Pierre realized that Prince Andrei wanted to talk about Natasha, and his broad face expressed regret and sympathy. This expression on Pierre's face angered Prince Andrei; he continued decisively, loudly and unpleasantly: “I received a refusal from Countess Rostova, and I heard rumors about your brother-in-law seeking her hand, or the like.” Is it true? “It’s both true and not true,” Pierre began; but Prince Andrei interrupted him. “Here are her letters and a portrait,” he said. He took the bundle from the table and handed it to Pierre. - Give this to the Countess... if you see her. “She is very sick,” said Pierre. - So she’s still here? - said Prince Andrei. - And Prince Kuragin? – he asked quickly. - He left a long time ago. She was dying... “I’m very sorry about her illness,” said Prince Andrei. – He grinned coldly, evilly, unpleasantly, like his father. - But Mr. Kuragin, therefore, did not deign to give Countess Rostov his hand? - said Prince Andrei. He snorted several times. “He couldn’t get married because he was married,” said Pierre. Prince Andrei laughed unpleasantly, again resembling his father. - Where is he now, your brother-in-law, may I know? - he said. - He went to Peter... “however, I don’t know,” said Pierre. “Well, it’s all the same,” said Prince Andrei. “Tell Countess Rostova that she was and is completely free, and that I wish her all the best.” Pierre picked up a bunch of papers. Prince Andrei, as if remembering whether he needed to say something else or waiting to see if Pierre would say something, looked at him with a fixed gaze. “Listen, you remember our argument in St. Petersburg,” said Pierre, remember about... “I remember,” Prince Andrei hastily answered, “I said that a fallen woman must be forgiven, but I did not say that I can forgive.” I can't. “Is it possible to compare this?...” said Pierre. Prince Andrei interrupted him. He shouted sharply: “Yes, ask for her hand again, be generous, and the like?... Yes, this is very noble, but I am not able to go sur les brisees de monsieur [follow in the footsteps of this gentleman]. “If you want to be my friend, don’t ever talk to me about this... about all this.” Well, goodbye. So you will tell... Pierre left and went to the old prince and princess Marya. The old man seemed more animated than usual. Princess Marya was the same as always, but because of her sympathy for her brother, Pierre saw in her joy that her brother’s wedding was upset. Looking at them, Pierre realized what contempt and malice they all had against the Rostovs, he realized that it was impossible in their presence to even mention the name of the one who could exchange Prince Andrei for anyone. At dinner the conversation turned to war, the approach of which was already becoming obvious. Prince Andrei talked and argued incessantly, first with his father, then with Desalles, the Swiss teacher, and seemed more animated than usual, with that animation whose moral reason Pierre knew so well. That same evening, Pierre went to the Rostovs to fulfill his assignment. Natasha was in bed, the count was at the club, and Pierre, having handed over the letters to Sonya, went to Marya Dmitrievna, who was interested in finding out how Prince Andrei received the news. Ten minutes later Sonya entered Marya Dmitrievna’s room. “Natasha definitely wants to see Count Pyotr Kirillovich,” she said. - Well, how about taking him to her? “Your place is not tidy,” said Marya Dmitrievna. “No, she got dressed and went into the living room,” said Sonya. Marya Dmitrievna just shrugged. - When the countess arrives, she completely tormented me. Just be careful, don’t tell her everything,” she turned to Pierre. “And I don’t have the heart to scold her, she’s so pathetic, so pathetic!” Natasha, emaciated, with a pale and stern face (not at all ashamed as Pierre expected her to be) stood in the middle of the living room. When Pierre appeared at the door, she hurried, obviously undecided whether to approach him or wait for him. Pierre hurriedly approached her. He thought that she would give him her hand, as always; but she, coming close to him, stopped, breathing heavily and lifelessly lowering her hands, in exactly the same position in which she went out into the middle of the hall to sing, but with a completely different expression. “Pyotr Kirilych,” she began to speak quickly, “Prince Bolkonsky was your friend, he is your friend,” she corrected herself (it seemed to her that everything had just happened, and that now everything is different). “He told me then to turn to you...” Pierre silently sniffled, looking at her. He still reproached her in his soul and tried to despise her; but now he felt so sorry for her that there was no room for reproach in his soul. “He’s here now, tell him... so that he can just... forgive me.” “She stopped and began to breathe even more often, but did not cry. “Yes... I’ll tell him,” Pierre said, but... – He didn’t know what to say. Natasha was apparently frightened by the thought that might occur to Pierre. “No, I know it’s over,” she said hastily. - No, this can never happen. I am tormented only by the evil that I did to him. Just tell him that I ask him to forgive, forgive, forgive me for everything...” She shook all over and sat down on a chair. A never-before-experienced feeling of pity filled Pierre's soul. “I’ll tell him, I’ll tell him again,” said Pierre; - but... I would like to know one thing... “Know what?” asked Natasha's gaze. “I would like to know if you loved...” Pierre did not know what to call Anatole and blushed at the thought of him, “did you love this bad man?”