Novotorzhsky deanery, Tver and Kashin diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church

Dean

- in the Orthodox Church, the administrative position of a priest, upon appointment to which he becomes one of the bishop’s assistants in overseeing order in a certain church district within the diocese, called a deanery. The dean is a kind of intermediary between the parish and the diocesan administration on a number of issues. The dean is appointed by the ruling bishop of the diocese from among its clergy (as a rule, living in this territory). In the Catholic Church, the equivalent of a dean is a dean (archpresbyter), in Lutheran churches it is a provost.

Story

The position of dean was established in the 18th century under Peter I instead of priestly elders[1][2]. The general instructions for deans were approved by the Holy Synod in 1828. If a dean priest was in charge of more than fifteen churches located at a considerable distance from each other, then, according to the Charter of Spiritual Consistories, he could be assigned an assistant.

Supervision over the clergy and their affairs was extended to monasteries and nunneries, as well as to the military department.

Deans in the military department

The duty of the dean military clergy was to unite the actions of military priests and perform auxiliary functions as an intermediary between the highest spiritual authority of the military and naval departments and the subordinate clergy.

On October 23, 1807, Archpriest Onisim Borovik, appointed spiritual commander in the Danube Army by Field Marshal Prince. Prozorovsky, one of the first was given the position of senior dean.

In 1821, the positions of corps dean were introduced, “for the sake of the speedy progress of affairs and for the reason that during military operations, troops act in corps separately from the main forces.”

.

In terms of service rights, military clergy were equal to the following army ranks:

• The dean and rector of the cathedral (full-time archpriest) since 1859 has been equivalent to the rank of major, and since 1889 has been equivalent to the rank of colonel.
• The same is true for the dean priest - from 1859 major, and from 1889 - lieutenant colonel.

Since June 12, 1890, according to the “Regulations on the management of churches and clergy of the military department”, the closest assistants to the protopresbyter of the military and naval clergy are divisional deaneries (army, guards and navy), who serve as intermediary bodies between the highest military spiritual authority and the clergy subordinate to it . Their responsibility is to closely monitor the military churches and clergy under their jurisdiction.

In 1914, there were about five thousand military priests and more than one hundred divisional deans in the Russian army. In 1915, the position of garrison dean was introduced in garrisons where several priests served.

Terminology

The establishment of districts within a diocese, entrusted to special overseers to assist the ruling bishops, has been known since ancient times. Such overseers were known as chorepiscopes and periodeuts

in ancient times.
In Russia in the early centuries there were tithes
and
priestly elders
, and from the first half of the 18th century -
deans
.
In older usage, dean districts were called protopopia
, as well as
forty
- hence the well-known name of Moscow “the city of forty forty”.
With the spread of Orthodoxy in the century to countries historically belonging to the Western cultural sphere, Orthodox deaneries there usually began to be called deaneries
, and their overseers -
deans
(literally from Greek through Latin - “foremen”).

By the beginning of the 21st century, despite the similarity of their structure, various names were assigned to intra-diocesan associations of parishes in different local Churches.

• Russian: deanery, deanery district
• Bulgarian: spiritual neighborhood (the center of the deanery is the bishop's viceroy; the dean is the bishop's viceroy)
• Romanian: protopopiate
• Polish: dean's office
• Czechoslovakian: protopresbiterate, deanery
• in America: deanery

Responsibilities of deans

The dean's supervision of the clergy is entrusted to 10-30 surrounding churches, which make up the dean's district in the diocese. If there are more than 15 parishes in a district, an assistant may be assigned to the dean. One or more deans are appointed over the monasteries in the diocese, depending on the number and distance to the monasteries in the diocese. The rights and duties of dean of both kinds are determined by special instructions approved by the Holy Synod. The duties of a dean over churches are very complex, and the subjects pertaining to their activities are very varied. They are as follows:

1. Through the dean, the diocesan authorities exercise immediate and comprehensive supervision over the churches and clergy of the district with the goal of “preserving order in the church and the integrity of its ministers for the benefit of Christians and the glory of God.”

2. Through the dean, the orders of the diocesan authorities relating to parish churches and church clergy are carried out. And finally, the dean allows priests to travel further than 25 miles from their parish in the same diocese.

3. The dean has some leadership power in relation to the clergy of his district. Thus, he resolves the clergy’s misunderstandings regarding the meaning of superior orders, has the power to give the necessary instructions, and so on.

4. The dean has some right of court in such controversial cases and complaints between clergy or between them and parishioners, which can be ended by reconciliation, or in such misdeeds of clergy, which by law do not require formal legal proceedings and can be eliminated by measures of admonition and reprimands , suggestions, etc. He has the right to fine priests with suggestions during the clergy, and deacons and clerics, in addition, with prostrations in the church.

The instructions indicate to the dean over the monasteries a wide range of responsibilities and powers due to the special organization of monastic administration and the power of the abbots of the monasteries. The main subjects of the dean's supervision over monasteries are worship, piety, morality and housekeeping.

Russian Orthodox Church

The document was adopted at a meeting of the Holy Synod on December 28, 2021 (journal No. 128).

I. General provisions

1.1. This Regulation regulates the activities of deanery districts (or deaneries) that are part of the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church and formed on a territorial basis, that is, church administrative units that unite nearby parishes and metochions of one diocese with their clergy.

Note

The Russian Orthodox Church also has:

• deaneries that are not part of dioceses, for example, deaneries of Patriarchal parishes in a particular country;
• deaneries formed by type of activity, for example, deaneries of diocesan monasteries and their farmsteads.

The activities of such deaneries are regulated by the orders of the diocesan bishop.

1.2. The boundaries of deaneries and their names are determined by the diocesan council, acting in accordance with the instructions of the diocesan bishop (Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church, ХVI.53.ж and ХVI.60).

1.3. The deanery does not have the status of a legal entity.

1.4. The deanery carries out its activities on the basis of decrees and orders of the diocesan bishop, as well as orders of the vicar bishop managing the vicariate, if the deanery is part of the vicariate (hereinafter referred to as the “manager of the vicariate”), in accordance with the Holy Scriptures and Holy Tradition; canons of the holy Apostles, Ecumenical and Local Councils and holy fathers; The Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church (hereinafter referred to as the “Charter”) and the Charter of the diocese; resolutions of Local and Bishops' Councils of the Russian Orthodox Church, decisions of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' and the Holy Synod. The deanery complies with the laws of the host country.

1.5. A deanery may have a form or stamp indicating its affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church and diocese (as well as a vicariate, if the deanery is part of one). A sample of the standard form and stamp is approved by the diocesan bishop.

II. Deanery management

2.1. At the head of the deanery is the dean.

2.2. In the performance of his duties, the dean is directly subordinate and accountable to the diocesan bishop. The dean of a district that is part of a vicariate is also subordinate and accountable to the manager of the vicariate.

2.3. The dean carries out the orders of the diocesan bishop, as well as the decisions of the diocesan meeting and the diocesan council. The dean of the district that is part of the vicariate also carries out the orders of the administrator of the vicariate, the decisions of the vicariate council and the meeting of vicariate clergy.

2.4. Under the dean there may be an office, the employees of which are appointed by the dean with the knowledge of the diocesan bishop or the administrator of the vicariate (Charter, ХVI.66).

2.5. The activities of the dean are financed from the funds of the parish or farmstead he heads, and, if necessary, from general diocesan funds (Charter, XVI.67), including, with the blessing of the diocesan bishop, from the funds of the parishes and farmsteads of the deanery. In the latter case, the dean reports on the expenditure of such funds to the diocesan bishop and to the rector of the deanery.

2.6. The dean is the representative of the diocesan bishop in the corresponding dean's district. The powers of the dean are determined by the Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church, these Regulations and the orders of the diocesan bishop.

2.7. The dean is appointed to the position by decree of the diocesan bishop (Charter, XVI.59) from the experienced, zealous, most active and exemplary presbyters of the diocese. When appointed as a dean, the cleric is appointed rector of one of the churches in the district, if he was not previously such. The manager of the vicariate has the right to nominate a candidate for a dean of a district that is part of a vicariate.

2.8. The dean's dismissal from office is carried out in a manner similar to his appointment. Upon dismissal from office, the dean transfers, within three days from the date of receipt of the corresponding decree of the diocesan bishop, the Holy Chrism (if he kept it) and the affairs of his office to the newly appointed dean, and in the event of liquidation of the dean - to the dean whose district included his parishes and farmsteads. The transfer of the dean's affairs may, with the blessing of the diocesan bishop, be carried out in the presence of the latter's representative.

2.9. The dean, on behalf of the diocesan bishop (the manager of the vicariate), exercises direct supervision over the service of the clergy, over the liturgical, missionary and educational, educational and catechetical, youth, social and economic activities of the farmsteads and parishes, as well as over the condition of the churches of his deanery.

2.10. The diocesan bishop, upon the recommendation of the dean, appoints assistants for missionary, educational, educational, catechetical, youth and social activities. In vicariates, assistants in these areas can be appointed to the manager of the vicariate by his own order, with the possible exemption in this case of the deanery from the appointment of such officials.

2.11. The diocesan bishop (manager of the vicariate) can appoint to the dean a permanent or temporary (for the period of absence due to vacation, business trip or illness) deputy with a range of responsibilities determined by the order of the diocesan bishop (manager of the vicariate).

2.12. The dean has the liturgical primacy of honor in his district and at divine services stands after the secretary of the diocese and the secretary of the diocesan council, regardless of the liturgical-hierarchical awards of the concelebrating clergy. If the dean leads the service, then within his district he is given the right to serve the Divine Liturgy with the Royal Doors open until “Our Father”).

III. Responsibilities of a dean

3.1. The dean has concern for the purity of the Orthodox faith and the worthy church and moral education of believers (Charter, XVI.61.a).

3.2. The dean brings to the attention of the rectors the decrees, orders and instructions of the diocesan bishop, as well as the orders and instructions of the manager of the vicariate, if the deanery is part of the vicariate, and oversees their implementation (Charter, XVI.61.c).

3.3. The dean supervises the correct and regular performance of divine services in parishes and farmsteads of the deanery (Charter, 61.b), as well as the preaching of the sermon during the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and holidays (Rule 19 of the Trullo Council; Definition of the Holy Council of the Orthodox Russian Church 1917-1918 "On Church Preaching").

3.4. The dean monitors the reverent storage in parishes and farmsteads of the Holy Gifts, the Holy Chrism and the condition of the Holy Antimensions. With the blessing of the diocesan bishop, the dean can distribute the Holy Chrism to the parishes and metochions of the deanery, keeping an appropriate journal.

3.5. The dean has care for the implementation in the district entrusted to him of the decisions of Local and Bishops' Councils, the Holy Synod, especially in the field of missionary and educational, educational, catechetical, youth and social activities. In vicariates, this responsibility rests with the administrator of the vicariate.

3.6. The dean oversees the strict implementation in subordinate parishes and farmsteads of general church regulations concerning the conduct of public conversations before Holy Baptism with adults and children over 7 years of age preparing for Baptism, with parents of children under 7 years of age, as well as with future recipients (cf. document “ On the religious, educational and catechetical ministry of the Russian Orthodox Church", II.1).

3.7. The dean has special care for the care of small settlements in the territory of the dean's district, in which there is no permanent parish, for which he submits to the diocesan bishop proposals for the appointment of a line of clergy in such settlements and supervises the performance of this line by the clergy.

3.8. In the event of the death of the rector or a full-time clergyman of a deanery church, as well as a supernumerary clergyman assigned to one of the deanery’s churches, the dean immediately informs the diocesan bishop (administrating the vicariate) with a subsequent written report, in the event of the death of the rector (a written report on the death of a full-time cleric of the deanery directed by the rector of this temple). The dean supervises the preparation of what is necessary for the funeral service and burial. The dean or another representative of the diocesan bishop, determined by the latter, leads the funeral service for the deceased presbyters of his district, if such a funeral is not headed by a bishop. Funeral services for deacons are usually led by rectors, and deans - at their discretion.

3.9. The dean regularly, at least once a year (Charter XVI.62), visits the parishes and farmsteads of the deanery during liturgical and non-liturgical times, supervising:

A. the correctness of performing divine services, the presence of everything necessary for the correct performance of such services, the correctness of singing and reading;

b. correctness of maintaining the liturgical journal and metrics; the presence at the churches of everything necessary for normal parish office work (Charter XVI.61m);

V. the appearance and behavior of the clergy and temple staff;

d. internal and external condition of the temple and other church buildings;

d. the state of the Sunday school, if one operates in the parish or courtyard.

3.10. The dean reports in writing to the diocesan bishop about the results of inspections of parishes.

3.11. The dean makes an entry about his visit to the church in the liturgical journal. If deficiencies are identified, the dean sends to the rector, no later than 10 days after the visit, an order to eliminate them. The dean supervises the elimination of violations identified in parishes and informs the diocesan bishop about the results.

3.12. The dean is present during the transfer of parish affairs in the event of a change of rector. The dean reports to the diocesan bishop about the results of the transfer of affairs and the state of the parish at that time

3.13. At the direction of the diocesan bishop (administrating the vicariate) and/or at the request of the parish rector, parish council or parish meeting, the dean may convene meetings of the parish meeting in the parishes of the deanery and preside over them (Charter, XVI.63).

3.14. The dean is responsible for the observance by the clergy of the boundaries of parishes in rural areas where they are established by the diocesan council in accordance with the decision of the Holy Synod (Journal of the Holy Synod No. 74 of July 25, 2014, paragraph 2.b), and, in particular, that correction within the boundaries of each parish was carried out by the clergy of that parish, with the exception of those cases when it is necessary to immediately confess and give communion to a seriously ill person or baptize an infant in fear for his life, as well as perform the sacrament of Unction for those near death (ibid., paragraph 2.c).

3.15. The dean appoints clergy to participate in cathedral services, as well as in diocesan and deanery events.

3.16. The dean makes decisions on a short-term (up to 14 days) replacement of a clergyman who is absent from the parish or metochion, in cases where such replacements of clerics cannot be provided by the rector (cf. Charter, XVI.61.k). The dean reports such decisions to the diocesan administration with a report once every six months. If it is not possible to replace a clergyman with a clergyman of the deanery, the dean may submit a petition to the diocesan bishop (the administrator of the vicariate).

3.17. The dean requests leave for the clergy under his jurisdiction for the next year by submitting a report with a consolidated schedule for the deanery addressed to the diocesan bishop (in vicariates: through the manager of the vicariate) within the deadline established by the latter. In urgent cases (in the case of a serious illness of a clergyman; a serious illness or death of a close relative of a clergyman), the dean can grant the clergy of the deanery’s churches a short-term leave of no more than 7 days, followed by sending a report on this to the diocesan bishop (the manager of the vicariate).

3.18. The dean makes proposals to the diocesan bishop (in vicariates: through the manager of the vicariate) to fill vacant positions in the clergy (Charter, XVI.61.i).

3.19. The dean has the right to submit for consideration to the diocesan bishop (in vicariates: through the manager of the vicariate) candidates for the priesthood or deaconate, while giving a written characterization of such a candidate.

3.20. The dean, along with the rectors of farmsteads and parishes, has the right to allow a clergyman of another diocese to serve in the parishes and farmsteads of the deanery (Charter, ХVII.29) if such cleric has a certificate confirming canonical legal capacity and with the direction of a report to the diocesan bishop in cases where is about the ongoing service of a clergyman in another diocese. For one-time services (on the occasion of a patronal feast day, personal events, for example, the celebration of sacraments over loved ones or in the case of a short guest stay in the diocese), such a report is not sent.

3.21. The dean petitions the diocesan bishop (in vicariates - through the manager of the vicariate) to award clergy and laity deserving of encouragement with church awards (Charter, ХVI.61.з) within the period established by the diocesan bishop.

3.22. The dean takes care of eliminating misunderstandings between the clergy, as well as between the clergy and the laity, without formal legal proceedings and with a report to the diocesan bishop (administrating the vicariate) about the most significant incidents (Charter, XVI.61.e).

3.23. The dean, at the direction of the diocesan bishop (administrating the vicariate), carries out a preliminary investigation of church offenses (Charter, XVI.61.g).

3.24. The dean, in the event of a complaint to him about the activities of clergy or officials of the farmsteads and parishes of the deanery, as well as if violations are discovered during visits to the farmsteads and parishes, can contact the diocesan bishop (the manager of the vicariate) with an appropriate report to receive instructions.

3.25. If necessary, the dean holds conversations with clergy and officials of the metochions and parishes of the deanery, both regarding the performance of their duties and regarding their personal lives, and gives them advice (Charter, ХVI.61.d), and if there is no result from such, reports to the diocesan bishop (administrating the vicariate).

3.26. The dean oversees the observance by the subordinate clergy of church regulations regarding pastoral activities, including the resolution of the Holy Synod on “cases of abuse by some pastors of the power entrusted to them by God to knit and decide” (determination dated December 29, 1998, journal No. 114). In case of violation of the instructions of the Holy Synod, the dean makes an oral reprimand or written reprimand to the clergy, and if there is no result, he reports to the diocesan bishop (the manager of the vicariate).

3.27. In exceptional cases, the dean may remove a cleric from performing his duties if such a cleric is in poor condition or performs unworthy actions incompatible with priestly service. The dean immediately reports such removal to the diocesan bishop (in vicariates: through the administrator of the vicariate) within three days for him to make a final decision.

3.28. If necessary, the dean petitions the diocesan bishop (in vicariates: through the administrator of the vicariate) for the formation of new parishes, for the construction of churches or for the organization of premises for worship in the subordinate deanery.

3.29. The dean supervises the construction and repair of church buildings within the deanery (Charter, ХVI.61.l). The dean will inspect the church after its construction or repair and report to the diocesan bishop (in vicariates: through the manager of the vicariate) about its readiness for consecration.

3.30. The dean is responsible for the timely receipt of established contributions for diocesan needs and church-wide contributions to the diocese (and to the vicariate) (Charter, XVI.61.g).

3.31. In accordance with the “Regulations on material and social support for clergy, clergy and workers of religious organizations of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as members of their families,” the dean:

• takes care that there are no clergy or clergy in need in any metochion or parish, and promptly submits information about such to the diocesan bishop (Regulations, II.5);
• if it is proven that the metochion or parish cannot independently bear the costs of maintaining the clergy, clergymen and paying wages to the workers of the metochion or parish, - informs the diocesan bishop about the current situation (Regulations, II.6);
• annually submits to the diocesan bishop (directly or through the diocesan trustee commission) information about needy elderly or retired clergy or clergy of the district (Regulations, V.1);
• annually submits to the diocesan bishop (directly or through the diocesan trusteeship commission) information about needy family members of deceased clergy, clergy and employees of religious organizations of the district (Regulations, VI.1);
• annually submits to the diocesan bishop (directly or through the diocesan trustee commission) information about needy clergy and clergy in the district with many children or seriously ill people (compare Regulations, II.1 and II.7).

3.32. With the blessing of the diocesan bishop (the administrator of the vicariate), the dean can convene priests for fraternal meetings to consider the church needs common to the deanery (Charter, XVI.64). The agenda of such meetings is previously communicated to the diocesan bishop (managing the vicariate), and the dean submits a report on their results to the diocesan bishop (managing the vicariate) within seven days.

3.33. The dean can participate in divine services in churches of the deanery on temple and patronal holidays, co-serving with the bishop or leading the service. On other days, the dean may perform divine services in the churches of the district at the invitation of the rectors or with the blessing of the diocesan bishop.

3.34. The dean, as a representative of the diocesan bishop in the subordinate deanery, interacts with local authorities and self-government, as well as with other secular organizations on issues related to the activities of the deanery's farmsteads and parishes. The dean can interact with representatives of regional authorities, as well as with secular organizations whose activities extend beyond the boundaries of the deanery, with the written blessing of the diocesan bishop.

3.35. The dean annually submits to the diocesan bishop (administrating the vicariate) and the diocesan council a report on the state of the deanery and on his work (Charter, ХVI.53.з; Charter, ХVI.65).

3.36. The dean checks and endorses annual parish reports before sending them to the diocesan administration in the manner established by the diocesan bishop.

3.37. The dean performs other duties assigned to him by the diocesan bishop (administering the vicariate).

IV. Final provisions

4.1. This Regulation comes into force from the moment of its adoption by the Holy Synod.

4.2. These Regulations may be amended and supplemented by the Holy Synod.

Literature

• Deans // Orthodox Theological Encyclopedia / A. P. Lopukhin. - St. Petersburg: Printing house of A.P. Lopukhin, 1901. - T. 2, Archeology - Buchner.
• Dean // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg, 1890-1907.
• Dean // GREAT SOVIET ENCYCLOPEDIA / O.Yu.Schmidt. — First edition. - M.: Joint Stock Company "SOVIET ENCYCLOPEDIA", 1927. - T. 6, Bessarabia - Bolm.
• Prot.
  Vladislav Tsypin [www.pravenc.ru/text/149349.html BRANCH] // Orthodox Encyclopedia. Volume V: “Bessonov - Bonvech”. - M.: Church-scientific, 2002. - P. 341-343. — 752 p. — 39,000 copies. — ISBN 5-89572-010-2
• Jerome.
  Savva (Molchanov), V. M. Kotkov, K. G . Kapkov [www.pravenc.ru/text/155073.html MILITARY AND NAVAL CLRISH IN RUSSIA] // Orthodox Encyclopedia. Volume IX: “Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God - Second Coming.” - M.: Church-scientific, 2005. - P. 153-159. — 752 p. — 39,000 copies. — ISBN 5-89572-015-3

Excerpt characterizing the Dean

- Oh, dad, you are so good, dear! – Natasha said, standing in the middle of the room and straightening the folds of the haze. “Excuse me, young lady, allow me,” said the girl, standing on her knees, pulling off her dress and turning the pins from one side of her mouth to the other with her tongue. - Your will! - Sonya cried out with despair in her voice, looking at Natasha’s dress, - your will, it’s long again! Natasha moved away to look around in the dressing table. The dress was long. “By God, madam, nothing is long,” said Mavrusha, crawling on the floor behind the young lady. “Well, it’s long, so we’ll sweep it up, we’ll sweep it up in a minute,” said the determined Dunyasha, taking out a needle from the handkerchief on her chest and getting back to work on the floor. At this time, the countess entered shyly, with quiet steps, in her current and velvet dress. - Ooh! my beauty! - the count shouted, - better than all of you!... - He wanted to hug her, but she pulled away, blushing, so as not to crumple. “Mom, more on the side of the current,” Natasha said. “I’ll cut it,” and she rushed forward, and the girls who were hemming, did not have time to rush after her, tore off a piece of smoke. - My God! What is this? I don’t blame God... “I’m sweeping it all away, it won’t be visible,” Dunyasha said. - Beauty, it’s mine! - said the nanny who came in from behind the door. - And Sonyushka, what a beauty!... At a quarter past ten we finally got into the carriages and drove off. But we still had to stop by the Tauride Garden. Peronskaya was already ready. Despite her old age and ugliness, she did exactly the same thing as the Rostovs, although not with such haste (this was a common thing for her), but her old, ugly body was also perfumed, washed, powdered, and the ears were also carefully washed , and even, and just like the Rostovs, the old maid enthusiastically admired her mistress’s outfit when she came out into the living room in a yellow dress with a code. Peronskaya praised the Rostovs' toilets. The Rostovs praised her taste and dress, and, taking care of her hair and dresses, at eleven o'clock they settled into their carriages and drove off. Since the morning of that day, Natasha had not had a minute of freedom, and not once had time to think about what lay ahead of her. In the damp, cold air, in the cramped and incomplete darkness of the swaying carriage, for the first time she vividly imagined what awaited her there, at the ball, in the illuminated halls - music, flowers, dancing, the sovereign, all the brilliant youth of St. Petersburg. What awaited her was so beautiful that she did not even believe that it would happen: it was so incongruous with the impression of cold, cramped space and darkness of the carriage. She understood everything that awaited her only when, having walked along the red cloth of the entrance, she entered the entryway, took off her fur coat and walked next to Sonya in front of her mother between the flowers along the illuminated stairs. Only then did she remember how she had to behave at the ball and tried to adopt the majestic manner that she considered necessary for a girl at the ball. But fortunately for her, she felt that her eyes were running wild: she saw nothing clearly, her pulse beat a hundred times a minute, and the blood began to pound at her heart. She could not accept the manner that would make her funny, and she walked, frozen with excitement and trying with all her might to hide it. And this was the very manner that suited her most of all. In front and behind them, talking just as quietly and also in ball gowns, guests entered. The mirrors along the stairs reflected ladies in white, blue, pink dresses, with diamonds and pearls on their open arms and necks. Natasha looked in the mirrors and in the reflection could not distinguish herself from others. Everything was mixed into one brilliant procession. Upon entering the first hall, the uniform roar of voices, footsteps, and greetings deafened Natasha; the light and shine blinded her even more. The owner and hostess, who had already been standing at the front door for half an hour and said the same words to those entering: “charme de vous voir,” [in admiration that I see you], also greeted the Rostovs and Peronskaya. Two girls in white dresses, with identical roses in their black hair, sat down in the same way, but the hostess involuntarily fixed her gaze longer on thin Natasha. She looked at her and smiled especially at her, in addition to her masterful smile. Looking at her, the hostess remembered, perhaps, her golden, irrevocable girlhood time, and her first ball. The owner also followed Natasha with his eyes and asked the count who was his daughter? - Charmante! [Charming!] - he said, kissing the tips of his fingers. Guests stood in the hall, crowding at the front door, waiting for the sovereign. The Countess placed herself in the front row of this crowd. Natasha heard and felt that several voices asked about her and looked at her. She realized that those who paid attention to her liked her, and this observation calmed her somewhat. “There are people just like us, and there are people worse than us,” she thought. Peronskaya named the countess the most significant people who were at the ball. “This is the Dutch envoy, you see, gray-haired,” said Peronskaya, pointing to an old man with silver gray curly, abundant hair, surrounded by ladies, whom he made laugh for some reason. “And here she is, the queen of St. Petersburg, Countess Bezukhaya,” she said, pointing to Helen as she entered. - How good! Will not yield to Marya Antonovna; Look how both young and old flock to her. She is both good and smart... They say the prince... is crazy about her. But these two, although not good, are even more surrounded. She pointed to a lady passing through the hall with a very ugly daughter. “This is a millionaire bride,” said Peronskaya. - And here are the grooms. “This is Bezukhova’s brother, Anatol Kuragin,” she said, pointing to the handsome cavalry guard who walked past them, looking somewhere from the height of his raised head across the ladies. - How good! is not it? They say they will marry him to this rich woman. And your sauce, Drubetskoy, is also very confusing. They say millions. “Why, it’s the French envoy himself,” she answered about Caulaincourt when the countess asked who it was. - Look like some kind of king. But still, the French are nice, very nice. No miles for society. And here she is! No, our Marya Antonovna is the best! And how simply dressed. Lovely! “And this fat one, with glasses, is a world-class pharmacist,” said Peronskaya, pointing to Bezukhov. “Put him next to your wife: he’s a fool!”

Meaning of the word dean

Examples of the use of the word dean in literature.

The vandals, as their hunger was satisfied, lost a little of their bestial appearance and began to behave decently.
The cathedral dean came out to meet him in vestments, with his entire clergy and choir of singers, and immediately blessed Muravyov with an ancient icon, saved in Albazin during the fire.

On one of my subsequent visits to Melikhovo, Anton Pavlovich told me: “I wrote a letter to the local dean.

And he is strict, the dean of our forty, the archpriest of the Spears, from the Savior in Nalivki.

Although our archpastors were not very keen on talking with simpletons, these Cossacks were immediately allowed into their chambers and placed in the reception room, where they waited for a long, long time until the priest of Peregudin, and the dean, and priest Savva, and many other people came here.

This was Father Theodorit, the dean of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra monastery.

The archdeacon saw the dean and ran into the yard, but there was nothing for him.

Exactly,” he says, “there is no such other one,” and with this he turns to the dean and says: “Go to the sacristy: take it, Savva has prepared a book for you there, bring it and read it where it is open.”

There was little use in Robert’s reminders that it was inappropriate to work on the Lord’s Resurrection: Father Caspar replied that this was not work at all, and especially not base work, but a confession of the decorous art, and that today’s diligence would be devoted to improving the knowledge of the great book of nature .

But now the monk on duty replied that Father Theodoret was not in the rank of father dean.

And just at that moment Trifilius called Dean Theodosius - forgive me, Lord!

People even recoiled and crossed themselves, and the priest of Peregudin sat down in the sleigh and said: “Here I am going straight from you to the dean and bringing him such news that there will be a great shame on the whole Christian world, and then you will say that even your pip is not Pip is not a Christian, and your children are not Christians, and whichever of you he married - they are as good as not married, and those whom he buried - died like dogs, without remission, and are tormented there in the heat, and will continue to be tormented, and no one can get them out of there.

But here comes the Peregudinsky gentleman with the dean - sit here, too - I’ll tell everyone everything.

The bishop came out and spoke to all the people, but not a word to the dean or the Cossacks until he let everyone else out of the hall, and then he directly said to the Cossacks: “Well, boys, are you offended?”

Once I found Klavnyusha with him, his second cousin, who knows all the deans, and every day goes to mass, wherever it is the patronal feast.

Source: Maxim Moshkov library