The management of Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow, in 1830, during cholera

Contents September • October • November • December 23. “Because both punishment and the mercy of God are revealed together, the punishment is that signs of a destructive disease were noticed on some in this city itself, but the mercy is that evil does not spread; then the Moscow clergy and Orthodox people, with zeal and trust in God, must remain in prayer and carefully use everything that can contribute to arousing the spirit of prayer and acquiring the grace of God. It is impossible to embrace such a vast city with a general procession of the cross; It is useful that, if possible, every place is marked with prayer, the presence of a shrine and the blessing of the church. Therefore, the 25th day of this September, the day of our venerable and God-bearing father Sergius, the ancient God-pleasing prayer book for the Moscow region, is appointed for the performance of a prayer service in all churches of the capital with the procession of the cross according to a rite adapted to the circumstances 1 . The clergy of the city cathedrals and the clergy of the monasteries (except for those who remain in the monasteries) will gather in the Assumption Cathedral for a similar prayer service and crossing of the cross, which may take place in the monasteries themselves the next day. - “The printed word upon bringing the prayer to the Lord God (September 18th) for protection from a destructive disease, should be distributed to all the churches of the capital, with the priests leaving it to the judgment to read it at the liturgy of the 25th day of this month.” – “The consistory shall prescribe to whomever should be offered throughout the diocese to the Lord God at the Liturgy and other services, prayers for protection from the destructive disease; and where the danger appears closer, there, on Sundays, and according to zeal on others, a special prayer service would be performed according to the liturgy according to the prescribed rite.” On the report of the cathedral established at the Sergius Lavra that the quarantine chiefs find it necessary to transfer those kept in quarantine to the old hotel (Lavra) for 5 days, but the cathedral does not agree to this, due to the proximity of the hotel to the Lavra and for other reasons, the Bishop wrote (September 25): “The cathedral should rely on God and on the prayers of St. Sergius, and the old hotel, in respect of public needs, to accommodate those who have undergone a three-day quarantine, taking due care against communication with the new hotel and with the Lavra.” 25. “I greatly thank the Viceroy Father (Lavra, Archimandrite Athanasius) and the Council for this order (about the procession of the cross on the day of St. Sergius). And here, now, there are processions of the cross, not only from the cathedral, but throughout all parishes.” 26. “With the widespread use of precautions against contagious disease, Moscow monasteries consider it necessary to especially take into account the following: 1. It is unacceptable to use safety measures announced by the civilian authorities. 2. In the event of the discovery of an illness in the monastery, in order to more conveniently provide benefits to the patient and protect others from communicating with him, have a separate, not cramped cell ready in advance for placing a doubtful patient, which can be placed in a hospital position. 3. Do not neglect or conceal doubtful cases, so as not to miss the time to use precautions. 4. Most of all, protect and strengthen yourself with the means and benefits of the holy faith.” 27. “1. As it was required from the civil authorities that, due to current circumstances, the bodies of the deceased should be accepted into the cemetery at night; from which we must conclude that sometimes, due to the speed and precautions used in burying those who died of a dangerous disease, it will not be convenient to perform funeral services for them according to their rites in parish churches; then, so that such deceased are not deprived of church prayers, if necessary, use the following order: 1. With the body of the deceased, who has not been buried, send a note from the parish priest to the cemetery, in which the name of the deceased means that he belonged to the Orthodox Church and that, due to circumstances, his funeral service in the parish church was not performed. 2. The cemetery clergyman, upon receipt of one or more such notes, on the same or the next day, perform funeral singing with prayers for the named deceased and, if possible, go with a litiya to the place where their bodies are buried. 3. To fulfill this, announce this to the parish and cemetery priests. The members of the united Council of Commanders in parts of the city will be informed of this by the clergy appointed to them. 30. “Tomorrow, on the day of the Intercession of the Holy. Mother of God, according to the liturgy, perform a prayer in thanksgiving to the Lord God in the churches of the capital for the safe arrival of His Imperial Majesty.” On the report of the Anosinsky Borisoglebsky Monastery, in Zvenigorod district, Abbess Evgenia Meshcherskaya that on the occasion of the Lord’s visit to the epidemic disease, a religious procession was held on September 25 near the monastery, landowner estates and villages, Vladyka, on October 2, wrote: “Thank God that everyone agrees in prayer both on this day and in Moscow, both in the Lavra and here in Anosin, this was also done, without prior agreement.” 2. “Requirements (to be corrected) by the priests closest to the hospital (in the Arbat part) and to alternate with her to fulfill the requirements. And if anyone responds with other demands, less necessary, or with other unfounded pretexts, inform (the Dean about such). God will save the reverent and humane servant of the faith from the danger of death: he who is unworthy of His judgment will not shield himself with pretexts and phrases.” 3. “The consistories, enclosed copies of the Instructions for those dealing with cholera patients, necessary for priests, send a copy here in Moscow to each church and monastery, and others, in case of need, to cities and districts, so that the missing number of printed copies for the nearest priests is replaced by lists.” “In a monastery where a dubious disease has occurred, strengthen in every possible way the protective measures against the spread of the disease and, among other things, adhere to the following rules: 1) The gates of the monastery should be closed and there should be guards at them. 2) From the end of Vespers until the gospel to the liturgy, unless absolutely necessary, no strangers are allowed to enter the monastery. And allow Matins on the holiday with caution, depending on the circumstances. 3) Between times of worship, at the exit and before the entrance of worshipers, use air purifying means in the church, such as placing chloride water in places and sprinkling it on the floor, and then smoking incense. 4) Those who come to the monastery for divine services are given free passage from the gate to the church and back from the church to the gate, and no more. 5) Those who come to the monastery, except for divine services and those leaving the monastery and returning due to needs, should be dismissed and accepted after using protective and cleansing means. 6) Leaving the monastery is allowed only for necessary needs and orders from the authorities, at the most convenient daytime hours. 7) The ruler of the monastery is obliged to apply these rules to local circumstances, according to his best understanding, with all possible care, so as to protect his own healthy ones from other people’s sick people, and to protect other people’s healthy ones from his own sick people.” In response to the attitude of the Moscow Military Governor-General, Prince D.V. Golitsyn, dated October 4, about notifying him: “Is it possible to place the bodies of those who died not from cholera at the Danilovsky cemetery, in two recently built stone buildings with sheds and at Vagankovsky, in a one-story stone empty outbuilding, until a three-day period has passed? Vladyka answered on the 5th: “By forwarding the certified lists, from the testimony of two cemetery priests, I find it necessary to add to Your Excellency’s considerations: 1) That the circulation of the bodies of those who died without cholera, especially the poor, to only two cemeteries cannot be without burden for those living far away. 2) That the clergy of other cemeteries, grave diggers and other poor servants, having no burials, are left without food. 3) That every relative who died not from cholera will, without a doubt, take care that the burial does not take place untimely and with doubt. In order to preserve the force of the law and not to oppress poor people, the following rules may seem sufficient: 1) The deceased who does not have cholera, according to the present circumstances, should be transported to the cemetery at the proximity and discretion of relatives without delay. 2) At the same time, deliver a note to the cemetery clergyman on what day and at what time the person being sent died. 3) The cemetery clergyman is obliged, until three days after death, not to lower the body into the grave, but to store it, depending on convenience, in a church or in a building that can be temporarily arranged, or adapted to this need. 4) If even before three days there are signs of decay, then according to the present circumstances, do not delay lowering the body into the ground. If His Lordship had found these rules satisfactory to law and precaution, then I would have prescribed them for execution by the cemetery parables (prescribed on October 8).” 7) “The request (of the Consistory clerks) for assistance, due to the circumstances of the time, is likely for the Consistory to do the following: 1. To issue the salary they deserve, withheld for a well-known case. 2. Demand three hundred rubles from the interest amounts of the Perervinsky Monastery, and two hundred rubles from Chudov, towards my salary; and this allowance should be distributed with attention, depending on need, to the poor clerical and lower servants of the Consistory.” 8) “How did it come to my attention that the priests there did not go to one nun of the Ascension Monastery (Metropolis) either to offer unction with oil or to see off the deceased 2 and that she remained not inveterate according to church rites; then the Archpriest of the Archangel (Cathedral) should do the following: 1) Conduct an investigation about the omission made without the slightest delay and present it. 2) If there was definitely no funeral service; order to perform funeral singing with prayers for the deceased according to the rites, not stopping at the fact that her body has already been buried; for church prayers are instituted for the soul, and not the body of the departed.” 9) “Although on the next Sunday, the 12th of this month, according to the custom of past years, all the clergy should have gathered in the Kremlin for a prayer of thanks for the deliverance of Moscow from its enemies; but, since the ongoing rebuke of God by a destructive illness calls especially for prayers of supplication for deliverance from this disaster, and since the parish clergy needs to always be close to their parishes, for the sake of quickly visiting those who are suddenly ill; then necessity forces us to do the following on the designated day this year: 1) The parish clergy remain in their places and, according to the Divine Liturgy, perform a prayer service in their churches for deliverance from the destructive disease. 2) The clergy of the Cathedrals and monasteries, following the example of the 25th day of the last month, gather in the large Assumption Cathedral for, in accordance with the needs of the time, a prayer service and a procession of the cross.” 10) “The attached word with this, on the day of the Three Saints of Moscow, should be sent out to the churches, with the priests being given permission, if they decide, to read it on the following Sunday.” 11) “It is a shame for the investigator not to know that interrogating people not separately, but in a group, is illegal and that this only favors concealment, and not the discovery of the truth. Return (the report) for questioning, separately, who was the first to be called and refused, following the example of the other.” - “The consistory is to order rural priests everywhere so that, on every favorable occasion, they instill in the townsfolk that they should carefully and faithfully use preventative and medicinal means against contagious diseases, and support such suggestions with intelligible reasoning, evidence and examples, especially from Sacred sources. For example, in chapter 38 of Jesus Sirach it is written: “The Lord created medicine from the earth, and a wise man does not disdain it.” Those who were suffering from an infectious disease called leprosy, by the command of God, were separated from the healthy and from their homes, clothes, and things infected with it, partly they were cleansed, and partly they were completely burned. Now there is a different disease, but similar precautions are needed and everyone should use them according to instructions from their superiors. It is also instilled in the people that they are in danger of a public calamity, they should not indulge in despondency, and even less in disorder, which again angers God and increases evil, but everyone must bring repentance and prayer to the Lord God, and run away from evil deeds, in order to turn the wrath of God into mercy and be saved mentally and physically by the grace of God; As for the announcement of protective rules to parish priests, the Appanage Office is pleased to deliver them to the priests through its local authorities; for the Office of the Consistory does not have a list of Appanage parishes (in Appanage villages) and also does not have the ability to reproduce copies of these rules to the required number.” 13) “Instruct the dean to explain to the priests the wrongness of their action, that they, instead of the law, accepted timidity and did not ask for permission in a difficult case; (explain) the danger of more criminal and disastrous consequences from such a beginning, and give them instructions for future cases. However, the act described in this report (they administered unction on Oct. 2 to the novice Evdokia) was accepted as atonement for the previous one and the matter is considered resolved.” 15) “1. Accepting in our reasoning that God, by his inscrutable destinies, allowed a difficult temptation to befall him 3, in his goodness preserved his life and thereby marked the continuing presence of saving grace, and that the present time of God’s visitation requires all possible pacification of consciences, humbly calling upon the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, invincible by our weaknesses and unworthiness, we allow this priest to perform the sacrament. and to make it more convenient for him to take office under another priest, we assign him a place of this kind (where there is another priest). 2. Assign him to an idle priestly place at the Borisoglebsky cenobitic (nursery) monastery, and give a decree to that effect. 3. When he is inducted into office, announce only the second paragraph of this resolution, and the first only to the local Dean.” 18) “Due to the increasing difficulty for poor people in ways of subsistence, the Moscow monastic authorities have to pay attention to the full-time monastic servants 4, whether they have daily food and, if necessary, to provide them, from non-salary amounts, with possible economic benefits, satisfying essential needs, and preventing abuse. The consistory has orders for these abbots and abbess, and a special order has been made for Chudov.” 21. “Since the number of sick people in the capital is not decreasing (with a slight decrease in the number of those who are ill), the parish clergy is constantly needed in their places, then for the upcoming religious procession tomorrow (to the Kazan Cathedral) the parish clergy should not be appointed, but, following the example of the last procession of the cross, convene the clergy of cathedrals and monasteries, except for the abbots, of which there will be only three, Andronievsky and Petrovsky in the cathedral for the priestly service, and Danilovsky in the procession.” 23. “The Consistory, at the present time, especially calling for acts of philanthropy and forgiveness of the guilty, to use possible care to replenish the wasted amounts without trial and then forgive this petitioner (who was the accountant in the Consistory) for the embezzlement of the sums, and for unauthorized absence impute arrest as punishment and thus release him (from temporary prison), so that he can use efforts to make amends offenses of honor and service in the future, and to feed your family.” 24. “In the most certain way, it has come to my attention that in the suburban village of Sandyryakh 5, where quarantine is set up and in the surrounding area, schismatics, misinterpreting the orders of the authorities made to protect the people from an infectious disease, are instilling in the simple minds that the time has come for the Antichrist, that the quarantine ticket is a seal or a sign of the Antichrist and with other such suggestions, they are trying to turn the people away from churches. It is painful, by the way, to hear that schismatics, dispelling false teaching to support their opinions, try to prove the unworthiness of Orthodox priests by the fact that they do not teach anything at the present time. Kolomna and other clergy should try in every possible way, both to stop the successes of false teaching and not to give rise to accusations of a lack of pious zeal, which is harmful to Orthodoxy, beneficial to the schism and, consequently, heavily condemning for the clergy. It is necessary for the clergy, in simple and intelligible teachings during divine services and, in addition, on all favorable occasions, in conversations at home, to inspire the people that God’s real visit to many places with the danger of an infectious disease and the disease itself is sent for the temporary punishment of our sins, to excite us to prayer, repentance, strengthening in faith, correction of life, and thus to protect us from eternal condemnation. And so, everyone must turn to these means of temporary and eternal salvation; to prayer, to repentance, to strong faith in God and our Lord, Jesus Christ, to the correction of life, and not to be dragged and wandered by every wind of doctrine, in human lies, in the deceit of vengeful executions, to bitter condemnation for unfaithfulness before God and his Church. There was also a destructive illness under the pious King David, but this did not mean that God had abandoned his church. And in our fatherland there was an infectious disease in 1771, and then quarantine precautions were used, which, of necessity, caused some difficulty for the people; everyone sees that that was not the time of the Antichrist; for the time of disaster, by the goodness of God, has passed and no Antichrist has appeared; In a similar way, anyone can judge about the present time. Holy faith, in the present visitation of God, is not only not constrained by anything, but also receives new strength through the action of God's providence, which turns punishment into blessings and evil into good. In Moscow and, according to information, everywhere in other places, holy churches are unusually filled with those praying, repenting, and partaking of the holy mysteries: is it not the grace of Christ that inspires these saving actions? Consequently, is it not Christ who reigns? In Moscow and from the schism at this time they are turning to the church more than usual. As for quarantine precautions, they were adopted in Moscow by the schismatics themselves of both persuasions, priesthood and priestlessness, and a hospital was established for the use of cholera, and a doctor was accepted from the authorities; Consequently, the schismatics themselves do not see any sign of the Antichrist here. Such and similar suggestions, depending on the closest local information and at the discretion of the need, the clergy should make with all possible care, suggesting what is possible and decent in church teachings; which is inconvenient to present in church teachings, then additionally explained in pious conversations, in addition to worship. Accordingly, it is recognized that the following must be done: 1) The above is to be prescribed for execution by all Kolomna, and from the district deans and priests of those villages where, according to the note of the (Kolomensky) spiritual government, the above-mentioned talk of schismatics could reach. 2) As an uneducated priest in the village of Sandyryakh, the Epiphany priest Nikita 6 who, depending on the circumstances, can reinforce him with advice, not well-intentioned suggestions of schismatics, sound instructions to counteract and guard the Orthodox from seduction, is entrusted to the presence of the spiritual administration of the Epiphany priest Nikita 6, who, depending on the circumstances, can preach in Sandyry during the divine service and, in addition, talk with the Orthodox, where and how convenient it turns out; if it is impossible to leave the city, he will enter into written relations with the Sandyrevsky priest and report to me about what follows. 3) Since the dean of the Arkhangelsk priest Peter did not inform me about the above-mentioned sentiments and intentions of the schismatics, under such important circumstances of the time, then, in the presence of the Spiritual Board, I should announce that the authorities cannot be satisfied with this and confirm that he, according to the supervision entrusted to him, should be more vigilant. 4) How, in the information that has reached me, it is also mentioned that simple-minded Orthodox Christians in some places go to schismatics and receive sacraments from them; then the dean of Arkhangelsk should find out about this and report to me in detail, among other things, about who and where of the schismatic mentors taught the sacraments to the Orthodox. 5) To hasten the execution, send this true determination to the Kolomna Spiritual Board so that it can submit a list to the Consistory for information when reporting.” - “The Spiritual Boards, where there are and where there are not, deans of cities, due to the present circumstances, fear of an infectious disease, have to act and act as follows: 1) Immediately inform me when the diocesan and then synodal orders on prayer services on this occasion were received, when prayer services were started, and whether they continue, and are there any special circumstances that require the attention of the authorities? 2) Then, with each mail, inform me about the state of the clergy, the city and the surrounding area, as far as they are known, in relation to the disease. 3) In the event of the discovery of an illness, ensure that the local clergy, while using the prescribed precautions, urgently provide the sick with the necessary and possible benefits of faith. 4) Where a hospital opens for a significant number of patients, depending on the convenience, appoint two or three closest priests to fill the position there day by day, in turn, so that it is all the more convenient to combine this duty with other work activities. 5) If those who died from cholera are not allowed to have a funeral service in their place according to custom, then send notes about them, indicating their names and Orthodoxy, from the parish priests to the cemetery and there perform funeral singing for each or several together, before lowering the body into the ground, or at least after circumstances require. 6) If somewhere, by order of the civil authorities, a committee on protective and auxiliary monitoring of the progress of the disease is formed and a deputy from the clergy is required; to be such a senior member of the local clergy. 7) To convey an opinion about any special case, with additions when necessary, the more strictly, the more urgently the importance of the case demands it; and in cases that cannot tolerate any delay, make temporary orders according to the best judgment and report about it. 8) Try and encourage other clergy to instill in the people the special current need for prayer, repentance, communion of the holy mysteries, correction of life, as well as the duty of obedience to superiors in preventive and healing measures; for, just as obedience to authorities in everything that is not contrary to God is prescribed by the word of God, so the use of medical aids by the word of God is approved, although, without a doubt, most of all we must trust in God and expect help and salvation from mercy. 25. “As, due to an infectious disease, for poor people the means of subsistence have become more difficult than at other times, and the lack of healthy food and some comforts of life especially, according to observations, exposes them to the effects of illness, then, among other temporary institutions of philanthropy, it is recognized that it is necessary to establish from the Moscow Bishop's See, a Temporary Committee on benefits for the poor on the following rules: 1) The committee, chaired by His Eminence Innokenty, Bishop of Dmitrov, is composed of Archimandrite Hermogenes of Andronievo, Archimandrite Gabriel of Vysokopetrovsk, the abbot of the Cathedral (Chudov) Monastery, Hieromonk Theophilus, and the Cathedral, Archpriest Vasily (Kutnevich). The position of treasurer will be filled by the housekeeper of the bishop's house, Hieromonk Ioannikiy. 2) The Committee will pay attention, firstly, to the poor from the clergy and will provide them with benefits, either on its own, or through Spiritual guardianship, depending on how cases fit under the laws of this guardianship. 3) Secondly, the committee will provide benefits to the poor of the secular rank, people belonging to the spiritual department. This includes: clerical officials and lower servants of the Consistory, of whom, with their families, there were already more than a hundred souls who needed assistance, which was made to them at the same time, however, it should continue with consideration. 4) Thirdly, depending on the methods, the committee will provide benefits of every level to the poor, where and how it turns out to be necessary and possible. 5) Five thousand rubles are provided to this committee from the Moscow Bishop's See. 6) He can accept voluntary offerings from monasteries and others who want to participate in acts of philanthropy. 7) To obtain information about those truly in need and for the accurate distribution of benefits, the committee will use the assistance of the local parish clergy and, when necessary, the local police. 8) The Committee will pay attention to the experience of temporary Parish care for the poor, made in the parish of the Trinity Church, in Trinity. Could not experiments of this kind be extended with due application to the circumstances? 9) However, with God’s help, the law of love for one’s neighbor and compassion will be sufficient guidance for the committee.” Two priests were assigned to the temporary hospital opened in the Sretenskaya Part to fulfill Christian needs there; then the Vladyka appointed a third for them and ordered (Oct. 26): “To all three, announce that each, on the day of his turn at the hospital, even if not required, would visit it once or twice according to convenience, for the comfort and edification of the sick and to ascertain whether they have any special need for him. And as the Uspensky (on Dmitrovka) priest admitted that he confessed to one sick person standing at a distance, in the doorway (which is inconvenient for the secret of confession), as if, due to the failure to provide him with the required safety precautions in the hospital, then declare to him that this incredible and lately announced excuse cannot be respected; that he must, when using protective measures at home or in hospital, fulfill his duty with all precision, as the priestly oath obliges under fear of prohibition of the priesthood.” 30. “It has come to my attention that in the diocese entrusted to me, some of the common people, especially in villages and hamlets, either due to their simplicity and ignorance, or due to the suggestions of unwise people, do not believe that there is currently a disease called cholera, and that this disease is dangerous and contagious, and therefore they are reluctant or careless in using the precautions prescribed by their superiors. Unfortunately, one priest was involved in actions of this kind, namely: the village of Karacharov near Moscow, who for this reason was removed from office, and his actions were subjected to legal consideration. Under such circumstances, in order to prevent disorder and harmful consequences, the clergy of the Moscow diocese, especially rural parish priests, are ordered to do the following with all possible care and prudent caution: 1. Confirm those who have doubts among the people, at every opportunity, that the disease called cholera definitely exists in Moscow and in some other places at the present time and that it is contagious. As a proof and example of this, we can, by the way, use the city’s Moscow clergy. In addition to the fact that several of the closest priests go to each of the established hospitals in rotation, to confess and communicate the holy mysteries to the sick and to administer the departing prayers to the dying, twenty deputies from the clergy were appointed in all parts of the capital, from archimandrites, archpriests and priests, to assist the secular persons in charge in each part over the care of the sick, and over the use of preventive measures against strengthening infections. By the grace of God and the power of faith, and the holy sacraments, when using preventive measures, most of the Moscow priests did not become infected with the disease; some few became infected, were cured and recovered, and some, either due to a lack of caution, or due to the inscrutable fate of God, died after becoming infected, namely: one builder of the monastery (Sretensky), one archpriest (at the educational home), eight parish priests and one priest of the house church (Prince Golitsyn). 2. To instruct the people that the precautions prescribed by the authorities against contagious diseases must be taken obediently and faithfully. For if anyone, acting against these precautions, introduces infection into the village where he lives; such a one will give God an answer, both for violating the commandment of obedience to superiors, and for having become the cause of misfortune for his fellow men. 3. In church teachings, with the observance of decency, mentioning that the righteous God sent this destructive disease as punishment for our sins, to excite the people to prayer, repentance, correction of life and to strengthening and sanctifying themselves by communion of the Holy Mysteries of Christ, which in Moscow itself is already being fulfilled by the Orthodox children of the church from the very appearance of the disease to this day; It seems that God’s mercy begins to appear here in reducing the number of sick people and the strength of the disease. 4. If anywhere in the villages it is possible to have reports published in Moscow about the progress of an infectious disease and about the circumstances related to this subject; then from these bulletins read to the people the articles most necessary to educate them about the truth and to refute false opinions. This reading can be done in a priest's house or in a local government building; and if, for the most convenient dissemination of information, it turns out to be necessary, then it is allowed, this time, to carry out such reading in the church meal, except during the service. 5. This instruction itself can be read in rural churches in front of the people, where, due to local circumstances, it will be necessary to admonish the people.” 31. “The weekly homily about the Rich Man and Lazarus, with this attached, should be distributed in Moscow to monasteries and churches, with the understanding that if anyone decides to read it next Sunday in church, then it is necessary to preface the listeners when it was originally spoken and release at the beginning of it a tirade relating specifically to the church of the Sheremetyevo Hospice House.” 3) “The consistory for priests and church elders in the capital to order that, in the event of cases of attempted sacrilege, they should intensify care for the protection of churches, their property and especially consecrated things, through guards hired from the church, where there are no city guards in the vicinity; and in case of need, if possible, through the distribution of guards between two clerks and a refectory, or according to local circumstances, and according to the methods of the church and parishioners (who must keep the church for themselves), it will be more convenient.” 5) “One could have expected from the archpriest (of the city of Podolsk) more prudence than is evident in the presented bewilderment regarding the communion with the holy mysteries. For this bewilderment could occur in many diseases and therefore should have been resolved long ago. Moreover, it is also permitted by the words of the injunction (dated Oct. 24): “to give possible benefits of faith.” This cannot have the immediate meaning of introducing only those who are not overcome by vomiting or other obstacles to safe initiation. The Lord said: “Eat and drink”; Anyone who is vomiting cannot eat or drink until this ability is restored by stopping the vomiting. A patient who faces an obstacle to communion should be reassured by permission through confession and advice to surrender with faith to the invisible grace of Christ due to the impossibility of receiving visible guidance. And to prevent this accident, it is necessary to advise confession and communion of the holy mysteries with those who are healthy, so that in case of illness, they will not be tempted to deprive themselves of this powerful help. With this permission, send the list to the archpriest from the Campaign Office.” 10) “The order made on September 25 for Moscow cannot be applied to villages. If one priest is assigned (in the likeness) to the overseer of the (3rd) section 7; then this will distract him from coming; for each section undoubtedly covers many villages and extends over a considerable distance. Therefore, rural priests, in case of a contagious disease, should act as follows: 1) Everyone in his parish must do what is prescribed on October 11 and 30. 2) In the event of the discovery of an illness, it is inadmissible to admonish the sick with the necessary and possible benefits of the holy faith. 3) since illness, by its nature, often does not provide convenience for communion of the holy mysteries; For this purpose, in order to prevent this accident, we advise those who are healthy to confess and partake of the Holy Mysteries, after preparation in accordance with the circumstances, as prescribed at the end of the Service Book, in the chapter on the almsgiving of the Divine Mysteries. 4) Depending on the need, neighboring priests should help each other. 5) In the event of illness or malfunction of a priest, the account must immediately be reported to the dean for consideration and the secondment of another. Let other cities and the Civil Governor (Nebolsin) know about this permission through my attitude.” 17. “As from the civil authorities, in case of cholera disease appearing in the districts, an order was made that those who died from this disease should be buried in special places from the general cemetery; then, in order to avoid misunderstandings, the Consistory has to immediately prescribe to the clergy in the districts: 1). So that parish priests, in the performance of their duties, comply with what is written above and other protective orders of the civil authorities. 2). So that the funeral singing for those who died from an infectious disease should be performed (as already prescribed on the 24th day of October), depending on the circumstances and convenience, either at the burial sites themselves, or in the church, without being hindered by the fact that the body, according to precautionary rules, will not be allowed into the church; and 3). so that in this latter case, they explain to the people that even in the absence of the body, prayers for the deceased are no less spiritually beneficial and pleasing to God, since they relate to the good of the soul of the deceased.” 23. “The note (on Lenten food, compiled by Dr. Mukhin) is adapted to luxurious fasters and therefore is unlikely to be useful for monks and churchmen, both because it teaches luxury and delicacy, and because it approves of some, rather difficult, food preparations.” 27. “From a consideration of this report (from the dean of Kolomna) 8 the following is revealed: 1) That the schismatic rumors that reached me were genuine is revealed from the testimony of the clergyman Sandyrevsky, although in this testimony there are expressions that reduce the matter in order to make both the asking dean and the responding parish priest less guilty. 2) Here a trail opened to the entrusted search, but the dean did not follow this trail, but stopped at the dull expression: “we heard from some.” 3) The dean did not rightfully ask priests not from his department, and if he was authorized to do so by the Board (Kolomenskoe Spiritual), then it was also illegal. If the Board wanted information from other deans, it would have ordered them to report to the Board, and not to the person present (the dean investigator). 4) The dean asked the peasant (patrimonial) leaders uselessly and inappropriately; He didn’t do any reconnaissance, but made a lot of publicity, perhaps not without harmful consequences. 5) And this is the height of absurdity that he took testimony from the Karapcheevsky priest, whom both previous deeds and the new denunciation represent as a person unworthy of any trust and who has long been dismissed. Consistory, if necessary, present these comments to the Board and the Dean, for guidance on future occasions.” 7. “Although already twice, from October 11 and 30, it was prescribed to the parish, especially rural, clergy of the Moscow diocese to instill in the people the obligation to obediently and faithfully use the preventive and medicinal means prescribed by their superiors against the disease of cholera, but just like this, from the information reaching me and communications with the authorities, examples of hiding the sick in homes, and other similar ones are seen actions contrary to caution and safety; then it is recognized as necessary, out of a duty of philanthropy and concern for the safety of one and all, to once again prescribe to the clergy of the Moscow diocese, especially rural priests, for guidance and implementation, the following: 1) Instill in those who are misunderstanding that those who are ill in their homes should not be hidden, but that they should be announced to those who are ordered by the authorities, and the sooner the better; this is required by the benefit of the patient; because the sooner medical aids are used, the more reliable the recovery. This is also required by the benefit of the entire family; because when in a house, especially in a cramped room, the disease of a hidden patient intensifies, then other members of the family, from unclean air, can become infected and thus a nest of disease will become here, dangerous for the whole village. 2) To those of the common people who, out of habit, are afraid to entrust themselves to doctors, present the sacred word for conviction: “Honor the doctor with his honor; for the Lord created it (Sir.38:1). Moreover, it should be explained that in Moscow, at the present time, more than 7,000 cholera patients were treated by doctors; consequently, there were quite a few cases of learning about the disease and the way to treat it; therefore, local doctors and, according to their instructions, operating in the districts, will undoubtedly be better able to help a patient with cholera than an ordinary person who saw it for the first time in his childhood in his upper room. 3) In case where the authorities find it necessary to surround a house with guards in which there is a person sick or dead with cholera, instill in the townsfolk that this order must be obeyed faithfully and without complaint. If someone gets cholera due to intemperance, as has often been observed, or if someone, in failure to observe precautions, brought cholera into his house, then he and his house are to blame for the misfortune. If the disease came to someone from an unknown cause; then in this case, both the illness itself and other difficulties associated with it, he must accept with Christian patience, like Job. The authorities, in both cases, act philanthropically and beneficently when they surround guards around a house infected with a disease in order to save other houses or an entire village. 4) To let the people understand the special attention of the Sovereign Emperor to the inhabitants of Moscow and the Moscow province, shown by the fact that His Majesty deigned to command the opening of communications to Moscow before the complete end of cholera in it and through this, He most mercifully hastened to provide the inhabitants with various communal amenities; why should every average person accept such permission from general precautions both as a blessing and as a power of attorney for private precautions and, consequently, everyone, all the more accurately, should carry out the prescribed private and home precautions against cholera, so that, through inaccuracy and infidelity in these private and home precautions, the disease does not worsen again, and the government does not bring the government to the need to again use strict general measures.” State Councilor Gamel, who was tasked with finding out the cause of the appearance of epidemic cholera in Moscow in 1830, reported to the Moscow Military Governor-General, Prince D.V. Golitsyn, that the priest of the Kazan Church, in the village of Kolomenskoye, Maxim Gerasimov, even before the appearance of this disease in the capital (in the last half of September), gave communion on barges going to the capital by Kolomensky, several patients with cholera. According to the attitude of Prince Golitsyn, dated December 7, 1830, His Grace Metropolitan Philaret ordered (on the 11th) to ask the priest: 1) In what month and on what dates did he see patients with signs of cholera on the barges? - In the last days of August and throughout the month of September, I went (testimony of the priest) to the ships passing near our village of Kolomenskoye along the Moscow River, to confess and communicate the holy mysteries to the sick, but by what exactly, this was not known to me at that time; Nowadays, I think these were attacks of cholera. 2) “Whose barges exactly?” “I can’t say on whose barges the sick people were confessed and given communion by me.” – The patients were peasants from different villages and one tradesman; I don’t remember exactly which (villages) and what their (patients’) names were. 4) “If he confessed these sick people and communed the holy mysteries, was this recorded in the books of confession, and if not written down, then why?” - After confession and communion of the holy mysteries, I did not write down the sick in the confession books, because they did not belong to my parish, but only gave them certificates of this in my own hand, according to which, in the event of sudden death on the road, they could be inveterate and buried according to the rites of our Greek-Russian church, and also so that, upon returning to their places, they would give these certificates to the parish priests, so that they could be entered into the register. confessional statements. 5) “Why didn’t he announce the dubious signs of the disease at the time?” “I didn’t report the attacks of illness to my superiors, because not only did I not consider the illness that those who confessed to me to be signs of cholera, but I had never even heard of such an illness. Only then could I consider these seizures to be signs of cholera, when it became known to me both from hearing and from my own observation of patients who were much later in the village of Kozhukhov, in quarantine. 6) “What exactly did the attacks similar to cholera consist of?” – These attacks consisted of diarrhea and vomiting, as the patients themselves told me about this; more than this, I cannot say anything about this illness, which I show by priesthood, the very real truth. “The original testimony, after leaving a copy, should be forwarded to His Excellency in my presence,” the Metropolitan wrote on the same December 11th. “Because,” continues the Bishop, the confession book was created for this reason, so that it could be used to inquire about those who were in confession; but the priest did not take away the opportunity to make a certificate in this important case; then the Consistory will consider the act and give an opinion.” The determination of the Consistory stipulated and His Eminence approved: “On the basis of the Decrees of the Highest, dated February 4, 1773, to collect from priest Gerasimov 10 rubles of a penalty in favor of widows and orphans of the clergy.” 24. “Upon the relief of Moscow from illness by the grace of God and on the occasion of the upcoming holiday, it is permitted to postpone the prescribed prayer services for the liturgy, excluding those places where special circumstances and the desire of the parishioners require it, and continue petitions at litanies and prayer at the liturgy until prescribed.” Message Archimandrite Gregory The rite of this prayer service was compiled by the Bishop himself, and then the Holy Synod issued another rite. “It goes without saying (wrote Filaret on the 27th) that the rite prescribed by the Holy Synod should be kept primarily in accordance with the diocesan order made when there was no synodal order in mind. However, the use of other prayers indicated in the great breviary alternately or according to circumstances is left to the judgment of the clergy and the diligence of the Orthodox people of each place in the Diocese.” Taken away from the monastery in the morning. The village priest, in a fever, made an attempt on his life and from February 1829 was in a clergy position in another parish. With the abolition of serfdom, full-time ministers, as assigned to monasteries, moved away from them and had to be assigned to urban or rural societies. 3 miles from the city of Kolomna. Drozdov, brother of Metropolitan Philaret. In Vereisky district, a cholera prevention district committee was established, which divided the district into several sections. See order 1 of October 24.