Глава девятнадцатая. Душа их во благих водворится 1837–1839

In the year of Pushkin’s death, celebrations began dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Patriotic War, the Foreign Campaign and the return visit to Paris. In Moscow, they were preparing to begin new construction of a memorial church in the name of Christ the Savior, dedicated to the soldiers who defeated Napoleon. Since the expulsion of the “Great Army” took place on the Nativity of Christ, it was decided to dedicate the church to this second most important Orthodox holiday after Easter. Back in 1831, the sovereign chose a new place for construction - on the high bank of the Moscow River, “on the place where the Alekseevsky Monastery now exists, turning into the area of ​​this building... that mountain opposite the house of Prince Sergei Mikhailovich, where the fire station and the former Beketov’s house, which is now Sipyagin, forming this mountain right up to the Moscow River. A wondrous thought, worthy of Nicholas I, who wants the new monument to look at the ancient Kremlin,” Senator A. A. Bashilov, who headed the Commission for Buildings in the City of Moscow, told Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich. The place for Filaret is very convenient, because he continued to constantly visit the house of Prince Sergei Mikhailovich Golitsyn and here he was still greeted by an atmosphere of home comfort and great love. So, when they asked his opinion about the construction site of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Bishop ardently supported this choice. By the way, Sergei Mikhailovich himself in 1837 became vice-president of the Commission for the construction of the church-monument. The president was the military governor general of Moscow Dmitry Vladimirovich Golitsyn. The only reason for objections to this place could be the Alekseevsky Convent, founded by Metropolitan Alexei of Moscow, whose sisters became the first nuns of this monastery. Alexey, along with Sergius of Radonezh, was especially revered by Saint Philaret. Returning from St. Petersburg to Moscow, on May 20, 1837, on the day of the discovery of the relics of Alexei, Chrysostom of Moscow spoke again and again about the significance of this person in Russian history and, by the way, recalled that he also translated the Bible, “so he especially worked in the pure expression of the word of God, when he believed the Slavonic translation of the Holy Gospel with the Greek original, and from the imperfections of the old I cleared and corrected adverbs and clerical errors from inattentive copyists.” And then Filaret exclaimed: – This feat is important, by the way, because through it the saint, enlightened by God, previously exposed the wrong opinion of people who came after him, who even to this day claim that in sacred and church books it is impermissible and contrary to Orthodoxy to correct a copyist’s slip and replace an incomprehensible translation word with an understandable one. They say: according to old uncorrected books, famous saints were saved and saved; To correct such books means to spoil them. If Saint Alexy had reasoned this way, then, of course, he would not have checked the translation or corrected the manuscript of the Gospel, but should have taken the book of the Gospel, which was in the Assumption Cathedral in his time, and said: by this book Saint Peter was and was saved; there is nothing to verify or correct here. But he believed and corrected, and therefore, obviously, he did not reason in the same way as the new zealots of not very old antiquity, but in exactly the same way as the Orthodox Church of ancient times and now argues, that is, that the saving truth of Christ is the same in both uncorrected and corrected books: but that for the preservation and dissemination of this very truth, a good book is better than a faulty one. That is, he not only revered Saint Alexei, but also called him to be his assistant, never giving up his dream of again obtaining permission to further work on translating the Bible. It would seem that Filaret should have objected to the transfer of the monastery founded by the one whom he always imitated in his episcopal activities. But the buildings of the Alekseevsky Monastery fell into disrepair; anyway, they had to be demolished and new ones built. And Filaret resigned himself to moving the monastery to another place - to Krasnoye Selo, which happened in 1837. In the summer of that year, Filaret met in Moscow and at his home in the Trinity courtyard the heir to Tsarevich Alexander Nikolaevich, for whom he felt a special affection: – Your coming is always bright for us, like the dawn from the sun of Russia... On September 12, Filaret consecrated the house church at Moscow University in the name of the holy martyr Tatiana, on whose memory day Empress Elizaveta Petrovna signed a decree on the creation of a university in Moscow. Subsequently, a particle of Philaret’s relics will become one of the shrines of this church. And now she is especially preserved here. In October, Filaret greeted the emperor himself in Moscow, who returned from the Caucasus, where the war against the Turks began again for the sake of Russia’s further mastery of the Black Sea coast: - Most pious sovereign! Thank God you're coming back. You crossed the mountains, and took the mountains away from our hearts, preoccupied with the difficulties of your gigantic paths across the lands and seas of your gigantic power... The presence of the royal family in Moscow in summer and autumn became a good custom. In the winter, Filaret again had to go to St. Petersburg, he managed to get permission from the sovereign to stay in Moscow, since he again often caught colds, causing both his ear and eye to hurt, but in November Nicholas still asked him to come to the Northern capital on urgent matters. “This is difficult and caring for my weakness,” Filaret wrote to Governor Anthony, “for even now at home I cannot get rid of a cold; but we must do the work of obedience. Pray that the Lord will strengthen and protect me from the adverse effects of various elements.” He arrived in St. Petersburg on December 17 and found a sad event about which he wrote to Anthony: “Instead of resting on the first night, one should have seen the glow of the fire of the Winter Palace and spent time in sad and caring thoughts. Wonderful fate! The Hermitage was under the wind, and, by order of the sovereign, was saved; three sides of the palace were above the wind, and the entire quadrangle burned down.” And in his own notebook, Filaret noted: “We are in St. Petersburg in the evening. Sick from the severe cold on the road, the ongoing fire of the Winter Palace did not allow me to calm down all night.” In January 1838, reflecting on the St. Petersburg fire, he came to a witty conclusion, which he reported to Anthony: “Have you noticed that three terrible and many unprofitable fires among three nations destroyed what was most welcome: in St. Petersburg a palace, in London a stock exchange, in France a theater?” The London Stock Exchange burned down on the night of January 10-11, and in the same January the Opera Comique theater burned down in Paris. Further in the same letter, Filaret wrote: “Should I tell you what else seems to me a very bad omen? - Petersburg is going crazy in idolatry before the French dancer. They say that at the very time she was throwing herself into the fire in the theater, from which the shameless pagan god was supposed to save her, there was a fire that destroyed the palace. Let us pray to the Lord to forgive people’s ignorance and to cleanse our sins.” By “French dancer,” the Metropolitan of Moscow meant Maria Taglioni, who had been driving St. Petersburg crazy since September 1837. In the opera-ballet “God and the Bayadère,” she performed the role of the bayadère, that is, the public woman and dancer, Zoloye, who rejected the love of the Chief Judge of Kashmir and was sent to the stake for that reason. The flame engulfs the bayadère, but the god Brahma appears, grabs her in his arms and carries her into the clouds. And just when this fiery performance was taking place at the Bolshoi Theater in St. Petersburg, the Winter Palace caught fire. Filaret saw in this a punishment for the highest society of St. Petersburg, including the emperor himself, for Nikolai Pavlovich, alas, also “went crazy in idolatry” before the dancer Taglioni and upon returning from Moscow to St. Petersburg did not miss performances with her participation, sat him in his box and selflessly admired her. The glorification of a public woman saved by a pagan deity, of course, could not please Filaret, and indeed the entire clergy. But with the world’s predilection for the theater, in which paganism sang and danced recklessly, one had to grudgingly, if not put up with it, then at least somehow get along with it. Grumble, be indignant, fight to the best of your ability. And point out: isn’t this the cause of natural disasters? The celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Napoleon's expulsion from Russia due to the fire of the Winter Palace did not take place on the scale that was expected. What kind of celebration is there if you have to patch up holes! On December 29, the monuments to Kutuzov and Barclay de Tolly were unveiled in front of the Kazan Cathedral, and this became the largest event of those celebrations. In the spring of 1838, Saint Philaret returned to Moscow. Under his leadership, the Spaso-Borodinsky community on the Borodino field, founded by Margarita Tuchkova, and now nun Melania, turned into the Spaso-Borodinsky second-class convent. And in June, the bishop took part in the ceremony of moving the monuments of the previous foundation of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and spoke a word in the Trinity Church on Sparrow Hills: – We are called here to finish what has almost not been started, to prepare for a new beginning... Alexander the Blessed began the construction of a church in these places in the name of Christ the Savior, in commemoration of royal gratitude for the salvation of Russia. A drawing of the building was drawn up, a location was chosen, construction means were given, twenty years passed, at the beginning of which it was thought that by the end of this time we would see the building growing. In that time, an entire church could have even appeared... But God's omnipotence appeared above human power, God's destinies were exalted above the loftiest and best thoughts of man... And therefore, we do not go with sorrow or embarrassment to remove the foundation of an uncreated church, but with prayer and the hope of faith, and with the sacred solemnity with which it was laid... Let us unite, brethren, in prayer, yes The Lord grants, after the most pious Alexander, to the most pious Nicholas the grace of church-building, as he granted it to Solomon after David. In 1838, the author of the new project, Konstantin Andreevich Ton, was appointed manufacturer and chief architect of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Construction began, the buildings of the Alekseevsky Monastery were demolished, the excavation of earth for the foundation began, and on July 27 they began laying stone foundations in a special way so that the entire foundation of the church would be a homogeneous stone mass. This time, Bishop Philaret closely followed the progress of the work, which was facilitated by his frequent visits to the house of Sergei Mikhailovich Golitsyn. The bishop's health continued to deteriorate. With the onset of winter, he complained of frequent colds, numbness of the skin on his hands, and itching in his eyes. Hegumen Aaron, famous for his healing skills, looked after Philaret when he was unwell. At the end of 1838, the bishop was happy to learn that after ten years of prohibition, the publication of the short Catechism was again permitted. And on March 26, 1839, royal favor followed in the form of awarding the Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, 1st degree of the Grand Cross. In terms of seniority of orders, Vladimir stood immediately after St. Andrew the First-Called. Cavaliers of the 1st degree had the insignia: a cross on a ribbon worn over the right shoulder, and a star on the left side of the chest. The rescript for the award, signed by the emperor, sounded like this: “Your long-term service to the Church and the Fatherland has always been decorated with varied and difficult activities; always, both by word of conviction and by the action of supervision, preserving the integrity of the flocks entrusted to you and taking care to increase the number of sons of Orthodoxy, you also especially brought tribute to the common good of the Church in the rank of member of the Holy Synod with an experienced knowledge of its needs and tireless diligence in various parts of the highest Spiritual Administration.” 1839 was a real year of celebrations dedicated to the memory of the great victory over Napoleon. It was twenty-five years since the capture of Paris by Russian troops and Easter on the Place de la Concorde. The celebrations began on the Borodino field; On July 23, Saint Philaret consecrated the Church of the Holy Righteous Philaret the Merciful in the Spaso-Borodinsky Monastery and gave a blessing to the monastery itself, founded by the one who was once called Margarita in the world, and now she bore the name Melania. And she wanted the church in her monastery to be dedicated to the one whose name her good shepherd bore. “It was a good idea to dedicate a church to God in the place where so many thousands of those who fought for the faith, the Tsar and the Fatherland laid down their temporary life in the hope of receiving eternal life,” said Filaret in his pastoral message. “The idea of ​​living here was born, perhaps, in the depths of private, family sadness. What needs? It is enough for the first time if this sorrow is brought to God, and consolation is sought in Him... At the end of August, Filaret again went to the Borodino field, this time on a different solemn occasion. “Pray, Father Viceroy, that St. Sergius may bless my journey to Borodino, expected shortly after next midnight: And may the service there be prosperous in peace and pleasing to God. The prayer at the opening of the monument is here more than ever, because the monument has a Christian character: on it is the image of the Savior, the genus of the head and the cross,” the Bishop wrote to Viceroy Anthony on August 22, probably remembering how he did not consecrate the Triumphal Gate, decorated with pagan symbols. Everything was fine now. You can go and consecrate. If only my health doesn't fail me! “But my thoughts are filled with difficulties so that I have enough strength and means. I presented the project of the ceremony, the sovereign approved it on the 5th day of this month; but now the army chaplains say that the ceremony has been changed, and no one notifies me of this. The proposed religious procession is barely within my strength...” By 1839, the land in the central part of the Borodino field and the village of Borodino itself were purchased by Emperor Nicholas from local landowners in the name of Tsarevich Alexander. To accommodate royalty and retinue, the manor house in the village of Borodino was rebuilt into a two-story wooden palace. On August 26, a huge number of people came to the Borodino field. There were more participants in the celebrations than in 1812, soldiers of both sides fought here! One hundred and twenty thousand troops and two hundred battle veterans lined up on Kurgan Heights and the Raevsky battery, where a monument stood in memory of the exploits of their valiant ancestors. This was the first monument to Russian soldiers created according to the design of the architect D. Adamini. An octagonal cast-iron pillar, tapering upward, crowned with a head in the form of a mace, an ancient weapon of Russian knights. The history of world monumentalism has never seen anything like it. The thirty-meter monument combines the shapes of a triumphal column and an Orthodox church. Crowned with a cross shining over the expanse of a field covered in glory. On the front, western edge of the base of the monument there is a relief image of the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands with the inscription in Slavic script “In Him is salvation.” On the eve of the celebrations, next to the monument, the ashes of Pyotr Ivanovich Bagration, one of the commanders of the Patriotic War, who gave his life for the salvation of the Motherland, were reburied with military honors. On the morning of August 26, the emperor himself left for the Borodino field. Seeing the abbess of the Spaso-Borodinsky monastery, he exclaimed: - Here is the venerable widow of the brave General Tuchkov! She warned me by erecting an immortal monument here. The sky was covered with clouds, but when the procession led by Filaret, the Emperor and Tuchkova left the church and moved towards the monument to the thunder of drums and the sounds of brass bands, to the singing of church hymns, a sunbeam, like a saber, cut through the clouds, and the sun shone over the majestic picture of the celebrations taking place. Opening the monument, the sovereign took his sword from its scabbard and bowed it to the foot of the monument, then made a speech: “Here, in this place, twenty-seven years before this, an arrogant enemy dreamed of defeating the Russian army, which stood for the faith, the Tsar and the Fatherland. God punished the reckless: from Moscow to the Neman, daring strangers were killed - and we entered Paris... After the religious procession, the consecration of the monument was performed by Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna Philaret. Then a parade of troops took place. Opposite Raevsky's battery, a guardhouse was built for two veteran soldiers who, according to the emperor's decree, were supposed to take care of the monument and Bagration's grave, keep a book of visitors' records, show visitors the battle plan and finds from the battlefield. The first exhibit was a battle plan brought from the archives of the military topographic depot. Relatives of the participants in the battle brought awards, uniforms, and personal belongings to the new museum, and local residents brought blades, cannonballs, and ancient weapons found in the surrounding area. This is how the history of the Borodino Battle Museum began. On August 29, the Battle of Borodino was reenacted for the first time. The troops were deployed in the same places. And just like then, the weather was cold. All events of twenty-seven years ago were reproduced with complete accuracy and consistency. “Thank God, Father Viceroy, the Borodino service took place in peace, and it was not difficult.” On September 4, meeting the emperor on the porch of the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin, Filaret greeted him: - Most pious sovereign! Your ancient throne city heard with reverence how you, rewarding the deeds of the past generation, at the same time taught the deeds of the present and future generation, how you sanctified glory with piety, how you delighted the alien life of the military camp for the warriors - by your example... “Thank God, Father Viceroy, we met the Emperor safely in Moscow. What remains for me is the difficult day of the foundation of the church. Pray that the Lord bless this ministry to be carried out in peace.” On Sunday, September 10, as the next event of the memorable celebrations, the foundation stone of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior took place in a new location. Around the foundation that had already been laid, a stage was built on which ten thousand people were seated. Nearby stood a chapel decorated with the faces of saints. Three thousand soldiers of three combined battalions of guards regiments who participated in the maneuvers on the Borodino field, and a battalion of cadets of the Moscow Corps were also lined up around the church grounds. Twenty-one infantry battalions and six cavalry squadrons were lined up along the road along which the religious procession was planned to take place from the Assumption Cathedral. Metropolitan Philaret celebrated the liturgy in the Assumption Cathedral. Red Square was completely jammed with Muscovites and visitors from all over the country. Finally the procession began. Veterans of the Patriotic War of 1812 walked ahead of everyone. Behind them were carried the miraculous icons of the Iveron and Vladimir Mother of God. Next are members of the Commission for the construction of the church, generals who participated in the War of 1812, one hundred deacons, priests and archpriests, nine archimandrites and three bishops. Metropolitan Philaret walked behind the bishops. Immediately behind him on horseback are Emperor Nicholas and his heir Alexander. Other members of the august family. Officials of the State Council, ministers, courtiers and generals. Moscow bell towers filled the capital with solemn ringing. The religious procession moved past the Senate, exited through the Nikolsky Gate and moved to the Moskvoretsky Bridge, then along the Kremlin embankment it reached the Vodovzvodnaya Tower, turned right, then left onto Volkhonka and reached the laying site. Here Metropolitan Philaret addressed the emperor and the people with a speech: – For some important matters there is a special destiny of God’s Providence, according to which one chosen one is given a sublime thought, and another is given a majestic execution. It was reminiscent of the Old Testament event, when King David, in gratitude for the establishment of his kingdom, thought of creating a huge church to God in Jerusalem, but the fulfillment of this plan was carried out by another great king - Solomon. – Thus, Alexander the Blessed, grateful to God for the salvation of his kingdom, is thinking of creating a church of Christ the Savior for sacred memories and grateful prayers, in the capital, which was a burnt offering for the salvation of the Fatherland and was reborn from the ashes. His thought is proclaimed; The Church blessed the initiative of the Blessed One. You were the only one of his brothers who stood next to him then; and now we see that even then the Almighty indicated to you to fulfill the sacred vow of a sovereign brother with a sovereign hand. So, Russians, in modern events we are reading the ancient book of God-ruled kingdoms! Sacred times pass before us in the deeds of our kings! What a consolation for faith! What hope for the Fatherland!.. When the speech of Moscow Chrysostom ended, the court and synodal choirs thundered “We praise God to you”, then sang the many years of the entire imperial family. Volleys of artillery, placed on the embankment opposite the Kremlin, rang out. Not only the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was founded. A new direction in Russian architecture was being laid. At the request of Emperor Nicholas and Metropolitan Philaret, the architects began to follow ancient Byzantine models. The new direction in Moscow was led by architect Konstantin Andreevich Ton. “Ancient Russian architecture is resurrected in churches with golden poppies and, under the hand of a skilled artist, acquires an original, Russian, Tonovsky character,” wrote the Khudozhestvennaya Gazeta in 1841. Simultaneously with the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Grand Kremlin Palace and the Armory Chamber were founded in the Kremlin, and all new Moscow buildings began to be built with facades along the embankments of the Moskva River. Blessing the foundation stone of the church in a new place, it is unlikely that Saint Philaret thought that neither he nor Tsar Nicholas would be destined to live to see the day when this church would open for worship; that this church will be blown up by Russian people a hundred years after the ceremonial foundation; that in another half century they will begin to revive it and raise it again above the Moscow River. And that his, Filaret’s, relics will find their rest in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, resurrected from ashes and oblivion!