Глава третья. Учитель Василий Михайлович 1803–1808

The turn of the century... In Russia, the eighteenth century ended with the death of Suvorov, and the nineteenth century began with the assassination of Emperor Paul. Two signs that did not bode well. Not just a commander died, but the bearer of the Russian spirit - the very thing that exists. Not only was an extravagant and therefore unhappy man, a very religious and therefore happy man named Pavel Petrovich killed, but God’s anointed one was killed. The earthquake that occurred on October 14, 1802 was considered another bad omen. Its epicenter was in the south of the empire. Bessarabia, Crimea, and Novorossiya were shaken the most. Kherson was almost wiped off the face of the earth. It reached Moscow and St. Petersburg. In the Northern capital, the tremors were weak, and those who felt them mistook it for their own slight dizziness after yesterday. In Moscow and the surrounding area the shaking was a little stronger. The earthquake frightened three-year-old Pushkin so much that he remembered this fear for the rest of his life. And in Sergiev Posad, nineteen-year-old Vasily Drozdov wrote to his family in Kolomna: “On the fourth and tenth day of the current month, at the second hour of noon, an earthquake was felt here. Everyone heard how the clock bells in the local bell tower emitted a dull and disorderly sound, which neither the wind nor other causes could produce... Similarly, in the Seminary, the flower decorations hung on the vaults and iron connections of the chambers swayed, the tables swayed and creaked, the doors opened. At the same time, a sound like a gunshot was heard in Bethany, and the windows shook. Some of the villagers here felt something just as extraordinary...” It’s scary, it excites the blood, but it’s more fun than scary. Just like when you think about what is happening in distant Europe. There, in France, one of the revolutionary generals - Napoleon Bonaparte - had already proclaimed himself consul for life, and in the European theater he was no longer hindered by the invincible and undaunted Suvorov army. The thunderstorm of 1812 is still far away, and, in accordance with Tchaikovsky’s “Solemn Overture,” in 1803 the good and quiet “Save, Lord, Thy people and bless Thy inheritance...” was still dissolving over Russia. In March, Drozdov experienced grief. No matter how hard he tried, no matter what he invented to save Saksin, Andryusha’s friend still turned out to be dead and died of consumption. The death of a person whom you have been caring for for a long time seems to drag you along with it. Vasily, perhaps for the first time, clearly saw that we are all guests in this world and some of the guests will go home early, like Andryusha, and some will have to stay up late. In November, Trinity Theological Seminary will have its next graduation. The two best, Vasily Drozdov and Matthew Znamensky, having passed a special examination administered by Metropolitan Plato himself, were enrolled in the seminary staff as teachers. Salary – 150 rubles per year. From now on, our hero is no longer just Vasily Drozdov, but Vasily Mikhailovich - a teacher of Greek and Hebrew. His teaching career began. Explain the rules of grammar, teach how to read ancient texts correctly, teach spoken language in these most difficult languages, check the correct translations of passages from the Psalter, from the works of the Holy Fathers of the Church - Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, Gregory the Theologian, Gregory Palamas... Vasily Mikhailovich liked all this. Having recently been the top student, he quickly became the top teacher. And in the summer of 1804, he was awarded a trip to his native Kolomna to participate in the celebrations on the occasion of the renovation of the Assumption Cathedral, in which Metropolitan Platon took part. The parents were happy to see their child, who had become a public figure, next to the Supreme Hierarch, to see that Plato singled him out, knew him, looked at him with hope. The three-domed Assumption Cathedral in Kolomna was founded by Dmitry Donskoy in 1379 after the first Russian victory over the Mamai Horde on the Vozha River. The Monk Theophan the Greek took part in the paintings. In 1581–1586, Bishop Job of Kolomna, the first Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus', served as rector of the church. In 1672, the dilapidated cathedral was dismantled, and the architect Melety Alekseev erected a new five-domed church. The main shrine, the Don Icon of the Mother of God, which accompanied Dmitry Donskoy during the Battle of the Kulikovo Field, was carefully preserved here. The Assumption Kolomna Cathedral met the nineteenth century with Archpriest Mikhail Drozdov as its rector, under whom the renovation of the church's paintings took place. And at the consecration of the new paintings, next to Metropolitan Platon there were two Drozdovs - one of the heroes of the occasion and his son, the future luminary of the Russian Orthodox Church. During the meal they talked about the worldwide decline of the Christian faith. An unheard of thing in France: the godless Corsican Bonaparte proclaimed himself emperor. In St. Petersburg, the founder of the eunuchs sect, Kondrat Selivanov, openly lives and preaches his monstrous teaching, who proclaimed himself Sabaoth, God the Father, and appointed his favorite Alexander Shilov as the Son of God Jesus Christ! And this is in the capital of an Orthodox state. Many mystical sects have divorced, and the Freemasons have risen again. The Church must be prepared for the difficult trials ahead. – What have you heard about the Sarov hermit Seraphim? - They say he predicts many disasters for our Russia. – Hieromonk Seraphim placed a stone near his hermitage and for many hours every day, kneeling on that stone, he prays for the salvation of the Orthodox people. - Is it true that a bear comes to him and the old man feeds him bread, and he takes the bread right from his hands? - How old is he, this Seraphim? In 1804, Seraphim of Sarov turned fifty years old. In September, robbers attacked his remote cell, broke the hermit’s head with the butt of an ax, broke several ribs and vertebrae, fools searched for treasure, but found only a few potatoes. Miraculously, the surviving saint of God barely crawled to the Sarov Monastery, the Mother of God appeared to him, healed his wounds, he quickly began to recover, but after that incident he walked hunched over until the end of his life. Time will pass, and Pushkin’s pen will miraculously unite the names of Seraphim and Philaret... But the future Filaret still remained Vasily Mikhailovich Drozdov, a teacher at Trinity Seminary. The salary is meager, there’s not much to go around with, it’s also good that they provided additional bread and firewood. But I still had to get some extra money from my father. Many young people are not at all bothered by this. Vasily Mikhailovich was worried that he was burdening his parents and dreamed of quickly becoming wealthy enough for complete financial independence. But before that it was necessary to wait until August 1806, when he was appointed Lavra preacher. Moreover, this position was established by Metropolitan Plato specifically for Vasily Mikhailovich; before it did not exist as such. What was the reason? In September 1805, seeking to stop Napoleonic expansion in Europe and restore legitimate power in France, Emperor Alexander Pavlovich declared war on the French emperor. On September 25, the first sermon of the future saint was heard in the Sergius Lavra - “A Word for the Day of St. Sergius.” Comparing this with his other sermons, it does not make a particularly strong impression. But she made an impression on the listeners that day. First of all, with its amazing, poetic, almost musical style. Each component, like a poem, ended with a refrain that talked about what spiritual fruits are - “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, mercy, faith, meekness, abstinence.” Subtly hinting at future trials, Vasily Mikhailovich assured that with faith everything can be overcome. Those who are strong, but do not believe in God, do not know spiritual joy, and therefore there is emptiness inside them and, therefore, you can defeat them: – We saw the Romans delighted with their victories; but to look indifferently at the corpses of the dead, to admire, looking at the flowing bloody rivers, at the kings and the chariots driving, means to indulge in inhuman frenzy, and not joy. Those who saw Jesus rejoicing with great joy that not a single one perished from those entrusted to Him except the perishing son, they only learn how to rejoice as they should. Spiritual fruit is joy... These miraculous fruits were the only, sweetest, incorruptible food in the paradise of the now triumphant Sergius, and in the earthly villages of the exalted ascetic of God. He knew that natural food turns into the flesh of the eater, but the Divine manna transforms the eater into the Divine nature. He believed because faith climbs mountains; loved as God loves; I rejoiced because in God there is not a single darkness; he was peace-loving, as Christ is peace to us; he was patient because he saw patience on the head of God; He was merciful because he was saved by mercy; He was meek because he knew that rivers of grace flow from below, and not from above; He was abstinent, as if he were all possessed by God. This is the path that is subject to the faithful, this is the path - and let us follow it. Amen. The 1805 campaign was unsuccessful for Russia. Despite the first victories at Krems and Schöngraben, on November 20 near Austerlitz in the “Battle of Three Emperors” Bonaparte inflicted a crushing defeat on the Russian-Austrian coalition. The Russian people greeted the new year, 1806, sadly. They said that Napoleon would soon come to Russia, they foresaw a terrible invasion, although it would happen only six years later. And at such a time, on January 12, 1806, in the Trinity Lavra, from the lips of teacher Vasily Drozdov, the “Word on the day of the celebration of the liberation of the monastery of St. Sergius from the invasion of enemies” sounds: – There was an unfortunate time when our fatherland, tormented by foreigners, betrayed by unworthy sons, was preparing to breathe its last breath... The Lord of hosts crowned us with the weapon of favor, and despair, not finding a place among the monuments of piety, rushed towards the hordes of villains... Firmness in faith and piety is and is always the first foundation and the only guarantee of social well-being... Religion in society is a spring, upon the weakening of which all actions the colossuses are coming from hour to hour into greater disorder... Oh, may this mark in you not be fulfilled forever, dear fatherland! May faith always reign in you... The fame spread instantly. From Kolomna they turned to Metropolitan Platon with a request to ordain Vasily Mikhailovich as a priest and give him a parish in his hometown. Plato replied: And in a letter to his vicar, Bishop of Dmitrovsky, Augustin (Vinogradsky) wrote: “And I now have an excellent preacher. I will report his sermon, and you will be surprised." In February, Bishop suggested that Vasily Mikhailovich, upon reaching the required age, take monastic vows. “Let me think carefully about this proposal,” Drozdov asked. He was probably at a crossroads about which path to choose - monastic or priestly, like his father. Becoming a monk means not having a family or children. To become a priest does not mean to rise to the leadership of a diocese, to be neither a bishop, nor an archbishop, nor a metropolitan. And he saw that Plato not only noted him, but precisely as his heir. However, even if he agreed immediately, he would have to wait another six years. As is known, under Peter I the strictest measures were taken regarding monasticism. For a long time, a healthy and full of strength young man could not become a monk, because it was believed that at that age he should serve the Fatherland differently. Only in 1760 did easing begin; people of all classes were allowed to tonsure their hair, and not only sick or widowed priests. But by the beginning of the 19th century, the age ban remained. It was allowed to become a monk only after reaching the age of thirty. Look, Seraphim of Sarov was tonsured at thirty-two. Drozdov turned twenty-four in 1806. What kind of monasticism can we talk about? And the father wrote that he was against it, that he wanted to see his first-born son become a clergyman, but the parent’s opinion had to be taken into account. But Plato seriously had his eye on Vasily Mikhailovich as his successor in the future. He continued to delight with his sermons, and, as stated, in August 1806 Drozdov was appointed teacher of poetry and at the same time Lavra preacher. The salary was increased just enough that from now on there was no need to expect paternal support, from 150 to 250 rubles a year. Feeling supported, Drozdov spread his wings more than ever. His “Word on the Day of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary” is already a noticeable peak of eloquence. “Nothing is more common in the world than complaints about a life of many cares,” he said. – If all the sighs at this very moment from the hearts of preoccupation, in concert, touched our ears, what a terrible storm we would hear!.. Frivolous mortal! You bustle around like the Gospel Martha and count a thousand needs. Through the noise of worries that, so to speak, swarm in your confused thoughts, allow into your soul the voice of truth, wanting to calm you down: there is only one thing you need... A slave sighs for not having freedom, a free man laments for not having slaves; golden mountains are not enough for covetousness, thrones are low for ambition, palaces do not accommodate human desires... We cannot satisfy the hunger of desires, because food is not nutritious and not natural... The world is a rotating circle; our soul is the image of the trinitarian divine unity. A circle placed in a triangle cannot occupy the entire space, so the whole world will not fill the human soul... The Creator could not create a famine without preparing food corresponding to it; and therefore, every cry of deceived and unsatisfied desires is our secret teaching: man is not for the world, although the world is for man; all acquisitions in it are just a waste of time... Splendor is more of a burden than decoration; the pleasures of the senses are more a guarantee of future illnesses or repentance... When they talk about the birth of a new Russian literary language of the 19th century, two ringing names naturally arise - Karamzin and Pushkin. But there should be three names - Drozdov, Karamzin and Pushkin. In 1806, Karamzin, locked in his office, created the first volumes of the “History of the Russian State”; Pushkin is still only seven years old, and he’s not even a lyceum student; and in Vasily Drozdov’s sermons the ringing notes of the future great and mighty language of ours already sound!.. He continued to practice poetry. In 1807, Metropolitan Platon turned seventy years old. On his namesake day, teacher Drozdov wrote the poem “Old Age.” At this time, the scales began to tip in favor of monasticism.