Addition to the Klyucharyov Chronicle

(Materials for the history of the Astrakhan hierarchy) “The history of the beginning and resumption of Astrakhan, the incidents that happened in it, about the former bishops there, as well as about the governors, mayors and governors,” compiled by the keymaster of the Astrakhan Cathedral Kirill Vasiliev († January 1, 1837) and better known in historical science under the name “Klyucharyovskaya Manuscript”, is represented by its everyday paintings copied a truthful historian straight from life, a highly curious and very precious document for the history of the Astrakhan hierarchy. The importance of this “chronicle” in this regard was recognized by many respectable followers of the historical fate of the Astrakhan region and its hierarchy (for example, the famous Astrakhan hierarch Platon Lyubarsky, M. Rybushkin, etc.). Undoubtedly, the same circumstance served as one of the main motivations for the Astrakhan Cyril and Methodius Society to publish this “chronicle” (in 1887) in its entirety “in three versions” or lists (p. 2). But we believe that, in view of its historical significance, the Klyucharyov Chronicle will, over time, become in itself the subject of comprehensive study. Our confidence is rooted on the basis that this “chronicle,” like all other historical monuments of this kind from ancient times, was subject to additions and even some amendments either by the author himself, or even by some outsiders, who were in one way or another interested in the historical fate of our native land and its hierarchy. We find confirmation of the first circumstance in the “Klyucharyov Chronicle”, printed by the “Astrakhan Cyril and Methodius Society” in 1887. Its publishers, during the printing of the “chronicle”, received a fourth list with short biographies of three Astrakhan hierarchs: Jonah, Abraham and Methodius, which were not included in the three main lists, and, recognizing these biographies as “a work by the same author” (i.e. Kirill Vasiliev), decided, in the interests of completeness, to print what was missing from this new list (“Klyucharyov Chronicle” p. 81, note). Irrefutable evidence of the second assumption, i.e. that this “chronicle” was supplemented by outsiders, can serve as a new, fifth, list of the “Klyucharyov Manuscript”, which we found in the library of the unforgettable memory of the late professor of the Kyiv Theological Academy Ivan Ignatievich Malyshevsky († January 11, 1897). In this list, the original of which, unfortunately, remains unknown to us, apparently prepared by the late historian for publication, in addition to small, not devoid of interest, additions 1 to other biographies, we found new biographies of the following four hierarchs in the order of their successive service at the Astrakhan See: Paul (1826–1832), Vitaly (1882–1841), Stefan (1841) and Smaragd (1841–1844). All these biographies, as can be seen from their content and from what is given below, are in the biography of the Right Reverend Vitaly. notes. compiled by M. Rybushkin, author of the famous “Notes on Astrakhan”. a great expert on the region and its antiquities, who personally knew well more than one of the named bishops. The biography of Archbishop Vitaly Borisov-Zhegachev written by M. Rybushkin, masterfully and with great enthusiasm, arouses especially keen interest in the reader. But other biographies of the named Astrakhan hierarchs, as a direct addition to the printed “Klyucharyov Chronicle” and in view of their direct interest for the history of the local hierarchy, deserve, in our opinion, the full attention of the readers of “Astrakh. Eparch. Vedomosti", on the pages of which we decide to reproduce these biographies in their entirety according to this new fifth list of the "chronicle" 2. Prof. Alexy Dmitrievsky Pavel Sabbatovsky, 26th archbishop, from the Zaporozhye Cossacks. Having received his education at the Kyiv Academy, he was taken from there by the former rector of the academy, and then by the Bishop of Smolensk Dimitri Ustimovich to the city of Smolensk. Gradually passing monastic ranks, Pavel, by the same Ustimovich, was promoted to archimandrite at the Avramiev Monastery, in 1816 he was consecrated bishop of Kharkov, in 1825 he accompanied the body of Emperor Alexander Pavlovich in his diocese, and in 1826 he was granted archbishop of Astrakhan. Pavel died in February 1832 and was buried in the lower cathedral. Under this saint, a silver throne weighing 3 pounds 8 pounds 3 was built in the upper cathedral. Vitaly, 27 Archbishop (Zhirkevich), 4 originally from the Kaluga diocese, son of a priest. He was educated in Kaluga and then in Perervinsk seminaries. After completing the course of science, he was assigned as a teacher at the Kaluga Seminary, while still in a secular rank, and finally as an inspector at the same seminary, with the rank of archimandrite. 1817, by order of the Highest, he was taken into service in Georgia, where, after the opening of the Tiflis Seminary, he was appointed its rector. In 1818, he was appointed inspector of the Yaroslavl Seminary, and from there he was transferred to Poltava to the vacancy of rector and professor of theological sciences. In 1826 he was consecrated bishop of the Kharkov diocese, and in 1832 he was transferred to Astrakhan with the award of archbishop. In 1836 he was assigned to the Order of St. Anna 1st degree 5. On January 23, 1841, the Astrakhan flock lost their venerable saint, kidnapped by death even in such years when one could have expected from the strength of his strength his long and useful administration of the diocese. The almost sudden and unexpected loss of the archpastor followed from a cold that occurred to him after a trip to inspect the diocese, which was undertaken in the worst autumn time 6 . When the mortal remains of the saint were displayed in the reception hall of the bishop's cells, it was difficult to restrain his children, who were devoted to the shepherd, from the compassionate contrition with which they sought to see the shepherd already lifeless, before the eyes of all. The next day after his death, that is, on the 24th, a memorial service was solemnly performed over the ashes of Vitaly in the presence of a large crowd of people, in the presence of the military governor and officials of the entire city, gathered in full uniform, and in the presence of all the clergy. Lamentations about the loss of the archpastor were clearly depicted on the faces of those who paid religious honor to the father and patron of many who had benefited during his reign. On the 25th, His Excellency the Astrakhan military governor previously notified all officials of an invitation to come to remove the body of the archbishop. The mournful ringing of the bell on the morning of the 26th informed the city about the ceremony of transferring the saint’s coffin from his cells to the warm church of the Assumption Cathedral. The gathering of more than 200 officials and the passages of the cathedral gallery, the walls of the Kremlin and the vestibule of the church dotted with people and even Asians, showing a rare affection for the deceased head of the church, testify to the deepest respect for him that they had for the good-natured old man and caring owner about the structure of the flock. While waiting 7 for the bishop of Saratov, who was invited to pay his last respects to Archbishop Vitaly, the mortal remains of the archbishop rested 8 in the warm church of the Assumption Cathedral under a velvet canopy. who were later buried in chapel 9 of the same church in the name of St. Plato 10. The life of the 11th Archbishop Vitaly can be viewed in three respects: scholarly, saintly and charitable. Modesty, always a distinctive feature of the deceased archbishop, was without a doubt the reason that he, ever-memorable to me 12 during his lifetime, hid in the note I received from him some features of his scientific exploits, for, in addition to the above 13 actions of Vitaly in the scientific field, it is clear that he had good information in the sciences, acquired by him both in theological educational institutions and in Moscow university, where he attended professorial lectures. He thoroughly understood the French language, was very knowledgeable in the sciences of history, theology and philosophy, which he taught in four seminaries: Kaluga, Tiflis, Yaroslavl and Poltava for more than 20 years. In 1826, respect for scientific works and the ever-present zeal for domestic education was marked by the Kharkov Society of Sciences, which awarded the Right Reverend Vitaly a diploma as a man of excellent knowledge and love for the sciences. And in fact, it is impossible not to give complete justice to the fact that Saint Vitaly, in addition to the arduous work of his flock, devoted all the leisure time of his life to inquisitive curiosity. Proof of this is the considerable library he left behind, consisting of the best historical, philosophical and theological books, for the acquisition of which, given his insufficient wealth, he spent significant sums. Conversations with selected people close to him and with his subordinates, who deserved his favor, were always accompanied by deep instruction and feelings of loyal devotion to the throne and fatherland. Historical subjects seem to have been the saint’s favorite topics in his conversations, and a correct look at current events revealed a far-sighted mind in him. Here is one feature from which one can see how great was Archbishop Vitaly’s desire for historical subjects. At one time I stayed with him until 9 pm. Our conversation mostly concerned the reign of Emperor Peter I. Having parted with the archbishop and returned home, I believed that the matter was already over; nothing happened: at 12 o’clock at night I receive from the archpastor 6 books of Bergman’s History of Peter the Great, covered with his comments, with an order to wake me up if I am sleeping and give the books directly to my hands. I can’t say whether the archbishop’s simple cordial disposition towards me, or what else was the reason for his favorable treatment of me, but everyone in Astrakhan knows that not a single one of the clergy, even from the students of the seminary themselves, to whom merciful attention was paid, left Prague his cell without a kind, friendly word. Born of a poor rural priest, brought up in deprivations of all kinds, Saint Vitaly spent the entire course of his life simply, but befitting his high rank. He was among the Beltsy until 1812, when, according to two decrees of the Holy Synod (March 3 days), he was tonsured a monk. He was appointed archimandrite to the Przemysl Trinity Lyutikov Monastery on May 5 of the same year, with permission to use a mantle with green velvet tablets when serving. On October 31, he was made a member of the drill commission at the seminary. In 1814, Bishop Eugene of Kaluga and Borovsk appointed him to be present at the consistory, professor of philosophy and inspector at the same seminary. In January 1815, the Board of the Moscow Theological Academy approved the rank of rector of the Kaluga District Theological School. On March 4 days of the same year, the Meshchovo district and parish schools were entrusted to his supervision. In 1827, at the invitation of the Exarch of Georgia, His Eminence Theophylact, His Eminence Vitaly went with him to Georgia, where he was present at the opening (October 1) of the Tiflis Seminary. The hot local climate and the painful condition in Georgia did not allow Archbishop Vitaly to continue his ministry in Georgia, which is why he was transferred with the rank of inspector to the Yaroslavl Seminary with the assignment to teach philosophical sciences there. Appointed rector of the Poltava Seminary on August 26, 1819; in October of the same year he was made rector of the 2nd class Lubensky Transfiguration Monastery. Here are the most important articles of the merits of Saint Vitaly, rendered by him before his consecration to the rank of bishop of the Kharkov diocese (1826) and to the archbishop of the Astrakhan flock (1832). The circumstances of his long stay in the rank of Astrakhan saint, the royal favor, marked by his awarding of the Order of St. in 1836. Anna of the 1st degree, deep respect for him on the part of the inhabitants of Astrakhan, including here non-believers and even Mohammedans and pagans, are the main trophies through which he acquired an everlasting memory of himself. Peace to his ashes, his soul - heavenly pleasure! Throughout his life, His Eminence Vitaly was a benefactor and supporter of his elderly parents and relatives. His dearly beloved mother died 2 months before him. From the letters left by the Right Reverend it is clear that he annually sent more than 1,000 rubles for the maintenance of his parents, sisters, nieces and other relatives, in addition to several hundred to distribute to the poor. Right Reverend Vitaly did not leave a spiritual testament behind him, in no way suggesting that inexorable death would end his days so quickly and untimely. Among the papers, a draft spiritual will was found, prepared by him while he was in Kharkov. It shows that the saint at that time had no more than 1000 rubles, of which he allocated 500 for his burial, and gave the other 500, as well as other property, to his mother. “In the event of my death, regarding my estate, I will not torture anyone who is with me,” it is said, among other things, in the mentioned will 14. Stefan, 28 Archbishop of Astrakhan 15. Less than a year had passed since the Astrakhan flock lost its Archbishop Vitaly; inexorable death accepted into its insatiable embrace a new victim, Saint Stephen, a man of venerable years, weak in body, but strong in strength of soul and firm will. Bishop Stephen, after a long and debilitating illness that lasted about 7 months, died on December 4, 1841, 16 at about 12 noon. On the morning of the 4th, a mournful ringing in the cathedral bell tower announced to the city the death of the saint. The next day, the mortal remains of the archpastor, with all due honor, were laid in the hall of the bishop's house, where they were an object of reverence for those who knew about the virtues of the elderly hierarch of the Astrakhan flock, for the Right Reverend Stephen, in the short time of his stay with the flock 17, had not yet fully discovered many of the pastoral virtues with which he had been adorned for 13 years, occupying the department of the Vologda diocese. On the 5th of December, the body of St. Stephen, after a requiem service, in the presence of all the clergy, officials of the military and civil departments and with a large crowd of people, was transferred to the church of the Assumption Cathedral, and on the 7th it was interred in the warm church of the same cathedral, on the left side of the main entrance. The funeral words were spoken by the keymaster of the cathedral, Priest Ivanovsky, and the inspector of the local seminary, Master Hieromonk Vasily. “Reverend Stephen, seeing his death approaching, calmly rested from his labors. Having ruled the pastoral staff for 28 years, he did not interrupt his work until his death,” says the venerable preacher in a brief word, but full of strength and deep devotion to the memory of the late archpastor. In fact, from the first days of his arrival at the Astrakhan flock (June 10), despite the exhaustion of his strength from the long voyage from Yaroslavl to Astrakhan on the Tikhvinka and, perhaps, the beginnings of the illness that had already brought him to the grave, Archpastor Stefan worked tirelessly on the organization of his flock and what he would not have accomplished if, with the strength of his spiritual strength and experienced mind, Providence had pleased restore his bodily qualities. Exhaustion of strength and the visible approach of death seemed to him like a matter extraneous to his studies in the diocese, for no more than an hour before his death he listened to the synodal decrees. The Most Reverend Archbishop Stefan, son of Archpriest Luke Romanovsky, from the nobility, was born on June 21, 1777, Podolsk province, in the town of Chechelnik, under Polish ownership. 18 In November 1801 he was tonsured a monk, in March 1809 he was ordained an archimandrite at the first-class Kamenets Trinity Monastery and appointed rector and teacher at the Kamenets-Podolsk Seminary. On September 14, 1813 he was consecrated bishop of the Volyn-Zhitomir diocese. 1820 April 4 The Order of St. was most mercifully granted to him. Anna 2nd degree. On October 28, 1828 he was transferred to the Vologda diocese. On January 1, 1836 he was awarded the Order of St. Anna 1st class and at the same time received a commander's income of 400 rubles. annually. April 2, 1838 Highly awarded the Order of St. Anna, decorated with the imperial crown. On August 18, 1836, the Sovereign Emperor, in his Highest Rescript, expressed to the Most Reverend Stephen his complete pleasure for his successful action for the benefit of prisoners through the president of the committee of the highest approved society on prisons. In the month of March 1841 Stefan was transferred from the Vologda to the Astrakhan diocese and renamed to the rank of archbishop. Peace to your ashes, valiant shepherd! Let there be harmony and love between us, he said in his welcoming speech, upon entering the flock, addressing the clergy, and in all likelihood he would have established this peace if his useful life had been extended for some time. Smaragd, 29th Archbishop of Astrakhan. Having ruled the Astrakhan diocese for a short time, he was transferred to Ryazan, where on November 11, 1863 at 5 p.m. he died after a long illness, at the age of 69 from birth. The deceased was the rector of two theological academies, first Kyiv, then St. Petersburg. He was a bishop for 32 years and successively ruled seven dioceses. He was buried in the Ryazan Archangel Cathedral on November 16, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The funeral was performed by the vicar of the Moscow Metropolis, Bishop Leonid of Dmitrov, together with the Ryazan city clergy. During the burial, the sermon was delivered by the Ryazan Cathedral Archpriest. A quarter of the residents of Ryazan attended the funeral. The Most Reverend Smaragd, as stated above, died on November 11, Monday, at 5 p.m. By 7 pm, the first requiem service for the repose of the soul of the deceased was performed by the rector of the seminary, Archimandrite Juvenaly, and the local clergy. On the 15th, the body of the Right Reverend Smaragd was transferred to the Nativity Cathedral, where on the 16th the liturgy and burial were performed by the Right Reverend Leonid, Bishop of Dmitrov, who arrived from Moscow, with the local clergy. in the presence of the governor of the province, military and civil officials. The funeral eulogy was spoken by the seminary inspector Ildomsky. In this speech, the preacher, by the way, introduced the listeners to some of the history of the late archpastor’s service activities. At the end of the burial ceremony, the body of the deceased was surrounded around the cathedral, with a gathering of several thousand people who came to pay their last respects to their archpastor. During his lifetime, the Most Reverend Smaragd declared his desire that upon his death he would be buried in the Archangel Cathedral, where his body was buried, according to his will. On the occasion of the death of His Eminence Smaragd, all public pleasures were stopped in Ryazan for 9 days of mourning 19. To the biography of the last Metropolitan of Astrakhan Sampson and specifically to the detailed description of the discovery of his tomb in 1801, which preserved incorrupt not only the body of this hierarch, but also St. vestments worn at the burial, the following footnote is made: “Information about the opening of the tomb of the Right Reverend Sampson was reported by the late key custodian, Archpriest Kirill Vasiliev. Here the sacristan who opened the coffin of Metropolitan Sampson says that the Lord God vouchsafed him to repeatedly kiss his right hand.” The biography of St. Nikifor Feotoki in our manuscript is compiled very briefly, in comparison with his biography published in the Chronicle. Compiler of the biography of Rev. Nikifor, in view of the indicated brevity, made the following reservation: “Other circumstances of his life and his deeds appear in manuscripts in Latin” to Archimandrite Theoktistus, 1777 and to Bantysh-Kamensky, 1797, copies of which are kept in the library of the Astrakhan Seminary. And many other additions and insertions of this kind in our new list of the Klyucharyov Chronicle. Regarding the manuscripts of St. Nikephoros Theotoki, about which Fr. N. T. Kamensky (now Bishop of Smolensk) says that they are supposedly stored “in the archives of the Astrakhan Cathedral” (A Brief History of the Astrakhan Diocese. Astrakh. 1886. P. 80, note 1), we consider it timely to remind local historians, who have declared themselves to have an ardent love for their native antiquity, of their moral duty to investigate the fate of these letters and, if possible, to make them public them into the world... A.D. From the editor. We express our deep gratitude to the most kind A. A. Dmitrievsky, professor of the Kyiv Theological Academy, for the historical materials he delivered, and especially for the sympathy with which the venerable Mr. Professor constantly treats the local body of his native diocese. Although, according to the information provided to us, at our request, by N.F. Leontiev, it turns out that the materials sent to our editorial office were borrowed from printed sources, but, despite this, we are pleased to publish this interesting historical information, as it has never been reproduced on the pages of “Astr. Eparch. Ved." We print this information in the form in which it was delivered to us and in which it is in the list of the Klyucharevskaya Chronicle, which belonged to the late Professor I. I. Malyshevsky, and we do this because the future historian of our diocese will probably be interested in studying, among other things, the history of the formation of this chronicle, and we can hope that he will not without pleasure note its new list with later layers. To the materials we print we attach footnotes made (with the exception of two - 10 and 12) by N. F. Leontiev and containing indications of the sources from which these materials were borrowed, as well as indications of omissions made by the compiler of the addition to the Klyucharyov Chronicle. Ed. This short biography of the Right Reverend Paul is borrowed from “Notes about Astrakhan” by M. Rybushkin (M. 1841, p. 41). “Obituary news”, published in issue No. 5 (February 1st day) “Astrakh. Lip. Vedomosti" in 1841, from which this article is taken, begins as follows: "On the 23rd of this month, the Astrakhan flock lost its saint, Archbishop Vitaly, who was kidnapped by death in those years when one could have expected from the strength of the forces of his long and useful administration of the diocese. The almost sudden and unexpected loss of the archpastor followed from a cold that occurred to him after a trip to inspect the diocese, which was undertaken in the worst autumn time. “The sixteenth Archbishop of Astrakhan Vitaly was from the Kaluga diocese”... etc. Further in the original follows the section: “When the mortal remains of the saint”... This insertion: “January 23…..autumn time” is borrowed from the beginning of the “Obituary News”. In the original: Now, waiting... In the original: “rest”... Instead of: “canopy, which... in the chapel” in the original: “canopy. The grave has been prepared in the chapel... That chapel (in the southeastern part of the church) in 1864 was dedicated to the name of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Methodius and Cyril, educators of the Slavs. A.D. This information (to the end of the article) is borrowed from the “Astr. Lip. Ved." 1841 “A short biography of Archbishop Vitaly. The author of this work, the famous M. S. Rybushkin, begins his “biography” like this: “In No. 5 of the Astrakhan Provincial Gazette, a short essay we reported about the death and official actions of the venerable Archpastor Vitaly (Zhirkevich) was published. Excess of feelings and contrition of heart did not allow us at that time to present in proper detail all the circumstances of his earthly career. Now, using the papers brought to us from some admirers of the archbishop of blessed memory, from clergy, we consider it our duty to say a few more words about the late hierarch of the Astrakhan flock. “The Life of an Archbishop”... etc. The author of the book “Notes on Astrakhan” M. Rybushkin, who often talked with the late archbishop, speaks here; He collected information about his life from various people. Note from the author of the addition to the Klyucharyov Chronicle. Instead of “above,” the original says: “in No. 5 of these Gazettes.” We quote from No. 12 “A. G.V.” 1841, end of Rybushkin’s article: “The ceremony during the removal of the body of Archbishop Vitaly on January 20 to the Vladimir Cathedral Church took place as follows: after the bell of the bell, all the clergy gathered in the Assumption Cathedral, and from there, with a procession of the cross, to the bishop’s cells. Here, after the service of the requiem, with a large gathering of officials and people and after speeches were delivered by two of the students, the raised coffin of the archpastor, with the usual rite, was transferred to the warm cathedral. “Body of Rev. Vitaly, awaiting the arrival of Bishop Jacob of Saratov, was in the cathedral until 9 o'clock February, when news was received that the bishop could not come due to illness. On the eve of the day of the sad procession, His Excellency Mr. Astrakhan Military Governor ordered the invitation of all honorary persons of the city to be accomplices in the burial of the hierarch. “The ringing of the cathedral bell at 8 a.m. announced to the residents of Astrakhan that the remains of the saint were interred. The rite was performed by Archimandrite Apollinaris of the Transfiguration Monastery with all the clergy. At the end of the last gospel he made a moving speech; after the 6th ode, the keymaster of the cathedral, Archpriest Pavlinov, spoke a word in which he briefly but clearly outlined all the deeds of the archpastor in his earthly life. According to Propetia Ektenia: Have mercy on us, O God! Seminary teacher and secretary of the seminary Board Sokolov delivered a speech filled with devotion to the memory of the head of the Astrakhan Church. After these rites, the saint’s coffin, carried out through the northern doors, was surrounded around the cathedral. During the descent of the body into the grave, a speech was delivered by Archimandrite Apollinaris, who was so moved by heartfelt contrition for the loss of the saint that he could hardly bring the last kiss to his deceased benefactor. After the burial ceremony, those present were invited to dinner. “Let us say again: Peace to the ashes of the saint, heavenly pleasure to the soul!” The article by Mr. M.R. under the title: “On the death of Archbishop Stephen”, published in No. 51 of “Astr. Lip. Ved." 1841 This article begins like this: “Less than a year has passed since the Astrakhan flock lost its Archbishop Vitaly; now inexorable death has accepted into its insatiable embrace a new victim - our Saint Stephen...”, etc. “1841” – not in the original. Instead of “with the flock” in the original it is “with us”. The words: “from the nobles”, “Podolsk province, in the town of Chechelnik, under Polish ownership in the original”, i.e. in the article by Mr. M.R., are absent. Where did this article about the Right Reverend Samaragd come from, perhaps from his obituary, published - probably - in the local Ryazan organ. You might be interested in: