I am glad that almost all the most useful reasons given to you by Her Imperial Majesty have been fulfilled, and at the same time I regret that some foolish people were found who did not understand the benefits that were so excellent for the entire Army. Take care, as a leader, to interpret to them that everything that has been decreed for them is a true confirmation of the benefits and rituals of the past, and not as they interpret. Point out to them that statement in the Highest Confirmed Report, which clearly states that this service is absolutely necessary for our army, and makes regular service incredibly easier. Who would protect the army, if not the Don Army. You saw how much I distinguished and maintained in honor the gentlemen of the elders, and for this reason I was the first to consider it an effort to petition for equality with others. It was sad for me to see how despised, and even more persecuted, you were by some commanders. Martinov remembers that in the first campaign, in satisfaction of the hussar lieutenant Margavich, a Don colonel was almost flogged, if I had not arrived in time. He remembers that Captain Zorich wanted to flog the batog and the most marching ataman Sulin; What would have happened if I hadn’t asked for it? Lieutenant Frizel was also a little underwhelmed by Colonel Golov; Whatever would have happened, if Major General Satin had not prevented him. Often army subaltern officers, and even foreign ones who had never served our fatherland, commanded two Don regiments or more; I didn’t have this in my building, and now it won’t be anywhere. Colonel Donskoy knows his place - he will boldly stand up for the poor Cossacks, whom the army commanders used undesirably for their service. Yesaul, and the centurion, and the cornet, now you can’t even hit him with a stick. You know that I didn’t command the regulars too harshly. Pray to God forever for the All-Merciful Empress, she has approved you forever
P. A. L A PISAREV.
in your rituals and benefits. Now you can be sure that you are protected from all changes and news that are harmful to your society. As for me, as long as I live, I will never cease to care about the welfare of your Army; I wish, I only demand that you devote all your strength to discharging the position entrusted to you with all honesty and impartiality. Your faithful servant
G. Potemkin.
Essays on the history of the Kyiv diocese in the 18th century, based on documents from the synodal archive.
Readings by F. A. Ternovsky.
I.
Letter from the former Metropolitan of Tobolsk Philofey Leshchinsky (schemamonk Theodore) to Feofan Prokopovich with a request for permission to leave Siberia for a promise to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.
To the Great Sovereign, His Eminence Theophan, Archbishop of Velikonovogorodsky humble bishop schemamonk Theodore
LOWEST NOKLONENIK.
This is the twenty-fifth summer that I begin living in Seabury and I do not value anything good for myself, either mentally or physically. And the prophetic word has the power to reach my humility: son of man! you live among the scorpions. That's in the physical. And even if it’s not even close to the soul, it adorns the place and character, like the people of the Sgarzi. The years are passing, death is behind us, and where the sinner will appear when the righteous can barely escape. I have care for a poor soul and am planning to make a promise, but I don’t know who to join in order to push me out of Seabury. Having placed my hope in God, I dare to commit myself to Your Eminence. Perhaps, have mercy and mercy, give consolation to the grieving soul, order him to leave Seabury in Moscow and appear
F. A. TEI'NOVSKY,
to your face. What is in me, already an old man, and in Seabury? I can’t bear to travel and meet foreigners; and there are a great many baptized by the grace of God, if only there were someone to shepherd and protect. And this requires a person who does not need to be in bondage, but even if he is his own bishop, so that he does not take thousands while sitting, like the Reverend. A bishop was sent to the kingdom of China, and after five years he baptized a single person, I don’t know’). And I, a poor man, went through many baptisms among the people, but did not receive Oshonva bread for my labors.
And this also offended me deeply: my sacristy, my hairy cell, was taken away in vain. It was taken away from the poor one and given to the rich one, the Reverend Anthony2).
I ask your Eminence, if possible, order my sacristan to be returned to me as a memorial to my soul. With this, I bow again and ask for my two requests: for my sacristy and for the promise to leave Siberi for the Kyiv-Pechersk monastery, I ask your kindness for the resolution.