Józef Kuffel

The prose of a prominent literary representative of the “first wave” of Russian emigration after the 1917 revolution Ivan Shmielyov and selected texts by Nikolai Leskov were used as the material for the study. The émigré author represents the neorealistic trend in the prose of the early 20th century, referring to the classics of 19th century Russian literature. The traumatic experiences of the revolution and the civil war became for him, as for the entire generation of Russian émigrés, a turning point in reevaluating their worldview, leading to a religious revival. Consequently, the author became a continuator of the Orthodox tradition in literature, whose exponent was N. Leskov. Despite the differences between the discourses of patristics and belles-lettres, the hypothesis stipulated in the title of the article that the considered word artist - both in terms of worldview and literature - was under the influence of hesychasm (elderhood), is confirmed.

The title refers to a legend about a brick that fell on Ivan IV head while exploring the newly built Cathedral Church of Vologda Kremlin. In this article is shown polemics and mixed responses – in environmental historians, publicists, writers and even monks – to the personality and the role of the first ruler to be crowned as Tsar of All the Russias. Especially the variety of views is presented in works of Stephan Veselovsky who is a researcher of Old Russian society and state.
At the beginning of his reign Ivan IV confirmed the position of the Orthodox Church with the Council of the Hundred Chapters [The Stoglavy Sobor] that was held in Moscow in 1551. This event, with the participation of Tsar and Metropolitan Macarius, was an expression of the desire of Muscovite state to symphony of Orthodox Church and Tsarist power.
Maximus the Greek, identified himself with the mystical-ascetic trend in the Orthodoxy monasticism called Hesychasm, came to Moscow in March 1518. Hagiorite Elder (Staretz) was a teacher of the Byzantine idea on Russia. He taught on the basis of The Holy Fathers of Eastern Christianity that true symphony is not possible without transformation of human nature. In the Byzantine and Old Russian tradition this state was termed as deification.
Ivan IV in the correspondence to one of his advisors, Prince Andrei Kurbsky, who defected to the Lithuanians, expressed his own view about Orthodoxy Tsarist power. He rejected the Byzantine tradition. One expression of this was, among other things, the creation of the Oprichnina and the execution of Metropolitan Philip.
The article promotes the thesis that the essence of personal tragedy and fulfillment of hopes pinned on Ivan IV is the result of disobedience to Saint Hagiorite Elder who warned that without transformation (gr. Metanoia) of each member of the body of the Orthodox Theocracy – the idea of the Third Rome is unachievable.