Chapter Ten:
Meeting with the Tsar
And so, Tsar Peter received Alexey:
“What kind of favor have you come to ask?”
“It is not about a favor… But, rather, about the justice and well-being of the people living in our country.”
“Do you think I’m unfair?”
“If I had thought so, would I have come to you, my lord?”
… Alexey began to talk about the need for reforms in the spiritual life, about the cruelty and rigidity of certain rules, which should be eliminated. He spoke about the importance of change, and also that people, free from these kinds of restrictions, should make up the people of the renewed state. He said that freedom of religion should be established, because One God has power over all people.
To much of what was said, Peter nodded in agreement. He especially liked what Alexey said about education, about teaching children of all classes.
But when Alexey moved in more detail to the reforms of the church organization, Peter ceased listening and stopped him:
“I have long thought that a reform is needed; a project was started by bishop Fyodor. He is an educated man, thinking sensibly. We will give him your manuscript. Soon he will return from Pskov. You will have to meet and explain everything to him.”
Peter took the manuscript, inscribed his signature, and ordered the transfer of consideration for this project to bishop Fyodor.
The conversation ended.
* * *
The count with the children had to return to Siberia.
Alexey wholeheartedly thanked him for his help and hospitality.
He now moved to a hotel and waited for the meeting with bishop Fyodor.
… But Alexey had an almost obsessive feeling that it was time for him to leave this place, and that he had already done everything possible…
“But how can I leave without bringing the matter to an end? After all, the tsar himself instructed me to tell all the details about the reform of the church to bishop Fyodor!…”
… And around, a dark, stuffy atmosphere was getting stronger. It was similar to the time when Alexey was about to be expelled from Moscow…
… When four men armed with daggers entered the room, Alexey immediately understood everything.
The massacre was so rapid that Alexey barely even felt the pain and easily left the body.
One of the murderers said gloatingly over the bloody body:
“Now these heretics have been dealt with!… One villain in Moscow was burned at the bonfire as a warning — but it did not help: in return — new ones are breeding!…
“Since the tsar is merciful to them, then we ourselves will now have to do God’s Judgement!
“They will not crush the faith! It will not work! We will destroy them all!”
… And Alexey — in the solemn Radiance of the Divine Light — was accepted into the Embrace of All the Perfect Ones!
For him, a new time began — the time of the Divine Life without a body.
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