Protopope Avvakum. Boyarynya Morozova: three forgotten stories

For the first time in a modern edition, rare historical stories from the turn of the 19th–20th century, written by the author Ivan Lukash and Bishop Mikhail (Semyonov), are collected. Their foundation is genuine documents, folk traditions, and memories of... contemporaries. The authors aimed for historical accuracy and avoided arbitrary fiction, preserving the artistic strength of the narrative. The collection opens with a story about Protopope Avvakum—a confessor of Old Belief, revered as a holy martyr. His feat sets the context in which the fates of his closest companions unfold: the boyarynya Feodosia Morozova, her sister Princess Evdokia (Marfa) Urusova, and Evdokia Uruslanova. All of them became victims of the church schism and accepted a martyr's death, remaining faithful to the ancient piety. Contemporaries appreciated these stories for their historical truth and the power of spiritual feeling. Ivan Lukash was able to combine a vivid narrative with respect for national tradition, and Bishop Mikhail wrote as a shepherd, addressing the reader's heart. It is no coincidence that Leo Tolstoy, reflecting on the Old Believers, noted: “The Old Believers kept a living faith, which we, the dominant ones, have long lost.” These words accurately convey the spirit of the collection, where history and faith resonate together. It is a reminder of the unwavering courage and spiritual height of people in the 17th century.