Natasha's Dance (124 page)

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Authors: Orlando Figes

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bogoroditsa
50
Russia’s Christian rituals and ornaments were similarly influenced by pagan practices
Russia’s Christian rituals and ornaments were similarly influenced by pagan practices
Russia’s Christian rituals and ornaments were similarly influenced by pagan practices
(kborovod)
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52
Embroidered towels and belts had a sacred function in peasant culture - they were often dra
Embroidered towels and belts had a sacred function in peasant culture - they were often dra
Embroidered towels and belts had a sacred function in peasant culture - they were often dra
symbolic meanings in various rituals. The twisting threaded pattern, for example, symboli
symbolic meanings in various rituals. The twisting threaded pattern, for example, symboli
symbolic meanings in various rituals. The twisting threaded pattern, for example, symboli
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(krasnyi)
(krasivyi)
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These old pagan rituals were by no means confined to the peasantry. Many of them had becom
These old pagan rituals were by no means confined to the peasantry. Many of them had becom
These old pagan rituals were by no means confined to the peasantry. Many of them had becom
Eugene Onegin
Amid this peaceful life they cherished, They held all ancient customs dear; At Shrovetid
Amid this peaceful life they cherished, They held all ancient customs dear; At Shrovetid
Amid this peaceful life they cherished, They held all ancient customs dear; At Shrovetid
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It was not unusual for a gentry family to observe all the strictest rituals of the Church an
It was not unusual for a gentry family to observe all the strictest rituals of the Church an
It was not unusual for a gentry family to observe all the strictest rituals of the Church an
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There was always an all-night vigil and prayers on New Year’s Eve. Dinner was at nine, and af
There was always an all-night vigil and prayers on New Year’s Eve. Dinner was at nine, and af
There was always an all-night vigil and prayers on New Year’s Eve. Dinner was at nine, and af
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Peasant superstitions were also widely found among the aristocracy, even among those who
Peasant superstitions were also widely found among the aristocracy, even among those who
Peasant superstitions were also widely found among the aristocracy, even among those who
photographed; he would become alarmed if someone placed his hat on the table (which meant t
photographed; he would become alarmed if someone placed his hat on the table (which meant t
photographed; he would become alarmed if someone placed his hat on the table (which meant t
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The peasant nanny was without a doubt the main source of these superstitions, and such w
The peasant nanny was without a doubt the main source of these superstitions, and such w
The peasant nanny was without a doubt the main source of these superstitions, and such w
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Superstitions about death were particularly common in the aristocracy. Gogol never used t
Superstitions about death were particularly common in the aristocracy. Gogol never used t
Superstitions about death were particularly common in the aristocracy. Gogol never used t
The Death of Ivan Ilich
War and Peace
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Orthodox and pagan - yet a rationalist: an educated Russian could be all these things. It
Orthodox and pagan - yet a rationalist: an educated Russian could be all these things. It
Orthodox and pagan - yet a rationalist: an educated Russian could be all these things. It
Orthodox Church in Paris on a regular basis from 1926; he collected Russian icons for his ho
Orthodox Church in Paris on a regular basis from 1926; he collected Russian icons for his ho
Orthodox Church in Paris on a regular basis from 1926; he collected Russian icons for his ho
4
4
4
4
4
In 1878 Dostoevsky made the first of several trips to Optina Pustyn. It was a time of profo
In 1878 Dostoevsky made the first of several trips to Optina Pustyn. It was a time of profo
In 1878 Dostoevsky made the first of several trips to Optina Pustyn. It was a time of profo
The Brothers Karamazov
64
profession de foi,
The Life of the Elder Leonid
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at the monastery.66 The novelist was struck by the charismatic power of the elder and, in o
at the monastery.66 The novelist was struck by the charismatic power of the elder and, in o
at the monastery.66 The novelist was struck by the charismatic power of the elder and, in o
66
’And here’s one from a long way off,’ he said, pointing to a woman who was still quite young,
’And here’s one from a long way off,’ he said, pointing to a woman who was still quite young,
’And here’s one from a long way off,’ he said, pointing to a woman who was still quite young,
’From a long way off, Father, from a long way off,’ the woman said in a sing-song voice… ‘Two hu
’From a long way off, Father, from a long way off,’ the woman said in a sing-song voice… ‘Two hu
’From a long way off, Father, from a long way off,’ the woman said in a sing-song voice… ‘Two hu
She spoke as though she were keening. There is among the peasants a silent and long-enduring
She spoke as though she were keening. There is among the peasants a silent and long-enduring
She spoke as though she were keening. There is among the peasants a silent and long-enduring
’What is it you’re weeping for?’
’What is it you’re weeping for?’
’What is it you’re weeping for?’
’I’m sorry for my little boy, Father. He was three years old - three years in another three mon
’I’m sorry for my little boy, Father. He was three years old - three years in another three mon
’I’m sorry for my little boy, Father. He was three years old - three years in another three mon
remember. And what will my life with him be like now? I’ve done with him, I have, I’ve done wit
remember. And what will my life with him be like now? I’ve done with him, I have, I’ve done wit
remember. And what will my life with him be like now? I’ve done with him, I have, I’ve done wit
’Now listen to me, Mother,’ said the elder. ‘Once, a long time ago, a great saint saw a woma
’Now listen to me, Mother,’ said the elder. ‘Once, a long time ago, a great saint saw a woma
’Now listen to me, Mother,’ said the elder. ‘Once, a long time ago, a great saint saw a woma
’Aleksei, Father.’
’Aleksei, Father.’
’Aleksei, Father.’
’A sweet name. After Aleksei the man of God?’
’A sweet name. After Aleksei the man of God?’
’A sweet name. After Aleksei the man of God?’
’Of God, Father, of God. Aleksei the man of God.’
’Of God, Father, of God. Aleksei the man of God.’
’Of God, Father, of God. Aleksei the man of God.’
’He was a great saint! I shall mention him in my prayers, Mother, I shall. And I shall menti
’He was a great saint! I shall mention him in my prayers, Mother, I shall. And I shall menti
’He was a great saint! I shall mention him in my prayers, Mother, I shall. And I shall menti
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Dostoevsky was a man who yearned for faith. But the death of little children was a fact he co
Dostoevsky was a man who yearned for faith. But the death of little children was a fact he co
Dostoevsky was a man who yearned for faith. But the death of little children was a fact he co
The Brothers Karamazov
The Brothers Karamazov
its discourse about God. It involved a general whose hunting dog was wounded when a serf
its discourse about God. It involved a general whose hunting dog was wounded when a serf
its discourse about God. It involved a general whose hunting dog was wounded when a serf
’I say beforehand that the entire truth is not worth such a price. I do not want a mother to
’I say beforehand that the entire truth is not worth such a price. I do not want a mother to
’I say beforehand that the entire truth is not worth such a price. I do not want a mother to
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In a letter to a friend Dostoesvky said that Ivan’s argument was ‘irrefutable’.69 In terms
In a letter to a friend Dostoesvky said that Ivan’s argument was ‘irrefutable’.69 In terms
In a letter to a friend Dostoesvky said that Ivan’s argument was ‘irrefutable’.69 In terms
69
Dostoevsky came, in his own words, from a ‘pious Russian family’ where ‘we knew the Gospel a
Dostoevsky came, in his own words, from a ‘pious Russian family’ where ‘we knew the Gospel a
Dostoevsky came, in his own words, from a ‘pious Russian family’ where ‘we knew the Gospel a
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his comrades were condemned to death, but at the final moment, when they were on the para
his comrades were condemned to death, but at the final moment, when they were on the para
his comrades were condemned to death, but at the final moment, when they were on the para
Dostoevsky’s years in the Omsk prison camp were to be the turning point of his life. They bro
Dostoevsky’s years in the Omsk prison camp were to be the turning point of his life. They bro
Dostoevsky’s years in the Omsk prison camp were to be the turning point of his life. They bro
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The House of the Dead
I have already said that for a period of several years I saw among these people not the
I have already said that for a period of several years I saw among these people not the
I have already said that for a period of several years I saw among these people not the
73
This dark vision of the human psyche was the inspiration for the murderers and thieves who
This dark vision of the human psyche was the inspiration for the murderers and thieves who
This dark vision of the human psyche was the inspiration for the murderers and thieves who
Crime and Punishment
And yet at the depths of his despair came a vision of redemption to
And yet at the depths of his despair came a vision of redemption to
And yet at the depths of his despair came a vision of redemption to
restore the writer’s faith. The revelation appeared, as if by a miracle, at Easter time,
restore the writer’s faith. The revelation appeared, as if by a miracle, at Easter time,
restore the writer’s faith. The revelation appeared, as if by a miracle, at Easter time,
A Writer’s Diary.
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’Why you took a real fright, you did!’ he said, wagging his head. ‘Never mind, now, my dear.
’Why you took a real fright, you did!’ he said, wagging his head. ‘Never mind, now, my dear.
’Why you took a real fright, you did!’ he said, wagging his head. ‘Never mind, now, my dear.
He stretched out his hand and suddenly stroked my cheek.
He stretched out his hand and suddenly stroked my cheek.
He stretched out his hand and suddenly stroked my cheek.
’Never mind, now, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Christ be with you. Cross yourself, lad.’ B
’Never mind, now, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Christ be with you. Cross yourself, lad.’ B
’Never mind, now, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Christ be with you. Cross yourself, lad.’ B
’Now, now,’ he smiled at me with a broad, almost maternal smile. ‘Lord, what a dreadful fuss
’Now, now,’ he smiled at me with a broad, almost maternal smile. ‘Lord, what a dreadful fuss
’Now, now,’ he smiled at me with a broad, almost maternal smile. ‘Lord, what a dreadful fuss
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Remembering this ‘maternal’ act of kindness magically transformed Dostoevsky’s attitude
Remembering this ‘maternal’ act of kindness magically transformed Dostoevsky’s attitude
Remembering this ‘maternal’ act of kindness magically transformed Dostoevsky’s attitude
And so when I climbed down from my bunk and looked around, I remember I suddenly felt I could
And so when I climbed down from my bunk and looked around, I remember I suddenly felt I could
And so when I climbed down from my bunk and looked around, I remember I suddenly felt I could
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Suddenly it seemed to Dostoevsky that all the Russian convicts had some tiny glimmer of goo
Suddenly it seemed to Dostoevsky that all the Russian convicts had some tiny glimmer of goo
Suddenly it seemed to Dostoevsky that all the Russian convicts had some tiny glimmer of goo
they sought his help as an educated man. The convicts might be thieves, but they also gave th
they sought his help as an educated man. The convicts might be thieves, but they also gave th
they sought his help as an educated man. The convicts might be thieves, but they also gave th
how to segregate the beauty in the Russian peasant from the layers of barbarity that hav
how to segregate the beauty in the Russian peasant from the layers of barbarity that hav
how to segregate the beauty in the Russian peasant from the layers of barbarity that hav
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Dostoevsky was released and allowed to return to St Petersburg in 1859, three years after V

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