St Nikolai of Japan
From the end of XIX century in the works devoted of the Russian spiritual mission, in Japan the opinion, that creation of the Japanese Church, as a matter of fact, - business of one person, and this person - svt has strongly affirmed. Nikolay. This statement is indisputable both for domestic, and for the Japanese researchers. For this reason without the deep characteristic of the person of the apostle of Japan to understand history of Russian spiritual mission it is simply impossible.
For achievement of this purpose the especial attention should be turned on a diary sacred as Nikolay, conducting it only for itself, in it was extremely frank. And wide use of materials of a diary can enable if to not add, more deeply and more convincingly to prove those representations about activity and persons svt. Nikolay which can be found in a historiography.
Without claims for creation some the full psychological portrait sacred, is undertaken by me attempt to allocate the major features of its character. Thus, for achievement of the greatest reliability, have been used not only diaries and letters of the missionary, but also memoirs of the people known svt. Nikolay personally - both Japanese, and Russian.
Belief - it is doubtless, the major quality svt. Nikolay as founder and the head of mission. Without it the apostle cannot be the apostle. Svt. Nikolay possessed belief unshakable, deep, sacrificial. This firm as a rock, belief also has caused integrity of its nature (including from the point of view of sense of its all life): " My unique meaning of the life and pleasure - education of Japan by Orthodoxy, and I trust, that this will be, I trust as firmly as I trust in the God " [1], - wrote svt. Nikolay. It were not mere words: it is necessary to recollect even that after postavlenija in bishops in 1880 svt. Nikolay never left from Japan, remaining with with the flock constantly, even during the ?onnei-Japanese war.
Trusting in the God, svt. Nikolay trusts and in Its craft. Next day after prelate has expressed doubt in advantage of stay in Japan in a diary, it has hastened to write: " Yesterday written - one cowardice. Our impatience would like, that before sew second of life now and the plan sudeb Bozhiih was developed. Possibly, in all there is a sense, that intentionally the person does not put in the contradiction to reason Bozhiju. In fact I not for myself, not on license have gone to Japan, and I would like to make any goods, - so why to not rely on will Bozhiju? ? the Owner corrects ladej our life, - and, whether the calm, whether fast techene - all this its business, and ours - easy to row, not letting out an oar ? " [2] As a whole as appears from diaries and letters svt. Nikolay, it in word and deed adhered to a following sober position: having made everything, from you possible, in the rest it is necessary to rely on the God.
Other feature of prelate which defines not passing value and its activity and its person, was strongly pronounced feeling sacral, awe to a relic. So, when svt. Nikolay has learned, that in a temple in Keoto lecture " about the Russian woman " for Female school has been read through, to the priest strict reprimand has been made. Whether " well it is possible to suppose such profanation of church? It only for divine services and the Christian sermon " [3].
Trusted svt. Nikolay and in a final celebration of Orthodoxy in scale of all world. Prelate very much was distressed in the diaries of that in Russia almost absolutely there is no bent for to missionary service while in the western countries of thousand young and formed people leave on a missionary field. But simultaneously wrote: " time Will come: the formed minds, nowadays employees inoslaviju, will carry it on scraps as the lie, and our ignorant minds orthodox - will develop and will reflect all shine of Orthodoxy, and it will go waves of light on the person of the Earth ? Instead of katol [icheskogo] slaveries people learn submission to true, instead of the protest [antskogo] wilfulness will love freedom " [4]. " There is indestructible anything a confidence of the general success of the future " [5].
Cathedral of the Resurrection in Tokyo
Diligence and sacrifice in service to the God is, indoubtedly, one of Nikolay's which has made it sacred the features. Here lines from a diary: " However, if easy to judge, and not very much I can blame myself ? As I have left here per 1860? The most reliable and any uncontrollable desire to serve to church ? - uncontrollable, I speak, for all up to uniform around kept from this step (actually, from a nunhood for then there was time the most antimonastic) " [6].
The People surrounded svt. Nikolay, were amazed to its diligence, high working capacity and full self-feedback. Without these qualities to it, undoubtedly, it would not be possible to reach so high results. So, it has masterly known the Japanese language, - but for this purpose it was required to it, by its own words, to work for fourteen hours per day within six years [7].
" It is necessary to be surprised tireless energy and unusual strength of mind of the educator of Japan, - Daniel Konisi, - Managing all affairs of mission wrote, it at the same time is the rector of all educational institutions " missions, itself teaches the most important subjects, but also, preaches to pagans and operates hundred thirty katehizatorami [8].
Monthly svt. Nikolay received more than hundred fifty letters from priests and katehizatorov. Thus Japanese, under the certificate of archimandrite Sergija (Stragorodskogo), always considered as a duty to make to the letter the vastest and whenever possible the empty introduction, and in the end by all means to apologize, that have written only two inches (though the reader would be more likely inclined to tell, that the letter more than two sazhen). Whether " it is necessary to master such 150 epistoly? Preosvjashchennyj all this reads itself. Besides on morning goes to teach in katehizatorskuju school in Koozimatsi. After a dinner has lessons in local katehizatorskoj to school. Then translation of books, then constructions, then infinite visitors. It is necessary on all this a lot of energy and fidelities for business, as the pleasure received from this business (arguing on chelovecheski) cannot be compared to those griefs and flours what it delivers. Not without reason preosvjashchennyj speaks: " There are minutes when you precisely scourge on wounds will begin hlystat, is simple places to itself will not find from moral tortures. Nights on three you do not sleep " successively [9].
The Life of prelate, thus, and actually was full self-feedback, unconditional self-sacrifice - personal Golgotha. As it wrote, with humility inherent in it, in the diary: " Sins sins, but not them and not for them I lived, and there was at me an idea of a life - service to Belief and the Lord " [10].
The Iron will was the major condition of its successful activity. The fine and figurative characteristic has given svt. To Nikolay the known orientalist D.M.pozdneev who has lived near to it as already it was informed above, some years in the beginning of 1900th years (t. e. Already on a decline of a life of the apostle in Japan). " Together with softness, it was the iron person who is not known any obstacles, practical mind and the manager, able to find a way out of any inconvenient position. Together with courtesy, in it there was an ability to be ice, unshakable and sharp with people whom it found necessary to bring up measures of severity ? Together with sociability, in it there was greater, long experience the got restraint, and a lot of time and efforts was necessary to get its trust and frankness ". Diaries of prelate confirm each word in characteristic pozdneeva. Naked hands to get thirty thousand believing in the another's country it would be impossible; it would be especially complex to achieve a financial basis for creation of "infrastructure" of Church, - first of all, systems of educational institutions. Svt. Nikolay has managed to achieve not only the bases of mission, but also its serious financing, - and this all has demanded enormous efforts: Beginning from hot prays to the God and finishing lobbying of interests in the most different structures. Having managed to achieve the certain maintenance in sixty with superfluous thousand roubles annually, prelate has not stopped on it, spending enormous efforts to gathering of private donations. By its own words, it was ready to write to twenty places if only in twenty first to it have assisted without results. Using the most different channels, it incessantly searched for new people who could be called for the donation. And as it, possessing gift for speaking, was able to show both urgency of needs of mission, and hope which it submits donations came, and it has allowed to finish the budget of mission to hundred thousand roubles so, it was possible to take in seminary of more pupils, to publish more books, to type more katehizatorov, and, finally, to get more Christians. But for this purpose, the iron will shall repeat, required: Occasions to become despondent from sincere torments at svt. Nikolay there was a set (that brightly shows its diary), but never it dared to lower hands. To struggle to it it was necessary not only with external circumstances, but also with itself (so, about the first years in Japan it wrote: " all three enemies of rescue, the world, a flesh and a devil have risen on me ? " [11]).
Prelate Makariy (Neva), Met. of Moscow (memory Feb 16/Mar 1)
To the chief of the Altay spiritual mission to archbishop Makariy (Neva), friend, per 1907 it wrote so: " as to up to " rest " I, reading your lines about it, have burned down with shame only from one idea, that your Eminence could think of me it. " On rest " to the missionary when at it though the crumb of force still is to serve the business! " [12] To not work it could not: for two weeks to death the died away prelate has insisted, that in hospital to it have allowed to borrow in work: and it has had time to finish check of last draft sheets of service on Over the Trinity, finally having prepared that it for printing. And three days prior to death could finish and drawing up of the annual report on Mission ?
Humility. " Negligibility I real - and realize myself iskrennejshe, - prelate in a diary, - but any more I wrote one, - for the sake of my negligibility business ? cannot stop Shall be content also that modest hope, that because of ours nedostoinstva the Lord will not stop the business and rescue of many " [13]. Other example: at church assembly in 1900 one of katehizatorov " zaoratorstvoval about the purpose of assembly, and it is suddenly unexpected priplel me - " 30 years, de ? " and so forth I should answer and have told, that I no more than a match, kotoroju zazhgli a candle: the match after that itself dies away, and it throw down to the ground, as good-for-nothing " [14]. And when in 1911 the Russian ambassador in Japan has visited prelate to hand over to it Vladimir's award of 1-st degree with imperial reskriptom, svt. Nikolay has written down in a diary: " I have met also officially: in awards and klobuke with a cross, from respect for high gift of Sovereign of Emperor. But as sincerely I consider myself not costing any awards and I take them not personally, and on the account of Mission has remained it is absolutely indifferent " [15].
Especially shake the sacred Nikolay's agonal words, transferred to us by its successor, bishop Sergiem (Tikhomirov): " Here I look back back at the passed life ? And what?.. One gloom! ? all was made by One Lord, and I ? what negligibility! The Zero, is literally zero ? But if the rithteous person is hardly rescueed, I, the sinner where I shall be? " [16]
Love, mercy. First to win love, then to bear a word - the principle of all largest Russian missionaries - from Stefana Perm up to Nikolay Japonskogo was those. " Illness of pupils very much afflicted gently loved them arhipastyrja. Here it did not regret neither works, nor means. If the patient died, simply trouble - it cried also anybody to listen did not want. But, eventually it made burial and saw off up to a cemetery ?
? it Especially loved Christians-Japanese: for them it widely opened doors. It is very clear: in fact all of them its spiritual children. It was very sensitive to their spiritual needs. It willingly gave them fatherlike advice and directed them on a way of true " (M. Konisi) [17].
Thus its love was not limited to circles of Christians, reaching and on pagans. So, after earthquake 1891 it collected donations from Christians and proezzhih Russian tourists and distributed to victims [18].
Self-control, patience. As a vivid example I shall result dialogue of prelate with Japanese iereem Novel TSuda. Svt. Nikolay has asked it to collect on Sunday of Christians of the church and to convince them to put some sum on the maintenance favourite katehizatora, on what about. The novel has answered, that goes to Sunday in Iokogamu.
- Unless there is that especial, - it is necessary to christen, or what another? - Anything there is not present especial. - So you can go to next Sunday.
" Till now the father inflated on my speech the Novel, probably with displeasure listened it as will flash anger! Precisely before it not bishop, and the church watchman, and precisely subject of conversation - not rather important for church, and a mop.
I can dispose of time and the tserkvami! In Iokohame there is nothing especial, but I have put to go there and should go!
On it svt. Nikolay to it has told: " All right. On next Sunday poezzhajte in Iokohamu, but in the further by all means make assembly of Christians. If will not make, will be guilty in disobedience to bishop both will be punished ? And present assembly that I spoke and how I spoke. Besides I shall ask someone from people reliable to speak assembly, for example Peter Isikava ".
With it svt. Nikolay has left about. The novel in an altar. That, however, has thought suddenly, and has caught up with it on amvone: " Excuse! "
I "Excuse", - has answered svt. Nikolay also has left [19].
Undoubtedly, that such, constrained and weighed behaviour of bishop, helped and to avoid superfluous conflicts in Church, and to teach sinned.
Modern followers over ravnoap. Nikolay.
The abstention, the moderate ascetism. In the house of mission prelate borrowed only two rooms: one served a drawing room, another - as a bedroom and a cabinet simultaneously (in it the case, a bed, a desk and two-rub chairs hardly were located). It put on very simply, but purely and decently. Its only thing shchegolstvom was the use krahmalnogo a collar; and only on greater holidays it put on a silk cassock.
As it was undemanding and concerning meal: in the morning and in the evening it drank tea, and food once a day accepted all. Prelate did not refuse wine, but very seldom and it is not enough its saws [20].
The Responsibility, thrift at personal nestjazhanii. From a diary it is visible, that svt. Nikolay protected, as could, each copeck acted in Mission (that it, as is known, was the disinterested person). So, when it needed to exchange for Mission even the small sum of currency, it always bypassed some banks and changed in where the rate was the most favourable. But in the beginning 1880, apparently, not always hardness still sufficed it. In 1882, when the Pelican (whether published then in Russia the book " Japanese Are religious? ") has asked for it in a duty one thousand dollars, svt. Nikolay has given it five hundred: " Was not to give up, and to death it is a pity money ? hardly probable when will give, because the gambler ? you Save here that here today hardly has dared to spend 60 sentov for a comb on extreme need, you save certainly not for money, and for Mission, and suddenly the such sum of a pipe for no reason at all! ? that to this near has not carried in cards, several tens Japanese need to deny assistance on education, or on what to another, - and churches defect! " [21]
Nobleness. In occasion of charges of one of newspapers as if it has used twenty thousand yens on payoff of spies from Japanese, svt. Nikolay has noted in the diary: " So! Yes I would expel the Japanese if it and without any payoff began to jam in favour of another's Russia for it to change to own Fatherland! " [22] Even more as a vivid example of its spiritual nobleness the conversation with the priest-aieneiiaeii, in which continuation svt can serve. Nikolay spoke and that at episkopalov the Sacrament svjashchenstva is belittled. The priest in continuation of conversation began to wipe tears, and spoke: " Tell to me the orthodox priest or bishop, that I have no good fortune svjashchenstva, I tomorrow shall come to you and I shall ask to accept me ". And here that prelate writes: " I was kept to turn to it direct call. If it is necessary for the God, the good fortune will call it. Come it tomorrow and tell: accept me in a bosom of your Church, certainly, I immediately shall make it. But to take advantage of that the person was deeply moved and immediately to throw it with a network - somehow too on katolicheski, - it is impossible to soul " [23].
Patriotism. " The person of everyone roots in the nationality as a plant in ground, - wrote svt. Nikolay after the termination of the ?onnei-Japanese war, - sweep ground or dry up, obesplodte it, - the plant will wither. So I fade spirit from posramlenija my native land its defeat on a land and the sea, and internal disorders ? All the day such melancholy, such despondency that would not look at light Divine, any business from hands falls! " [24]
So, prelate understood, that patriotism - natural to the person (and justified in the Gospel) feeling and consequently not only supposed it at Japanese, but also encouraged it. When to it director of Seminary has come to inform, that at all Japanese schools the following two days do not study, and celebrate a victory over Russia and the conclusion of the world that is, in missijskih schools it is necessary to make the same, svt. Nikolay has written down in the diary: " it is doubtless! Let to themselves and our pupils celebrate and are pleased not less others, have on that full right, as patriots " [25].
From diaries it is visible, that patriotism of prelate woke up at all only during such shocks, as the ?onnei-Japanese war and revolution. So, per 1886 it wrote: " Painful doubts - whether it is ruined by gift a life and, in addition, set of Russian money? Whether there is Orthodoxy in Japan? ? so - the life is ruined! The set of Russian blood money is thrown in fire! What torture can be gorshe this idea! " [26] It is far not unique record such. Doubts in success of activity of mission gave vent on pages of a diary repeatedly. Also it is very characteristic, that svt. Nikolay during such moments muchilo in a greater degree not that gift ruins" its life, and that " I all life plunder Russia, poor Russia so requiring educational means " [27].
Inside view of the Resurrection Cathedral in Tokyo
Patriotism svt. Nikolay had no anything the general with a blind worship for all Russian. On the contrary, when originally patriotic feelings svt. Nikolay were wounded especially hard, it it is most critical responded about the Native land: " Russia Is paid for the ignorance and the pride - considered Japanese as uneducated and weak people, has not prepared, as should, to war ? " with Japan and revolutionary shocks prelate assigned Fault for defeat in war first of all to a Russian society: " the God Punishes Russia, that is has receded from it because it has receded from It ? the Rotten corpse it on morals, in dirty cattle almost all has turned, not only above patriotism, but at any reminder on it scoffs. Vile, prokljataja, the become like cattle intelligency in a hell pulls also simple, rough and ignorant people ? Soul groans, heart to be broken off is ready " [28].
Emotsionalnost, temperamentnost svt. Nikolay slides in many places of its diary, including resulted above. It perfectly realized these qualities and at times even sneered at them: " Painfully the beginning of 1872. Ek in fact ekzaltatsija is artfully finished! It and with me will go to a coffin. I feel, as before by itself I am expressed diko, pisha a diary and how you will avoid a phrase imparted since the childhood like a smallpox? " [29] However it is necessary to note, that such emotional mobility (shown sometimes and in irritation) was compensated in it by enviable self-control and in public shown not so often (anyway, incomparably less often, than in a diary). Prelate tried to do never remarks to people, being in a condition of irritation.
The Sense of humour was one more feature of prelate involved in them of people. M. Konisi studied in the Tokyo seminary, recollected, how, visiting assemblies of young seminarists, svt. Nikolay and itself quite often spoke something amusing and ridiculous. " Pupils uncontrollably laughed at its story, and it was happy with it " [30].
SHutlivost did not leave prelate till last days a life. Testing the strongest agonal sufferings, it tried to turn at times all for fun: " Here, - spoke, - look, do not forget to write in the necrologue, that it-aa suffered ".
In general, svt. Nikolai of Japan was the alive person, versatile, not always ideal, but able to struggle and win those few weaknesses which in it were. It would be desirable to hope, as modern orthodox missionaries its experience - will inspire experience of struggle not only against external circumstances, but also with itself.
[1] Nikolay-up to. Prelate Nikolai of Japan. The brief biography. Endurances from diaries. SPb., Bibliopolis, 2001. With. 95. Record on December, 29th 1888.
[2] Nikolay-up to... With. 89. Record on November, 18th 1886.
[3] Sacred Nikolay Japonskogo's Diaries. Tokyo, publishing house Hokkajdskogo of university, 1994. With. 300. Record on September, 7th 1903.
[4] Nikolay-up to... With. 90. Record on December, 30th 1887.
[5] Nikolay-up to... With. 77. Record on January, 1st 1882.
[6] Nikolay-up to... With. 101-102. Record on March, 30th 1889.
[7] The Missionary, 1874, № 26, with. 211-213 (the Letter svt. Nikolay to O.P.Tjuljaevu).
[8] Additions church sheets, 1893, № 3, with. 112.
[9] Archimandrite Sergy (Stragorodsky). Across Japan. Letters of the Japanese missionary. Arzamas, 1897. With. 112.
[10] Nikolay-up to... With. 68. Record on January, 1st 1872.
[11] Russian archive, 1912, № 3, with. 402.
[12] " I here absolutely one Russian … " Letters Revelskogo of bishop Nikolay (Kasatkin) from Japan. The foreword and A.R.Tsurkana's comments. SPb., the publishing house "Kolo", 2002. With. 66.
[13] Nikolay-up to … With. 77-78. Record on January, 1st 1882.
[14] Nikolay-up to... With. 167. Record on April, 13th 1900.
[15] Nikolay-up to... With. 199. Record on January, 4th 1911.
[16] Vysokopreosvjashchennogo Nikolay's Memory, archbishop Japanese // Orthodox blagovestnik, 1912, № 10, with. 433.
[17] The Wanderer, 1912, № 3, with. 389-390.
[18] The Wanderer, 1912, № 3, with. 390.
[19] Diaries … With. 523-524. Record on October, 1st 1904.
[20] The Wanderer, 1912, № 3, with. 391.
[21] Diaries … With. 208. Record on January, 18th 1882.
[22] Nikolay-up to... With. 179. Record on October, 11th 1903.
[23] Nikolay-up to... With. 161. Record on December, 23rd 1899.
[24] Diaries … With. 666. Record on October, 8th 1905.
[25] Diaries … With. 667. Record on October, 9th 1905.
[26] Nikolay-up to … With. 88-89. Record on November, 17th 1886.
[27] Nikolay-up to... With. 101. Record on March, 23rd 1889.
[28] Nikolay-up to... With. 187. Record on July, 3rd 1905.
[29] Nikolay-up to... With. 68. Record on December, 20th 1876.
[30] The Wanderer, 1912, № 3, with. 389.
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