Archive · Faith · Books · Monarchies
Paul I's tutor, Platon, Archbishop of Moscow and Kaluga, in his sermon on the feast of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, 22 October 1779, reasons on good and ill fortune, paying due respect precisely to the state of misfortune. According to Archbishop Platon, we reckon
Observations · Humour
A very rare stamp of 2008
Observations
Ladies and gentlemen, my congratulations on the approaching New Year! I wish you to draw nearer to an understanding of your own happiness, never to lose heart, and to remain true, above all, to your own higher principle. Read poetry, spend time in nature, keep your own company, step away
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Monarchies · Moscow · Museums · Mores
The Famous Beard Token, or a Metal Receipt for the Tax on Wearing a Beard in the Time of Peter I. The compulsory shaving of beards, confirmed by a decree of 1698, did not apply to men who paid, depending on their estate, from 30 to 600 roubles a year.
NB! · Books · People
A poetic exchange. Sergey Gandelevsky replies to Nikolay Gumilyov, 77 years on
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Archive · Art · Humour
An open letter. Drawing by Valery Carrick (1869 – 1943)
Faith · Observations · Rome · Humour
The Vatican has issued fresh indulgences. In 2025, the remission of sins is offered not only for visiting churches, praying and doing good deeds, but also for giving up television, video games, telephones and social media at least once a week. Folks, we still have a chance. If you thought
NB! · Archive · Monarchies · Humour
Nicholas II at the gym. No, you're not seeing things
NB! · Observations
Faith · The East · Books
A man does not yet enjoy freedom from action when he does not begin what he ought to do, nor does he attain bliss from perfect inaction. No one remains in inaction for a single minute. Every man is involuntarily compelled to act according to the principles native to his