Akathistos

Almost a month ago, I began reading Holy Women of Russia. But I put it down for a while and, therefore, did not continue posting about it.

I started reading the book again today and decided to finish it during the Apostles Fast.  I plan to blog each day to share highlights from the sections I have read.

Margarita Tuchkova and the Borodino Community

Margarita Tuchkova (1781-1852) was a Russian noblewoman, of an aristocratic family, who “turned numbing loss into deep compassion, widowhood into community, and a headstrong willfulness into spiritual strength.”

When Margarita turned sixteen, she was arranged to be married to a young nobleman who, after the marriage, was found to be of “shockingly dissolute character,” and the marriage ended in divorce.  Deeply hurt, Margarita moved in with her parents, and, eventually, fell in love with a military officer, Aleksandr Alekseevish Tuchkov, but they did not marry until she was twenty-five (1806).  In April of 1811, she gave birth to a son, Nikolai Aleksandrovich, whom she nursed herself, which was an odd thing for an aristocratic woman to do at the time.

Alexsandr became a general in the army and was sent west of Moscow, where he was killed in the famous battle of Borodino, on August 26, 1812.  Margarita fell into incredible despair and was unable to care for herself or her son.  Over time she was able to “put her life together” and she decided to build a church in honor of her husband on the spot where he had died.

Margarita was incredibly devoted to her son and to the memory of his father.  She said that Nikolai was the “purpose of her life, her only happiness and her constant concern.”  Tragically, he died suddenly of scarlet fever at only fifteen years old.  This lead her into a spiritual crisis, where she was unable to pray.  She became so consumed by her suffering, that she sought counsel from Filaret, the Metropolitan of Moscow.  He pointed out to her the “un-Christian character of her grief,” and she was forced to turn her life around.

The church at Borodino began to attract other women and mourners, and a small colony formed.  In 1833, the Synod began to officially establish the community as a zhenskaia obshchina, or women’s religious community.  In order to be approved, Margarita had to pledge her assets to the community, and she even freed the serfs on her estate (which was a rare thing to be done at the time).

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Tomorrow… the community becomes a zhenskaia obshchina, Margarita is made a deaconess, and the results of great love and generosity.

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Meehan, Brenda. Holy Women of Russia: The Lives of Five Orthodox Women Offer Spiritual Guidance for Today. New York: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1997.