Nikita Pustosviat

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Nikita Pustosviat. Dispute on the Confession of Faith by Vasiliy Perov, 1880-81.
Nikita Pustosviat. Dispute on the Confession of Faith by Vasiliy Perov, 1880-81.

Nikita Pustosviat (Russian: Никита Пустосвят, real name Nikita Konstantinovich Dobrynin (Никита Константинович Добрынин)) (?—June 11, 1683) was one of the leaders of the Russian Old Believers during Raskol. He was dubbed Pustosvyat (rus. "swearing in vain") by adherents of Patriarch Nikon. Nikita was a priest in Suzdal and participated in editing and typing of the church books under Patriarch Joseph.

In 1659, Nikita arrived to Moscow and lodged a complaint about Stefan, Archbishop of Suzdal, accusing him of digression from Orthodoxy. When Stefan was acquitted, Nikita denounced him to Tsar Aleksey Mikhailovich. In 1682, the Old Believers gained support among streltsy and Pustosviat achieved the appointment of the church debate in the presence of Tsar. The debate held on July 5 however ended in vain. Streltsy betrayed Nikita, who was subsequently executed.

[edit] Further reading

  • (Russian) "Великая челобитная" (Субботин, Н. И. Материалы для истории раскола за первое время его существования. М., 1878, IV т.)
  • (Russian) Румянцев, И. Н. К. Добрынин («Пустосвят»). Сергиев Посад, 1916