Pyotr Kalnyshevsky – the famous ataman of the Zaporizhzhya Sich, who was the last in the history of the Cossack Republic to hold this high position. For the feats accomplished during his lifetime, this man, after consideration by the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the report of the Synodal Commission for the canonization of saints, was canonized. Righteous Pyotr Kalnyshevsky is commemorated on November 13 according to the new style, on the day of his death. How did this man live, and what miracles did he perform during his lifetime that he was canonized as a saint? We will try to give an answer to this question in the article.
The beginning of life's journey
Kalnyshevsky Petr Ivanovich was a native of the village of Pustovoitovka, which is located in the Sumy region (Ukraine). The year of his birth is 1691. Unfortunately, almost no data on his childhood and youth have been preserved in history. Facts about his early years are confirmed only by memories.eyewitnesses and stories that the people passed from mouth to mouth.
It is only known that he was born in the family of a Cossack foreman. Soon his mother was widowed, and Peter at the age of 8 came to the Zaporizhzhya Sich. Whether this is true or a legend is not known for certain. How exactly he ended up in the shelter of the Cossacks is also not known.
In Zaporozhye, Peter Kalnyshevsky received his first education, it was a school at the church. It should be noted that at that time education had a huge role in the further career of any Cossack. In Zaporozhye, several schools were opened at the churches, where the lessons were taught by representatives of the clergy.
It is reliable that he started his military career as a simple squire. Before becoming ataman, he was a field colonel from 1752 to 1761, and a military captain in 1754, and a military judge from 1763 to 1765
Kalnyshevsky was a very talented commander, a fearless warrior, a cunning politician; he knew and knew a lot. Therefore, it is not surprising that he was soon awarded a new military rank - lieutenant general.
Kalnyshevsky was well known at the Court. More than once he was the head of the Cossack embassies both to Peter I and Catherine II.
1762 was a turning point in his life - Kalnyshevsky was chosen ataman.
First chieftainship
Pyotr Kalnyshevsky, whose biography is rich in historical events, was elected chieftain more than once. His first elective position was called as follows: "Cossack ataman - helmsman of the entire army." For this position, the Cossacks chose their head among the most brave andwise elders.
For the first time, Kalnyshevsky was an ataman for quite a bit. His authority among the Cossacks was very great. Catherine II removed him from this position as objectionable to the government.
Second chieftaincy
Pyotr Kalnyshevsky was so respected in the Cossack army that the Cossacks were not even afraid to violate the decree of the queen. Against the will of Catherine II, the Cossack foremen again elected him their ataman. It happened in 1764.
It should be noted that, being an ataman, Kalnyshevsky actively developed cattle breeding and agriculture in Zaporozhye. He wanted to increase the population of this area and for this he helped the peasants who fled from their masters. With his support and participation, the Cossacks very often raided the Tatars, freeing their countrymen from captivity. Subsequently, the chieftain allocated land plots for them in Zaporozhye.
Thanks to Kalnyshevsky, the Zaporozhye steppe soon acquired numerous new villages. Petr Kalnyshevsky himself became one of the richest people in Ukraine. He was the owner of many villages and farms, fields and pastures, had a herd of thousands of cattle.
Kalnyshevsky went down in history as a well-known philanthropist. With his money, churches and temples were built in several Ukrainian cities and villages.
Kalnyshevsky and Ekaterina II
Catherine II played a huge role not only in the fate of Kalnyshevsky, she had a hand in the destruction of the entire Zaporizhzhya Sich. But more on that later.
In the meantime, it is known that in itsKalnyshevsky, being a member of the Cossack delegation to the court, took this opportunity to get acquainted with the Russian aristocracy and establish diplomatic relations with personalities useful to him.
This led to the fact that over time Kalnyshevsky Petr Ivanovich became one of the richest and most influential people in Ukraine. As an ataman, he was even invited to the coronation of Catherine II.
The tsarina liked his speech very much and was noted, but this did not affect her decision to remove Kalnyshevsky from the post of ataman of the Cossack army (we are talking about the first removal of Kalnyshevsky from his post). One of the versions of this historical event says that the queen did not like the very zealous settlement of the lands of the Zaporizhzhya Sich by the ataman.
When Kalnyshevsky was elected for the second time, by order of the tsarina, a special investigation department was even created to investigate the reasons for such a daring disobedience to the royal court. Who knows how this investigation would have ended and how many heads would have been thrown off the block if it had not been for the war between Russia and Turkey.
Russian-Turkish war
The royal court understood that the Cossack army could provide significant assistance in defeating the Turks, moreover, it was the Cossacks who were given the decisive role in this war. Catherine II had no choice but to "close her eyes" to the willful election of Kalnyshevsky by the Cossacks, she was forced to come to terms with the fact that her will was not fulfilled.
Thisserved to the fact that, having great influence, as well as we alth, Kalnyshevsky invariably remained the ataman until the last day of the existence of the Sich. Every year for 10 years, it was he who was chosen as chieftain.
And in the war between Russia and Turkey, the Cossack army showed itself only from the best side. The queen was very pleased and granted the ataman the military rank of lieutenant general. In addition, Ataman Pyotr Kalnyshevsky received the title of Knight of the Order of the Russian Empire - St. Andrew the First-Called.
Sich: end of story
The Cossacks were serviceable warriors, they supported Russia in the war with Turkey. But at the royal court, the attitude towards them was purely negative: the Cossacks were considered rebels. While Russia was threatened by the Tatars, the Zaporizhzhya army was tolerated and accepted, but after signing a peace treaty with the Crimean Khanate, the empress decided to get rid of the Cossacks. Prince Potemkin was issued a decree on the destruction of the Zaporozhian Sich. So, in May 1755, the governor of Potemkin Tekeli surrounded the Sich with his troops.
When the guns were aimed at the Cossacks, they were introduced to the decree of the Empress, which stated that the Sich was a threat to the entire empire. But the queen wanted to be fair, remembering what help the Cossacks provided in the war with the Turks, she suggested that those who wished to stay in the Setch leave the military craft and take up agriculture.
At the Cossack Rada, headed by Kalnyshevsky, it was decided to avoidbloody resistance. After all, quite recently, the Cossacks fought shoulder to shoulder with the Russians against the Tatars.
This decision caused the Sich to be completely destroyed and ceased to exist.
Further fate of Kalnyshevsky
Kalnyshevsky Petr Ivanovich, whose biography has made a new round, was captured and taken directly to St. Petersburg. The former chieftain was judged by a military board. He was found guilty of disobeying government orders.
Now historians put forward versions that the reason for everything was that Kalnyshevsky wanted to become the founder of a completely new Sich, where the Cossacks and the entire foreman would be faithful only to him.
Kalnyshevsky, who at that time was 85 years old, was sentenced to death. Potemkin himself was busy trying to replace the punishment of the old ataman with a life-long exile in the Solovetsky Monastery.
Solovki Monastery
Potyomkin's troubles took effect, and Pyotr Kalnyshevsky, the last ataman, was sent to a prison for especially dangerous villains, which was located on the territory of the Solovetsky Monastery.
Since the chieftain was considered a particularly dangerous criminal for the entire Russian Empire, he was deprived of the right to communicate and correspond. So, Kalnyshevsky was imprisoned for as much as 25 years.
While other prisoners of this monastery were guarded by 2 guards, Kalnyshevsky was assigned 4. He was allowed to leave the place of confinement only 3 times a year, on major religious holidays: the Transfiguration of the Lord, Christmas and Easter. These days heattended services.
It should be noted that Potemkin and Catherine II still waited for the 85-year-old man to repent. Considerable funds were allocated for his maintenance, he was even considered an honorary prisoner. However, the proud koschevoi never, during his stay in exile, submitted any petition to either the Empress or her heirs. Moreover, having good he alth, he survived both Potemkin and Catherine.
Liberation
Pyotr Kalnyshevsky was 110 years old when Catherine's grandson decided to release him. The former ataman was asked to choose a place for his further residence. Having such a respectable age, the old man, although he was already blind, still remained with a clear mind. He simply expressed his gratitude for the release (mind you, not without a certain amount of irony) and asked for permission to live in the place to which he had become so accustomed after 25 years of imprisonment.
Kalnyshevsky: attitude to religion
Being a ataman, Kalnyshevsky was very religious. He liked to keep monks near him, listened to the advice of spiritual mentors.
During his lifetime, he was the initiator and builder of multiple temples. With his money, many churches have acquired new church utensils.
Being a prisoner of the Solovetsky Monastery, he distinguished himself by his piety and humility.
After his release, Kalnyshevsky lived for another 2 years. In 1803 he was buried near the Transfiguration Cathedral, on the territory of the monastery. Unfortunately, the burial place of the valiant ataman inits original form was not preserved, because in the 30s of the last century, a prison was again restored on the territory where the ataman was staying, but this time for the enemies of the country of the Soviets.
Since the people sitting in prison simply planted vegetable gardens at the burial site of the ataman, the grave was razed to the ground. Over time, a gravestone was found and restored, indicating that Kalnyshevsky was buried on this land.
Pyotr Kalnyshevsky: canonization
Grateful descendants do not forget the great ataman. At the place of his burial, a monument was erected with the image of the face of a koshevoy.
November 13, 2015 Kalnyshevsky, thanks to the initiative and efforts of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate, was canonized.
From now on, St. Peter Kalnyshevsky is revered on the day of his transition to another world - November 13th. According to the traditions of Orthodoxy, a special prayer and an icon with the face of a saint were developed.
On the eve of the canonization of Peter Kalnyshevsky, Metropolitan Onuphry of Kyiv and All Ukraine turned to His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia with a request for blessings for finding the relics of the great ataman and transferring them to his homeland, Zaporozhye.
After that, the priests who had gathered from 14 dioceses served a divine service, during which Pyotr Kalnyshevsky was canonized. The relics of the saint, by decision of the clergy, will be in the Holy Intercession Cathedral.
