Sobori︠a︡ne

Priest Savely Tuberozov is a spiritual leader of a small Russian Orthodox community (sobor) in a provincial town of Stargorod. He firmly believes in his spiritual and social mission, and, unwilling to make compromises, comes into conflict with his church seniors, as well as the local authorities. The latter expect him to "eradicate raskol" (schism), and report on dissenters. He refuses to comply and condemns the destruction of the Old Believers' church as barbarism. As the Governor comes to town, Tuberozov makes the speech, accusing the local masters of exploiting peasants and abusing the local rural areas. The Governor doesn't want to listen, and protopope Tuberozov, reprimanded for such an audacity, gets demoted in ranks. He summons the local officials to a moleben and preaches a sermon which sounds more like a political speech, promising dire things to leaders who treat their people as animals. Tuberozov gets fired, goes through numerous humiliations, falls ill and dies.