The Church Chronicle of Archpriest Sergiy Samuilov. The Revolutionary Unrest of the Peasants of Samara Province in 1905 Through the Eyes of a Contemporary

This article is based on the chronicle of Archpriest Sergius Samuilov, rector of the Church of the Nativity of Christ in the village of Bolshaya Tsarevshchyna, Samara district, Samara province. It should be noted that church chronicles themselves are rare documents. The Samara State Archive contains only nine chronicles from the pre-revolutionary period. Father Sergius's chronicle has been preserved better than others. Additionally, this document is interesting because it describes vivid and significant events in the life of the Samara diocese, such as the revolutionary movement of peasants in the villages of Bolshaya Tsarevshchyna and Stary Buyan in Samara district in 1905. This document is also remarkable because its author—a man undoubtedly endowed with literary talent—describes the events he observed very vividly and comprehensively, while remaining a true chronicler, as detached as possible and politically independent. Having a close connection with his flock and being well aware of the moods and needs of the population, Father Sergius shows us how the revolutionary movement of 1905 began, who its initiators were, and how the ideas of the revolution influenced the life of the Church and society. Thanks to the preserved chronicle of Archpriest Sergiy Samuilov, we have the opportunity to view the revolutionary events in the village of Bolshaya Tsarevshchyna through the eyes of a contemporary. On one hand, we see the complete absurdity of the behavior of revolutionarily minded people, ready to kill their neighbors for unclear prospects, not to mention representatives of authority. On the other hand, we see the selfless and honest service of a simple rural priest, faithfully fulfilling his pastoral duty and resisting persecution and harassment by revolutionaries.