Just Maria

Kobrin → Creativity of fellow countrymen → Marchuk Nina Grigoryevna

Just Maria or history of life of the daughter of the last priest Cherevachitska Pyatnitska of church

The archpriest Ioann Mikhalovsky (1873-1956) served in Cherevachitsky church of 45 years. At it and his wife Varvara Iosifovna (in girlhood Kalinskaya) was two children – the son Nikolay and the daughter Maria.

Nikolay Ivanovich Mikhalovsky was born in 1902. Ended the Vilensky theological seminary in 1926 and soon became the priest in the village of Rogozno, Kobrin of the county (nowadays Zhabinkovsky district), instead of, the died uncle, Pavel Mikhalovsky. There he met with a family and war with fascists.

In September, 1943 the patriotic priest was shot by Germans for communication with guerrillas. It is buried on a cemetery in Cherevachitsakh where the grave is well-groomed parishioners. The wife of the rogoznyansky priest and her daughter Galya managed to escape. They took refuge in Chabayevka near Ivanov, a manor of relatives of her husband. (The daughter Galina Krivoruchko lives in Zhabinke now).
However we will return to the daughter of the priest of the lake Ioann. Maria Mikhalovskaya in 1907 in the village of Cherevachitsa was born. Belonged to shlyakhetsky (noble) estate. Initial education received houses.

In 1915 the family left in fleeing. After return in 1918 from Moscow in Cherevachitsakh Mikhalovskiye found one ashes. As well as most of fellows villager, lived in a dugout. But soon built the big wooden house with the economic yard. Were constructed near Pyatnitsky church. Put a garden. (The reconstructed house stands and until now).

After World War I Maria continued study in the Russian gymnasium in Brest upon termination of which she was entitled the house tutor.

There is a photo dated 1923. Maria in a photographic studio, on a floor lies a big color carpet, it in a modest dress of the grammar-school girl, in fashion shoes on a heel. Young and beautiful. The brother Nikolay studies in Vilno at this time.

Maria Mikhalovskaya, village of Cherevachitsa, 1923.

From small family archive of a family of Mikhalovsky I read Nikolay's letter to the sister Maria written on November 10, 1923 to Vilne:

Lovely and Dear Marusenka!

How you live? I tell you the following news: 1) Kraskovskiye (these are relatives on the fatherly line. – The author) moved, their address Ziemi Grozienskiej, powiatu Bielskiego-Podlaskiego, poczta Milejczyce Protojerej Jan Kraskowski (there live 5 versts from Nurts) 2) on November 1 in Vilna the wife of the priest Vladimir Quiricus (Nadezhda Kamenetskaya) died of a brain inflammation in the evening (the grammar-school girl of 7 C. Belarusian gymnasium). On Friday at 3 o'clock in the afternoon carrying out of a body from Zarechnaya where gathered many pupils and schoolgirls accompanying it with honor and also 3 priest was made, the Deacon and the Archdeacon in Spirits the monastery, the doleful night service which the Deputy Monastyrya with the deacon and the archdeacon served began at 4 o'clock, terminated in the seventh hour. Next day on a Saturday of Souls there was a mass with memorial service at us, on the termination of service I went in Spirits; the liturgy was already ended there, her Bishop did not serve, but left to a coffin and told the speech after which began solemn burial service with a cathedral (8 priests, the Deacon and the Archdeacon), the kissing and Clergy began with the Bishop and finishing servants and all went to an altar and the Imperial gate was shut and drawn by zavesy, crying began, began to prepare on a wire, seminarists in white sticharions, clergy from green copes took banners, crosses and lamps, changed clothes in white, imperial and incurred a body on a cemetery in precedence of 5 priests, the Deacon and Archdeacon. On November 22 the Bishop served in the Prechistensky cathedral where imposed in a curacy of the deacon Anatoly Bilev and in the deacon of the second Theological. The mother Quiricus, Anatoly and Zhenya asked about all of you and bowed to you and Sobotkovsky. How are Kraskovskiye? At us the first third, apparently, will terminate on December 1 in N of the Art., and the second will begin, on R. Hr. Will truly release on December 23. Whether it is difficult to study you in the 4th class? How are Vera Sergeyevna, Nyuta Vasilyeva and Alyosha? Sorry, what so badly wrote, learned the Scripture and History, but lighting unimportant, the small print, was accepted to the letter which I send. Hrisya bows to you, for a long time it was not necessary to see Sobotkovsky, they far live. I bought the book "Eugene Onegin" if you read, then I will take it in Cherevachitsy. On literature to us it is much allowed to read works: Poltava, Bronze Horseman, Eugene Onegin, Ruslan and Lyudmila, Caucasian captive, Bakhchsarai fountain, Roma, Million torments, Captain's daughter, Boris Godunov, Avaricious knight, Mozart and Salieri, Stone guest. Two monologues of Chatsky and one Famusova by heart and poem Village, Tatyana's letter and Godunov's monologue. It is not heard – whether about Moscow whether there will be journey there soon? As there are your occupations, I try to study and it is a pity that before did not go in priests or did not come directly to theological classes the auditor, would already be a priest. These days the famous bandit Mucha attacked the train in Lyakhovichakh, placed the cars agents, tore all wires that did not let know on the next station, robbed absolutely bourgeoises, having let their barefoot, police disarmed, and then told: "now you can slide to yourself in Luninets", and itself got away. We were given a subject on the Stories: The reasons and consequences of the time of troubles in the Moscow state (by November 22).

Say hello from me to Vera Sergeyevna. I kiss You. Loving You Kohl M.

Vilna. Seminary.

November 10, 1923.

On other photo from family archive, later, near the sound wooden house group of young people. Maria in the center in a white beret. Nearby brother Nikolay. On the other hand mother – Varvara Iosifovna.

Somewhere in the thirtieth Maria marries the priest from Krupchits of the Kobrin County (nowadays Chizhevshchina, Zhabinsky district), Ivana Servetnika. In their family is born two children. From written sources of family archive it is visible that the family lived in peace and friendship, in prosperity. Honey was considered as poods. Maria in a special notebook writes down original culinary recipes, they drink cognac and champagne, she buys beautiful clothes...

But here war began. On May 4, 1943 unknown bandits shot her husband and two children. And summer of 1943 Maria comes back to the parental house, to the village of Cherevachitsa.

There she meets the local priest Fedor Ignatyevich Dmitriyuk who was earlier serving in the Pruzhansky cathedral, the good acquaintance and the friend of the family. He is a widower. His wife, the daughter and the son-in-law for communication with guerrillas too were shot by fascists.
This meeting defined a lot of things in Maria's life. To me depth of their relations is unknown. But for the rest of the life Fedor Ignatyevich will support Maria.

In 1945 the priest of the lake Fedor is appointed in Petro-Pavlovsky church of Mr. Kobrin. Then he goes to Sverdlovsk. And in some decade all orthodox world learns it as Flavian, archbishop Gorkovsky and Arzamas.
Maria it is necessary to live in Cherevachitsakh with parents. Nearby collective farms will be organized, in next Batchakh settled down the Village Council, a semiletka. But Maria in school is not called (Popova the daughter is not necessary though she is not forty years old). At school veterans (Russians) teach. Maria settles to work "at the Kobrin ptitsekombinat in quality the unskilled worker". It from the reference for a passport office of 18.10.1952.

In 1956 her father, the prior of Cherevachitsky church Ioann Mikhalovsky suddenly dies. Maria and her mother Varvara Iosifovna, both widows, one 49 years, another 76. After the church was burned, they appeared actually on the farm. Neither electricity, nor human close help. It is impossible painfully!

I hold in hand an application draft copy in the Sacred Synod of the widow of the archpriest Mikhalovskogo Varvara Iosifovna, dated 1964. She asks an allowance by Easter holiday. Sent – 35 rubles. And on repair of the house the archbishop Minsk Sergy denied the monetary assistance.

I read other application of later time addressed to the Metropolitan Minsk, already by the widow Maria Servetnik. Did not refuse. Defined lifelong pension in 40 rubles a month. In the seventies it was not the bad help. In collective farms the pension was 12 rubles.

Maria was helped also by the archbishop Flavian. And money too... And it is frequent. He died in 1977.



The illness to Maria crept when it was for seventy. Before they with mother also a cow held. Now Maria cultivated only a kitchen garden. Also kept diaries (as the woman at whom I received archive told me: "Maria wrote in anywhere"). She wrote about the present and the past. Wrote much. First of all, she corresponded with the relatives scattered worldwide: Czechoslovakia, Tunisia, Argentina, Russia etc.

Recently to me found information that in the 70th in Cherevachitsky church the rare, ancient and very honored icon burned down in the Internet "Satisfy mine grieves". Making the journalistic investigation, I came to other conclusion. After closing of church, having in it access and understanding icon value, Maria could take it to herself.

I read some Fedor and Olga's letter (I think relatives.) They reproach Maria that she refused to them "sacred books and the friend" which they very much needed. Perhaps, Fedor is a priest, or the former priest?
The fact that there were in their family rarities, says also that even I held in hand a lifetime portrait of Ioann Kronshtadsky, cards signed by Vasily Nemirovich-Danchenko and another.

In 1978 Maria practically did not go outside. Due to illness. Swore with relatives, it was looked after by the neigbour. Before death Maria bequeathed the house to it.

Maria Mikhalovskaya (Servetnik) on the Cherevachitsky cemetery near parents and other relatives is buried: Mikhalovskimi and Kotovichami.

In the 90th the last century the house was sold. Now there live foreign people. New Belarusians. The house is improved on a modern harmony. But the place is so fascinating there - beautiful that, having visited once, pulls still here. This feeling still does not leave me.

Gistarychnaya Bramah, No. 1 (25), 2010 year

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