A historical novel by the well-known St. Petersburg writer Nikolai Konyayev revives events from three centuries ago—the time of the church schism. The author investigates the true causes of this national tragedy, dismantles stereotypes imposed by the ideology of past years. Konyayev’s book, being the result of careful study of archival documents, is a rare example of a vividly written, engaging, and at the same time educational historical chronicle.