The Floating Temple: The Wandering Foolishness of Simple Stories
8 hrs. 28 min.
Language
Russian
Author
Nikolay Agafonov
Author
Nikolay Agafonov
Narrator
Alexey Yarmilko
Narrator
Vitaly Tolubeev
Description
The story “Friends,” which opens this collection, was the favorite story of the long-remembered archimandrite John (Krestyankin). He gave my books to his spiritual children among priests and used to say: “First of all, read the story ‘Friends.’” Why exactly this one—I don’t know. Maybe, after listening to it, you’ll figure it out.
When I wrote it, I intended to condemn two bishops for their betrayal of their friend, the priest. But suddenly such pity for those bishops overwhelmed me that it was not condemnation, but compassion for the burdensome archiepiscopal cross that was born in that moment in my soul.
Many stories in this collection, despite the paradoxical nature of the plots, are taken from real life—both mine and that of my friends. When I was writing my stories, I didn’t think they would find their place in literature and would simply remain adrift, because as I saw it, they were very simple. After all, I wrote these stories not out of cleverness, but from the heart. I wrote for myself and for my close friends, and called my stories “The Wandering Foolery of Simple Stories.” So that title has remained—causing puzzlement in some and interest in others because of its originality. Readers decided in their own way: for them, simplicity and sincerity proved more valuable than philological refinement and wise moral instruction.
Archpriest Nikolai Agafonov
When I wrote it, I intended to condemn two bishops for their betrayal of their friend, the priest. But suddenly such pity for those bishops overwhelmed me that it was not condemnation, but compassion for the burdensome archiepiscopal cross that was born in that moment in my soul.
Many stories in this collection, despite the paradoxical nature of the plots, are taken from real life—both mine and that of my friends. When I was writing my stories, I didn’t think they would find their place in literature and would simply remain adrift, because as I saw it, they were very simple. After all, I wrote these stories not out of cleverness, but from the heart. I wrote for myself and for my close friends, and called my stories “The Wandering Foolery of Simple Stories.” So that title has remained—causing puzzlement in some and interest in others because of its originality. Readers decided in their own way: for them, simplicity and sincerity proved more valuable than philological refinement and wise moral instruction.
Archpriest Nikolai Agafonov
Contents:
UNSETTLED FOOLISHNESS OF SIMPLE STORIES
1. Friends
2. Werewolf
3. The Altar Boy’s Prayer
4. The Cathedral Reader
5. A Journey into the Antimatter World
6. A Business Trip into Another Reality
7. Companion
8. Antisemite
9. The Choice of a Bride
10. Why did the Chicken Go Mad?
11. Shalyapin’s Grandson
12. The Jester
13. The Cross at the Chest
14. The High Stakes
15. The Sensible Robber (read by the author)
NOT INVENTED STORIES
1. Sketches of the Portrait of Archbishop Pimen
2. A Historical Event
3. A Miracle on the Steppe
4. I Release Him in Peace
5. A Gathering
6. How I Studied in a Theological Seminary
7. The Floating Church
1. Friends
2. Werewolf
3. The Altar Boy’s Prayer
4. The Cathedral Reader
5. A Journey into the Antimatter World
6. A Business Trip into Another Reality
7. Companion
8. Antisemite
9. The Choice of a Bride
10. Why did the Chicken Go Mad?
11. Shalyapin’s Grandson
12. The Jester
13. The Cross at the Chest
14. The High Stakes
15. The Sensible Robber (read by the author)
NOT INVENTED STORIES
1. Sketches of the Portrait of Archbishop Pimen
2. A Historical Event
3. A Miracle on the Steppe
4. I Release Him in Peace
5. A Gathering
6. How I Studied in a Theological Seminary
7. The Floating Church
16:50
1-01-1
18:23
1-01-2
10:58
1-02-1
09:51
1-02-2
08:37
1-02-3
09:41
1-02-4
14:42
1-03
11:00
1-04
11:45
1-05-1
11:01
1-05-2
09:07
1-05-3
12:52
1-05-4
15:11
1-06-1
17:53
1-06-2
12:19
1-07
13:18
1-08-1
16:02
1-08-2
15:48
1-09-1
17:33
1-09-2
18:16
1-10-1
15:55
1-10-2
09:35
1-11-1
11:11
1-11-2
17:36
1-12-1
15:15
1-12-2
06:26
1-13
10:35
1-14
14:39
1-15
13:33
2-1
10:02
2-2-1
10:57
2-2-2
10:35
2-3
08:04
2-4
05:55
2-5
18:29
2-6
12:35
2-7-1
12:32
2-7-2
11:40
2-7-3
10:33
2-7-4
11:22
2-7-5
