Lot n° 315
Estimation :
120 - 150
EUR
MÉTROPOLITE ANTHONY, né Alexis Palvovitch Khrapovitsky (1863-1936).
Typescript drawn up by the head of the Orthodox Church abroad after the Revolution, signed "Metropolitan Anthony" addressed to Prince Belikoff-Meliksovitch, made in Basel on July 10 (undated), 1 page, folio, text in Russian. On the back is a handwritten inscription in Greek. In this letter, the Metropolitan refers to Rasputin's assassination and tells Prince Felix at the end of the letter: "(...) this harsh exploit that fell upon your lot was pure despite the fact that your exaggerated sensitivity has left it with a painful memory.
(...) "
Translation: "My dear Prince Belikov-Meliksovitch, this morning I boarded the train. On my way now I'm reading your fascinating and interesting book, in which you have invested such a weak mind, not with juvenile observation, but with juvenile sincerity and tender feeling. Only a small touch of constitutionalism, uncharacteristic of a Russian person, is to which, but an unresolved doubt for the evaluation of your book, is itself the highest score; for what, if in that! the Western belch was affected by the long-term influence of England on the whole soul, then on such a small scale it is quite tolerable. But your love for the Tsar and for Russia and especially for the Orthodox faith elicits the reader's warmest sympathy. Don't give up your pen: you are a writer called, talented and with a deep soul. I am ardently happy that God brought me in my old age to meet Vemi, and I can assure you that you will always serve Russia in a completely pure act, that hard exploit that fell to your lot was pure despite the fact that your exaggerated sensitivity has left it with a painful memory. I am doubly grateful to you for the book, adorned with a beautiful appearance, i.e. portrait. Greetings and God's blessing to your venerable mother".
Provenance: this document comes from the archives of Prince Félix Youssoupoff and has been preserved to this day in his direct descendants.
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