Tolstoy’s Grave. Autumn 2013

The 1910 newspaper headline of urgent telegram: ‘Astapovo, 7 November. At 6:05 a.m. Lev Nokolayevich Tolstoy passed away quietly…” “The secret of how to make sure that people were never sad, never argued and never got angry, but were always happy, this secret, or so he (Nikolai Tolstoy) told us, had been written by him on a green stick that was buried by the path, on the edge of the Stary Zakaz ravine, on the spot where I, since my body will have to lie somewhere, should like to be buried in memory of Nikolenka.” Tolstoy asked to be buried in this spot in the woods of Yasnaya Polyana where he used to play as a child. There he and his brothers founded the “Order for Saving the World”. His older brother Nikolai told him that he had buried a green stick here on which he had written the secret to happiness, believing that when it was found the Kingdom of God would come on earth. If it is a legend, the most profound essence is expressed in it: childhood as the Kingdom of God. ‘Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven’. He carried out this behest: he became as a child to enter the kingdom of heaven. His life began and ended with this. Tolstoy’s death produced a great response in Russia and throughout the world. Hundreds of telegrams expressing profound grief arrived at Astapovo and Yasnaya Polyana. Leo Tolstoy’s grave is quite unusual. It seems to be too simple: a green mound on the edge of the ravine, no tombstone and not even a cross... But this grave, as well as the peace and quiet of the old forest, can tell us a lot about Tolstoy and his understanding of life and death. Photo #222 taken on September 19, 2013 during long distance countryside tour to Yasnaya Polyana with my Dear clients from USA, Harriette and Earl Hereford. ©2013 Moscow-Driver.com by Arthur Lookyanov