Short Fiction · Chapter
Choristers explained
The Yefremovo church choir, led by the sacristan Alexey Alexeitch, prepares intensively for the arrival of Count Vladimir Ivanovitch.
What happens
The Yefremovo church choir, led by the sacristan Alexey Alexeitch, prepares intensively for the arrival of Count Vladimir Ivanovitch. Despite their efforts, the Count dismisses the choir, preferring a quick, quiet service. The sacristan is mortified, while the deacon Yevlampy Avdiessov, his rival, finds amusement in the situation. The two enemies eventually reconcile over their shared humiliation.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Moral Failure
The sacristan's harsh treatment of the choristers, including physical punishment and insults, contrasts with his pious role, and the deacon's mockery reveals the petty rivalries within the church.
Social Class and Inequality
The Count's casual dismissal of the choir's efforts highlights the power imbalance between the aristocracy and the local clergy, who are desperate to please him.
Suffering and Compassion
The sacristan's mortification and the deacon's eventual offer of camaraderie show how shared suffering can bridge enmity, even in a petty context.
Characters to notice
- Father Kuzma
The grey-headed little priest in a lilac cassock who is anxious about the Count's visit and tries to mediate between the sacristan and the deacon.
- Alexey Alexeitch
The sacristan and choir director, a tall, thickset man with a dignified demeanor, who is deeply mortified when the Count rejects the choir.
- Yevlampy Avdiessov
The deacon with a red pockmarked face, who jeers at the choir practices and later bonds with the sacristan over their shared humiliation.
- Gennady Semitchov
The bass singer and innkeeper's brother, who is scolded by the sacristan for drinking and having a poor voice.
- Sergey Makaritch
The schoolmaster who sets the children writing copies during choir practice and joins the tenors as an amateur.
Key passages
“The Justice of the Peace, who had received a letter from Petersburg, had set the news going that the owner of Yefremovo, Count Vladimir Ivanovitch, would soon be arriving.”
A letter from St. Petersburg informed the Justice of the Peace that Count Vladimir Ivanovitch, the owner of Yefremovo, was expected to arrive soon.
Sets the plot in motion with the Count's impending visit.
“Alexey Alexeitch was the sacristan of the Yefremovo church. He also taught the schoolboys church and secular singing, for which he received sixty roubles a year from the revenues of the Count's estate.”
Alexey Alexeitch served as the sacristan and taught singing to the schoolboys, earning sixty roubles annually from the Count's estate.
Establishes the sacristan's role and financial dependence on the Count.
“It was strange to see him, so dignified and imposing, flop to the ground before the bishop and, on one occasion, after too loud a squabble with the deacon Yevlampy Avdiessov, remain on his knees for two hours by order of the head priest of the district.”
Despite his imposing appearance, the sacristan was once forced to kneel for two hours as punishment for a loud argument with the deacon.
Highlights the contrast between the sacristan's dignity and his humiliations.
“And he said: 'As you think best. Only, couldn't it be as short and quick as possible without a choir.' Without a choir! Er... do you understand, without, without a choir.”
The Count requested a brief service without the choir, devastating the sacristan who had prepared extensively.
The climax of the story, where the choir's efforts are rejected.
“And the enemies went out of the gate arm-in-arm.”
The sacristan and the deacon, once rivals, left together arm-in-arm after sharing a drink to drown their shared disappointment.
Shows reconciliation through shared humiliation.
