Orphaned early, this noble person sought love in religion. There were no less intriguers and scoundrels than at the imperial court, which did not prevent her from remaining kind and merciful.
Religious structures, being part of public life, repeat all the vices and virtues of the world. When this aristocrat turned to the church for help, she was involved in all the maneuvers of the holy fathers. The lady did not drop her honor, showed wisdom and mercy.
Childhood
Alexey Orlov began his career at court by helping Empress Catherine II get rid of her hated husband. It was rumored that he himself had killed Peter III. The count had a reason - he was the empress's lover. Later, she entrusted her favorite with the abduction of Princess Tarakanova. The golden days of the aristocrat ended when his mistress found a new lover. The retired lover was married to Evdokia Lopukhina in 1782.
Orlov tried to start a family life. 3 years after the wedding, Dusya gave her husband a daughter, Anna, and soon she was again being demolished. The countess's second pregnancy ended tragically - she and her child died. Anya became the only consolation for her father. He pleased his daughter in every possible way, arranged balls and masquerades in her honor. The best teachers were hired for the girl, and soon she was fluent in five languages.
Little Princess
In 1796 Anyuta was introduced to the Empress. She said that she would be glad to see the baby among her maids of honor. In the same year, Catherine II died. Her son immediately began repressions against his mother's favorites, and Orlov and his family went abroad. They returned to Russia only in 1801. Anna was introduced to high society and quickly became her own there. Everyone noted her good education and beauty.
When our heroine turned 18, noble suitors drew attention to her. The strict papa found a flaw in each of the applicants for his daughter's hand. The girl fell in love with Count Nikolai Kamensky, but her father did not allow her to arrange a personal life. The young man was outraged by the spineless bride and her oppressive parent. He found the opportunity to take part in battles against Napoleonic troops abroad. He hoped that military glory would soften the heart of the vain courtier.
Tragedy
The end of Anya's cloudless youth came when her father died in 1808. Her lover rushed to support the orphan, he offered to get married immediately, but the grief-stricken beauty did not answer him. The rejected gentleman left her and died in 1811. Now the unfortunate woman was left completely alone.
The injustice of fate broke an already weak soul. Anna decided to turn to religion, which promised comfort to all who grieve. She went on a pilgrimage to holy places, visited the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, in the Rostov Spaso-Yakovlevsky monastery. Wherever she went, the Countess made generous donations. When the war broke out in 1812, the noble lady arrived in Moscow and financially supported the city militia. This was noted by the monarchs. The wife of Alexander I in 1817 made Orlova her chamber-maid of honor.
Strange acquaintance
During her visits to Rostov, Anna Orlova met the local monk Amfilohiy. He was called the coffin elder because he spent 24 hours on the flight, kneeling at the shrine with the relics of Dmitry Donskoy. This man became the spiritual mentor of an aristocrat. He was famous among the Russian nobility, the sovereign himself came to talk to him about theology. Unable to communicate with Amphilochius on a daily basis, Anna was looking for an interlocutor in St. Petersburg.
In 1817, our heroine met Photius. He read the Law of God in the cadet corps. When bad stories began to happen in the school, the church fathers decided that the priest was not doing his job. Photius blamed secret societies for his failure. The eccentric was exiled to a monastery near Novgorod. Anna immediately made large financial transfers for the needs of the new abbot. The fact that the present had a specific addressee gave rise to rumors of a love affair between a monk and a secular lioness. Alexander Pushkin himself, in his work, ridiculed this novel on religious grounds.
Closer to God
The monk, guarded by the countess, understood that the departure of the powerful patroness to the monastery would leave him with nothing. He inspired his sister in Christ that she should remain in the world and contribute to the cause of faith through material donations. He discouraged her from marriage, encouraged interest in religious issues.
Kind Anna often visited hospitals and helped the poor. In 1841, the workers of the Kolomov mental hospital showed a noble guest a certain Vera, who did not say a word. Orlova immediately saw a miracle in the insane woman and took her to the Syrkovo monastery near Novgorod. Rumors began to spread among the parishioners that the new nun was performing a feat in the name of Christ. The unhappy woman lost not only her sanity, but also her health. The Countess found her a deaf nurse. Unable to hear, she confirmed that the holy wife was constantly silent.
Last years
Anna Orlova died in 1848 on her estate near the Yuryev Monastery. The biography of our heroine began to grow into legends after her death. It was claimed that she nevertheless took the tonsure, that under the name of Vera the Silent was the Empress, the widow of Alexander I, that she was poisoned by monks, or put to sleep, and then buried alive. Naturally, these are all just scary tales.
