Kovsh

to change places during the evening, socialize, gossip or flirt. If guests
opt for Щи, боршч, расольник 9) , partridge stew, turtle broth, or crab
soup, the friendly attendants will serve these at the table where they sit.
Vladimir Sergeyevich and his entourage walk among the food
mounds and put what they want in their plates: a little pickled fish and
a pheasant piece from the spit for the general, with truffles. Shimmering
silver trays and bowls are simply taunting with colors and delicious vapors.
Samolyukov is a little ashamed of all that splendor, boastful aris-
tocracy and upbeat elegance, but he can't help himself. He has never
seen or tasted food like this. Everything is weird, fresh, intoxicating
and artistically decorated! He was still living on his mother's cooking,
and she was not at all thrifty or a poor cook. But these dishes! He pours
a bit of everything, first into his plate and then into his mouth. The se-
lection is such that even after the second, third serving, he has not yet
been able to taste a bit of everything. And he wants to. Fish over soufflé,
salad under meat, crossed by side dishes – he cannot stop.
With a skew glaze Dyedov sees what's going on and sympathizes
with the youth. He remembers feeling similarly as he joined the court
decades ago, but in the meantime, he got used to it and learned to con-
trol himself. Over a morsel, he whispers: 'Easy, young man, slowly...
you will get sick!' He also asks if Nikita knows who is the priest he was
staring so intensely at. Then he explains. 'Have you heard of Rasputin?'
The young man, wide-eyed and with a full mouth, nods.
'That's him! Recently, the main star on the court. Crazy monk
Grigory Rasputin from some stray Siberian hamlet is now an evan-
gelizing smart aleck here, and the whole court revolves around him!
A myth is circulating that he possess supernatural powers. The legend
started with some “old-witch” fables: as a kid, he allegedly identified
his father's horse thief, using some “sixth sense”. At the age of eighteen,
he became a monk and joined the forbidden flagellant religious sect.
He allegedly left his wife and three children and went on a pilgrimage
to Greece and Jerusalem. Then he returned to wander Siberia.'
'An incredible story! So how did this nobody get to such a high pos-
ition in the court?' the young adjutant manages to swallow and question.
'On his pilgrimage tour of Siberia, Rasputin learned that Tsar's son
Alexei was ill with hemophilia and he withdrew to the capital. Ever since
he is presenting himself as a holy man with healing and psychic powers.
Tsarevich 10) Alexei often has bleedings that last too long and threat-
en his life. The mother, Alexandra Fyodorovna, was looking every-
where for a cure for her son, contacting anyone who could help. Ras-
putin was recommended to her, and he reportedly, through prayers
and sorcery, through leeches and even hypnosis, manages to stop the
bleeding.'
'Oh, all right! I get it: since he helped the boy, the Empress felt in-
debted and she took him under her wing.'
'Exactly!' confirms the general. 'In time, the mad hermit also gained
the trust of the Emperor, so he recently declared him a Holy man and
a friend of the Romanov family!'
'Although Rasputin gained enormous trust from the imperial
family', Natalia Rubayevna approached them and engaged in their
half-voice gossip. 'Shortly after his arrival in St. Petersburg, he became
a controversial figure. He is involved in many political struggles of
monarchists, revolutionaries and other political forces. He is also
known to lead a lavish and scandalous personal life with the women of
St. Petersburg high society.'
'He was seen repeatedly walking around at the early morning hours
with prostitutes, well intoxicated. Some call him “the crazy monk”,
others “a dangerous charlatan” and everyone is afraid of him.' Dyedov
delights in the chinwag, and young Nikita listens intently, stuffing
himself with specialties and gulping the juicy gossip.
'Of course everyone is scared of him because he has the unrivaled
support of the Emperor and the unwavering support of the Empress
– in everything.' Natalia's whispers hand-over-mouth as Nicholas II
is approaching the serving table. “Rasputin has been blamed by many
prominent figures for various crimes, beginning with unrestrained
sexual habits ...”
'Including raping nuns!' adds the general in a sharp, critical tone
and asks rhetorically '...can you imagine? Because of all this, Petro-
grad elite never accepted him. He even came into conflict with the
Orthodox Church!'
'Oh, don’t ask! He claims that connection with God can be achieved
even through sin because, supposedly...' General starts impersonat-
ing Rasputin with a mocking, rasp whisper and a grimace '...“sin is
an integral part of human behavior and therefore, through acknow-
ledgment of sin and by accepting humiliation, grace of God can be
obtained. Bollocks!”
Dyedov worked up an aggravation so he ends abruptly. 'Well, that's
your crazy monk, now you've heard!'
THEY HAVE APPROACHED the table in the middle of the hall,
where drinks are served. A large silver bowl shines in the middle,
flanked by fancy candelabra with tall, scented wax candles. Waiters are
serving guests with punch, the latest French beverage becoming fash-
ionable on the court. The recipe for punch reflected fully the state of
consciousness of the Russian aristocracy. The taste of rum evoked ex-
travagance and adventure, the wine added balance with elegance and
sophistication, the tea inside hinted traditional roots and values, whilst
sugar and lemon contributed sweet freshness to the conundrum.
'This, my dear Nikita Nikolaevich, is my kovsh 11) !'
General's face is gleaming, and the young man stares in bewilder-
ment at his superior, and at the grandiose bowl before him. Numerous
candles and flares of the ballroom are recurrently reflected on smooth,
spirally curved outer surface patterns of the massive silver bowl filled
to the brim with punch. Nikita is attracted by the piercing glances of
two refined heads of a sumptuous eagle with outstretched wings – the
Garda coat of arms as well as the symbol of the Romanov family – on
the edge of shiny vessel. Recognizing Dyedov, the attendant produ-
ces from somewhere a small silver beaker, a replica of the large kovsh,
scoops up the punch and hands it to the general. Nikita gets the same
drink, but in a crystal glass. Vladimir Sergeyevich proudly stands in
front of the receptacle and explains.
'This is what I ordered from Fabergé about ten years ago. There are
ten pounds of silver in it! Just look at that work, see that eagle... and
these little cups,' he lifts the one in his hand, 'There are twenty of these,
and only the emperor and a few of us generals are allowed to use them,
to know who is who! ' he laughs raucously and downs the sweet liquor.
Dyedov scoops up another punch helping, then heads back to the
corner of the hall from where they had been observing events earlier.
Along the way he explains to his young adjutant that this ball is the
first time his silver casket is being shown to the general public.
'So far, we have only presented it at our closed regimental festivities.'
At that moment, however, Rasputin the priest re-emerges from
thin air. Approaching the casket, he begins an ineligible but loud
mumble, as if uttering some kind of prayer. Swaying back and forth
he occasionally points his large wooden cross toward the bowl, waving
it as a symbol of cross in the air. Vladimir Sergeyevich, Nikita and
several other guests pause for a moment, halting their conversations.
They are anxious to see what the holy man will do. Some look at each
other and comment in a mysterious whisper. A woman giggles in the
distance. Ignoring all, Rasputin sings his enigmatic chant ever louder
and with more zeal.
Noticing the strange incident around the regiment's kovsh, Em-
peror Nicholas II himself approaches – he is interested in what his
favorite conjurer is doing. Silver cup in hand, the tsar sips his punch.
As Rasputin notices that the emperor has joined them, he abruptly
stops the litany and recites in a monotonous voice:

'In the name of father and son
and the holy spirit,
I bless this bucket with his consecration ...
God's gift consummated of holy silver...
and let him be blessed and long-lived
who with silver drinks from it...
and let it reign forever, his gentle power...
which comes from God Himself,
the creator of all things ...
to whom this silver is sweet,
and this silver kovsh is sweet...'
He crosses the casket three more times waving his wooden cross
through the air and repeats:
'... and let it reign forever, his gentle power...
which comes from God Himself,
the creator of all things ...
to whom this silver is sweet,
and this silver kovsh is sweet...
Forever and ever – amen!'
_________________________
9) shchi, borsch, brine – typical Russian specialties
10) Tsar’s son
11) Traditional Russian serving bowl