As you know, beards decorate men and keep them warm in cold weather, but that’s not the only reason why almost all the inhabitants of Rus' sported them. First of all, representatives of all classes grew long and thick hair on their faces, thereby wanting to emphasize their status, wisdom and strength.

Peter I began the fight against this generally accepted sign of masculinity in our country. Although even before the official ban on wearing a beard, introduced by the reformer tsar, some residents of Rus' regularly shaved. Who were they and why did they do this?

Pagans

As unexpected as it may sound, initially it was not customary for the Slavs to wear long, thick beards. Being pagans, our ancestors most often grew only mustaches on their faces. The fashion for beards was introduced by Byzantine religious leaders who came to Rus' to baptize local residents.

The French monk and chronicler Ademar of Chaban (989-1034) wrote in his works dedicated to our country that a certain Greek bishop convinced idolaters to accept Orthodoxy and grow beards.

However, for a long time after the baptism of Rus', pagan priests, who carefully and regularly removed hair from their faces, called on the people not to accept the faith of unshaven missionaries.

Indirect evidence that Russian pagans did not wear beards are idols. Almost all images of ancient male gods are only with mustaches. Even the especially revered Perun, unlike the Scandinavian Odin, does not have a beard.

The Danish chronicler Saxo Grammaticus (about 1140 - about 1216) described the sanctuary of the pagan Slavs, which he saw during his travels. The author's imagination was especially shocked by a huge figure with four heads looking in different directions. Moreover, the god’s hair is depicted as short-cropped, and his beard is shaved, which “... imitated the custom of the Ruyans when caring for themselves.” By the name of one of the northern Slavic tribes, known to the Danish chronicler, he called all the inhabitants of Ancient Rus' Ruyans.

Orthodox priests suspected shaven men of idolatry. When the religious confrontation between Christians and pagans was still very strong, beardless people could even be denied a church blessing.

Buffoons

Buffoons have always been a special class of the inhabitants of Rus'. Traveling artists entertaining people had to be significantly different from their spectators, if only to attract everyone's attention. The buffoons not only shaved, but also wore very bright clothes, as well as funny caps.

However, many church leaders suspected the traveling artists of paganism, witchcraft and fortune telling. And if in the 12th-14th centuries they could still freely walk from city to city, performing at fairs with funny songs and dances, then later persecution began against the buffoons. The fact is that jokers sometimes allowed themselves to make fun of priests, boyars and even tsars, which caused fun among the common people, but strongly displeased representatives of the privileged classes.

The clergy began to call buffoonery a godless activity, and ostentatious fun a sin. In the middle of the 17th century, artists were prohibited from traveling around cities and entertaining people. The jokers were officially ordered to be beaten with batogs, as well as to destroy their stage equipment.

Skoptsy

As a rule, facial hair does not appear on the faces of the stronger sex due to a lack of male hormones. And if you castrate a young boy, his body gradually changes: his voice becomes thinner, his movements become softer, and his beard completely disappears.

Some religious fanatics resorted to such a radical procedure as castration. There were not many Skoptsy in Rus', but ordinary people treated them with respect. It was believed that these “lambs of God” were involved in special spiritual sacraments, wise and educated.

The basis of the eunuchs’ ideology was the Gospel of St. Matthew, in which, along with the harsh condemnation of sinners, there are lines that the Kingdom of Heaven awaits people who “have made themselves eunuchs” (Matthew 19:12). Other sacred texts more than once say in the name of Jesus Christ that it is better to cut off your members than to succumb to temptation.

Communities of eunuchs who called themselves “white doves” began to be severely persecuted by official authorities only in the 18th century. They were recognized as a dangerous sect, since these religious fanatics sought by all means to attract young people into their ranks, promoting spiritual and physical purity.

Homosexuals

Since homosexuality, as a phenomenon, has always existed among people, there is nothing shameful in admitting that individual residents of Rus' were representatives of non-traditional orientation. This is indirectly evidenced by the large number of religious texts in which sodomy is severely condemned. For example, the translator and publicist Maxim the Greek (1470-1556), canonized by the Orthodox Church, wrote the work “A Word on those who are drowned and perished without mind, by the godless vile sin of Sodom, in eternal torment.” In this essay, the author proposed that homosexuals be subject to eternal anathema.

Representatives of gay people, despite the condemnation of the clergy, shaved their mustaches and beards, dressed up beautifully, perfumed themselves and put on makeup. The common people regarded this behavior mainly as eccentricity. Sometimes the men joked among themselves about piquant topics. However, for residents of other countries, even the mention of homosexuality seemed a terrible sin. Thus, a priest from Croatia, Yuri Krizanich, who visited our country in 1659-1677, was shocked that in Russia “... they are just joking about such a disgusting crime.”

In his autobiography, the spiritual leader of the Old Believers, Archpriest Avvakum (1620-1682), wrote that he once refused to bless young Matthew, the son of governor Vasily Petrovich Sheremetyev. The reason for the refusal was the fact that the young man did not have a beard, and the principled Avvakum automatically considered all men who shaved their faces to be homosexuals. The archpriest decided that young Sheremetyev shaved in order to deliberately give himself a seductive look.

Rulers

Not only Peter I, but also some other rulers of our country were beardless. Thus, the famous Byzantine author Leo the Deacon (before 950 - about 1000) described the appearance of the Kyiv prince Svyatoslav Igorevich (942-972). According to a contemporary, the grandson of the legendary Rurik was a man of average height. His face had light eyes, bushy eyebrows, a snub nose, and a long and bushy mustache. Svyatoslav shaved his beard, like many of his comrades.

Grand Duke Vasily III Ioannovich (1479-1533) even before Peter I tried to overcome the centuries-old tradition. One day he shaved and even invited the boyars to do the same. But people were outraged by such a disdainful attitude of the ruler towards the foundations of society. There were even rumors among the people that Vasily III was a representative of non-traditional sexual orientation. Perhaps such conversations were fueled by clergy, who saw the absence of a beard as open blasphemy.

Boris Fedorovich Godunov (1552-1605) also shaved regularly, despite the fact that in official portraits it was customary to depict him with a small beard - a tribute to tradition. Perhaps this ruler of Rus' did not grow facial hair because of his origin, because some historians claim that the ancestor of the Godunov boyars was the Tatar prince Chet, who moved to Rus' in 1330 and was baptized. And among representatives of this people it was customary to shave.

Nowadays, many men are growing beards for various reasons. Some want to emphasize their masculine attractiveness, others want to follow the traditions of their ancestors, others just want to look fashionable, and others want to stand out from the general environment. It is difficult for modern people to imagine what serious passions have been boiling in Russian society about wearing a beard for many centuries.

TAX ON PETER I'S BEARDS

On April 6, 1772, the beard tax introduced by Peter I was abolished in Russia.

From the very beginning of his reign, Peter I set a course for rapprochement with the West. This was clearly manifested in the tsar’s concerns that the Russian people should resemble the inhabitants of Europe in appearance. The transformation of Russian people into Europeans began with the return of Peter I to Moscow from his first trip to Europe.
In August 1698, the day after arriving from abroad, 26-year-old Tsar Peter Alekseevich ordered scissors to be brought to a meeting of boyars and personally and publicly deprived several boyars of noble families of their beards. The boyars were shocked by the tsar’s prank; not a trace remained of their solidity and severity. Later, Peter repeatedly performed a similar operation.
However, the new order took root with difficulty. The king was condemned and his innovation was not accepted. There were also those who, having lost their beard, committed suicide. All over Russia they grumbled, because it was believed that shaving a beard was a sin, and the priests refused to bless a beardless man. In Peter's actions, the boyars saw an attack on the very foundations of Russian life and persisted in shaving their beards.

In this regard, on September 5, 1698, Peter I established a tax on beards in order to instill in his subjects the fashion adopted in other European countries. For control, a special metal token was also introduced - a beard sign, which was a kind of receipt for payment of money for wearing a beard. By the end of the same year, the requirement to shave the beard was extended to the main groups of the urban population; a fine was also determined for failure to comply with the order.

And according to the decree of 1705, the entire male population of the country, with the exception of priests, monks and peasants, was obliged to shave their beards and mustaches. The tax for wearing a beard was increased depending on the class and property status of the person.
Four categories of duty were established: from courtiers, city nobles, and officials, 600 rubles a year (huge money for that time); from merchants - 100 rubles per year; from townspeople - 60 rubles per year; from servants, coachmen and all ranks of Moscow residents - 30 rubles annually. Peasants were not subject to duty, but each time they entered the city they were charged 1 kopeck per beard.
Personally, Peter himself granted the privilege of duty-free wearing a beard to only two people in the Russian state - Moscow governor Tikhon Streshnev due to the good attitude of the tsar and boyar Mikhail Cherkassky out of respect for his advanced years..
Peter's daughter Elizaveta Petrovna confirmed the decrees on barber shaving.

Only Catherine II in 1772 abolished the beard tax, but with a caveat: government officials, military officers and courtiers had to leave their faces “barefoot.”

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Actually the subject, Peter the Great forced people to shave beards, truth or fiction?, what do you think?

Peter the Great, after his first visit to Europe, issued a decree (from the New Year 1698 - the New Year was then celebrated on September 1) "on wearing German dress and on shaving beards and mustaches" for people of any rank, excluding priests and deacons! The rest of us who haven’t shaved have to pay taxes! This decree was reinforced by a dinner with the boyar Shein, at which it was not Peter himself who shaved his beard, but his court jester! Upon his arrival from Europe, the Tsar himself cut the beards of some nobles from noble families! Thus, he wanted to transform the Russian person into a European! And the treasury at that time needed replenishment; those who did not shave their beards paid taxes! And the king loved to remove teeth himself! I don’t know what this is connected with, I wanted to help or just hidden sadism was manifesting itself, this is a great mystery! I know how to remove teeth as a dentist! His poor patients

Anyone who did not want to part with a beard could buy the right to wear it. The amount, for that money, was fabulous. After payment, a special “beard badge” was issued for one year. The treasury was well replenished by bearded men. But shaving a beard was considered a grave sin and the church did not approve of such an innovation.

At one time, Peter mocked the country. Shave beards, smoke tobacco, organize masquerades. The “Window to Europe” has opened, but we are still not Europe or Asia. We are sitting on this windowsill.

We all know that Peter I

Peter the Great forced people to shave beards, fact or fiction?

Peter the Great forced people to shave beards, fact or fiction?

Sometimes the young Tsar Peter the Great, having become very friendly with Ivashka Khmelnitsky (that is, having gotten drunk), himself showed great honor to the boyars. I personally removed the vegetation with my own hand.

This happened in Peter's youth. True, even then he was already 2 meters tall. I've heard enough from Germans and foreigners.

It is true that Peter the Great strongly insisted that the facial hair of boyars and merchants be shaved off. He made this decision after his return from Europe. Those who refused had to pay a high tax. The treasury was replenished by such an unusual decree; Peter was a great inventor.

Pure truth. By decree of September 1, 1698, all men except priests and peasants were prohibited from wearing a beard. Moreover, peasants wore a beard for free only in the village, and when entering and leaving the city they paid a fee.

Anyone who did not want to part with a beard could buy the right to wear it. The amount, for that money, was fabulous. After payment, a special beard badge was issued for one year. The treasury was well replenished by bearded men. But shaving a beard was considered a grave sin and the church did not approve of such an innovation.

At one time, Peter mocked the country. Shave beards, smoke tobacco, organize masquerades. A window to Europe has been opened, but we are still neither Europe nor Asia. We are sitting on this windowsill.

Peter the Great, after his first visit to Europe, issued a decree (from the New Year 1698 - the New Year was then celebrated on September 1) about wearing German dress and shaving beards and mustaches for people of any rank, excluding priests and deacons! The rest of us who haven’t shaved have to pay taxes! This decree was reinforced by a dinner with the boyar Shein, on whom it was not Peter himself who shaved his beard, but his court jester! Upon his arrival from Europe, the Tsar himself cut the beards of some nobles from noble families! Thus, he wanted to transform the Russian person into a European! And the treasury at that time needed replenishment; those who did not shave their beards paid taxes! And the king loved to remove teeth himself! I don’t know what this is connected with, I wanted to help or just hidden sadism was manifesting itself, this is a great mystery! I know how to remove teeth as a dentist! His poor patients

We all know that Peter I was a very charismatic and impulsive personality, a strong and strong-willed person. And throughout his reign it was accompanied by extraordinary and non-standard actions and decrees.

And one of such actions of Peter was shaving the beards of merchants and boyars. And Peter himself personally took an ax and used it to chop off the beards of several merchants. This is funny to us now, well, they shaved off the beards, what’s special about that.

But for Russian men of the eighteenth century, losing a beard was like a colossal collapse. After all, at that time the beard had a sacred meaning and this issue of wearing a beard was taken seriously. Therefore, this decree resulted in the anger of the men and their indignation.

Why did Peter 1 force people to cut beards?

Lubok depicting the process of shaving beards,

what he looked like from the point of view of the common people.

Solikamsk merchants went to

the porch of the Trinity Cathedral is already without beards

Well, Peter couldn’t tolerate such disrespect for himself. So he issued a decree that everyone was not allowed to wear beards. And the fact that Peter chopped off beards is rather a cinematic exaggeration, although, of course, such cases may have happened.

World is Small

HISTORY, WE, EARTH, UNIVERSE

Why did Peter I order the beards of the boyars to be cut off?

On September 5, 1698, the great and powerful Tsar of all Rus' Peter I issued a decree: to cut off beards. First of all, this decree concerned the boyars, merchants, and military leaders, but it did not bypass the rest of the male townspeople. The king's command did not apply only to clergy and partly men, since they could wear beards, but only while in the villages. The nobility of Peter's Rus' was horrified by the innovation. So why did Peter I order the boyars to shave their beards?

Nowadays, discussing such an issue as shaving a beard seems ridiculous. However, if you look at the foundations of life in medieval Rus', it becomes clear that the issue of wearing a beard was extremely important. This was facilitated by a special way of life, in which a beard was considered a symbol of adherence to faith, evidence of honor and a source of pride. Some boyars, who had huge houses and a large number of serfs, were jealous of those who had less wealth, but they had long and lush beards.

Painting “Boyars” Author: Pavlov P.V., 2007, oil on canvas

Rus' of the 15th century remained “bearded” while its Tsar Peter I never wore a beard and considered the ancient Russian custom ridiculous. He, a frequent visitor to various Western European countries, was well acquainted with a completely different culture and fashion. In the West they did not wear beards and they mocked Russian bearded men. Peter found himself in agreement with this opinion. The turning point was the one and a half year journey of the Russian Tsar incognito with the Grand Embassy across Europe. After returning from the Great Embassy, ​​Peter could no longer come to terms with the “outdated” way of life in Rus' and decided to fight not only its internal, but its external manifestations. The introduction of the nobility to secular European culture began with the shaving of beards, which Peter I personally took up.

Tsar Peter chops off the beards of his boyars. Lubok painting.

Chroniclers of the September events of 1698 describe the meeting of Peter I with the nobles differently, however, the ending of all stories is the same. The nobles came to the king with lush long beards and proudly raised heads, but left beardless and confused. Some members of the nobility tried to resist Europeanization, but fearing falling out of favor with the tsar, in the end they submitted to his will. Many of the shaved boyars hid their trimmed beards and mustaches in their pockets and kept them. Afterwards, they bequeathed to their relatives to put their beauty and pride with them in the coffin. However, the most stubborn “bearded men” were allowed to keep their beards - subject to the payment of an annual tax.

Such a copper “Beard Badge” was issued after paying a tax and gave the right to wear a beard for a year.

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The tax is obvious. Why did Peter the Great take money for beards?

Age of Reign Russian Tsar Peter Alekseevich, better known as Peter I or Peter the Great, was filled with many reforms that transformed Russia. Here are radical changes in the state apparatus, the actual placing of the church under the strict control of secular authorities, changes in the calendar, the creation of a fleet, the construction of St. Petersburg, the transfer of the capital and much, much more.

Monarch shorn

However, perhaps the first thing that is remembered when talking about the times of Peter is his merciless fight against beards. The introduction of a tax on beards is presented as perhaps the most striking evidence of the forced Europeanization carried out by the tsar.

Indeed, the beard tax appeared in Russia after the Tsar returned from a trip to Europe. In August 1689, Peter I issued a decree “On wearing German dress, on shaving beards and mustaches, on schismatics walking in the attire specified for them,” according to which, from the New Year (which began at that time in Rus' on September 1), the wearing of beards was prohibited.

The introduction of this measure was arranged spectacularly: the 26-year-old tsar gathered the boyars, demanded to bring scissors, and immediately cut off the beards of representatives of several noble families with his own hands, which shocked them.

One can doubt that the new order was such a revelation for those close to Pyotr Alekseevich: knowing about his plans for the Europeanization of the country, they managed to prepare morally for what was happening.

But for ordinary people, the forced removal of beards really came as a surprise. However, a loophole was left for lovers of such facial decoration - on September 5, 1689, a decree was issued that ordered people of any rank, except priests and deacons, to shave their beards and mustaches, and to collect a fee from those who did not want to do this.

Beard as a source of finance

Discontent in society was strong. For the Old Believers, the innovation became a confirmation of the “diabolical essence of the new government.” In some places there was direct resistance to the authorities, which, however, was ruthlessly suppressed.

The most mentally unstable men without beards committed suicide.

The church's mute resistance to innovation was expressed in the fact that beardless people were simply not blessed in the church, which was a real disaster in pious pre-Petrine Russia.

Nevertheless, the energetic king successfully followed his line. This was explained by the fact that the financial interest of the state was behind the introduction of a duty on beards.

The number of wealthy citizens who wanted to keep their beards was large enough for the influx of funds to the treasury to be noticeable. And Peter I really needed money: waging wars and building a fleet were extremely expensive.

Therefore, in addition to the tax on beards, duties were imposed on stoves, boots, firewood, baths and much more.

According to the recipe of Henry VIII

By the way, Pyotr Alekseevich was not a pioneer in introducing a duty on beards. The first to use such a measure English King Henry VIII in 1535, followed by his daughter Elizabeth I, which imposed a duty on any beard growing on the face for more than two weeks.

Peter I turned out to be more consistent in his actions - gradually the new norms covered all his subjects. In 1699, a special beard badge was introduced, which was issued to those who paid the state for wearing facial hair.

The tsar himself exempted only two people from paying duties - Moscow Governor Tikhon Streshnev, who enjoyed the personal favor of Peter, and was in old age boyar Mikhail Cherkassky.

In January 1705, the duty on beards was systematized by category depending on the class: courtiers, city nobles and officials had to annually pay an astronomical sum for that time of 600 rubles, merchants - 100 rubles, townspeople - 60 rubles, servants, coachmen, and other city officials - 30 rubles. It was a little easier for the peasants - they were not charged an annual fee, but each visit to the city cost them 1 kopeck per beard.

In 1715, a single duty of 50 rubles was introduced. By this time, in addition to the peasants and the clergy, only very pious and wealthy people, as well as schismatics, remained faithful to the beard. They were required to wear an old-fashioned dress along with their beard, in which they looked frankly pretentious in society. Those who violated this rule could expect swift sanctions - after all, according to the royal decree, anyone who denounced a violator with a beard was entitled to half the fine. The bearded man's lack of funds was not considered an excuse - hard labor awaited him, where he had to work until the fine was paid in full.

Peter's work lives on!

No concessions were made to the beard even after the death of Peter - the following rulers, including his daughter Elizaveta Petrovna, confirmed the “anti-beard” legislation.

In society, the duty on beards caused about the same irritation among the progressive intelligentsia as documents restricting gay propaganda cause modern liberals. In 1757 he teased the authorities a little himself Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov, who created “Hymn to the Beard.” The royal lady shook her finger at the genius with displeasure, and that’s where the story ended.

Only Catherine the Great in 1772, she abolished the beard tax, which had existed for seven decades. However, by this time the result had been achieved - the universal wearing of beards among Russian men was a thing of the past. The beard finally turned into an attribute of the priesthood and backward peasantry.

At the same time, despite the abolition of duties, in the era Catherine II Not everyone could wear a beard. This, for example, was not allowed to government officials, military personnel and courtiers.

In the era Nicholas I Officials, military men and students could not afford a beard. In general, the unwritten rules of the Nicholas era gave the right to a beard to people of advanced age, and beards among young people, to put it mildly, were not encouraged. There was, however, some relaxation among the military - officers of some branches of the military were allowed mustaches and sideburns.

The last royal decree on the topic of beards was issued at the beginning of the 20th century, in 1901: emperor Nicholas II by his highest will, he allowed cadets to wear beards, mustaches and sideburns.

By the way, during the Great Patriotic War, it was the beard that was a noticeable difference between the soldiers of the regular Red Army and the partisans. This characteristic external sign was sung Leonid Utesov in his famous song “Partisan Beard”.

Why did Peter order beards to be shaved?

Unified Comic Stories #3

Text version of the comic about why Peter the Great shaved his beards

Returning from Europe, in 1698 Peter the Great banned the wearing of beards and himself cut off the hair of noble boyars. Salvation is the payment of a huge fee.

The tsar also forced people to wear new German dresses and Hungarian caftans. This clothing was short in a European style and was very different from the usually long Asian outfits.

There was a rumor among the people that the Tsar in Europe was put in a barrel and put into the sea, and instead of him they sent another - non-Russian in appearance and with small legs.

Peter wanted to eradicate wild morals, so his reforms concerned various aspects of life. He forbade midwives from killing children with disabilities, and insatiable Siberian officials from wearing rich dresses.

Bearded men paid a fee, received a beard badge and remained with their hair. In 1772, the beard tax was abolished.

Taken from here www.grusd.ru

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4 comments

the same text under the picture with the text. Is this for those who don't like pictures?

Yes. read previous issues

Why are the Siberian officials ordinary in the picture, but insatiable in the text? O_o

Literary and historical notes of a young technician

On August 29, 1698 (320 years ago), Peter I issued the decree “Shave the beard”

On August 29 (August 19, Old Style), 1698, the famous decree “On wearing German dress, on shaving beards and mustaches, and on schismatics walking in the attire specified for them” was issued, which prohibited it from the new year - from September 1 (September 11, New Style ) wearing beards. It turns out that the real day of the ban on beards should be considered September 11, but upon arrival from his trip abroad, Peter I, without waiting for the New Year, personally cut off the beards and cut off the hem of the long clothes of several of his entourage. First Generalissimo Shein, Caesar Romodanovsky and other courtiers fell under the sovereign's hot hand.

Dmitry Belyukin, 1985

At the same time, the king explained his determination to introduce bearded men to civilization: “I want to transform the secular goats, that is, citizens, and the clergy, that is, monks and priests. The first, so that without beards they would resemble Europeans in kindness, and the others, so that they, although with beards, would teach parishioners Christian virtues in churches the way I saw and heard pastors teaching in Germany" (Russian archive, 1884. Vol. 3 , page 358).

Peter granted the privilege of duty-free wearing a beard only to the Moscow governor Tikhon Streshnev due to his good attitude towards him, to the boyar Cherkassky out of respect for his advanced years and to Patriarch Adrian due to his rank.

On the occasion of the New Year's celebration, on September 1 (11), a dinner party was given at Boyar Shein's, which was attended by the Tsar himself. At dinner, in accordance with the decree of August 29 (19), it was not Peter himself who cut the beards, but the royal jester.

The ban on wearing a beard caused violent discontent in all sectors of society. Cases of mass disobedience and even suicide on this occasion were recorded not only among the clergy or Old Believers, but also in the secular environment. “Barefoot Snout” came into conflict with cultural traditions and religious norms: the church considered shaving beards a sin and did not bless those without beards.

Barber shaving was officially prohibited by the rules of the VI Ecumenical Council (see interpretation on 96 rule of Zonar and the Greek Helmsman Pidalion) and patristic writings (works of St. Epiphanius of Cyprus, St. Cyril of Alexandria, Blessed Theodoret, St. Isidore Pilusiot. Condemnation of barber shaving is also contained in Greek books (Nikon Black Mountains, f. 37; Nomocanon, pr. 174). only servants of the devil (demons) who were contrary to God were depicted with beards and short dresses.

Initially, there was almost no benefit to the state from the ban on beards: bearded people should have been fined, but de jure this has not yet been regulated. In 1699, to confirm the payment of the duty, a special payment receipt was introduced in the form of a copper token - a beard sign. Three types of beard marks have survived to this day: 1699, 1705 and 1725. All of them were united by the image on the front side of the beard and the inscription above it “MONEY RISES.” A single copy of the beard badge of 1699 is known; it can be found in the collection of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.

Over the years, the sign has undergone several changes - a double-headed eagle was added to it on the back, different versions of coinage on the sign appeared - stamps indicating payment of duty for the next year, which helped extend the life of the sign for another year. Such stamped beard signs began to be used as a means of payment, and therefore began to be called “beard penny”.

One of the reasons why the beard tax was introduced was the state budget deficit on the eve of the Northern War. In addition to the beard, duties were imposed on other objects of everyday life - baths, chimneys, boots, firewood.

A new decree of January 16, 1705 “On shaving the beards and mustaches of all ranks of people, except for priests and clerks, on collecting duties from those who do not want to comply with this, and on issuing badges to those who paid the duty” established a tax rank system.

There were several tariffs: from courtiers and courtyard servants and from city officials and all ranks of servicemen and clerks, 60 rubles per person; from guests and the living room the first hundred articles are 100 rubles per person; middle and lower articles, which pay tenths of money less than 100 rubles, from merchants and townspeople 60 rubles, the third article, from townspeople and boyars and from coachmen and cabmen and from church clerks, except for priests and deacons, and all sorts officials from Moscow residents 30 rubles per person per year. By the way, 30 rubles at that time was the annual salary of a foot soldier, so a beard became a very expensive pleasure.

Only the peasants did not pay the duty, but each time they paid 1 kopeck “per beard” for entering and leaving the city. This contributed to the fact that the image of a Russian man with a beard remained unchanged throughout pagan and Christian Russia, until the beginning of the 20th century.

Since 1715, a single duty was introduced for all classes - a tax on Orthodox bearded men and schismatics in the amount of 50 rubles per year. If you had a beard, you were required to wear an old-fashioned uniform. Anyone who saw a bearded man not wearing the specified clothes could inform the authorities and receive half the fine and clothes in addition. If the bearded man was not able to pay the fine, he was sent to hard labor to work off the required amount.

In the post-Petrine era, beards were not immediately allowed. Peter's daughter Elizabeth confirmed the decrees on barber shaving, which caused mixed opinions in society. So, in 1757, M.V. Lomonosov even wrote an ode to the forbidden attribute - “Hymn to the Beard,” which aroused the indignation of the queen.

The era of a total ban on beards ended only at the end of the 18th century. Catherine II abolished the duty on April 6, 1772, but with a caveat: government officials, military officers and courtiers had to leave their faces “barefoot.”

In the 19th century, nobility, officials and students were still required to shave their beards. Only officers of certain branches of the military were allowed to grow a mustache. During the reign of Nicholas I, wearing a beard was allowed only to peasants and persons of free status who had reached a more or less respectable age. A beard and mustache on the face of a young man who did not belong to the clergy was perceived as a sign of freethinking or a challenge to society. Let us remember the famous rebel M.V. Butashevich-Petrashevsky, who, as an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, grew a beard, mustache and long hair, and also walked around St. Petersburg in a hat with four corners or even in a woman’s dress.

Meanwhile, officials of all civil departments until the end of the 19th century were required to shave their entire faces smoothly. Only those of them who had already managed to rise somewhat on the hierarchical ladder could afford to wear short sideburns near their ears, and then only with the favorable condescension of their superiors.

However, for officers and representatives of the tax-paying classes, beards and mustaches were a matter of taste. Thus, a merchant and a peasant on the street could always be recognized by their thick beard. As you know, the hero of Plevna and Shipka, the “white general” M.D. Skobelev, wore a huge thick beard.

After the era of Peter I, the first bearded monarch was the Slavophile Alexander III. During his reign, the fashion for a beard was firmly established both at court and among military officials. Not only the military, but also ministry employees, civil servants of government departments, teachers, doctors, and students now sported thick beards a la mujik.

With the accession of Nicholas II, the beards of military men and officials noticeably shortened and took on more neat shapes. Representatives of the lower classes (philistines and yesterday's peasants, urban proletarians), on the contrary, increasingly made a voluntary choice in the direction of shaving. And this is not surprising: the beard of a city dweller, striving to differ from the “hillbilly” man, required constant care. In addition, a long beard was an inconvenience, and even a danger, for a craftsman or industrial worker.

The last tsarist decree that put an end to the history of beards in Russia was the order of March 27 (April 9, new style) 1901, which allowed even cadets to wear beards, mustaches and sideburns.

Interestingly, similar taxes and bans on beards existed at different times in Europe.

Similar taxes were introduced in England and France in the 16th century. In France at the end of the 17th century, bearded men were not allowed into courtrooms; a lawyer was not invited to see the accused until he shaved his beard, etc. The New World was also not distinguished by liberalism. For example, in the American state of Massachusetts in 1830, appearing with an unshaven face in a public place was punishable by imprisonment.

Today, the beard tax has lost its relevance. However, many continue to pay for the opportunity to have a beard. A fairly common occurrence these days is the inability to get a well-paid job if you have a beard or long hair. This “commission” for wearing a beard became a kind of “tax”, only the state handed over the fiscal wand to business. Complete abolition of the beard “tax” is possible only with a paradigm shift of clean-shaven success.

Historical consultant and literary editor: Elena Shirokova

Complete information on the topic “Peter 1’s decree to shave beards” - all the most relevant and useful information on this issue.

Literary and historical notes of a young technician

On August 29, 1698 (320 years ago), Peter I issued the decree “Shave the beard”

On August 29 (August 19, Old Style), 1698, the famous decree “On wearing German dress, on shaving beards and mustaches, and on schismatics walking in the attire specified for them” was issued, which prohibited it from the new year - from September 1 (September 11, New Style ) wearing beards. It turns out that the real day of the ban on beards should be considered September 11, but upon arrival from his trip abroad, Peter I, without waiting for the New Year, personally cut off the beards and cut off the hem of the long clothes of several of his entourage. First Generalissimo Shein, Caesar Romodanovsky and other courtiers fell under the sovereign's hot hand.

Dmitry Belyukin, 1985

At the same time, the king explained his determination to introduce bearded men to civilization: “I want to transform the secular goats, that is, citizens, and the clergy, that is, monks and priests. The first, so that without beards they would resemble Europeans in kindness, and the others, so that they, although with beards, would teach parishioners Christian virtues in churches the way I saw and heard pastors teaching in Germany" (Russian archive, 1884. Vol. 3 , page 358).

Peter granted the privilege of duty-free wearing a beard only to the Moscow governor Tikhon Streshnev due to his good attitude towards him, to the boyar Cherkassky out of respect for his advanced years and to Patriarch Adrian due to his rank.

On the occasion of the New Year's celebration, on September 1 (11), a dinner party was given at Boyar Shein's, which was attended by the Tsar himself. At dinner, in accordance with the decree of August 29 (19), it was not Peter himself who cut the beards, but the royal jester.

The ban on wearing a beard caused violent discontent in all sectors of society. Cases of mass disobedience and even suicide on this occasion were recorded not only among the clergy or Old Believers, but also in the secular environment. “Barefoot Snout” came into conflict with cultural traditions and religious norms: the church considered shaving beards a sin and did not bless those without beards.

Barber shaving was officially prohibited by the rules of the VI Ecumenical Council (see interpretation on 96 rule of Zonar and the Greek Helmsman Pidalion) and patristic writings (works of St. Epiphanius of Cyprus, St. Cyril of Alexandria, Blessed Theodoret, St. Isidore Pilusiot. Condemnation of barber shaving is also contained in Greek books (Nikon Black Mountains, f. 37; Nomocanon, pr. 174). only servants of the devil (demons) who were contrary to God were depicted with beards and short dresses.

Initially, there was almost no benefit to the state from the ban on beards: bearded people should have been fined, but de jure this has not yet been regulated. In 1699, to confirm the payment of the duty, a special payment receipt was introduced in the form of a copper token - a beard sign. Three types of beard marks have survived to this day: 1699, 1705 and 1725. All of them were united by the image on the front side of the beard and the inscription above it “MONEY RISES.” A single copy of the beard badge of 1699 is known; it can be found in the collection of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.

Over the years, the sign has undergone several changes - a double-headed eagle was added to it on the back, different versions of coinage on the sign appeared - stamps indicating payment of duty for the next year, which helped extend the life of the sign for another year. Such stamped beard signs began to be used as a means of payment, and therefore began to be called “beard penny”.

One of the reasons why the beard tax was introduced was the state budget deficit on the eve of the Northern War. In addition to the beard, duties were imposed on other objects of everyday life - baths, chimneys, boots, firewood.

A new decree of January 16, 1705 “On shaving the beards and mustaches of all ranks of people, except for priests and clerks, on collecting duties from those who do not want to comply with this, and on issuing badges to those who paid the duty” established a tax rank system.

There were several tariffs: from courtiers and courtyard servants and from city officials and all ranks of servicemen and clerks, 60 rubles per person; from guests and the living room the first hundred articles are 100 rubles per person; middle and lower articles, which pay tenths of money less than 100 rubles, from merchants and townspeople 60 rubles, the third article, from townspeople and boyars and from coachmen and cabmen and from church clerks, except for priests and deacons, and all sorts officials from Moscow residents 30 rubles per person per year. By the way, 30 rubles at that time was the annual salary of a foot soldier, so a beard became a very expensive pleasure.

Only the peasants did not pay the duty, but each time they paid 1 kopeck “per beard” for entering and leaving the city. This contributed to the fact that the image of a Russian man with a beard remained unchanged throughout pagan and Christian Russia, until the beginning of the 20th century.

Since 1715, a single duty was introduced for all classes - a tax on Orthodox bearded men and schismatics in the amount of 50 rubles per year. If you had a beard, you were required to wear an old-fashioned uniform. Anyone who saw a bearded man not wearing the specified clothes could inform the authorities and receive half the fine and clothes in addition. If the bearded man was not able to pay the fine, he was sent to hard labor to work off the required amount.

In the post-Petrine era, beards were not immediately allowed. Peter's daughter Elizabeth confirmed the decrees on barber shaving, which caused mixed opinions in society. So, in 1757, M.V. Lomonosov even wrote an ode to the forbidden attribute - “Hymn to the Beard,” which aroused the indignation of the queen.

The era of a total ban on beards ended only at the end of the 18th century. Catherine II abolished the duty on April 6, 1772, but with a caveat: government officials, military officers and courtiers had to leave their faces “barefoot.”

In the 19th century, nobility, officials and students were still required to shave their beards. Only officers of certain branches of the military were allowed to grow a mustache. During the reign of Nicholas I, wearing a beard was allowed only to peasants and persons of free status who had reached a more or less respectable age. A beard and mustache on the face of a young man who did not belong to the clergy was perceived as a sign of freethinking or a challenge to society. Let us remember the famous rebel M.V. Butashevich-Petrashevsky, who, as an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, grew a beard, mustache and long hair, and also walked around St. Petersburg in a hat with four corners or even in a woman’s dress.

Meanwhile, officials of all civil departments until the end of the 19th century were required to shave their entire faces smoothly. Only those of them who had already managed to rise somewhat on the hierarchical ladder could afford to wear short sideburns near their ears, and then only with the favorable condescension of their superiors.

However, for officers and representatives of the tax-paying classes, beards and mustaches were a matter of taste. Thus, a merchant and a peasant on the street could always be recognized by their thick beard. As you know, the hero of Plevna and Shipka, the “white general” M.D. Skobelev, wore a huge thick beard.

After the era of Peter I, the first bearded monarch was the Slavophile Alexander III. During his reign, the fashion for a beard was firmly established both at court and among military officials. Not only the military, but also ministry employees, civil servants of government departments, teachers, doctors, and students now sported thick beards a la mujik.

With the accession of Nicholas II, the beards of military men and officials noticeably shortened and took on more neat shapes. Representatives of the lower classes (philistines and yesterday's peasants, urban proletarians), on the contrary, increasingly made a voluntary choice in the direction of shaving. And this is not surprising: the beard of a city dweller, striving to differ from the “hillbilly” man, required constant care. In addition, a long beard was an inconvenience, and even a danger, for a craftsman or industrial worker.

The last tsarist decree that put an end to the history of beards in Russia was the order of March 27 (April 9, new style) 1901, which allowed even cadets to wear beards, mustaches and sideburns.

Interestingly, similar taxes and bans on beards existed at different times in Europe.

Similar taxes were introduced in England and France in the 16th century. In France at the end of the 17th century, bearded men were not allowed into courtrooms; a lawyer was not invited to see the accused until he shaved his beard, etc. The New World was also not distinguished by liberalism. For example, in the American state of Massachusetts in 1830, appearing with an unshaven face in a public place was punishable by imprisonment.

Today, the beard tax has lost its relevance. However, many continue to pay for the opportunity to have a beard. A fairly common occurrence these days is the inability to get a well-paid job if you have a beard or long hair. This “commission” for wearing a beard became a kind of “tax”, only the state handed over the fiscal wand to business. Complete abolition of the beard “tax” is possible only with a paradigm shift of clean-shaven success.

Historical consultant and literary editor: Elena Shirokova

About shaving the beards and mustaches of all ranks of people, except for priests and deacons, about collecting a fee from those who do not want to comply with this, and about issuing badges to those who paid the fee

In Moscow and in all cities, courtiers and courtyards and city officials and clerks of all ranks, service people, and guests and living rooms of hundreds and black settlements, townspeople, tell everyone; so that henceforth from this great sovereign of the decree, beards and mustaches will be shaved. And if someone doesn’t want to shave their beards and mustaches, but wants to go around with beards and mustaches, and from those, from courtiers and courtyard servants and from policemen and all kinds of service and official people, 60 rubles per person; from guests and from the living room of the first article, 100 rubles per person; middle and lower articles, which pay tenths of money less than 100 rubles, from merchants and townspeople 60 rubles, the third article, from townspeople and boyars and from coachmen and cabmen and from church clerks, except for priests and deacons, and all sorts officials from Moscow residents 30 rubles per person for a year. And give them signs from the order of Zemstvo affairs; and for those signs and for the note, they should come to the order of Zemstvo Affairs without shaking, and in the cities to the administrative huts, and they should wear those signs on themselves;

and in the order of Zemstvo affairs and in the cities in the administrative huts, make notebooks and receipt books; and from the peasants everywhere at the gates, collect a fee, 2 money per beard, all day long, no matter how they go into the city and out of town, and without taxes, peasants at the gates, into the city and out of the city, are not allowed through at all. And about this, to inform the gates of this great sovereign, I decree that letters be nailed down, and his great sovereign’s letters are sent to the cities to the governors, and to the mayors of memory, and to the Discharge about sending obedient letters, and to the town hall to the mayors about sending obedient decrees. memory, with reinforcement: if they are governors and mayors, they will begin to disgrace someone and for this the governors will be in disgrace, and the mayors will be punished and ruined without any mercy. And if anyone from the courtiers and from the city residents and from the clerks and from the townspeople wants to go with a beard, he would go to Moscow to take a sign and appear at the Zemsky Affairs Department; and send signs from Moscow to Siberian and Pomeranian cities.

The spelling of the text has been changed in accordance with modern standards, but for the sound of 18th-century speech, individual words have been left in the characteristic spelling of that era. The punctuation of the original has been preserved unchanged.

THE MOST RIDICULOUS AND ABSURD TAX UNDER PETER I

Despite all its rigidity and severity, as well as a lot of contradictions, the era of the reign of Peter I is marked by a sharp rise that transformed Russia. We must pay tribute - the tsar tried more for Russia, he wanted and believed that the country would not forget all his achievements. But it was under him that changes took place in the calendar, a fleet appeared, St. Petersburg was built, the capital was moved, and much, much more.

Of course, there were some quirks. And the most important of them is the beard tax. His merciless fight against “bearded Russia” ended with the fact that on September 5, 1689, the Russian Tsar introduced a duty on wearing a beard. Let me remind you that at that time the tsar was only 26 years old and he had just returned from another tour of Europe. The young, hot-tempered, hot-tempered king immediately began to cut off the beards of the boyars with his own hands. I can imagine the horror on the faces of those who fell into the hands of a crazed fan of a clean-shaven face and neck.

The question arises: did 26-year-old Peter have a complex, being constantly surrounded by self-confident “bearded” boyars? Perhaps the reason for his unceremonious outburst was that his sparse stubble could not compete with the integral Old Russian tradition - all men wear beards. After all, in Rus' it was the beard that gave significance in society, a symbol of courage and masculine strength.

The Northern Slavs have worn and honored beards since time immemorial, long before the adoption of Christianity. In Rus' it was believed that every man should have a beard, because... it was a sign of masculinity, wisdom and strength. They gave her a lot of attention, protected her, looked after her. It got to the point that if a person had an ugly, tattered beard, he was considered an inferior person. There was no worse insult than spitting in the beard. It was also considered very shameful to shave off a beard. Did Peter know that with his disrespect for the Russian tradition of wearing a beard, he would in one fell swoop insult and disgrace all bearded men in Rus'? - the answer is quite obvious. He knew, foresaw and wanted to do what always made him laugh and irritate.

“The introduction of a tax on beards is presented as perhaps the most striking evidence of the forced Europeanization carried out by the Tsar.”

Indeed, the beard tax appeared in Russia after the Tsar returned from a trip to Europe. In August 1689, Peter I issued a decree “On wearing German dress, on shaving beards and mustaches, on schismatics walking in the attire specified for them,” according to which, from the New Year (which began at that time in Rus' on September 1), the wearing of beards was prohibited.

“Cutting long hair and beards under Peter I” Sergey Efoshkin

The introduction of this measure was arranged spectacularly: the 26-year-old tsar gathered the boyars, demanded to bring scissors, and immediately cut off the beards of representatives of several noble families with his own hands, which shocked them.

HOW THINGS WERE WITH THE BEARD BEFORE PETER I

The custom of wearing beards did not have a religious cult among us until the 10th century. The beard was worn and honored without the participation of church authority. But since the 10th century, Rus' has been baptized. Following the example of the Byzantine clergy, in Rus' they accept an apology for the beard, pointing to the ancient biblical prophets and Christ and the apostles. Those. It turned out that the Orthodox Church further established the folk tradition of wearing a beard and sanctified this custom, as a result of which the beard became a symbol of both the Russian faith and Russian nationality.

Like a real shrine, the beard was protected by the state. Thus, Yaroslav the Wise established a fine for causing damage to the beard. Old Russian princes, wanting to insult the ambassador, ordered his beard to be shaved.

Ivan the Terrible also used to say that shaving the beard is a sin that cannot be washed away by the blood of all the great martyrs. Previously, priests in Rus' refused to bless a beardless man. And Patriarch Adrian said this:

“God created man with a beard: only cats and dogs do not have it.”

The reason for shaving the beard was often the sin of Sodom or simply lust, so shaving was expressly forbidden. The censure of shaving beards and mustaches was caused, in addition to adherence to antiquity, also by the fact that shaving beards and mustaches was associated with the vice of sodomy, the desire to give one’s face a feminine appearance.

During the Time of Troubles and in the 17th century, shaving the beard was considered a Western custom and was associated with Catholicism. For example, False Dmitry I shaved. His lack of a beard was considered a betrayal of the Orthodox faith and proof of imposture. When, during the time of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich, the tendency to shave increased among the Russian boyars, the patriarch in response to this stated: “Barber shaving is not only ugliness and dishonor, but a mortal sin.” By the way, in the Middle Ages a belief was established that if you meet a beardless man, then he is a rogue and a deceiver.

PETER I AND HIS BEARDED REFORM

We have already found out that shaving the beard went against traditional Orthodox ideas about male beauty and the image worthy of a person, so the innovation caused mass disapproval and protests. Peter I persecuted those who disagreed, including the death penalty for disobedience to shave the beard. Our ancestors had to fight to the death. Uprisings were raised throughout Siberia, which were subsequently suppressed by troops. For rebellion and disobedience to the tsar, people were hanged, quartered, wheeled, burned at the stake and impaled.

As a result, seeing such resistance among the people, Peter I in 1705 replaced his law with another “On shaving the beards and mustaches of all ranks of people, except priests and deacons, on collecting a duty from those who do not want to comply with it, and on issuing it to those who paid sign duty”, according to which a special duty was levied on men wearing a beard, and those who paid it were given a specially minted bond - a beard sign.

Beard badge of 1705, Remake, photo: rarecoins.ru

Only Catherine II abolished the fee with a caveat: government officials, military officers and courtiers had to leave their faces “barefoot.”

In 1863, Alexander II abolished the “beard” bans.

POST-PETER PERIOD

The issue of beards has been the subject of government decrees since the 18th century. Emperor Alexander III put an end to this issue by personal example, like his son Nicholas II, who proved that a beard and mustache are a tribute to Russian traditions and customs.

Since the time of Peter I, who introduced customs alien to Orthodoxy in Russia, barber shaving has become so ingrained in Russia that today wearing a beard causes misunderstanding and disapproval. Often, a person who maintains a Christian image may not be hired, requiring him to shave first. Considering this sad circumstance, spiritual fathers instruct Christians not to follow the whims of this world, but to be afraid of angering the Lord.

CURIOUS BUT FACT...

By the way, Pyotr Alekseevich was not a pioneer in introducing a duty on beards. The first to use such a measure was the English king Henry VIII in 1535, whose example was followed by his daughter Elizabeth I, who imposed a duty on any beard growing on the face for more than two weeks.

The last royal decree on the topic of beards was issued at the beginning of the 20th century, in 1901: emperor Nicholas II by his highest will, he allowed cadets to wear beards, mustaches and sideburns.

By the way, during the Great Patriotic War, it was the beard that was a noticeable difference between the soldiers of the regular Red Army and the partisans. This characteristic external sign was sung Leonid Utesov in his famous song “Partisan Beard”.

It would be interesting to look into the eyes of 26-year-old Peter I if the most valiant and fearless bearded man, the hero and defender of the Russian land Ilya Muromets, disobeyed his order. It's a pity they lived at different times...

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Why did Peter I order the beards of the boyars to be cut off?

On September 5, 1698, the great and powerful Tsar of all Rus' Peter I issued a decree: to cut off beards. First of all, this decree concerned the boyars, merchants, and military leaders, but it did not bypass the rest of the male townspeople. The king's command did not apply only to clergy and partly men, since they could wear beards, but only while in the villages. The nobility of Peter's Rus' was horrified by the innovation. So why did Peter I order the boyars to shave their beards?

Nowadays, discussing such an issue as shaving a beard seems ridiculous. However, if you look at the foundations of life in medieval Rus', it becomes clear that the issue of wearing a beard was extremely important. This was facilitated by a special way of life, in which a beard was considered a symbol of adherence to faith, evidence of honor and a source of pride. Some boyars, who had huge houses and a large number of serfs, were jealous of those who had less wealth, but they had long and lush beards.

Painting “Boyars” Author: Pavlov P.V., 2007, oil on canvas

Rus' of the 15th century remained “bearded” while its Tsar Peter I never wore a beard and considered the ancient Russian custom ridiculous. He, a frequent visitor to various Western European countries, was well acquainted with a completely different culture and fashion. In the West they did not wear beards and they mocked Russian bearded men. Peter found himself in agreement with this opinion. The turning point was the one and a half year journey of the Russian Tsar incognito with the Grand Embassy across Europe. After returning from the Great Embassy, ​​Peter could no longer come to terms with the “outdated” way of life in Rus' and decided to fight not only its internal, but its external manifestations. The introduction of the nobility to secular European culture began with the shaving of beards, which Peter I personally took up.

Tsar Peter chops off the beards of his boyars. Lubok painting.

Chroniclers of the September events of 1698 describe the meeting of Peter I with the nobles differently, however, the ending of all stories is the same. The nobles came to the king with lush long beards and proudly raised heads, but left beardless and confused. Some members of the nobility tried to resist Europeanization, but fearing falling out of favor with the tsar, in the end they submitted to his will. Many of the shaved boyars hid their trimmed beards and mustaches in their pockets and kept them. Afterwards, they bequeathed to their relatives to put their beauty and pride with them in the coffin. However, the most stubborn “bearded men” were allowed to keep their beards - subject to the payment of an annual tax.

Such a copper “Beard Badge” was issued after paying a tax and gave the right to wear a beard for a year.

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Why did Peter I issue a decree on shaving the beards of his boyars?

All over Russia they grumbled, because it was believed that shaving a beard was a sin, and the priests refused to bless the beardless. In Peter's actions, the boyars saw an attack on the very foundations of Russian life and persisted in shaving their beards.

In this regard, on September 5, 1698, Peter I established a tax on beards in order to instill in his subjects the fashion adopted in other European countries. For control, a special metal token was also introduced - a beard sign, which represented a kind of receipt for payment of money for wearing a beard.

And according to the decree of 1705, the entire male population of the country, with the exception of priests, monks and peasants, was obliged to shave their beards and mustaches. The tax for wearing a beard was increased depending on the class and property status of the person.

Peasants were not subject to duty, but each time they entered the city they were charged 1 kopeck “per beard.”

Only Catherine II in 1772 abolished the beard tax, but with a caveat: government officials, military officers and courtiers had to leave their faces “barefoot.”

The life of the boyars also changed significantly. Upon returning in August 1698 from his first trip abroad, at the very first feast, Peter I cut off the long beards of several boyars who congratulated him with scissors, which were considered the dignity of a man in that era. The Russian Orthodox Church considered barbering a mortal sin, since man was created in the likeness of God and pointed out that all saints on icons are depicted with beards and only foreigners, whom she considered heretics for their non-Orthodox faith, shave their beards.

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