On November 7, 1910, at the Astapovo station, the heart of the most extraordinary person who had ever lived on the planet, Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, stopped beating. Where was the most brilliant writer buried who performed an extraordinary human feat in the form of grandiose works depicting Russian life? This question is of interest to many admirers of his work, not only in our country, but also abroad. After all, not a single Russian or foreign writer has such a significance as Lev Nikolaevich. We invite you to find out where Tolstoy Lev Nikolaevich is buried, what is the reason for such an unusual burial.
He could not imagine his life without Yasnaya Polyana
Throughout his life, the writer has been searching for the essence of human destiny. In his thoughts, he lived a long life in Yasnaya Polyana, Tula region, where he was born. Lev Nikolaevich was a native of a wealthy and noble count family. Fate gave him the opportunity to visit the literary circles of Moscow and St. Petersburg, but he kept returning to his family estate. In Yasnaya Polyana, he tried to improve the lives of peasants, opened a school for their children. Here he married, raised his 13 children. Secular salons, a trip to Europe only disappointed Tolstoy. He still returned to his Yasnaya Polyana and began to improve her in every way.
The spiritual crisis of the writer
Human destiny, religion and theology, pedagogy - these are the topics that worried the writer very much in Yasnaya Polyana. He sought to understand the essence of religion. The publication of some of his theological works was connected with this. Such thoughts of Tolstoy provoked a negative reaction from the Orthodox Church. The writer began a spiritual crisis. He affected the relationship with his wife, success in writing.
Soon Count Tolstoy ceased to rejoice in his welfare. He decided to eat plant foods, walk barefoot through dew, do physical labor. Lev Nikolaevich did not even want to defend the rights to his literary creations. He transferred all his property to the family. In recent years, Sophia’s wife did not quite understand Tolstoy’s spiritual views, quarrels arose between the spouses. After one of them, Lev Nikolaevich decided to retire and leave Yasnaya Polyana. He went on a trip, but along the way he fell ill with pneumonia and died.
Tolstoy's funeral
Immediately after death, the writer’s body was embalmed and put on public display at the Astapovo station. Several thousand people gathered in Yasnaya Polyana on November 9, 1910 for the funeral of Leo Tolstoy. It was an unusual funeral. As the writer himself bequeathed, they did not follow the Orthodox rite. There were no priests on them, no one prayed, no candles were lit, no images were carried. The body of Lev Nikolaevich was put in an oak coffin, on the lid of which there was no cross. Tolstoy bequeathed to bury him without church singing and incense. There were no solemn speeches at the funeral.
The authorities then considered the writer a notorious enemy of the state. They were afraid that anti-government statements might be made at the funeral, so many local police officers attended the event. On the last journey, the crowd led the beloved writer on his knees, with a quiet singing of "Eternal memory" and bowed heads. The road along which there was a procession, Yasnaya Polyana peasants paved with pine branches. That is why many contemporaries are interested in where Leo Tolstoy is buried. After all, his life had many mysteries.
Where is Leo Tolstoy buried?
Tolstoy interpreted the New Testament in his own way and renounced the Church himself. The writer called church teachings a lie, and the Sacraments - witchcraft. The synod had to legitimize the existing Tolstoy’s rejection of the Church and excommunicate it. Even in his youth, Lev Nikolaevich dreamed of forming a "new religion" without mystery. The writer depicted his position in the article "How to read the Gospel?". From it we can conclude that Leo Nikolaevich was a deeply religious person, he simply understood the teachings of Christ in his own way.
There were many people who approved the writer's views on religion, they saw a hero in him and sent letters to Tolstoy. And Tolstoy’s relatives were guided by his personal wishes and buried him according to the will. You can easily guess where Leo Tolstoy was buried. Of course, in the family estate of his Yasnaya Polyana. The genius’s grave is located in a quiet park alley. They did not adorn her in any way and did not make any marks on her. Indeed, one can say that a great man is great even in death. He is buried as the simplest peasant.