Page:Ossendowski - The Shadow of the Gloomy East.djvu/119

 CHAPTER XIV

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HE ascetic Prior of the Tobolsk monastery, the monk Pimen, did not forget "little brother" Gregor. When the latter came to the surface of political life in Russia, and when his star shone forth upon the horizon of the Imperial Court, Pimen went to the Moscow Metropolitan Makar and the Kiev Metropolitan Vladimir and informed them who exactly Rasputin was.

Pimen's revelations, who at that time was already Bishop of Samara, made an overwhelming impression. The Metropolitans began to act in various ways, but soon received peremptory instructions to abstain from this agitation if they desired to retain their mitres.

They desisted and started to plot secretly against Rasputin.

Bishop Pimen, who expected to find in the Metropolitans energetic and determined allies, wrote them very sharp letters, and engaged in the struggle singlehanded. The threats of the provincial Governor and gendarmerie and the instructions and reprimands of the Holy Synod made no impression on him. He acted with vigour and skill.