Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate His rule with trembling. Kiss His son, or He will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for His wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him. Psalm 2
“Very little is known about the life of Nicholas of Pskov beyond his famous encounter with Tsar Ivan IV (Ivan Grozny or Ivan the Terrible), related below. He is believed to have been a lifelong resident of Pskov and well-known fool for Christ throughout the region and perhaps most of Russia.
The greatest amount of information we have about Nicholas involves a single day in his life, 20 February 1570. On this day the second Sunday of Great Lent, the city of Pskov trembled because of the expected visit of Tsar Ivan IV and his army. Ivan had recently completed his campaign against the city of Novgorod, where he directed his soldiers to massacre thousands of its citizens. This was one of the most brutal and notorious acts ever perpetrated by a Russian tsar against his own people.
The entire population feared that his wrath had not been quenched by the bloodshed in Novgorod and would be visited upon their own city. In anticipation of the tsar’s arrival the citizenry prepared a profusion of welcoming gifts of bread and salt (the traditional means of cordial invitation in Russia), but despite their attempts to appease the tsar’s acrimony they remained in dread of his arrival.
When presented with the gifts of bread and salt on his approach to the city gates, Ivan reportedly brushed them aside in disdain, causing the crowds to fear him all the more.As they hastily prostrated themselves before the tsar, from out of the crowd came Nicholas the Fool riding a children’s stick horse and shouting, “Ivanushko, Ivanushko [meaning “Little Ivan”], eat our bread and salt, and not Christian blood.”
Infuriated at this, the tsar ordered Nicholas to be seized, but a strong gust of wind suddenly blew up the snow in great swirls, making Nicholas invisible to the guards and he escaped. Since it was Sunday, Ivan’s procession went to the cathedral in Pskov, and the tsar himself entered and stood for an entire moleben given for his health.
As he was leaving the cathedral, Nicholas again approached him and invited him to come to his cell beneath the bell tower for refreshment. The fact that the tsar consented to do so gives credence to the belief that Nicholas was already well-known as a devout fool for Christ.
Upon entering the cramped cell, the tsar noticed that a slab of raw meat lay on the table. Nicholas said to him, “Eat Little Ivan, eat!” But Ivan, annoyed and insulted, replied that he was a Christian and did not eat meat during Lent. Nicholas then said, “Does Ivashka [another diminutive name for Ivan] think that eating a piece of animal meat during a fast is a sin, whereas eating as much human meat as he has already eaten is no sin?”
Furious at receiving such a rebuke, Ivan stormed from the cell, evidentkly intent on repeating the evils he had visited upon Novgorod, Nicholas ran after him, giving him a stern warning. “Do not dare touch us, you vagabond. Leave us quickly, because if you dally you will have nothing on which to flee from here.”
Ignorning the saint, Ivan ordered his army to proceed with his commands. But again Nicholas cried out, “If your warriors touch a single hair on the least child in this city, a fire from heaven will overtake you. God’s judgment is already hanging over you, and you will not escape death by fire from heaven.”
At that moment bolts of lightning shot from the rolling storm clouds that had been gathering above the city, terrifying even Tsar Ivan’s most courageous soldiers. Word came to Ivan that one of the bolts had struck the tsar’s own horse, killing it instantly.
This caused Ivan to recall the words Nicholas had spoken, that if he did not leave quickly, he would have nothing on which to flee. Terrified, he turned to the clergy, asked them to pray for him, then took the horse of one of his servants and fled in haste. Thus this city of Pskov was saved from destruction, despite Ivan’s initial plan.”
Nicholas of Pskov (d. 1576) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 91-94.
Today’s post was long so I will keep my comments short.
Nicholas the fool was fearless. The people were overcome by fear. Ivan the Terrible was even terrified. The role of the fool here was to proclaim truth in clever ways without fear acknowledging the sovereignty of God over even Ivan the Terrible!
His tone reminds me of David in today’s Scripture. And the cleverness of Nicholas comes out in his “Ivanushko, Ivanushko” and “Ivashka” comments. Ivanushko means “God is gracious.” He said it twice to get his attention.
And Ivashka means “God is my God.” These variations of His name aimed to send a message. Generous fools proclaim that God is gracious. Everyone must pay attention to Him. And He will remain faithful to the ones who proclaim Him as their God.
That’s what happens when I visit my friend John. I am reminded of the grace of God and His faithfulness to stand with those who put their trust in Him. I thank God for this time together and travel home tomorrow morning.