Talk about timely publishing ...


The novel Gazavat (Revenge), an account of Russia's struggle to conquer Chechnya in the 19th century, has been reprinted this month by the state publishing house Respublika.


The book was written in the early 20th century by the well-known Russian author Lidia Charskaya.


Although the book's purpose was to glorify Russian soldiers, Charskaya is nevertheless rather sympathetic to Chechen Imam Shamil and honestly portrays the bloody toll of war.


Perhaps Russian and Chechen leaders should both reread the account so as not to forget the last point.





Another historical reprint, the History of the Russian Church by Metropolitan Makarii (Bulgakov), has also appeared on Moscow bookshelves.


The multi-volume account was first published in the second part of the 19th century. It is still considered one of the best and most comprehensive historical works, comparable in scope and scholarship to the history of Russia by Sergei Solovyov.


The first volume of Makarii's history came out this month. In this ambitious new edition, the last two of nine volumes will contain new material written by contemporary church historians about the dramatic events in Russian Orthodoxy during the last two centuries.


The history is being published by Valaam monastery, with assistance from a special council headed by Patriarch Alexy the Second and Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov.