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Gapon Georgy Apollonovich

Georgy Apollonovich Gapon (real name Gaponov-Novyh) - priest, politician. Born in a wealthy Cossack family of parish clerk in the village Bilyky Kobelyatsky county province of Poltava. After finishing elementary school in his native village he studied at the Poltava Ecclesiastical College (1883-1885 pp.), where he met teacher Tolstoyan I.M. Tregubov and Poltava Ecclesiastical Seminary (1888-1893 pp.), where he was influenced by Tolstoyan I.V. Feherman. Through free-thinking received diploma of II degree, that closed the door to the university. Kept going by giving private lessons and working as statistician in the Poltava uyezd. Having become acquainted with Bishop Hilarion of Poltava (I. Yushenovim), 1895 p. was ordained as a priest All Saints cemetery church. Despite the fact that the church did not have a parish, began to preach, and soon became famous throughout the city. Shortly before the ordination got married with the daughter of a local merchant. The marriage was happy, but after the birth of her second child the wife died. Gapon decided to leave the Poltava. On the recommendations of Hilarion and other influential countrymen in 1898 obtained permission from the Synod to enter the TheologicalAcademy. In 1899-1900 he served in one of the Crimean monasteries. Having returned to St. Petersburg, passed the external examinations for the third and fourth course, and in 1903 successfilly defended a thesis "The current situation of the parish in the Orthodox, Greek and Russian churches". He combined classes with the missionary activities in the working-class neighborhoods of the capital: from the end of 1900 was a priest of the Moscow-Narva office of the Company of guardianship of poor and sick children and the teacher of law at St. Olga orphanage. Developed and gave the St. Petersburg governor N.V. Kleigels projects of labor houses and colonies, as well as suggestions for improvement of orphanages. At the beginning of 1902 participated in services at the Church of the Sorrowful Mother of God in the GalleryHarbour, where he made his debut with sermons about the "power of the working society", sought to organize workers' circles. This activity has displeased management of tutelar establishments, and in July 1902 was suspended by the Synod of his duties for the "moral depravity". Father Gapon's sermons full of social content made him immensely popular. Officials and court aristocracy, who gave him a lot of audiences, became interested in the priest. At the same time the SR introduced in his environment engineer of Poltava Putilov plant P.N. Rutenberg (party name "Martin"), who played a tragic role in the life of Georgy Gapon.

In 1902, G. Gapon met with the head of Special Branch of Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, S.V. Zubatov and agreed to cooperate in the establishment of legal workers' organizations under the supervision of the secret police. Since 1903 Gapon filed chairman of the government S.Y. Witte a note asking for assistance in the legalization of working clubs and organizations created under the "roof" of the police. On the money from a secret fund of the Police Department in August 1903 the priest rented a tea-reading room on the Vyborg Side, which became the center "Meeting of Russian factory workers of St. Petersburg" - Russia's first mass workers' organization. Personally developed a charter and program of the "Meeting", and in February 1904 led the organization (previously by priest of the church at the St. Petersburg House of Detention). The grand opening of "Meeting" was held April 11, 1904 In order to establish branch of association in the summer of 1904 traveled to Moscow, Kiev, Poltava. By the end of 1904 in different districts of Saint Petersburg were created 11 departments with the number of members of about 20 thousand. For each of deparments was hired a big room, which was turned into workers' club after the dedication. There were meetings of activists, workers came here with their families after working, here for them were organized lectures, concerts, created the library and omutual aid funds. Departments were headed by people among active workers who were loyal to Gapon. In November 1904 the leadership suggested an idea of a petition to the king of the workers' demands. At the suggestion of G. Gaponov decided to submit it in the crucial moment, supporting with the joint efforts of the entire working people of St. Petersburg. Unexpected dismissal of four workers of Putilovsky plant, members of Gapon's organization on December 19, 1904 made to intervene in conflict with the administration of the plant. After the talks ended without results, it was decided to start a strike and submit a petition to the king. The strike at the plant began January 3, 1905 and was supported by the working class of 456 enterprises and institutions. Within 5 days the number of strikers increased from 15 to 111 thousands. Father Hapon several dozen times a day, spoke to the workers. At this time Georgy Gapon had lost confidence of authorities who persuaded him to affect the workers and stop the strike.

Noting that the crucial moment came, G. Gapon urged the workers to march on Sunday, 9 January to the WinterPalace, where the king was to be handed a petition signed by 100 thousand people, and decided to lead the demonstration himself. About arranged action informed personally Nicholay II. The night of January 8, St. Petersburg became a military camp: streets, squares, bridges were filled with troops - cavalry, infantry, artillery, working-class suburbs were cut from the center. G. Gapon identified four points of gathering, from which at 10 am had to move protesters - from Narvs'ka mortgage, from the St. Petersburg side, from the island Vasylyevsky, from Shlisselburzky route. He himself, having served prayer at 12 pm. "to health" of the Emperor in the chapel of Putilovsky plant, was with the workers at Narvs'k gate. To emphasize the peaceful demonstration, people carried banners and icons, and a large portrait of king. The workers came with their wives and children, were all dressed festively. The demonstration was attended by 150 thousand people. It was the first of all processes, which ran to the king to admit the right people. Despite the frost, all went bare-headed. Moved singing, "Save, Lord, thy people". Police did prevent demonstrators, on the contrary, having taken caps off went along with the workers. Soon, troops blocked the road. The first who attacked procession were Cossacks, who, coming through the crowd, cut down on both sides with sabres. But people still went forward. When there left only dozens of steps to soldiers, shouted volleys. Front rows layed down, back rushed helter-skelter. Soldiers continued to shoot. Everyone who walked nearby G. Gapon, were killed; he leaped into safety from the massacre with P. Rutenberg's help. Priest was immediately dressed up in civilian clothes and cuted his hair (workers who were present at the same time, took it among themselves as a relic).

In other parts of the city the situation was the same, the number of victims impressed the imagination. In the illegal press was pointed out number of 5000; in government dispatches were reported that were killed 130 and wounded 299 persons. Arguably, the number of wounded was equal to about 450-800, and 150-200 people were killed, generally about 1 thousand victims.

A contemporary of "Bloody Sunday":

"On January 9, two ideas were put at stake that had long clouded people's mind - God and king. Ther words spoken by G. Gapon after shooting: "There is no more God, no longer king", summed up the past age, having defined the future. The name of G. Gapon became a revolutionary force.

Events of January 9, 1905 defined the beginning of the Russian Revolution. The deaths of hundreds of innocent and unarmed people filled the cup of national patience. The news of the "Bloody Sunday" sparked a wave of strikes across the country. January 9, 1905 in St. Petersburg 125 thousand were striking (625 establishments); there appeared the barricades in the city. They were demanding weapons and leadership, but no organization was present. In the first hours after the shooting G. Gapon wrote proclamation to the workers and soldiers, calling for an armed war for freedom, trying to mobilize the departments of "Meeting". Hoping that the workers will raise the uprising, considered it his duty to head it. But all departments of "Meeting" were occupied by troops, ringleaders were killed or hid. G. Gapon's proclamation came too late to employees when many have already started to work, and anger deadened. The events of January 9, 1905 inspired mystical horror in Nicholas II. In the revolution that began in the country, he accused the father Hapon.

The evening of January 9 G. Gapon under an assumed name gave a speech at the Free Economic Society; then two days was hiding in secret apartments of SRs. Appointed January 11th as governor-general of St. Petersburg and St. Petersburg province D.F. Trepov began arrests accusing G. Gapon and his comrades of intention to form a provisional government of Russia. Priest was actively sought. Having convienced that the government embarked on the path of repression, and there was no hope for rebellion, G. Gapon agreed with the proposal of SR to leave the country. Later, in March 1905, he was dismissed from the service, defrocked and expelled from the holy rank.

Abroad, G. Gapon tried to unite by his authority the heads of immigrant parties: Social Democrats and Social Revolutionaries. In Geneva, Paris, London held a business meeting with Plekhanov, Lenin, Azef, Jaures, Clemenceau and other native and foreign leaders of the parties, was accepted into the RSDLP, opened Hapon bank Fund. If earlier in the party environment, attitude towards his personality was mostly negative, skeptical, but now, after the events of January 1905, all the grandeur of storms that unfolded in Russia, moved to G. Gapon, associated with his name. In the eyes of the immigrant community he was the only practitioner of revolution and its first figure. In April 1905 G. Gapon held in Paris conference of socialist parties to join them in battle union and to develop a unified tactics of the revolution. However, negotiations on unification of revolutionary forces ended without results - party bosses did not agree to recognize G. Gapon as a leader, citing lack of competence and actually envying and fearing his authority. In May 1905 G. Gapon joined the SRs, but was soon expelled because of "political illiteracy". The popularity of the leader of the Russian working abroad was huge: the press was constantly writing about him, in storefront were exhibited his portraits, on the posters in large letters was written his name, foreign celebrities was willing to look at him. For his manuscripts were paid huge fees (in Paris, he wrote several pamphlets and leaflets, and started writing notes, memoirs). In Russia workers further considered him as their leader and even going to put on life monument. Soon he received through special messenger confirmation of formal powers to be permanent representative of St. Petersburg workers. On the money (50 thousand francs), obtained from the trustee Japanese envoy in Paris Sokov (as it turned out later, secret police agent), purchased transfer of weapons for the Russian Revolution, but hired for this purpose steamer "John Krafton" sank. Go through difficult times, tried to have fun in Paris restaurants, where certainly ordered "Roars and moans Dnipr wide". After the amnesty for participants Revolution (October 10, 1905) at the end of December 1905 he returned to St. Petersburg.

Applying through an intermediary (including a Director of Police P. Rachkowski) to head of the Government S. Witte and Interior Minister P.M. Durnov, father-revolutionarist denied ultra views that expressed in proclamations after the events of 9 January and advocated the peaceful development of the labor movement on a professional basis. However, he got permission to open his offices and redress in the amount of 30 thousand rubles. Representatives of authorities still treated with mistrust to G. Gapon, considering him too dangerous and uncontrollable. Information on relations with the government and receiving money from it appeared in the press. In December 1905 the newspaper "Gus" published an article "Take off the mask!" with expose of G. Gapon as police agent; meanwhile P.I. Rachkowski accused him of receiving money from the Japanese. G. Gapon brought the case to court, being sure that would be justified, as he was acting in the interests of the people.

For a short time a talented organizer renewed activity of all his 11 departments as non-party labor organizations. Name of G. Gapon still attracted the masses. In late January 1906 the Government banned the activities of "Meeting". In turn, the parties that expected to obtain leadership of the labor movement, staying before the threat of losing influence even on its members, started fighting "Haponivschyna" as demagogy. Significantly, the interests of police and revolutionaries in the matter agreed. G. Gapon, who wanted to do politics himself has become dangerous for everyone. Clearly committed to the revolution leader was their first major victim.

In early 1906 the Central Committee of the Socialist-Revolutionary Party has decided to liquidate G. Gapon as provocateur. The only evidence of his case were testimony of P. Rutenberg (Martin), as if G. Gapon wanted to contact with his help the militant organization of the SRS and tried to recruit for this matter. Chief Justice was a member of the Central Committee and at the same time paid agent of police department Yevno Azef (it is possible that with this murder he would expiate failures and setbacks of headed by him battle organization, which were his own faults).

Having ensnared G. Gapon at the cottage in the Ozerky near Petersburg (fully trusting to his friend Martin, the priest came there alone and without weapons), P. Rutenberg with 6 militants executed G. Gapon March 28, 1906. He hung in noose over a month until body was finally discovered. Characteristically, the SRs did not dare openly to take responsibility for that, presenting murder as a private case of Mr. Rutenberg, separating themselves from the latter. In 1909 the former Director of Police A. Lopuhin issued a secret of revolutionarist E.Azef, that completely confused all traces.