Today it is rarely possible to meet a man whose face is decorated with a beard. Even a well-groomed small beard is considered to be a rather rare occurrence, all the more unusual and a broad, spade beard. But once in pre-Petrine Russia, every self-respecting head of the family had a beard, the absence of that attribute of masculinity was equated with sin and was reproached in every way.
The significance of the beard in pre-Petrine Rus
If modern people perceive facial hair or its absence as a fact that does not oblige anything, in pre-Petrine Russia, a beard was a kind of visiting card and a sign of not only status but also male power. One of the Russian patriarchs, Adrian, thoughtfully wrote at the end of the 17th century: "God created man in his own image, with a beard, and only dogs are beardless." It was believed that since Jesus Christ was bearded, then a believing Orthodox person should wear a beard. Those who used a razor - "scribbled", could even be excommunicated.
A thick, thick beard was a sign of brutality and masculinity, a strong breed. Holders of rare vegetation ridiculed as degenerates, suspected that there were Tatars of other religions in their genus, who, as you know, beards grow very poorly. Men who, for physiological reasons, did not grow a beard, remained relics.
Causing damage to a person by damaging his beard was considered a crime against his personality. Each torn shred from the beard by the decree of Yaroslav the Wise was fined - 12 hryvnias were paid to the princely treasury. Boyars - the elite of Russian society of those times, were completely bearded. Of course, Russian tsars also wore beards.
Ivan IV the Terrible applied a savage measure to his opponents - they plucked beards, after which the disgraced boyar had no choice but to hide in a monastery.
