Eventually he rose not only to the highest ecclesiastical post in the kingdom, but became almost more powerful than the Tzar himself.

He may be classed with the great literary forces of the land, in that he caused the correction of the Slavonic Church Service-books directly from the Greek originals, and eliminated from them innumerable and gross errors, which the carelessness and ignorance of scribes and proof-readers had allowed to creep into them.

The far-reaching effects of this necessary and important step, the resulting schism in the church, which still endures, Nikon's quarrels with the Tzar Alexei Mikhailovitch, Peter the Great's father, are familiar matters of history; as is also the fact that the power he won and the course he held were the decisive factors in Peter the Great's resolve to have no more Patriarchs, and to intrust the government of the church to a College, now the Most Holy Governing Synod.
When Nikon passed from power, lesser men took up the battle.

Chief among these was Archimandrite Simeon Polotzky (already mentioned), who lived from 1626-1681, and was the first learned man to become tutor to a Tzarevitch.

The spirit of the times no longer permitted the heir to the throne to be taught merely to read and write from the primer, the Psalter, and the "Book of Hours"; and Alexei Mikhailovitch appointed Simeon Polotzky instructor to the Tzarevitch Feodor.
QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW 1.