Hromadsky Valerian

The article is devoted to the personality of Thomas de Villeneuve, a native of Provence, descendant of a French noble family, who served in the second half of the 18th century as the commandant of the city of Tomsk. Based on archival information, pre-revolutionary publications, legends and memoirs, the article reveals key stages in Villeneuve’s biography, including his service on the South Siberian fortified line, his activities to develop education and religious infrastructure in Tomsk, as well as his connection with A.N. Radishchev, who was in exile. Particular attention is paid to the circumstances of Radishchev’s stay in the commandant’s house and the fact of the launch of the first hot air balloon in Siberia in Villeneuve’s courtyard. The article analyzes the symbolic meaning of Villeneuve’s tombstone as an artifact that survived historical cataclysms and displacements, and describes its fate up to the present day. The work is of interest to researchers of the history of Siberia, intercultural contacts and local memory.

List of persons with brief characteristics:

• Adrianov Alexander Vasilyevich - historian, local historian, author of pre-revolutionary publications about Siberia; described the legend of Radishchev's visit to Villeneuve's house.
• Gromadsky Valerian - the curate of the church, a clergyman mentioned as a possible participant in the burial of Villeneuve near the walls of the church.
• Catherine II - Empress of the Russian Empire; signed the decree on Radishchev's exile.
• Eremin Petr Fyodorovich is a Tomsk historian who was involved in the search for and research of Villeneuve’s burial site.
• Kinderman (name not given) was a Tomsk merchant, in whose house Villeneuve's tombstone was located for some time.
• Montgolfier Joseph was a French inventor; together with his brother Etienne, he was the first to raise a hot air balloon, which served as the reason for launching the balloon in Tomsk.
• Montgolfier, Etienne - French inventor; together with his brother Joseph, he founded aerostatic flight.
• Radishchev, Alexander Nikolaevich - Russian writer and educator; was in exile in Tomsk, presumably lived in Villeneuve's house.
• Rubanovskaya Elizaveta Vasilievna - Tomsk regional historian, archivist; researched the fate of Villeneuve and his tombstone.
• Slavnin Valery is a journalist and the author of an article that published information about Villeneuve’s tombstone in the 1960s.
• Tataurov Nikolai Vasilievich - Siberian historian, archivist, memoirist; described the building of the commandant's house and refers to the legend about Radishchev.
• Thomas de Villeneuve (also Devilleneuve, de Villeneuve) was a French nobleman, commandant of Tomsk in the 1770s–1780s; an educational figure, patronized Radishchev, died and was buried in Tomsk.
• Yadrintsev Nikolai Mikhailovich - Siberian publicist and social activist; mentions Radishchev's stay with Villeneuve.
• [Unknown] old-timer (according to Adrianov) - the source of the story about Radishchev's stay with Villeneuve; mentioned in Adrianov's publication.
• [Unknown] director of the flying club - participant in the transfer of Villeneuve's tombstone to the local history museum.

The article is devoted to the life and spiritual service of priest Valerian Gromadsky, one of the most outstanding Catholic priests of Western Siberia in the second half of the 19th century. The work is based on archival materials, correspondence, memoirs of contemporaries and other sources that reveal both the personality of the priest and his significant role in the development of the Catholic community of Tomsk and other Siberian cities.

The author examines Gromadsky's activities in the context of Polish emigration and exile, as well as his influence on the local Catholic population, including the organization of parish life, the construction of a church, and the creation of a Polish library. Particular attention is paid to his interaction with local authorities, charitable activities, and the strengthening of cultural ties between Polish Catholics in Siberia and European Catholic centers.

The article also examines the last years of Gromadsky’s life, when he continued to maintain contact with the Tomsk community despite living far from Siberia. It concludes by examining his spiritual and cultural legacy left in Tomsk, which had a long-term impact on the development of the Catholic Church in Siberia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Key words : priest Walerian Gromadsky, Catholic Church, Poland, Siberia, Tomsk, Catholic community, religious activity, charity, Polish emigration, 19th century.

List of persons

• Berdonsky is an artist who created a copy of the icon of the Transfiguration of the Lord for the Tomsk church.
• Buchbinder is an artist from Warsaw, the author of a copy of the icon of St. John the Evangelist.
• Bystranowska (princess) - patron of the arts, helped the Catholic charitable society.
• Gromadsky Valerian is a Catholic priest, rector of the Tomsk parish.
• Grokholskaya Vanda (princess) - patron of the arts, supported the Catholic charitable society.
• Dzienbowska Wanda is an artist from Warsaw, the author of the icons of St. Anne and St. Cecilia.
• Duhamel Alexander Osipovich - Governor-General of Western Siberia, French Catholic.
• Zalesky is a professor; Prince Sapega met with him in Tomsk.
• Zakharevich Justin - Catholic rector of Tomsk until 1883.
• Kozell-Poklevska Anelia is a patron of the arts, she made large donations (2 × 3000) to the Catholic Charity Society.
• Correggio Antonio da is an artist, author of the painting "The Nativity of Christ".
• Leo XIII (Gioacchino Pecci) - Pope, blessed Gromadsky.
• Leonardo da Vinci, the artist who painted the painting "The Last Supper", is mentioned in the context of the church.
• Machesha Alexander is a doctor and an eyewitness to Gromadsky’s anniversary, and left behind his memoirs.
• Murillo Bartolome Esteban is the artist who created the original painting of Our Lady of the Rosary.
• Orzheshko is a doctor, mentioned in the diary of Prince Sapieha.
• Piaskovska Sofia is a patron of the arts and supported a charitable society.
• Potocka Alexandra (princess) - patron of the arts, participated in charitable activities.
• Potanin Grigory Nikolaevich - Siberian regionalist, member of the underground circle.
• Sapieha Pavel (Prince) - traveler, left a record of his visit to Tomsk and meeting with Gromadsky.
• Sangushko is the bishop who invited Gromadsky to Slavuta.
• Shashkov Stepan Stepanovich - Siberian regionalist, member of an underground circle.
• Schaeffer Ary is the artist who created the original painting of St. John the Evangelist.
• Khrutsky is an artist from St. Petersburg, the author of a copy of Murillo’s painting.
• Khrushchev Aleksey Petrovich - Governor-General of Western Siberia, organized supervision of Gromadskoye.
• Yadrintsev Nikolai Mikhailovich - Siberian regionalist, member of the underground circle.
• Zdrzechowska is a Polish philanthropist who supported charity and communicated with Hromadske.