Nikita Pustosvyat

Nikita Pustosvyat (Russian: Никита Пустосвят, real name Nikita Konstantinovich Dobrynin (Никита Константинович Добрынин); died June 11, 1683) was one of the leaders of the Russian Old Believers during Raskol.

He was dubbed Pustosvyat ("hollow saint") by adherents of Patriarch Nikon.

Nikita was a priest in Suzdal and participated in editing of church books under Patriarch Joseph.

In 1659, Nikita arrived to Moscow and lodged a complaint about Stefan, Archbishop of Suzdal, accusing him of digression from Orthodoxy.

[1] Pustosvyat achieved a July 5, 1682 church debate in the presence of the tsar.

Old Believer Priest Nikita Pustosvyat Disputing with Patriarch Joachim on Matters of Faith by Vasiliy Perov , 1880-81.