These days, the word “reform” is perhaps the most commonly used. What kind of reforms are there? How are they carried out? And isn't it too high a price to pay for them? The reader can try to find answers to these questions from the Russian philosopher and writer D.S. Merezhkovsky - in the historical novel “Antichrist (Peter and Alexei)” and from the modern historian A.B. Kamensky - in the essay “Reforms and Their Victims.” end of the 17th century In terms of the pace of development, Russia began to lag further and further behind the countries of Western Europe. It was possible to “catch up with Europe” only by changing the social structure of society, the principles of organizing the civil service, etc., and overcoming the church schism.