Arseniy Nikolaevich BIbikov (1873 — 1927) was a theater and film actor, author of poems and short stories. He was a member of the Moscow literary and artistic society, had some publications in the magazines ‘Young Russia’, ‘Our magazine’. Arseniy Nikolaevich was born on January 8, in his mother’s estate, not far from NIzhniy Vorgol. His mother’s name was Anna BIbikova. On August 8, 1884, Arseniy started his 1st class at the Yelets gymnasium. One entry from the logbook of the gymnasium’s teaching council dated May 31, 1885, put together two students whose lives will have very much in common in the future. One of them - Ivan Bunin - graduated from his 3rd class and was enrolled in the 4th class, and Arseniy BIbikov was enrolled in the 2nd class. Ivan Bunin got acquainted with Arseniy in summer 1889, in Yelets, though he had heard about the BIbikov’s family before - his own father had borrowed money from them. At the time when they met ArsEniy was preparing to enter the Kharkov Agricultural School. In early May 1890 Ivan Bunin came to YelEts and together with Varvara Paschenko he went to Vorgol to visit the BIbikov’s house. At that time Arseniy had already returned from Kharkov where he had studied at the Agricultural School.

Vera Muromtseva-Bunina wrote in her book “Bunin”s Life”: “Arseniy was then a talented young man, he had a good voice, he successfully played roles in amateur performances, wrote poetry, but did not want to study. He was a handsome young man: tall, good-looking, dark-haired - a Tatar type”. 

Both Arseniy and Ivan fell in love with Varvara. Arseniy had some obvious advantages, such as his estate and his fortune, over Ivan Bunin whom Varvara’s father called ‘chairwarmer’ and ‘vagabond’. Paschenko’s family preferred Arseniy, but Varvara had already made her choice in favor of Ivan. However, this choice didn’t worsen Arseniy’s good attitude to VarvAra and his lucky opponent.