In this painting, artist Sergey Simakov depicted an event that, according to several sources, occurred in the Holy Dormition Hermitage of Sarov in the 1820s. At that time, Pavel Pestel allegedly came to the immensely revered monk and hermit Seraphim of Sarov for a blessing. He was the leader of the Southern Society of the Decembrists and one of the leaders of the anti-monarchist uprising of 1825. For a while, Seraphim did not pay attention to the guest, and then asked: ‘Of what kind of faith are you? ’ Pestel replied that he was not of the Russian faith. This angered the monk: ‘Then go back where you came from! ’

The composition of this picture is hinged on the confrontation of two figures. On the left we see an officer — his full dress, epaulettes and insignia speak of his high rank. He is alarmed and excited: one can even see beads of perspiration on his face. Seraphim looks stern. The figure of the novice brings in a balance: now he is taking the officer’s side and trying to help him. According to the legend, after Seraphim turned Pestel away, the novice asked the monk for an explanation. And the hermit led him to the well which he had dug himself — you can see it in the picture. Usually calm and clear, the water was turbid, a funnel with forest rubbish was spinning in the centre. Likewise this person who came here intends to perturb Russia, said Seraphim. 

In other paintings, Simakov also portrayed great Orthodox ascetics: Leonty of Rostov, Sergius of Radonezh, Euphrosyne of Polotsk, Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves. In his last secular painting, Saints Zosima, Savvaty and Herman of Solovki of 1991, the artist turned to the images of the founders of the Solovetsky Monastery. After that, he was engaged only in icon painting, and later under the name Father Rafail became hegumen, the dean of the Uglich Church of Michael the Archangel in the forest.