Considering the presence of famously well known cave monasteries within the Russian Empire's borders dating back for 800 or so years even already at that time,

Considering the presence of famously well known cave monasteries within the Russian Empire's borders dating back for 800 or so years even already at that time, with many famed ascetics, elders, and saints, I would hope that the letter yielded a sharp rebuke from the patriarch on that particular point.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiev_Pechersk_Lavra#Caves https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiev_Pechersk_Lavra#Caves Not to mention the well known knowledge of Roman Christian persecution and the related subterranean activities required to survive at that time.. But since the quote is out of context and has no reference to an actual response, who is to say... All the better to make the church seem backwards though..