In the British Biographical Encyclopedia, you can find information about an English priest, a symbol of resilience and self-sacrifice, named Nikifor Alferi. His true Russian roots are evident; he was Nikifor Olferiev, son of Grigory. The story begins in the early 17th century when Boris Godunov conceived an ambitious educational project to prepare qualified specialists for state service. The tsar selected about twenty promising young men and sent them to study in England, distributing them among various universities. Olferiev ended up in Cambridge, where he obtained a bachelor's degree. However, he could not return to his homeland due to the Time of Troubles. When they came for him in 1613, he no longer wanted to leave England.

Only four graduates agreed to return to Russia; the others stayed in England. For example, Sofon Kozhukhov joined the East India Company and later worked as a jeweler in Borneo, while Kazarin Davydov changed his name to David Kassarian and opened a shop selling coffee and sugar. Nikifor chose a different path; he converted to Anglicanism and became a priest. Alferi, adopting a British surname, preached peace, goodness, and love, helped those in need, and offered counsel. In his small parish of St. Mary in Cambridgeshire, he became a true father to the local residents.

The irony of fate is that, having escaped the Time of Troubles in his homeland, he encountered it in England. During the Civil War, Olferiev was expelled from his village by the Puritans. For a long time, he wandered and lived in poverty, but he did not waver in his faith, continuing to preach and call for an end to the fratricidal war. Despite his dire circumstances, he shared his last piece of bread with those in greater need. He was able to return to his native parish only after nearly 20 years, following the defeat of the Puritans. By that time, Nikifor was gravely ill and passed on his duties to another priest. Olferiev died in 1666, becoming a symbol of kindness and self-sacrifice in England at that time.