"For all of us, Mikhail Chistyakov was an assistant on the path to comprehending the knowledge of Zoroastrianism, a friend and advisor in various situations,” noted a write-up on the website of Zoroastrians of St Petersburg following his demise on July 29, 2025. Confined to the bed for the last five months after suffering a cerebral stroke, he ultimately succumbed to pneumonia. Prior to his cremation, his friends prayed for his soul in Avestan, mentioned researcher Aleksandra (Sasha) Zasiadko when speaking to Parsiana on August 12. His study of the Zoroastrian religion and Avestan script had resulted in his publication in 2005 of the Russian transliteration and translation of the Khordeh Avesta. He also wrote other religious booklets and articles for the website and magazine Mitra. The erstwhile head of the neo-Zoroastrian community in St Petersburg, he would officiate as priest reciting prayers, performing navjotes and jashans.
Above: Mikhail Chistyakov with Meher Master-Moos;
top (center) with Ervads Dhanjishah Karanjia (l) and Khushroo Madon
News of his demise was first shared with Parsiana by Meher Master-Moos, founder of Mazdayasnie Monasterie with whom he had been in contact for nearly three decades. He was in the eye of a storm in February 2010 when he was preparing for his navar ceremony at the Zoroastrian College in Sanjan. Community vigilantes had disrupted the ceremony and physically assaulted him leading to a police and court case. When Parsiana had reported this incident and featured him on the cover of our March 7, 2010 issue we had sought the reaction of the genial neo-Zoroastrian. With his limited English vocabulary he simply stated, "Forgive.”
When relating this experience in Russian on the Zoroastrians of St Petersburg website (that has an option of a translation in English), Chistyakov had written, "Probably, we are not ready yet, or maybe I am not ready yet. In any case, what happened, happened. I saw the true face of the ‘orthodox Zoroastrians.” His experience with Parsis in Bombay had made him comment, "For the most part, they are distinguished by conservatism and short-sightedness. Their motto could well be ‘after us the deluge.’” This expression to indicate nothing matters after we are dead was allegedly said in 1757 by Mme de Pompadour to Louis XV after Frederick the Great defeated the French and Austrians at Rossbach.
Born in Leningrad in 1962, when he was in his 30s Chistyakov started studying astrology under Pavel Globa who declared that Avestan astrology is part of the ancient teachings of the Aryans. This led to his interest in Zoroastrianism and when the Zoroastrian community of St Petersburg was created, he was appointed its junior rector. He considered "Zoroastrianism to be the best of religions and the truest… I think it is simply reckless to combine religions: you cannot sail on two ships at once, you will inevitably drown.” Once his knowledge of the religion increased, he started imparting it to those interested, while impressing upon them, "We are still learning to be Zoroastrians. After all, a Zoroastrian is a person who does not make allowances for himself, who lives according to the Law of Truth. To cultivate this in oneself is the main thing for any community member, including me. And we need to feel mutual unity, then the community will gain integrity, cohesion.”