Prologue
The Barker invites the audience to watch a portentous performance about Tsar Demian.

Part One
Tsar Demian appears and takes his place on the throne. The people praise him to the heavens. Tsar Demian calls his pages and sends them to the Ominous Kingdom, to the goddess Venus. He wishes to marry her. Enter Venus. She agrees to be his wife if he rejects his Christian faith and puts his people into the hands of pagan gods.

Part Two
Tsar Demian gathers his warriors. He declares that he will marry the insolent Venus, and immediately requires that all adopt his pagan faith. The warriors submit to his will. Only the Tsar's son, Tsarevich Arthur, refuses to accept the false gods, and betray his faith to Jesus Christ. Furious, Tsar Demian sends his own son to the dungeon. On the orders of Tsar Demian, the warriors make sacrifices and praise the new gods.

Part Three
In the evening, girls walk in the meadow. Venus appears. She is tired of living with the old Tsar Demian. She breaks into a dance. In the meantime, from a distant kingdom, comes the Giant Knight with an ambassador's mission. He demands that the innocent Tsarevich Arthur be freed. Tsar Demian turns him away.

Part Four
Tsar Demian orders Tsarevich Arthur to be brought out of the dungeon. He is pale and exhausted, but still refuses to relinquish his faith in Christ. Tsar Demian orders him to be bound in fetters. Chained by hands and feet, the Tsarevich praises the Heavenly Father, the Mother of God, and the Holy Trinity. Enter the Giant Knight. He has neared the city walls with his forces to free the anguished Tsarevich. Tsar Demian orders Anika the Warrior to defend the city. The Giant Knight challenges Anika the Warrior to fight him. A battle ensues. Anika the Warrior defeat the Giant Knight and his foreign forces. A black raven circles above the dead bodies.

Part Five
Girls do a round dance. Venus flies onto the Martian field. She wants to seduce the daring god Mars. Having heard the singing, an irritated Mars appears. The two surrender to love. Tsar Demian calls for his pages, and again sends for his disobedient son. Tsarevich Arthur is barely alive, but persists in believing the in the one Lord Jesus Christ. Tsar Demian orders him to be executed and summons his old knight, Brambeus. Enter the 150 year-old Brambeus. Tsar Demian commands him to be Tsarevich Arthur's executioner. Brambeus must obey the will of his monarch. It is now time for Tsarevich Arthur to say farewell to the world and his father. Brambeus executes Tsarevich Arthur and then kills himself. The old Gravedigger and his wife bury the dead. Tsar Demian is crestfallen. He wants to console himself with Venus, but discovers that she has abandoned him and run away with the god Mars. Tsar Demian mourns his lost youth. He repents the killing of his son, the heir to the throne. He repents the betraying of his Christian faith. Death appears. Tsar Demian pleads her to allow him to live three more years, three more months, and three more days. But death is merciless. She brings the sinful Tsar to divine judgment.

Epilogue
The Barker asks the Guardian Angel to revive the Tsarevich Arthur. The Tsarevich awakes from his long sleep. The Gravedigger and Malashka awaken the Giant Knight and Brambeus. Tsar Demian also awakens. He hands the tsar's throne to Arthur and moves to a monastery. The people praise their Savior.