Dosifey and his followers have taken refuge in a hermitage in the forest.
Although he is weighed down by the sorrows and sufferings of the brethren, he remains defiant and determined to win a "crown of glory" in fire and flame ("Here, in this holy place").
He exhorts the brethren to don white clothing and light candles, preparing for immolation.
They enter the hermitage.
Prince Andrey Khovansky enters, singing of his lost love, still seeking Emma.
Marfa sings to him, reminding him of their own love, and assuring him that she will not leave him.
Dosifey and the brethren return, dressed in white and carrying candles.
They build a funeral pyre.
Offstage trumpet calls herald the approach of Tsar Peter's soldiers.
Marfa sings to Andrey of the hopelessness of their situation.
The trumpet calls sound again.
Dosifey exhorts the brethren to remain strong one last time.
Marfa lights the pyre.
The schismatics sing a final hymn ("God will save me").
As Dosifey, Marfa, Prince Andrey Khovansky, and the Old Believers perish in the flames, [Tsar Peter's Preobrazhensky soldiers arrive in a vain attempt to capture them.]

Mussorgsky's original vocal score remained unfinished.
The final portion of the libretto must be reconstructed from Mussorgsky's themes.
The Rimsky-Korsakov edition (1883) adds to the final hymn figures representing flames, trumpet fanfares, and a final reprise of the "March of the Preobrazhensky Regiment" that concludes act 4.
The Stravinsky version of the finale (1913) follows Mussorgsky's notes more closely in that the ending fades away.
The Shostakovich version attempts to provide a musical conclusion of the opera by bringing back the theme of the sunrise from the Prelude to the opera.
Dosifey and his followers have taken refuge in a hermitage in the forest. Although he is weighed down by the sorrows and sufferings of the brethren, he remains defiant and determined to win a "crown of glory" in fire and flame ("Here, in this holy place"). He exhorts the brethren to don white clothing and light candles, preparing for immolation. They enter the hermitage. Prince Andrey Khovansky enters, singing of his lost love, still seeking Emma. Marfa sings to him, reminding him of their own love, and assuring him that she will not leave him. Dosifey and the brethren return, dressed in white and carrying candles. They build a funeral pyre. Offstage trumpet calls herald the approach of Tsar Peter's soldiers. Marfa sings to Andrey of the hopelessness of their situation. The trumpet calls sound again. Dosifey exhorts the brethren to remain strong one last time. Marfa lights the pyre. The schismatics sing a final hymn ("God will save me"). As Dosifey, Marfa, Prince Andrey Khovansky, and the Old Believers perish in the flames, [Tsar Peter's Preobrazhensky soldiers arrive in a vain attempt to capture them.]
Mussorgsky's original vocal score remained unfinished. The final portion of the libretto must be reconstructed from Mussorgsky's themes. The Rimsky-Korsakov edition (1883) adds to the final hymn figures representing flames, trumpet fanfares, and a final reprise of the "March of the Preobrazhensky Regiment" that concludes act 4. The Stravinsky version of the finale (1913) follows Mussorgsky's notes more closely in that the ending fades away. The Shostakovich version attempts to provide a musical conclusion of the opera by bringing back the theme of the sunrise from the Prelude to the opera.
Khovanshchina