The youngest saint in Orthodoxy. Russian saints
The first Russian saints - who are they? Perhaps by learning more about them, we will find revelations of our own spiritual path.
Saints Boris and Gleb
Boris Vladimirovich (Prince of Rostov) and Gleb Vladimirovich (Prince of Murom), at baptism Roman and David. Russian princes, sons of Grand Duke Vladimir Svyatoslavich. In the internecine struggle for the throne of Kyiv, which broke out in 1015 after the death of their father, they were killed by their own elder brother for their Christian beliefs. Young Boris and Gleb, knowing about the intentions, did not use weapons against the attackers.
Princes Boris and Gleb became the first saints to be canonized by the Russian Church. They were not the first saints of the Russian land, since later the Church began to honor the Varangians Theodore and John, who lived before them, martyrs for the faith, who died under pagan Vladimir, Princess Olga and Prince Vladimir, as Equal-to-the-Apostles Enlighteners Russia. But Saints Boris and Gleb were the first crowned chosen ones of the Russian Church, her first wonderworkers and recognized heavenly prayer books "for the new Christian people." The chronicles are full of stories about the miracles of healing that took place at their relics (special emphasis was placed on the glorification of the brothers as healers in the 12th century), about the victories won in their name and with their help, about the pilgrimage of princes to their grave.
Their veneration was immediately established, as a nationwide, before church canonization. The Greek metropolitans at first doubted the holiness of miracle workers, but Metropolitan John, who doubted most of all, soon himself suffered imperishable bodies princes in new church, established a holiday for them (July 24) and made a service to them. This was the first example of the firm faith of the Russian people in their new saints. This was the only way to overcome all the canonical doubts and resistance of the Greeks, who were generally not inclined to encourage the religious nationalism of the newly baptized people.
Rev. Theodosius Pechersky
Rev. Theodosius, the father of Russian monasticism, was the second saint solemnly canonized by the Russian Church, and her first reverend. Just as Boris and Gleb forestalled St. Olga and Vladimir, St. Theodosius was canonized earlier than Anthony, his teacher and the first founder of Kiev -Caves monastery. The ancient life of St. Anthony, if it existed, was lost early.
Anthony, when the brethren began to gather for him, left her in the care of hegumen Varlaam, who had been appointed by him, and shut himself up in a secluded cave, where he remained until his death. He was not a mentor and abbot of the brethren, except for the very first newcomers, and his lonely exploits did not attract attention. Although he died just a year or two earlier than Theodosius, but by that time he was already the only focus of love and reverence not only for the monastic, already numerous brethren, but for all of Kyiv, if not all of southern Russia. In 1091 the relics of St. Theodosius were opened and transferred to the great Pechersk Church of the Assumption of the Virgin, which spoke of his local, monastic veneration. And in 1108, at the initiative Grand Duke Svyagopolk, the Metropolitan and the bishops perform his solemn (general) canonization. Even before the transfer of his relics, 10 years later after the death of the saint, Ven. Nestor wrote his life, extensive and rich in content.
Saints of the Kiev Caves Patericon
In the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery, in the Near (Antoniev) and Far (Feodosiev) caves, the relics of 118 saints rest, most of whom are known only by name (there are also nameless ones). Almost all of these saints were monks of the monastery, pre-Mongolian and post-Mongolian times, locally revered here. Metropolitan Petro Mohyla canonized them in 1643, instructing them to compose a common service. And only in 1762, by decree of the Holy Synod, the Kievan saints were included in the all-Russian calendars.
We know about the lives of thirty of the Kievan saints from the so-called Kievo-Pechersky Patericon. Pateriks in ancient Christian literature were called summary biographies of ascetics - ascetics of a certain area: Egypt, Syria, Palestine. These eastern patericons have been known in translations in Russia since the first times of Russian Christianity and have had a very strong influence on the education of our monasticism in the spiritual life. The Caves Patericon has its own long and complex history, according to which one can fragmentarily judge ancient Russian religiosity, Russian monasticism and monastic life.
Rev. Abraham Smolensky
One of the very few ascetics of the pre-Mongol period, from whom a detailed biography compiled by his student Ephraim remained. Rev. Abraham of Smolensk was not only honored in his hometown after his death (at the beginning of the 13th century), but also canonized at one of the Moscow Makarievsky cathedrals (probably in 1549). Biography of St. Abraham conveys the image of the ascetic great strength, full of original features, perhaps unique in the history of Russian holiness.
The Monk Abraham of Smolensk, a preacher of repentance and the coming Last Judgment, was born in the middle of the twelfth century. in Smolensk from wealthy parents who had 12 daughters before him and prayed to God for a son. From childhood, he grew up in the fear of God, often attended church and had the opportunity to study from books. After the death of his parents, having distributed all his property to monasteries, churches and the poor, the monk walked around the city in rags, praying to God to show the way of salvation.
He took tonsure and, as an obedience, copied books and served the Divine Liturgy every day. Abraham was dry and pale from his labors. The saint was strict with himself and with his spiritual children. He himself painted two icons on the topics that occupied him most of all: on one he depicted Last Judgment, and on the other - torture in ordeals.
When, due to slander, he was forbidden to serve as a priest, various troubles opened up in the city: drought and disease. But at his prayer for the city and the inhabitants, heavy rain fell, and the drought ended. Then everyone was convinced with their own eyes of his righteousness and began to highly respect and respect him.
From the life before us appears an image of an ascetic, unusual in Russia, with a tense inner life, with anxiety and excitement, escaping in a stormy, emotional prayer, with a gloomy - repentant idea of \u200b\u200bhuman destiny, not a healer pouring oil, but a stern teacher, animated, can - be a prophetic inspiration.
holy princes
The holy "believing" princes constitute a special, very numerous rank of saints in the Russian Church. You can count about 50 princes and princesses canonized for general or local veneration. The veneration of the holy princes intensified during the time of the Mongol yoke. In the first century of the Tatar region, with the destruction of monasteries, Russian monastic holiness almost dried up. The feat of the holy princes becomes the main, historically important, not only a national matter, but also a church service.
If we single out the holy princes who enjoyed universal, and not just local, veneration, then this is St. Olga, Vladimir, Mikhail Chernigovsky, Feodor Yaroslavsky with sons David and Konstantin. In 1547-49, Alexander Nevsky and Mikhail Tverskoy were added to them. But Michael of Chernigov, the martyr, takes first place. The piety of the holy princes is expressed in devotion to the church, in prayer, in the building of churches, and in respect for the clergy. Love for poverty, care for the weak, orphans and widows, less often justice is always noted.
The Russian Church does not canonize national or political merits in its holy princes. This is confirmed by the fact that among the holy princes we do not find those who did the most for the glory of Russia and for its unity: neither Yaroslav the Wise, nor Vladimir Monomakh, with all their undoubted piety, no one among the princes of Moscow, except for Daniil Alexandrovich, locally venerated in the Danilov Monastery built by him, and canonized no earlier than the 18th or 19th century. On the other hand, Yaroslavl and Murom gave the Church holy princes who were completely unknown to chronicles and history. The Church does not canonize any politics - neither Moscow, nor Novgorod, nor Tatar; neither unifying nor specific. This is often forgotten these days.
Saint Stephen of Perm
Stephen of Perm occupies a very special place in the host of Russian saints, standing somewhat apart from the broad historical tradition, but expressing new, perhaps not fully disclosed, possibilities in Russian Orthodoxy. St. Stephen is a missionary who gave his life for the conversion of the pagan people - the Zyryans.
St. Stephen was from Veliky Ustyug, in the Dvina land, which just in his time (in the XIV century) from the Novgorod colonial territory became dependent on Moscow. Russian cities were islands in the middle of a foreign sea. The waves of this sea approached Ustyug itself, around which the settlements of the western Permians, or, as we call them, the Zyryans, began. Others, Eastern Permians, lived on the Kama River, and their baptism was the work of the successors of St. Stephen. There is no doubt that both the acquaintance with the Permians and their language, and the idea of preaching the Gospel among them, date back to the saint's teenage years. Being one of the most smart people of my time, knowing Greek language, he leaves books and teachings for the sake of preaching the cause of love, Stefan chose to go to the Permian land and do missionary work - alone. His successes and trials are depicted in a number of scenes from nature, which are not devoid of humor and perfectly characterize the naive, but naturally kind Zyryansk worldview.
He did not combine the baptism of the Zyryans with their Russification, he created the Zyryan script, he translated the service for them and St. Scripture. He did for the Zyryans what Cyril and Methodius did for the entire Slavic people. He also compiled the Zyryan alphabet based on local runes - signs for notches on a tree.
Rev. Sergius of Radonezh
The new asceticism that arises from the second quarter of the 14th century, after the Tatar yoke, is very different from the ancient Russian one. This is the asceticism of the hermits. Having undertaken the most difficult feat, and, moreover, necessarily associated with contemplative prayer, the hermit monks will raise their spiritual life to a new height, not yet reached in Russia. The head and teacher of the new desert-living monasticism was Rev. Sergius, the greatest of saints ancient Russia. Majority Saints XIV and the beginning of the 15th century are his students or "interlocutors", that is, those who experienced his spiritual influence. Life of Rev. Sergius was preserved thanks to his contemporary and student Epiphanius (the Wise), the biographer of Stefan of Perm.
Life makes it clear that his humble meekness is the main spiritual fabric of the personality of Sergius of Radonezh. Rev. Sergius never punishes spiritual children. In the very miracles of his ven. Sergius seeks to belittle himself, to belittle his spiritual strength. Rev. Sergius is the spokesman for the Russian ideal of holiness, despite the sharpening of both polar ends of it: the mystical and the political. The mystic and the politician, the hermit and the Cenobite are combined in his blessed fullness.
Holiness is purity of heart seeking uncreated divine energy manifesting in the gifts of the Holy Spirit as many colored rays in the solar spectrum. Pious ascetics are the link between earthly world And heavenly kingdom. Penetrated by the light of divine grace, they, through contemplation of God and communion with God, come to know the highest spiritual mysteries. In earthly life, the saints, performing the feat of self-denial for the sake of the Lord, receive the highest grace of divine Revelation. According to biblical teaching, holiness is likening a person to God, who is the only bearer of all-perfect life and its unique source.
What is canonization
The ecclesiastical procedure for canonization of a righteous person is called canonization. She encourages believers to honor the recognized saint in public worship. As a rule, church recognition of piety is preceded by popular glory and veneration, but it was the act of canonization that made it possible to glorify the saints by creating icons, writing lives, compiling prayers and church services. The reason for official canonization can be the feat of the righteous, the incredible deeds he has done, his whole life or martyrdom. And after death, a person can be recognized as a saint because of the incorruptibility of his relics, or miracles of healing occurring at his remains.
In the event that a saint is venerated within the same church, city or monastery, they speak of diocesan, local canonization.
Recognizes official church and the existence of unknown saints, the proof of whose piety is not yet known to the entire Christian flock. They are called the revered dead righteous and they are served memorial services, while prayers are served to the canonized saints.
Already in the 11th century, a laudatory biography of princes Boris and Gleb appeared, where the unknown author of the life is Russian. The holy names are recognized by the church and added to the calendars. In the 12th and 13th centuries, along with the monastic desire to enlighten the northeast of Russia, the number of biographical works also grew. Russian authors wrote for reading during Divine Liturgy lives of Russian saints. The names, the list of which was recognized by the Church for glorification, have now received historical personality, and holy deeds and miracles were enshrined in a literary monument.
In the 15th century there was a change in the style of writing lives. The main attention the authors began to pay not to factual data, but to the skillful use of the artistic word, the beauty of the literary language, the ability to pick up a lot of impressive comparisons. Skillful scribes of that period became known. For example, Epiphanius the Wise, who wrote the vivid lives of Russian saints, whose names were most famous for the people - Stephen of Perm and Sergius of Radonezh.
Many lives are considered a source of information about important historical events. From the biography of Alexander Nevsky, you can learn about political relations with the Horde. The lives of Boris and Gleb tell of princely civil strife before the unification of Russia. The creation of a literary and ecclesiastical biographical work largely determined which names of Russian saints, their deeds and virtues would become most known to a wide circle of believers.
Today we all know very well Nicholas the Wonderworker, Seraphim of Sarov, Sergius of Radonezh and many other Saints. We pray to them, celebrate the days of their memory, we know their lives, we name our children after them at baptism. But there are Saints we don't know. The days of remembrance pass unnoticed for us, and we have never heard Their names, not to mention their lives, although services, akathists have been compiled for some, Their images have been written ...
Ivan Okhlobystin needs no introduction. The famous Russian actor has publicly expressed and confirmed his commitment to Orthodoxy more than once. The public became aware of this back in 1997, when he began hosting the religious television program Canon. And in early 2001, after the release of Down House with his participation, it turned out that Okhlobystin was ordained a priest by Archbishop Vladimir (Ikim) of Tashkent and Central Asia in the Tashkent diocese.
The wife could not endure the Tashkent heat, and after seven months of service at the end of the year, the family returned back to Moscow, where a presentation of a short film about Prince Daniel took place. At the same time, President Vladimir Putin presented Ivan with a personalized gold watch “For Services to the Fatherland”, although he did not understand why exactly - either for a series of TV films “Lives of the Saints”, or for reports from warring Serbia made for the program “ Canon"
Ivan Okhlobystin wrote back in 2008 interesting article, in which he chose the thirteen most, in his opinion, revered Orthodox saints and explained why they are honored.
What is revered for: He beat Arius for heresy, this happened during the Ecumenical Council, and according to the rules, he was immediately deposed for a fight. However, on the same night, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to all the participants in the Ecumenical Council in a dream and categorically ordered that he be returned. Nikolai Ugodnik was a fiery, passionately believing person, he was kind, saved so many people from unfair litigation.
He is best known for giving gifts at Christmas. And it was like this: his neighbor went bankrupt and was going to marry his daughters to unloved, old, but rich. When Nikolai Ugodnik found out about this injustice, he decided to give his neighbor all the gold of the church in which he was a bishop. He found out about it just before Christmas. Nicholas the Pleasant went to the temple, collected gold, but there was a lot of it, he couldn’t carry it in his hands, and then he decided to pour everything into a sock, and threw the sock to a neighbor. The neighbor was able to pay off his creditors, and the girls did not suffer, and the tradition of giving Christmas gifts in socks has survived to this day.
It is worth noting that Nikolai Ugodnik is a saint infinitely revered by the Russian people. In the times of Peter the Great, the main argument in the unwillingness to cut beards was the following: “How can I stand before Nikolai Ugodnik without a beard!” He was very understandable to the Russian people. For me, this is a very warm saint, I can’t explain and motivate this, but I feel it very strongly in my heart.
What is revered for: He excelled in the same Ecumenical Council, as Nicholas the Pleasant, proving the binary nature of Christ. He squeezed a brick in his hand and received sand and water, thus proving that there can be two natures in one. But much more interesting is another case connected with this saint.
It is known that Gogol finally gained a foothold in Orthodox faith after visiting Corfu. Gogol and his English friend were taken out incorruptible relics Spyridon Trimifuntsky. During this course, the relics of the saint are carried on a special stretcher, in a crystal shrine. Watching the procession, the Englishman told Gogol that this was a mummification, and the seams were not visible, because they were on the back and covered with a robe. And at that moment, the relics of Spyridon of Trimifuntsky stirred, he turned his back on them and threw off the robes thrown over his shoulders, demonstrating a completely clean back. After this event, Gogol finally fell into religion, and the Englishman converted to Orthodoxy and, according to unconfirmed reports, eventually became a bishop.
What is revered for: Everyone knows its history. She was the wife of the regent of the royal choir. She loved her husband passionately, and when he died, she went out into the street in his clothes and said that it was Xenia who died, and not Ivan Fedorovich. Many thought she was crazy. Later, everything changed, she performed miracles during her lifetime. The merchants considered it a great honor if she came to their shop - because then the trade was much better.
I have felt her help many times in my life. Whenever I come to St. Petersburg, the main purpose of my trip is not to visit the Hermitage or other museums and temples, but to visit the chapel of Xenia of St. Petersburg and the church where she prayed.
What is revered for: At one time, Basil the Blessed was the only person, except for Metropolitan Philip, who dared to tell Ivan the Terrible the truth, without thinking about how his fate might develop in the future. He had the gift of miracles.
True, nothing came into contact with him personally, except for the views of St. Basil's Cathedral, but I feel in my heart that this is a great saint, he is very close to me.
What is revered for: She is praying for children. Once I was in Yugoslavia, I went there for Easter, just at that time the Americans were just starting to bomb these territories. I visited Praskovya Pyatnitsa Monastery and prayed for the children, of whom I have many. There they gave me the simplest icon of her, such an ordinary, cardboard one. I brought her to Moscow. I decided to bring it to the temple to show it, my friend carried it in his bag, since I had nowhere to put it. And the entrance to the temple was through a gate with a gate bell tower. I decided to climb the bell tower, and my friend went further. Then I remembered that I had forgotten to take the Praskovya Pyatnitsa icon from him, and called out to him. A friend took a step towards me, and at the same moment a hammer fell from the bell tower to the place where my friend had just stood. He fell with such force that he broke through the asphalt and entered it up to the handle. This is how Praskovya Friday saved my friend.
What is revered for: They pray to him to protect him from theft. I myself did not pray to him about protection from theft, but this is just my saint. This is military. He was once a major Roman military leader. He accepted Christianity, re-registered all the property for the nascent church, thereby giving a strong impetus to the formation of Christianity. They did not dare to execute him, because he was a hero, but simply sent him into exile.
What is revered for: Beloved saint of Odessans. Practically our contemporary, he died in December 1964. He was so revered that on the day of his death, the authorities banned receiving messages about this on telegraphs, so as not to provoke a flow of believers to Odessa.
The Monk Kuksha was infinitely kind, bright and cheerful. He was not a martyr, but he could soothe and relieve any mental trauma with his own words. He healed people both before his death and after. The Monk Kuksha of Odessa is very close to my heart.
What is revered for: He is known for the fact that when the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to him and ordered him to go across the lake to build the Svir Monastery, he stood on a stone and swam across the lake on a stone. This poetic image is very sympathetic to me. And now, in my heart, I feel that he can help me and will not leave me in prayer.
What is revered for: Its history is known to all. He, along with Nikolai Ugodnik, is a saint who is very close and understandable to the heart of a Russian person.
10. Forty (40) Martyrs of Sebaste.
What is revered for: I'll tell their story modern language. These were 40 contract soldiers, an invincible cohort, veteran soldiers who had faithfully served the emperor for many years, but converted to Christianity. At that time, the attitude towards Christians was extremely contradictory. And this fact seemed extremely suspicious to local officials. They drove them into the lake in winter so that the soldiers would cool their hot minds, change their minds and renounce Christianity.
The military did not want to give up their beliefs, they remained standing in the lake until everyone died. One of them lost heart, got out of the water and went to warm himself in the bathhouse, which was heated on the shore, and died there due to a sharp temperature drop and the lack of God's protection. And the attendant, seeing the courage of the soldiers, considered it an honor to share their convictions and death. I really like the spirit of collective feeling in this story.
What is revered for: This is the well-known Admiral Ushakov. Ushakov was an orthodox person and an ideal military man who shared all the hardships with his soldiers. Thanks to his courage, his faith in the power of Christ, he won many victories. He is recognized as a saint, including in Greece.
For more details on why the church canonized Admiral Ushakov,
Why are they revered: Daniil of Moscow is one of those people who, in bloody times for Russia, decided everything by peace. Did not participate in internecine strife. When dividing his father's inheritance, he got a rather worthless territory of the Moscow principality. During the years of his reign, he managed not to enter into intrigues, not to encroach on foreign territories, and when his own brother went to him with a war, he defeated him with a small army, and then let him in. And this elder brother, pacified by the nobility and peacefulness of Daniel of Moscow, when he died, bequeathed his principality to him, and as a result, Daniel of Moscow became the most powerful prince. With all your humility.
What is revered for: He was a slave in the court of a wealthy Christian woman. He lived with his mistress in a civil marriage and led an extremely wild life. Then it was considered very honorable to have a reliquary in your home church. At that time, and this was already the decline of the Roman Empire, quite a few Christians were still executed. So he went on the orders of his mistress to look for the relics of the martyrs.
He walked for a long time, did not find anything, but got to the execution of Christians and during this execution he decided to declare himself a Christian and sacrifice himself for his mistress. Then his relics were handed over to this woman. And after a while she left worldly life and dedicated herself to God. Such is the story.
I would like to hear your opinion in the comments to the article: “Who do you think is the most revered saint in Orthodox Russia?”
Russian saints... The list of God's saints is inexhaustible. By their way of life they pleased the Lord and through this they became closer to eternal existence. Every saint has his own face. This term refers to the category to which God's Pleaser at his canonization. These include the great martyrs, martyrs, reverend, righteous, unmercenaries, apostles, saints, passion-bearers, holy fools (blessed), faithful and equal to the apostles.
Suffering in the name of the Lord
The first saints of the Russian Church among the saints of God are the great martyrs who suffered for the faith of Christ, dying in heavy and long agony. Among the Russian saints, the brothers Boris and Gleb were the first to be ranked in this face. That is why they are called first martyrs - passion-bearers. In addition, the Russian saints Boris and Gleb were the first canonized in the history of Russia. The brothers died in the throne, which began after the death of Prince Vladimir. Yaropolk, nicknamed the Accursed, first killed Boris when he was sleeping in a tent, being on one of the campaigns, and then Gleb.
Face like the Lord
The saints are those saints who led while in prayer, labor and fasting. Among the Russian saints of God, one can single out Reverend Seraphim Sarovsky and Sergius of Radonezh, Savva Storozhevsky and Methodius Peshnoshko. The first saint in Russia, canonized in this face, is considered the monk Nikolai Svyatosha. Before accepting the rank of monk, he was a prince, the great-grandson of Yaroslav the Wise. Renouncing worldly goods, the monk asceticised himself as a monk in Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. Nicholas the Svyatosha is revered as a miracle worker. It is believed that his sackcloth (coarse woolen shirt), left after his death, cured one sick prince.
Sergius of Radonezh - the chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit
The 14th-century Russian saint Sergius of Radonezh, in the world Bartholomew, deserves special attention. He was born into a pious family of Mary and Cyril. It is believed that while still in the womb, Sergius showed his God's chosen. During one of the Sunday liturgies, the unborn Bartholomew cried out three times. At that time, his mother, like the rest of the parishioners, was terrified and embarrassed. After his birth, the monk did not drink breast milk if Mary ate meat that day. On Wednesdays and Fridays, little Bartholomew went hungry and did not take his mother's breast. In addition to Sergius, there were two more brothers in the family - Peter and Stefan. Parents raised their children in Orthodoxy and strictness. All the brothers, except for Bartholomew, studied well and knew how to read. And only the youngest in their family was given a hard time reading - the letters blurred before his eyes, the boy was lost, not daring to utter a word. Sergius suffered greatly from this and fervently prayed to God in the hope of gaining the ability to read. One day, again ridiculed by his brothers for his illiteracy, he ran into the field and met an old man there. Bartholomew spoke about his sadness and asked the monk to pray for him to God. The elder gave the boy a piece of prosphora, promising that the Lord would surely grant him a letter. In gratitude for this, Sergius invited the monk to the house. Before taking the meal, the elder asked the boy to read the psalms. Shy, Bartholomew took the book, afraid even to look at the letters that always blurred before his eyes ... But a miracle! - the boy began to read as if he had already known the letter for a long time. The elder predicted to his parents that their youngest son would be great, since he is the chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit. After such a fateful meeting, Bartholomew began to strictly fast and pray constantly.
The Beginning of the Monastic Path
At the age of 20, the Russian Saint Sergius of Radonezh asked his parents to give him a blessing to take the tonsure. Cyril and Maria begged their son to stay with them until their very death. Not daring to disobey, Bartholomew lived with his parents until the Lord took their souls. After burying his father and mother, the young man, along with his older brother Stefan, set out to be tonsured. In the desert called Makovets, the brothers are building the Trinity Church. Stefan cannot stand the harsh ascetic lifestyle that his brother adhered to and goes to another monastery. At the same time, Bartholomew takes tonsure and becomes monk Sergius.
Trinity Sergius Lavra
The world-famous monastery of Radonezh was once born in a dense forest, in which the monk once retired. Sergius was in every day. He ate plant foods, and wild animals were his guests. But one day, several monks found out about the great feat of asceticism performed by Sergius, and decided to come to the monastery. There these 12 monks remained. It was they who became the founders of the Lavra, which was soon headed by the monk himself. Prince Dmitry Donskoy, who was preparing for a battle with the Tatars, came to Sergius for advice. After the death of the monk, 30 years later, his relics were found, which to this day perform a miracle of healing. This Russian saint still invisibly receives pilgrims to his monastery.
Righteous and Blessed
Righteous saints deserve God's grace through a pious lifestyle. They are treated as worldly people as well as the clergy. The parents of Sergius of Radonezh, Cyril and Mary, who were true Christians and taught Orthodoxy to their children, are considered righteous.
The blessed are those saints who deliberately took the form of people not of this world, becoming ascetics. Among the Russian Satisfiers of God, who lived in the time of Ivan the Terrible, Ksenia of Petersburg, who refused all blessings and went on distant wanderings after the death of her beloved husband, Matrona of Moscow, who became famous for the gift of clairvoyance and healing during her lifetime, is especially revered. It is believed that I. Stalin himself, who was not distinguished by religiosity, listened to the blessed Matronushka and her prophetic words.
Ksenia - holy fool for Christ's sake
The blessed one was born in the first half of the 18th century into a family of pious parents. Having become an adult, she married the singer Alexander Fedorovich and lived with him in joy and happiness. When Xenia was 26 years old, her husband died. Unable to bear such grief, she gave away her property, put on her husband's clothes and went on a long wandering. After that, the blessed one did not respond to her name, asking to be called Andrei Fedorovich. “Xenia died,” she assured. The saint began to wander the streets of St. Petersburg, occasionally dropping in to dine with her acquaintances. Some people mocked the heartbroken woman and made fun of her, but Ksenia endured all the humiliations without a murmur. Only once did she show her anger when the local boys threw stones at her. After what they saw, the locals stopped mocking the blessed one. Xenia of Petersburg, having no shelter, prayed at night in the field, and then again came to the city. The blessed one quietly helped the workers to build a stone church at the Smolensk cemetery. At night, she tirelessly laid bricks in a row, contributing to the speedy construction of the church. For all the good deeds, patience and faith, the Lord gave Xenia the Blessed the gift of clairvoyance. She predicted the future, and also saved many girls from unsuccessful marriages. Those people who Ksenia came to became happier and more successful. Therefore, everyone tried to serve the saint and bring her into the house. Ksenia of Petersburg died at the age of 71. She was buried at the Smolensk cemetery, where the Church built by her own hands was nearby. But even after physical death, Ksenia continues to help people. Great miracles were performed at her tomb: the sick were healed, those seeking family happiness successfully married and married. It is believed that Xenia especially patronizes unmarried women and already held wives and mothers. A chapel was built over the tomb of the blessed one, to which crowds of people still come, asking the saint for intercession before God and thirsting for healing.
holy sovereigns
Monarchs, princes and kings who have distinguished themselves
a pious way of life, conducive to strengthening the faith and position of the church. The first Russian Saint Olga was just canonized in this category. Among the faithful, Prince Dmitry Donskoy, who won the Kulikovo field after the appearance of the holy image of Nicholas, stands out in particular; Alexander Nevsky, who did not compromise with catholic church to keep their power. He was recognized as the only secular Orthodox sovereign. Among the faithful there are other famous Russian saints. Prince Vladimir is one of them. He was canonized in connection with his great work - the baptism of all Russia in 988.
Sovereigns - God's Satisfiers
Princess Anna was also counted among the holy saints, thanks to whose wife relative peace was observed between the Scandinavian countries and Russia. During her lifetime, she built it in honor of it, since she received this name at baptism. Blessed Anna honored the Lord and sacredly believed in him. Shortly before her death, she took the tonsure and died. Memorial Day - October 4, Julian style, but modern Orthodox calendar this date, unfortunately, is not mentioned.
The first Russian holy princess Olga, in baptism Elena, accepted Christianity, influencing its further spread throughout Russia. Thanks to her activities, contributing to the strengthening of faith in the state, she was canonized as a saint.
Servants of the Lord on earth and in heaven
Hierarchs are such saints of God who were clergymen and received a special favor from the Lord for their way of life. One of the first saints assigned to this face was Dionysius, Archbishop of Rostov. Arriving from Athos, he headed the Spaso-Stone Monastery. People were drawn to his abode, as he knew human soul and could always guide those in need on the right path.
Among all the canonized saints, the archbishop Mirlikisky Nikolai Wonderworker. And although the saint is not of Russian origin, he truly became the protector of our country, always being on right hand from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The great Russian saints, whose list continues to grow to this day, can patronize a person if he prays earnestly and sincerely to them. You can contact the Pleasers of God in different situations - worldly needs and illnesses, or just wanting to thank Higher power for a peaceful and serene life. Be sure to purchase icons of Russian saints - it is believed that prayer in front of the image is the most effective. It is also desirable that you have nominal icon- the image of the saint in whose honor you are baptized.
The Most Holy Theotokos herself is considered the intercessor and patroness of Russia. It is not surprising, therefore, that there are women among the almost 300 Russian Orthodox saints. And the first person to accept Christianity in Russia was Princess Olga.
1. Euphrosyne of Polotsk
In the world, Euphrosyne of Polotsk was called Predslava. She was the daughter of Vitebsk Prince Svyatoslav Vseslavich.
Predslava with early years showed interest in spiritual life, as soon as the girl was 12 years old, she abandoned the dynastic marriage and on February 15, 1116 took secret tonsure in the Polotsk monastery.
A few years later, Euphrosinia took up the rewriting of books, which was a very laborious and lengthy process. Usually men received such obedience, but Euphrosinia was firm in her faith.
Saint Euphrosyne is credited with acquiring the Polotsk Sophia Cathedral Icons of the Mother of God of Ephesus. Euphrosyne also commissioned a cross-reliquary from master Lazar Bogshe, which became known as her name. Euphrosyne of Polotsk died during a pilgrimage in Jerusalem on May 23, 1167. She was venerated in Polotsk shortly after her death, but Euphrosyne was canonized only in 1893.
Euphrosyne of Polotsk was a prominent church leader of her time. She initiated the construction of the Savior Monastery for women, took part in the political life of the principality and became a kind of banner of the Polovtsy struggle for their independence.
It is interesting that in the life of St. Euphrosyne there is no story about posthumous miracles.
2. Princess Olga
Princess Olga is the only Russian woman who has been canonized as a Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles. Olga was the first in Russia to accept Christianity, even before Baptism.
Very little is known about Olga's youth, the most accurate information about her appears in the annals of 945, when her husband Igor dies. Then Nestor describes in the annals of Olga's revenge on the Drevlyans, who were guilty of the death of the prince.
From 947, Olga begins to rule herself. She sets up a churchyard system, opens up several overland routes, sets the size of a field. It was Olga who laid the foundation for stone construction in Russia.
In 955, Olga was baptized in Constantinople under the name Elena. The princess tried to introduce Christianity to her son Svyatoslav, but he remained a pagan until the end of his life.
Saint Olga was already recognized during the reign of Yaropolk, her grandson, and in 1547 Princess Olga was canonized as a Saint Equal-to-the-Apostles.
3. Matrona of Moscow
Matrona of Moscow is one of the most popular Russian saints. She was canonized relatively recently - in 1999.
Matrona was born blind. Parents wanted to leave the child in an orphanage, but the girl's mother had a dream prophetic dream about a blind dove, and they left Matron. Already at the age of 8, the girl was deeply religious, she had the gift of predicting the future and healing the sick. By the age of 18, Matrona of Moscow lost her legs.
For most of her life, Matrona lived with fellow villager Evdokia Mikhailovna Zhdanova and her daughter Zinaida, hosted the suffering and sick. Matrona of Moscow died in 1952.
In 1999, Matrona was canonized as a locally revered saint, but people from all over Russia come to bow to her.
4. Xenia of Petersburg
Ksenia of Petersburg chose the path of foolishness at the age of 26. Many legends and memories about the prophetic gift of the saint have been preserved.
Xenia was born in the first half of the 18th century. Having reached the age of majority, Xenia married the court chorister Andrei Fedorovich Petrov. The young couple lived in St. Petersburg. Andrei Fedorovich did not die when Xenia was 26 years old.
The young widow embarked on the path of foolishness, began to respond only to her husband's name, distributed all their property to the poor, and gave the house to one of her friends, on the condition that she would let the poor sleep over.
The exact date of the death of Xenia of Petersburg is unknown. In 1988 Russian Orthodox Church ranked her among the holy fools.
5. Fevronia
The life of the saint became widely known after the publication of The Tale of Peter and Fevronia, which looked more like a fairy tale than a historical document. Fevronia was the daughter of a beekeeper. Once, Prince Peter turned to her for help, who promised to make her his bride if she healed him of his wounds. The girl cured Peter, but he did not keep his promise, and the disease returned. Then Peter took Fevronia as his wife. The boyars did not accept the common people's wife of the prince. Peter took his wife and left the city, in which turmoil broke out almost immediately, and the prince was asked to return back.
Peter and Fevronia ruled for many years, and in their old age they took monastic vows in different monasteries. They prayed to die on the same day and bequeathed to be buried together. When the request of Peter and Fevronia was not fulfilled, they miraculously ended up in the same coffin. The spouses were buried in 1228, and in 1547 they were canonized. Peter and Fevronia are considered the patrons of the family.
6. Anna Kashinskaya
Anna (in tonsure - Sofia) was born in the 13th century in the family of the Rostov prince Dmitry Borisovich. In 1299, she married Prince Mikhail Yaroslavich of Tver, and 20 years later he was killed in the Horde. Years later, her sons and grandson were executed in the Horde.
The year of Anna's tonsure is unknown, but in 1358 she is mentioned as the 80-year-old abbess of the Tver Convent in the name of St. Athanasius. Before her death, Anna took the schema.
The veneration of Anna Kashinsky began in 1611, when her remains were discovered in the Kashinsky church in the name of Holy Mother of God. In 1650, she was canonized, but already in 1677, as part of the struggle against double-digit baptism, decanonization was carried out, and the life of St. Anne was anathematized. Only in 1909, Emperor Nicholas II gave permission for re-canonization.
7. Juliana Lazarevskaya
The real name of Julian Lazarevskaya is Uliana Ustinovna Osorina. She was born in 1530 in a family of noble Nedyurevs. Since childhood, the girl was very pious and diligent. At the age of 16, she married Yuri Osorin, in marriage with him she gave birth to 13 children. After the death of two sons in the royal service, Ulyana began to beg her husband to let her monastery go. He agreed on the condition that before that she would raise the remaining children.
When a famine broke out during the reign of Boris Godunov, Juliana sold all her possessions to feed the poor.
Juliana died in 1604 and was buried in Murom. In 1614, when a grave was being dug nearby, the relics of Juliana were found, which exuded myrrh. Then several people were healed. In the same year, 1614, Juliana Lazarevskaya was canonized as a righteous woman.
8. Holy Princess Elizabeth Feodorovna
Elizaveta Feodorovna was the elder sister of Alexandra Feodorovna, the last Russian empress. In 1884, Elizaveta Feodorovna married Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, brother of Emperor Alexander III.
All her life Elizaveta Fedorovna was engaged in charity work. She organized the Elizabethan Benevolent Society, during the war she was engaged in medical care for soldiers. In 1905, her husband died in an assassination attempt.
Ovdovev Elizaveta Fyodorovna founded the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent of Mercy, which was engaged in medical and charitable work. Since 1909, the princess devoted her whole life to work in the monastery.
Elizaveta Fedorovna was killed and thrown into a mine in 1918 in the city of Alapaevsk, along with other members of the Romanov family. There is evidence that Elizabeth died later than the others, since chants were heard from the mine for some time.
In 1992, Elizaveta Feodorovna was canonized and included in the Cathedral of New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.
9. Varvara Skvorchikhinskaya
Blessed Barbara was born into the family of a priest. After studying to be a home teacher, the girl began to teach. She was a devout believer and often brought a priest to her classes, but when atheism began to be preached in schools, Varvara stopped working and chose the path of a recluse for herself.
She lived for over 35 years in an old barn, constantly praying and fasting. All these years, Varvara did not attend church, but she received priests and believers.
Varvara died in 1966, and in 2001 Patriarch Alexy II blessed her to glorify the ascetic among the locally venerated saints of the Ufa diocese.
10. Evdokia Dmitrievna
Evdokia Dmitrievna is also known as the Monk Evdokia of Moscow, during her lifetime she became famous for her charitable work. At the age of 15, she was married to the Moscow prince Dmitry Donskoy. She spent 22 years with him happy marriage, and after the death of her husband, she ruled for some time, being the guardian of the succession to the throne among her sons.
Evdokia Dmitrievna during her lifetime initiated the construction of many churches and monasteries, including the Ascension Convent. Under the leadership of Evdokia Dmitrievna, the Moscow militia was assembled to protect the city from Tamerlane. In 1407, the princess retired to the Ascension Monastery, where she was tonsured with the name Euphrosyne. Euphrosinia lived in monasticism for only a few months and died in the same year. In 1988 she was canonized together with her husband.
In 2007, a church award was established - the Order and Medal of St. Euphrosyne of Moscow.
11. Euphrosyne of Kolupanovskaya
Princess Evdokia Grigorievna Vyazemskaya was the maid of honor of Catherine II, but her desire to devote herself to serving God was so great that she staged own death and secretly left the yard. She wandered for more than 10 years, until in 1806 she met with Metropolitan Platon, who gave her a blessing for the feat of foolishness. From that moment on, the former princess settled in Serpukhov Vladychny Vvedensky convent under the name "Fool Euphrosyne".
It is known that Euphrosinia secretly wore chains and even went barefoot in winter.
When the abbess changed in the monastery, Euphrosyne began to be oppressed, which, in the end, forced the woman to leave the walls of the monastery. The former princess spent the last 10 years of her life in the village of Kolyupanovo in the house of the landowner Natalya Alekseevna Protopopova. Even during her lifetime, Efvrosinia Kolyupanovskaya was credited with the gift of healing and foresight. Blessed Euphrosyne reposed in 1855, but the veneration that began during her lifetime continued after her death.
In 1988, Euphrosyne of Kolupanovskaya was canonized among the Tula saints in the face of the blessed.
12. Juliana Vyazemskaya
The fate of Juliana Vyazemskaya bears little resemblance to the fate of other Russian saints. She was the wife of Prince Simeon Mstislavich Vyazemsky, until Smolensk prince Yuri Svyatoslavovich did not try to forcibly bring Juliana to him "although live with her." Unable to endure the outrage, the princess stabbed the offender with a knife, and he, in a fit of rage, killed her husband, cut off her arms and legs herself, and ordered her body to be thrown into the Tvertsa River.
In the spring of 1407, the body of the martyr Juliana was found floating against the current of the Tvertets River. The found body of the saint was buried at the southern doors of the Transfiguration Cathedral in the city of Torzhok, soon after that, miraculous healings began to occur at the burial site.
The exact date of the canonization of Juliania Vyazemskaya as a locally venerated saint is unknown, but many historians believe that this happened in 1815, the year the saint's relics were rediscovered.
