Russia, Kiev, 1100, 12th - 14th Century, Ukraine Folder, Novgorod Republic Time.kmz

Russia, Kiev, 1100, 12th - 14th Century, Ukraine Folder, Novgorod Republic Time

Russia, Kiev, 1100-1199, 12th Century Folder, Monomashichi and Olgovichi

Russia, Kiev, 1101-1123 , Saint Theoctistus, Bishop of Chernigov from K Caves, angel flames of fire story
Russia, Kiev, 1101-1123 , Saint Theoctistus, Bishop of Chernigov from Kiev Far Caves; Theoctistus, Bishop of Chernigov, before assuming the episcopal office, pursued an ascetic life at the Kiev Caves monastery. He was one of the great Elders, healing Saint Nikḗtas, the future Bishop of Novgorod (January 31), by his prayers. the year 1103, Saint Theoctistus was made igumen of the Kiev Caves monastery. In the year 1108 he built a stone trapeza (dining hall) through the generosity of the pious prince Gleb Vseslavich. Saint Theoctistus particularly insisted that the name of Saint Theodosius (May 3) be included in the Synodikon of the saints of all Russia. February 11, 1110, there was a heavenly apparition at the Caves monastery. A pillar of fire appeared, stretching from the ground to the sky, and lightning lighted up all the earth, At the first hour of the night, there was a crash of thunder. The fiery pillar stood over the stone trapeza so that its cross was not visible. Later, it proceeded to the church and settled over the grave of Saint Theodosius, and then, turning to the East, it disappeared. “This was not a pillar of fire, but rather an angelic face,” wrote Saint Nestor the Chronicler, “because an angel appears thus when there is a pillar of fire, a flaming, as says the Prophet David: Who makes His angels spirits and His servants flames of fire” (Ps. 103 [104]: 4). the year 1113, Saint Theoctistus was consecrated Bishop of Chernigov. The Hieromartyr Monk Kuksha (August 27), enlightening the Vyatichi at this time, belonged to the Chernigov diocese. On May 2, 1115 Saint Theoctistus participated in the transfer of the relics of holy Princes Boris and Gleb to Vyshgorod, and later in Chernigov near his cathedral he consecrated a church in the name of the holy Princes Boris and Gleb, built in the year 1120 by Prince David of Chernigov. And to the noble Prince Passion-Bearers Boris and Gleb the saint made a sermon on the day of their memory. On August 6, 1123, the Feast of the Transfiguration, Saint Theoctistus died, and because of the feastday, his memory is kept on August 5. one of the lists of the Saints it is said, that he was buried at the Caves monastery. Saint Theoctistus is also commemorated on September 28, when he is remembered in the 9th ode of the Canon of the Synaxis of the Monastic Fathers of the Near Caves. Kiev Far Caves - Berestovo Village ; Venerable Anthony of the Kiev Far Caves, Founder of Monasticism in Russia, Commemorated on July 10 ; Venerable Pambo the Recluse of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on July 18; Venerable Paisius of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on July 19; Venerable Polycarp the Archimandrite of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on July 24; Venerable Pimen the Faster of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on August 7; St Theodosius (Prince Theodore of Ostrog) of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on August 11; Translation of the relics of the Venerable Theodosius of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on August 14 ; Venerable Anthony of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on September 2; Venerable Theodosius of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated September 2 ; Venerable Paul the Obedient, of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on September 10; Venerable Dionysius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on October 3 ; Kiev Caves Caverns; Venerable Benjamin of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on October 13 ; Venerable Longinus the Gatekeeper of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on October 16 ; St Nestor (not the Chronicler) of the Far Kiev Caves, Commemorated on October 27 ; St Hilarion, Metropolitan of Kiev, Commemorated October 21 ; Venerable Martyrius the Deacon, Commemorated October 25; Venerable Martyrius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated October 25 ; St Theophilus of the Kiev Caves and Bishop of Novgorod, Commemorated on October 26 ; Venerable Mercurius the Faster of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated November 24 ; Venerable Athanasius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on December 2 ; Venerable Mardarius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves< Commemorated November 24 ; Venerable Mardarius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on December 13 ; Venerable Ignatius the Archimandrite of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated December 20 ; Venerable Sylvester of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on January 2 ; Venerable Macarius the Deacon of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated January 19 ; St Laurence the Recluse of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated January 20 ; St Ephraim the Bishop of Pereyaslavl, Kiev Caves, Far Caves, Commemorated Janaury 28 ; St Laurence the Recluse of the Kiev Caves, Far Caves, and Bishop of Turov, Near Caves, Commemorated January 29 ; Venerable Zeno the Faster, of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated January 30 ; 12 Greeks who built the Dormition Cathedral in the Kiev Caves, Far Caves, Lavra, Commemorated on February 14; Venerable Sophronius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on March 11; Venerable Nikita of the Kiev Caves, Far Caves the Bishop of Novgorod; Venerable Nikon the Abbot of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on March 23; Venerable Zachariah the Ascetic of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on March 24; Venerable Gerontius the Canonarch of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on April 1; Venerable Joseph the Much-Ailing, of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on April 4; Venerable Rufus the Obedient of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on April 8; Venerable Sava the Recluse of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on April 24; Venerable Alexius the Recluse of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on April 24; Venerable Theodosius the Abbot of the Kiev Far Caves Monastery, and Founder of Coenobitic Monasticism in Russia, Commemorated on May 3; Venerable Arsenius the Lover-of-Labor of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on May 8; Venerable Pimen the Ascetic of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on May 8; Venerable Arsenius the Lover-of-Labor of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on May 8; St Nikita the Bishop of Novgorod and Recluse, of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on May 14 ; Venerable Silvanus the Schemamonk, of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on June 10; Venerable Leontius of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on June 18; Venerable Sisoes the Schemamonk of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on July 6;

Russia, Kiev, 1106-1142, Nicholas Sviatosha, first Rus P monk, Lutsk Vohlynia, Cherginov, wonderwrkr, silence, peacemkr
Russia, Kiev, 1106-1142, Nicholas Sviatosha the first Rus Prince monk; Nicholas Sviatosha, Prince of Chernigov, and Wonderworker of the Kiev Caves, Near Caves, was a great-grandson of Great Prince Yaroslav the Wise and son of Prince David Svyatoslavich of Chernigov (+ 1123). was the Prince of Lutsk, and he had a wife and children (his daughter was later married to the Novgorod prince Saint Vsevolod-Gabriel (February 11). February 17, 1106 the holy prince left his family and was tonsured at the Kiev Caves monastery. Nicholas Sviatosha carried out his obediences with great humility. For three years he worked in the kitchen, for which he chopped wood and carried water. For the next three years, he was gatekeeper at the monastery. The saint had a garden around his cell. Out of his own means he built at the monastery the temple of the Holy Trinity and the infirmary church in the name of Saint Nicholas, his patron saint. Nicholas was the first of the Russian princes to accept monasticism, patiently enduring the reproaches of his brothers for his decision to lead a life of humble obedience. saint’s doctor, Peter, pointed out to the royal ascetic that such exploits of obedience had injured his health. But suddenly the doctor himself fell sick, and was healed only by the prayer of Saint Nicholas. Then Peter himself was tonsured. he had progressed through various obediences, Saint Nicholas took upon himself the vow of silence. When the saint received money, he used it to beautify the church and to procure books (because he loved reading), or he distributed it to the poor. Nicholas was a zealous peacemaker; in 1142 he reconciled the Prince of Chernigov with the Great Prince Vsevolod. after the death of the saint, his brother Prince Izyaslav fell grievously ill. The igumen of the monastery sent the sick man the saint’s hairshirt. Izyaslav put it on and was healed. Russia, Kiev, 1097-1123, Davyd Sviatoslavich, ruler of Murom and Chernigov, father of Nicholas Sviatosha the first prince monk; Sviatoslavich was the ruler of Murom and Chernigov. date of his birth is uncertain. Before his father's death was appointed to the Pereyaslav Principality, however in 1076 he ran to Murom which was located as far away as possible from Kiev. In 1093 Davyd was appointed a prince of Smolensk. During the war of his brother Oleg I of Chernigov against Sviatopolk II of Kiev and Vladimir II Monomakh he went up against the Vladimir's son Izyaslav of Murom. Oleg and Davyd in the united coalition of Sviatoslavichi managed to recover Smolensk and defeated Izyaslav at Murom where the last one perished. the Council of Liubech in 1097 Davyd was appointed to Chernigov, while Oleg was given Novhorod-Siverskyi. Protested against the rule of Sviatopolk who after the council together with Davyd Igorevich took Vasylko Rostyslavich a hostage and blinded him. The last two were in the constant warfare in the western areas of the Grand Duchy. Under pressure from Monomakh and Sviatoslavichi Sviatopolk outcast Davyd Igorevich to Poland. Later supported Sviatopolk in the war against Rostislavichi (one of whom was Vasylko). Davyd sent along his son Sviatoslav, but after an unsuccessful campaign the last one came back to his father and upon the death of his wife became a monk. At the Council of Witchew between the Sviatoslavichi, Monomakh, and Sviatopolk agreed to peace, stop the civil war, and consolidated their forces against the foreign enemies. At the council it was decided to cast Davyd Igorevich away from government duties, yet leaving him with some estates in Volyn. sometimes together with his brother, but more often with Vladimir Monomakh raided the Cuman lands from 1103 to 1111. Among numerous battles the most important one were at the Suteni river and Salnitsa river (March 27, 1111). During that campaign they managed to occupy the Cuman cities of Sharukan which is believed to be located somewhere between Chuhuiv and Zmiiv, and Sugrov. Davyd also greatly assisted Monomakh in the war against Polatsk Prince and Prince of Volyn in 1115–1118, while their sons continued to raid the Cumania. Chernigov; Venerable Nicholas Sviatosha Prince of Chernigov, and Wonderworker of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on October 14; Nicholas Sviatosha, Prince of Chernigov, and Wonderworker of the Kiev Caves, Near Caves, was a great-grandson of Great Prince Yaroslav the Wise and son of Prince David Svyatoslavich of Chernigov (+ 1123). was the Prince of Lutsk, and he had a wife and children (his daughter was later married to the Novgorod prince Saint Vsevolod-Gabriel (February 11). February 17, 1106 the holy prince left his family and was tonsured at the Kiev Caves monastery. Nicholas Sviatosha carried out his obediences with great humility. For three years he worked in the kitchen, for which he chopped wood and carried water. For the next three years, he was gatekeeper at the monastery. The saint had a garden around his cell. Out of his own means he built at the monastery the temple of the Holy Trinity and the infirmary church in the name of Saint Nicholas, his patron saint. Nicholas was the first of the Russian princes to accept monasticism, patiently enduring the reproaches of his brothers for his decision to lead a life of humble obedience. The saint’s doctor, Peter, pointed out to the royal ascetic that such exploits of obedience had injured his health. But suddenly the doctor himself fell sick, and was healed only by the prayer of Saint Nicholas. Then Peter himself was tonsured. he had progressed through various obediences, Saint Nicholas took upon himself the vow of silence. When the saint received money, he used it to beautify the church and to procure books (because he loved reading), or he distributed it to the poor. Saint Nicholas was a zealous peacemaker; in 1142 he reconciled the Prince of Chernigov with the Great Prince Vsevolod. after the death of the saint, his brother Prince Izyaslav fell grievously ill. The igumen of the monastery sent the sick man the saint’s hairshirt. Izyaslav put it on and was healed.

Russia, Kiev, 1113, Monomakhovchi, House of Monomakh of Rurik dynasty, Kievan Rus, a Cumans
Russia, Kiev, 1113, House of Monomakh of Rurik dynasty, Kiev' Rurik dynasty, 862, from Chernigov, Kiev Rus, including Boryatinskys; Right-believing Great Prince Rostislav-Michael the Prince of Kiev, Commemorated on March 14;

Russia, Kiev, 1113, Olgoviches, House of Oleg of Rurik dynasty, Kievan Rus, w Cumans
Russia, Kiev, 1113, Olgoviches of Rurik dynasty, Kievan Rus; Russia, Kiev, 1113, House of Monomakh of Rurik dynasty, Kiev' Rurik dynasty, 862, from Chernigov, Kiev Rus, including Boryatinskys; Right-believing Great Prince Rostislav-Michael the Prince of Kiev, Commemorated on March 14;

Russia, Kiev, 1094-1115, Oleg 1, Father of all the Olgoviches, parted with Vladimir II over Chernigov and Cumans
Russia, Kiev, 1113-1125, Oleg 1, Father of all the Olgoviches, parted with Vladimir II over Chernigov Kiev Rus King, 1113-1125, Vladimir Monomakh of Chernigov;

Russia, Kiev, 1113-1125, Vladimir II, Father of all the Monomashichi, parted with Oleg over Chernigov and Cumans
Kiev Rus King, 1113-1125, Vladimir Monomakh of Chernigov; II Monomakh (Christian name: Vasiliy, Vasyl, or Basileios) (26 May 1053 - 19 May 1125) reigned as Grand Prince of Kyivan Rus' from 1113 to 1125. He is considered a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and is celebrated on May 6.[1] 1 Family 2 Reign 3 Marriages and children 4 See also 5 References 6 Sources 7 Further reading 8 External links was the son of Vsevolod I (married in 1046) by a relative of Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomachos, from whom Vladimir obtained his sobriquet.[2] Contemporary Byzantine naming practice allowed the adoption of a maternal surname if the mother's family was perceived to be of a more exalted origin than that of the father.[3] Testament of Vladimir Monomakh to Children, 1125. Lithography of 1836. his famous Instruction (also known as The Testament) to his own children, Monomakh mentions that he conducted 83 military campaigns and 19 times made peace with the Polovtsi. At first he waged war against the steppe jointly with his cousin Oleg, but after Vladimir was sent by his father to rule Chernigov and Oleg made peace with the Polovtsi to retake that city from him, they parted company. Since that time, Vladimir and Oleg were bitter enemies who would often engage in internecine wars. The enmity continued among their children and more distant posterity. 1094, his chief patrimony was the southern town of Pereyaslav, although he also controlled Rostov, Suzdal, and other northern provinces (see Principality of Pereyaslavl). In these lands he founded several towns, notably his namesake, Vladimir, the future capital of Russia. In order to unite the princes of Rus' in their struggle against the Great Steppe, Vladimir initiated three princely congresses, the most important being held at Lyubech in 1097 and Dolobsk in 1103. 1107 he defeated Boniak, a Cuman khan who led an invasion on Kievan Rus'. When Sviatopolk II died in 1113, the Kievan populace revolted and summoned Vladimir to the capital. The same year he entered Kiev to the great delight of the crowd and reigned there until his death in 1125. As may be seen from his Instruction, he promulgated a number of reforms in order to allay the social tensions in the capital. These years saw the last flowering of Ancient Rus, which was torn apart 10 years after his death. Monomakh is buried in the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev. Succeeding generations often referred to his reign as the golden age of that city. Numerous legends are connected with Monomakh's name, including the transfer from Constantinople to Rus of such precious relics as the Theotokos of Vladimir and the Vladimir/Muscovite crown called Monomakh's Cap. Appearance of the Smolensk "œDirectress"Â Icon of the Mother of God brought from Constantinople, Commemorated on July 28; Venerable Anthony the Roman and Abbot of Novgorod, Commemorated on August 3; Venerable Alypius the Iconographer of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on August 17; Venerable Nectarius the Obedient of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on November 29; Venerable Sylvester of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on January 2 ; St Vsevolod (in holy baptism Gabriel) the Wonderworker of Pskov, Commemorated on February 11; Right-believing Great Prince Rostislav-Michael the Prince of Kiev, Commemorated on March 14 ; Icon of the Mother of God of Murom, Commemorated on April 12; Translation of the relics of the Holy Passionbearer Boris, in Holy Baptism Roman, Commemorated on May 2; Venerable Agapitus the Unmercenary Physician of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on June 1 ;

Russia, Kiev, 1113-1125, Vladimir II Monomakh of Chernigov and Vladimir, Kiev Rus King, Byzantine E relative
Kiev Rus King, 1113-1125, Vladimir Monomakh of Chernigov; II Monomakh (Christian name: Vasiliy, Vasyl, or Basileios) (26 May 1053 - 19 May 1125) reigned as Grand Prince of Kyivan Rus' from 1113 to 1125. He is considered a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and is celebrated on May 6.[1] was the son of Vsevolod I (married in 1046) by a relative of Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomachos, from whom Vladimir obtained his sobriquet.[2] Contemporary Byzantine naming practice allowed the adoption of a maternal surname if the mother's family was perceived to be of a more exalted origin than that of the father.[3] Testament of Vladimir Monomakh to Children, 1125. Lithography of 1836. his famous Instruction (also known as The Testament) to his own children, Monomakh mentions that he conducted 83 military campaigns and 19 times made peace with the Polovtsi. At first he waged war against the steppe jointly with his cousin Oleg, but after Vladimir was sent by his father to rule Chernigov and Oleg made peace with the Polovtsi to retake that city from him, they parted company. Since that time, Vladimir and Oleg were bitter enemies who would often engage in internecine wars. The enmity continued among their children and more distant posterity. 1094, his chief patrimony was the southern town of Pereyaslav, although he also controlled Rostov, Suzdal, and other northern provinces (see Principality of Pereyaslavl). In these lands he founded several towns, notably his namesake, Vladimir, the future capital of Russia. In order to unite the princes of Rus' in their struggle against the Great Steppe, Vladimir initiated three princely congresses, the most important being held at Lyubech in 1097 and Dolobsk in 1103. 1107 he defeated Boniak, a Cuman khan who led an invasion on Kievan Rus'. When Sviatopolk II died in 1113, the Kievan populace revolted and summoned Vladimir to the capital. The same year he entered Kiev to the great delight of the crowd and reigned there until his death in 1125. As may be seen from his Instruction, he promulgated a number of reforms in order to allay the social tensions in the capital. These years saw the last flowering of Ancient Rus, which was torn apart 10 years after his death. Monomakh is buried in the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev. Succeeding generations often referred to his reign as the golden age of that city. Numerous legends are connected with Monomakh's name, including the transfer from Constantinople to Rus of such precious relics as the Theotokos of Vladimir and the Vladimir/Muscovite crown called Monomakh's Cap. Appearance of the Smolensk "œDirectress"Â Icon of the Mother of God brought from Constantinople, Commemorated on July 28; Venerable Anthony the Roman and Abbot of Novgorod, Commemorated on August 3; Venerable Alypius the Iconographer of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on August 17; Venerable Nectarius the Obedient of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on November 29; Venerable Sylvester of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on January 2 ; St Vsevolod (in holy baptism Gabriel) the Wonderworker of Pskov, Commemorated on February 11; Right-believing Great Prince Rostislav-Michael the Prince of Kiev, Commemorated on March 14 ; Icon of the Mother of God of Murom, Commemorated on April 12; Translation of the relics of the Holy Passionbearer Boris, in Holy Baptism Roman, Commemorated on May 2; Venerable Agapitus the Unmercenary Physician of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on June 1 ;

Russia, Kiev, 1115-1122, Daniel the Traveler, Kiev Rus Igumen, to Constntnpl, Cyprus, Holy Land & Ephesus
Kiev Rus Igumen, 1115-1122, Daniel the Traveler; 7 Holy Youths "œSeven Sleepers"Â of Ephesus, Commemorated on August 4; 7 Holy Youths "œSeven Sleepers "phesus, Commemorated on October 22; St Vsevolod (in holy baptism Gabriel) the Wonderworker of Pskov, Commemorated on February 11;

Russia, Kiev, 1117-1138, Vsevolod of Pskov, Vsevolod-Gabriel, Mstislav's son, Monomahk' gson, K Rus King
Kiev Rus King, 1117-1138, Vsevolod of Pskov, Vsevolod-Gabriel ; Mstislavich, the patron saint of the city of Pskov, ruled as Prince of Novgorod in 1117–32, Prince of Pereslavl (1132) and Prince of Pskov in 1137–38. life[edit] eldest son of Mstislav the Great and Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden, Vsevolod was born in Novgorod during his father's reign as prince there (1088–1093, 1095–1117) and given the baptismal name Gabriel, or Gavriil. His maternal grandfather was King Inge the Elder of Sweden. The date of his birth is unknown, although the idea has been advanced that the event was commemorated by the Annunciation Church in the Marketplace, founded by Mstislav in 1103.[1] was enthroned as Prince of Novgorod after his father Mstislav Vladimirovich became Grand Prince of Kiev in 1117 and ruled Novgorod, with some interruption, until he was ousted by the Novgorodians in 1136. He was married to a Chernigovian princess in Novgorod in 1123 and his son, Ivan, was born there (he died in 1128).[2] In 1123, Vsevolod led the Novgorodians against the Chud. These campaigns continued in 1130 and over the next several years.[3] Aside from Vladimir Yaroslavich, Vsevolod was the first Novgorodian prince known to have been in conflict with Finns (in 1123).[4] from Novgorod[edit] his father's death in 1132, support for him began to erode in Novgorod. That same year, he was sent by his uncle, Grand Prince Yaropolk, to Pereslavl, to reign there. When he tried to return to Novgorod later that year, the Novgorodians refused to accept him back because they considered his move to Pereslavl as a betrayal (He had sworn an oath to die in Novgorod). That being said, the chronicles indicate that he was back leading a Novgorodian army in 1133. It was during that campaign that Vsevolod captured the city of Yuryev (modern Tartu, Estonia).[5] 1134, Vsevolod led an unsuccessful campaign in Vladimir-Suzdal during which, according to the Novgorodians, he showed indecisiveness, one of the reasons for his dismissal a little over a year later. On 28 May 1136, he was confined in the Archbishop's courtyard (compound) in the Detinets along with his wife and family, guarded by thirty men so as not to escape. In mid-July he was allowed to leave, going to his uncle in Kiev.[6] The following year, he tried to come back to Novgorod at the head of an army but withdrew instead to Pskov, where he died in February 1138.[7] According to his own wishes, he was buried in the Church of St. Demetrius in Pskov. dismissal from Novgorod has traditionally been seen as the end of Kievan power in the north and the beginning of the Republic of Novgorod. After him a number of princes were invited in or dismissed over the next two centuries, although only a few, like Aleksandr Nevsky, could assert themselves in the city for a prolonged period. Church-building and veneration[edit] of Saint Nicholas, constructed by Vsevolod in Novgorod. addition to leading Novgorodian armies on several campaigns, Vsevolod built a number of churches in and around the city: the Church of St. John on Opoki (1127–1130),[8] the Church of St. George in the Market (1133), the Church of The Assumption in the Market (1133; built with Archbishop Nifont),[9] and the Church of St. George in the Yuriev Monastery.[10] It was Vsevolod who granted the charter to Ivan's Hundred, the first Russian merchant guild. In addition, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Yaroslav's Court, while often attributed to his father Mstislav, was mostly built during Vsevolod's tenure in Novgorod. comparatively early death prevented him from claiming the Kievan throne. He was survived by a daughter, WierzchosÅ‚awa, the wife of BolesÅ‚aw IV the Curly. The prince was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church as Vsevolod-Gavriil. In the Stepennaya Kniga (the "Book of Degrees of Royal Genealogy"), he is listed as a Pskov Wonderworker.[11] His relics were moved from the Church of St. Demetrius to the Trinity Cathedral in the Pskov Kremlin in 1193. The Pskovians attached his name to a German sword with the inscription honorem meum nemini dabo, formerly preserved in the cathedral sacristy, but modern historians date the sword to the 15th century at the earliest. St Vsevolod (in holy baptism Gabriel) the Wonderworker of Pskov, Commemorated on February 11; Right-believing Great Prince Rostislav-Michael the Prince of Kiev, Commemorated on March 14 ;

Russia, Kiev, 1125, Smolensk begins to separate from Kiev, Mstislav's son Rostislav, Monomahk' gson
Kiev Rus King, 1125-1132, Mstislav I, The Great ; Right-believing Great Prince Rostislav-Michael the Prince of Kiev, Commemorated on March 14 ;

Russia, Kiev, 1125-15th Century, Rostaslavichi, Rostislav Mstislavich decendants, Ruled Smolensk from 1125 till 15th Century
Rostaslavichi, Rostislav Mstislavich decendants, Ruled Smolensk till 15th Century; Prince of Smolensk was the kniaz, the ruler or sub-ruler, of the Rus' Principality of Smolensk, a lordship based on the city of Smolensk. passed between different groups of descendants of Grand Prince Iaroslav I of Kiev until 1125, when following the death of Vladimir Monomakh the latter's grandson Rostislav Mstislavich was installed in the principality, while the latter's father Mstislav I Vladimirovich became Grand Prince. gained its own bishopric in 1136. was Rostislav's descendants, the Rostaslavichi, who ruled the principality until the fifteenth-century. Smolensk enjoyed stronger western ties than most Rus' principalities.

Russia, Kiev, 1125-1132, Mstislav I, Monomakh, b churches, c warfare, Cumans Estons Vohly Chern, English gf Harold II
Kiev Rus King, 1125-1132, Mstislav I, The Great, Theodore ; I Vladimirovich the Great or Mstislav the Great (1076 - April 14, 1132) was the Grand Prince of Kiev (Kyiv, 1125-1132), the eldest son of Vladimir II Monomakh by Gytha of Wessex.[1] is figured prominently in the Norse Sagas under the name Harald, to allude to his grandfather, Harold II of England. Mstislav's Christian name was Theodore. Commemoration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and the deliverance of Moscow from the Invasion of Tamerlane, Commemorated on August 26; Venerable Onesiphorus the Confessor of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on November 9; St Vsevolod (in holy baptism Gabriel) the Wonderworker of Pskov, Commemorated on February 11; Right-believing Great Prince Rostislav-Michael the Prince of Kiev, Commemorated on March 14 ; Greatmartyr and Healer Panteleimon, Commemorated on July 27; St Niphon the Bishop of Novgorod, Commemorated on April 8;

Russia, Kiev, 1129, Constantine of Murom, Kiev Saint, died 1129, to spread Christianity there, Sviatoslav II's son
Kiev Saint, died 1129, Constantine of Murom; Icon of the Mother of God of Murom, Commemorated on April 12; Venerable Constantine, (In baptism Yaroslav), with his children Michael and Theodore, Wonderworkers of Murom, Commemorated on May 21;

Russia, Kiev, 1131, Vladimir Icon received from Constantinople by K Rus King, Mstislav I, Monomakh
Bogolyubov Icon of the Mother of God, Commemorated on June 18; the year 1131, an Icon was sent from Constantinople to the Holy Prince Mstislav (Theodore in Baptism, commemorated April 15) in Russia, and was placed in the Devichii monastery in Vyshgorod, the ancient appanage (land given by kings and princes to their younger children for their support) city of Saint Olga (July 11). Kiev Rus King, 1125-1132, Mstislav I, The Great ; I Vladimirovich the Great or Mstislav the Great (1076 - April 14, 1132) was the Grand Prince of Kiev (Kyiv, 1125-1132), the eldest son of Vladimir II Monomakh by Gytha of Wessex.[1] is figured prominently in the Norse Sagas under the name Harald, to allude to his grandfather, Harold II of England. Mstislav's Christian name was Theodore. Commemoration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and the deliverance of Moscow from the Invasion of Tamerlane, Commemorated on August 26; Right-believing Great Prince Rostislav-Michael the Prince of Kiev, Commemorated on March 14 ;

Russia, Kiev, 1132-1139, Yaropolk II, K Rus King, Monomakh's son, always against the Cumans, Olegs and Yuri D
Kiev Rus King, 1132-1139, Yaropolk II ; Venerable Pimen the Faster of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on August 7; Venerable Spyridon the Prosphora-baker of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on October 31; Venerable Onesiphorus the Confessor of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on November 9; St Niphon the Bishop of Novgorod, Commemorated on April 8;

Russia, Kiev, 1139, Viacheslav I, K GP, driven out by VII, M's son, Smolensk, Turov, Pereyaslavl, Peresopnytsia, Vyshgorod
Kiev Rus King, 1113-1154, Viacheslav I of Kiev, Vyacheslav Vladimirovich; Vladimirovich (1083 - 2 February 1154) was a Prince of Smolensk (1113-1125), Turov (1125-1132, 1134-1146), Pereyaslavl (1132-1134, 1142), Peresopnytsia (1146-1149), Vyshgorod (1149-1151) and Grand Prince of Kiev (Kyiv, 1139, 1151-1154). was a son of Vladimir Monomakh and Gytha of Wessex. 18 February 1139 he succeeded his brother Yaropolk II of Kiev as Grand Prince, but was driven out in March by Vsevolod II of Kiev. later ruled Kiev jointly with his nephew Iziaslav II of Kiev and died not long after Iziaslav in late 1154 or early 1155 and is buried in the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev. His only son, Michael Viacheslavovich, had predeceased him in 1129. Right-believing Great Prince Rostislav-Michael the Prince of Kiev, Commemorated on March 14 ;

Russia, Kiev, 1139-1146, Vsevolod II, Oleg's son, two sons, but chose b Igor, a prince of Chernigov, Kiev Rus King
Kiev Rus King, 1139-1146, Vsevolod II, Vsevolod Olegovich; II Olgovich (died August 1, 1146) was the Prince (Knyaz) of Chernigov (1127–1139) and Grand Prince (Velikiy Knyaz) of Kiev] (Kyiv, 1139–1146), son of Oleg Svyatoslavich, Prince of Chernigov. married Maria Mstislavna of Kiev, the daughter of Grand Duke Mstislav of Kiev. They had two sons and two daughters: III of Kiev II Vsevolodovich, born in 1139 Anna of Chernigov, married a prince of Halych, son of Vasylko Rostyslavych according to some chronicles of Chernigov, married Boleslaw I the Tall, Duke of Wroclaw he had two sons, Vsevolod's chosen successor was his brother, Igor, and he obtained pledges from his subjects to accept Igor as his heir. According to one account, Vsevolod even had the Kievans kiss the Holy Cross and swear loyalty to Igor, which they resented. Shortly before his death, Vsevolod became a monk under the name Gavriil. Venerable Pimen the Faster of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on August 7; Venerable Nicholas Sviatosha Prince of Chernigov, and Wonderworker of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on October 14 ; Venerable Spyridon the Prosphora-baker of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on October 31; Venerable Onesiphorus the Confessor of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on November 9; Venerable Nectarius the Obedient of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on November 29; Venerable Titus the Presbyter of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on February 27; St Niphon the Bishop of Novgorod, Commemorated on April 8; St Cyril the Bishop of Turov, Commemorated on April 28 ; Venerable Martin of Turov, Commemorated on June 27;

Russia, Kiev, 1146, Igor II, George, K Rus King, Olgovich, Oleg's son, Chernigov, resist to Olgovich, pit, killed by mob
Kiev Rus King, 1146, Igor II Olgovich of Kiev; II Olgovich (Igor II Ol'govich in Russian; died September 19, 1147), Prince of Chernigov and Grand Prince of Kiev (Kyiv, 1146). Son of Oleg Svyatoslavich of Chernigov (modern Chernihiv). Saint - feast day: 5 June. was the chosen successor of his brother, Vsevolod II of Kiev. Though his brother had extracted promises of loyalty from his Kievan subjects, Igor and his family, the Olgovichi, were unpopular and there was resistance against his accession. chroniclers accused Igor of being dishonest, greedy, scheming, and violent. He had reigned less than two weeks before the Kievans invited his cousin and rival, Iziaslav Mstislavich, to be their prince. Reneging on a promise he had made not to seek power, Iziaslav attacked and defeated Igor and his brother Svyatoslav. escaped, but Igor got bogged down in some marshes and was unable to flee because of an infirmity in his legs. He was captured, and Iziaslav had him thrown into a pit. He languished in the pit until autumn 1146, when, desperately ill, he requested permission to become a monk. Iziaslav released him, but Igor was so weak he had to be carried from the pit and nearly died of illness. He became a monk at the monastery of St. Feodor in Kiev under the name Ignati. In 1147, a mob attacked Igor under the mistaken impression that he intended to usurp Iziaslav's throne. Iziaslav's brother, Vladimir, tried to rescue Igor, but the mob tore down a balcony on which Igor had sought sanctuary, and thus killed him. His body was dragged behind a cart and exhibited in a market before it could be salvaged by Vladimir. were alleged to have occurred around Igor's body, and he was proclaimed a saint-martyr. Eventually his remains were sent to Transfiguration Cathedral, Chernihiv. Venerable Titus the Presbyter of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on February 27; Venerable Gerasimus of Vologda, Commemorated on March 4; St Cyril the Bishop of Turov, Commemorated on April 28 ; Icon of the Mother of God of Igor, Commemorated on June 5; Translation of the relics of the Right-believing Igor-George, Tonsured Gabriel, Grand Prince of Chernigov, and Kiev, Commemorated on June 5;

Russia, Kiev, 1146-1149, 1151-1154, Izyaslav Mstislavich, Iziaslav II of Kiev, Panteleimon, Volhynian Momomakh
Kiev Rus King, 1146-1154, Iziaslav II of Kiev, Izyaslav Mstislavich; II Mstislavich (c. 1096[1] - 13 November 1154),[1] was the oldest son of Mstislav Vladimirovich (Prince of Novgorod) and Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden. He was baptized as Panteleimon.[1] Izyaslav is considered to be progenitor of the Monomakhovychi Volhynian branch (senior branch).[2] held following offices Prince of Pereyaslav (1132), Prince of Turov (1132–1134), Prince of Rostov (1134– ), Prince of Volhynia (1134–1142), Pereyaslavl (1143–1145), Velikiy Kniaz (Grand Prince) of Kiev (Kyiv, 1146–1149 and 1151–1154). Venerable Onesiphorus the Confessor of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on November 9; Venerable Titus the Presbyter of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on February 27; Venerable Gerasimus of Vologda, Commemorated on March 4; Right-believing Great Prince Rostislav-Michael the Prince of Kiev, Commemorated on March 14 ; St Cyril the Bishop of Turov, Commemorated on April 28 ; Greatmartyr and Healer Panteleimon, Commemorated on July 27; Icon of the Mother of God of Igor, Commemorated on June 5; Translation of the relics of the Right-believing Igor-George, Tonsured Gabriel, Grand Prince of Chernigov, and Kiev, Commemorated on June 5;

Russia, Kiev, 1147-1154, Clement of Smolensk, Kliment Smoliatich, chosen Metropolitan illegally, Not Constantinople
Russia, Kiev, 1147-1154, Clement of Smolensk, Kliment Smoliatich, chosen Metropolitan illegally by Russians, Not Constantinople ; Smolensk; Blessed Constantine, Metropolitan of Kiev, Commemorated on June 5;

Russia, Kiev, 1149-1151, 1155-1157, Yuri I Dolgorukiy, K Rus King, George, far reaching, Kiev to Suzdal, Yuri D
Kiev Rus King, 1149-1157, Yuri I Dolgorukiy ; Venerable Titus the Presbyter of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on February 27; Venerable Gerasimus of Vologda, Commemorated on March 4; Right-believing Great Prince Rostislav-Michael the Prince of Kiev, Commemorated on March 14 ; St Niphon the Bishop of Novgorod, Commemorated on April 8; St Cyril the Bishop of Turov, Commemorated on April 28 ;

Russia, Kiev, 1150-1182, Saint Cyril of Turov, Belarus and Volhynia
Russia, Kiev, 1150-1182, Saint Cyril of Turov; St. Cyril the Bishop of Turov, Commemorated on April 28;

Russia, Kiev, 1150 12th C, Nectarius t Obedient, Kiev Near Caves, unquestioning obedience t older b & diligence in labors
Russia, Kiev, 1150 12th C, Nectarius t Obedient, Kiev Near Caves, St Anthony's Second Location, unquestioning obedience to older bretheren and diligence in labors, reposed peacefully; Kiev Near Caves; Venerable Nectarius the Obedient of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on November 29 ; Venerable Nektarios struggled in the Kiev Caves Monastery during the XII century. of his unquestioning obedience to the older brethren, and for the diligence he showed in his labors, Saint Nektarios was called "the Obedient." He reposed peacefully after a life of much toil and many spiritual struggles. He was buried in the Near Caves of Saint Anthony. Nektarios is also commemorated on September 28 and on the second Sunday of Great Lent.

Russia, Kiev, 1151-1154, Viacheslav I, K GP, shared, M's son, Smolensk, Turov, Pereyaslavl, Peresopnytsia, Vyshgorod
Kiev Rus King, 1113-1154, Viacheslav I of Kiev, Vyacheslav Vladimirovich; Vladimirovich (1083 - 2 February 1154) was a Prince of Smolensk (1113-1125), Turov (1125-1132, 1134-1146), Pereyaslavl (1132-1134, 1142), Peresopnytsia (1146-1149), Vyshgorod (1149-1151) and Grand Prince of Kiev (Kyiv, 1139, 1151-1154). was a son of Vladimir Monomakh and Gytha of Wessex. 18 February 1139 he succeeded his brother Yaropolk II of Kiev as Grand Prince, but was driven out in March by Vsevolod II of Kiev. later ruled Kiev jointly with his nephew Iziaslav II of Kiev and died not long after Iziaslav in late 1154 or early 1155 and is buried in the St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev. His only son, Michael Viacheslavovich, had predeceased him in 1129. Right-believing Great Prince Rostislav-Michael the Prince of Kiev, Commemorated on March 14 ;

Russia, Kiev, 1151-1154, Iziaslav II, Mstislavich, Volhynian Momomakh, Panteleimon, Pereyaslav, Turov, Rostov
Kiev Rus King, 1146-1154, Iziaslav II of Kiev, Izyaslav Mstislavich; II Mstislavich (c. 1096[1] - 13 November 1154),[1] was the oldest son of Mstislav Vladimirovich (Prince of Novgorod) and Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden. He was baptized as Panteleimon.[1] Izyaslav is considered to be progenitor of the Monomakhovychi Volhynian branch (senior branch).[2] held following offices Prince of Pereyaslav (1132), Prince of Turov (1132–1134), Prince of Rostov (1134“ ), Prince of Volhynia (1134-“1142), Pereyaslavl (1143-“1145), Velikiy Kniaz (Grand Prince) of Kiev (Kyiv, 1146-“1149 and 1151-“1154). Venerable Onesiphorus the Confessor of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on November 9; Venerable Titus the Presbyter of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on February 27; Venerable Gerasimus of Vologda, Commemorated on March 4; Right-believing Great Prince Rostislav-Michael the Prince of Kiev, Commemorated on March 14 ; St Cyril the Bishop of Turov, Commemorated on April 28 ; Greatmartyr and Healer Panteleimon, Commemorated on July 27; Icon of the Mother of God of Igor, Commemorated on June 5; Translation of the relics of the Right-believing Igor-George, Tonsured Gabriel, Grand Prince of Chernigov, and Kiev, Commemorated on June 5;

Russia, Kiev, 1154-1164, Sviatoslav, Oleg's s, Igor's f, assisted by Yuri D, Novgorod, N Seversky, Belgorod K, Chernigov
Kiev Rus King, 1154-1164, Sviatoslav Olgovich; Olgovich (died February 14, 1164) was the Prince of Novgorod (1136-“1138); Novgorod-Seversky (1139); Belgorod Kievsky (1141-“1154); and Chernigov (1154-“1164). He was the son of Oleg Sviatoslavich, Prince of Chernigov with an unnamed daughter of Asaduk, Khan of Khumans. to Chernigov; Sviatoslav Olgovich in his deathbed, with his wife and sons.jpg the death of their older brother, Vsevolod II, Sviatoslav and his brother Igor were driven out of Kiev by Iziaslav Mstislavich. escaped, but Igor was captured and eventually killed in 1147. fled to Chernigov but was ordered to relinquish his city, Novgorod-Seversky, to his cousins, Iziaslav Davidovich and Vladimir Davidovich. the assistance of his ally, Yuri Dolgoruki, and his father-in-law, Aepa Khan, Sviatoslav began a war against his cousins, but was forced to flee to Karachev. There on January 16, 1147, Sviatoslav defeated the Davidovichi brothers St John the Archbishop and Wonderworker of Novgorod, Commemorated September 7 ; Venerable Titus the Presbyter of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on February 27; Venerable Gerasimus of Vologda, Commemorated on March 4; St Cyril the Bishop of Turov, Commemorated on April 28 ; Translation of the relics of the Right-believing Igor-George, Tonsured Gabriel, Grand Prince of Chernigov, and Kiev, Commemorated on June 5;

Russia, Kiev, 1154, 1159-1167, Rostislav 1, Michael,, Monomakh, left N for K after 1 week, Chernigov, Smolensk, K 59-67
Kiev Rus King, 1154-1157, Rostislav-Michael; Mstislavich (c. 1110-“1167), Kniaz' (Prince) of Smolensk (1125-“1160), Novgorod (1154) and Velikiy Kniaz (Grand Prince) of Kiev (Kyiv, 1154, 1159-“1167). He was the son of Mstislav I of Kiev and Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden. Yaroslav II of Kiev was driven out of Novgorod, Rostislav was invited to become the ruler of Novgorod. He accepted, and became the prince on April 17, 1154. Then, learning that Iziaslav II had died, Rostislav left Novgorod to take the Kievan throne. Indignant that their prince had abandoned them and angered that "he did not make order among them, but tore them more apart", the citizens of Novgorod drove out Rostislav's son, David, who was their governor. They replaced him with Mstislav Yurievich, the son of Yury Dolgoruky. ruled Kiev for one week before Iziaslav III of Kiev forced him to flee to Chernigov. left four sons, princes David Rostislavich of Novgorod, Mstislav Rostislavich of Smolensk, Roman I of Kiev and Rurik Rostislavich and two daughters Elena Rostislavna of Kiev-Smolensk (died 1204) and Agrafena Rostislavna (died 1237). Venerable John the Long-Suffering of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on July 18; Venerable Polycarp the Archimandrite of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on July 24; Venerable Abramius the Archimandrite and Wonderworker of Smolensk, Commemorated on August 21; St John the Archbishop and Wonderworker of Novgorod, Commemorated September 7 ; Venerable Titus the Presbyter of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on February 27; Venerable Gerasimus of Vologda, Commemorated on March 4; Right-believing Great Prince Rostislav-Michael the Prince of Kiev, Commemorated on March 14 ; St Niphon the Bishop of Novgorod, Commemorated on April 8; St Cyril the Bishop of Turov, Commemorated on April 28; St Nikita the Bishop of Novgorod and Recluse, of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on May 14; Blessed Constantine the Metropolitan of Kiev, Commemorated on June 5;

Russia, Kiev, 1154-1171, Vladimir III Mstislavich, K Rus King, ties with pagan Hungary and Serbia
Kiev Rus King, 1154-1171, Vladimir III Mstislavich, Vladimir Mstislavich; Right-believing Great Prince Igor of Kiev and Chernigov, Commemorated on September 19;

Russia, Kiev, 1155, Vladimir Icon secretly moved to Vladimir by Prince Andrew Bogolyubsky
Bogolyubov Icon of the Mother of God, Commemorated on June 18; One night in the summer of 1155, Prince Andrew secretly removed the wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God from the Vyshgorod church without the blessing of his father, Prince George Dolgoruky, and started northward toward Suzdal'. Some sources say that his father bequeathed the Icon to Prince Andrew. Later, this Icon would be known as the Vladimir Icon (August 26, June 23, May 21). Tradition says it was one of the Icons painted by the Holy Evangelist Luke (October 18), or a copy made from the original. versts from Vladimir, the cart carrying the wonderworking Icon stopped and could not be moved from that spot. Prince Andrew asked the priest Nicholas, who accompanied him, to serve a Moleben before the Icon. For a long time Andrew prayed before the holy image with tears. Later, he went into his tent and continued his fervent prayers. The Most Holy Theotokos appeared to him holding a small scroll in her right hand, and said: "I do not wish you to take my Icon to Rostov, but to the city of Vladimir. Here, in this place (the site of her miraculous appearance), you shall build a stone church and a monastery in honor of my Nativity." the All-Holy Virgin lifted one hand toward Heaven, and received a blessing from Christ the Savior, and the vision ended. obedience to the will of the Mother of God, Prince Andrew built a stone church dedicated to her Nativity, as well as a monastery. After this, the Prince commissioned skilled iconographers to depict the All-Holy Virgin just as he had seen her in his vision: in full stature, with a scroll1 in her right hand, and her face turned toward the Savior in the upper right hand corner. When the church was completed, the Icon he had commissioned was placed inside, and June 18 was designated as the annual commemoration of the appearance of the Mother of God. The Icon depicting the appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos remained at Bogolyubov and was called the Bogolyubov Icon. Andrew named both the monastery and the city which sprang up around it Bogolyubov because as he himself said, "the Mother of God loves this place." The Prince also became known as Bogolyubsky ("the lover of God"). The Vladimir Icon remained in the convent until work was completed on the Dormition Cathedral at Vladimir, then it was solemly transferred to the cathedral. Bogolyubov Icon of the Mother of God has been glorified by countless miracles, and over the course of many centuries she has consoled the pious Christians of Russia, and has healed their infirmities. The fame of the miracles which took place before her Icon have inspired the faithful in many places to make copies of this holy Icon, some of which are also wonderworking. Moscow Bogolyubov Icon (1157) shows several saints gathered before the Theotokos: the Metropolitans of Moscow Peter, Alexis, Jonah, and Philip; The blessed Basil and Maxim, fools for Christ; Venerable Paraskeve; Saint Basil the Great; Saint Alexis the Man of God; Symeon, the kinsman of the Lord; the Apostle Peter; the monastic martyr Eudokia; and the Martyr Paraskeve. In some variants of the Icon the following Saints are also included: Saint Onouphrios, Venerable Mary of Egypt, Zosimas and Sabbatius, and the Great Martyrs Barbara and Katherine. 1771 an annual feast day was established in in honor of the Bogolyubov Icon to commemorate the deliverance of the city of Vladimir and the surrounding area from plague. As soon as the Icon was brought to Vladimir, the plague disappeared. It became customary to bring the Icon from Bogolyubovo to Vladimir on May 21. As many people as possible took turns in carrying the Icon at different times to and from Vladimir Province. The Icon stayed at Bogolyubovo Monastery, 10 versts from the city. In 1820, the inhabitants of the city of Vladimir adorned the Icon with an expensive riza. the Bolshevik Revolution, the Icon was customarily brought to the city of Vladimir on May 21, where it remained until July 16, when it was returned to the monastery. The scroll on the Icon reads: O Most Gracious Master, Lord Jesus Christ, my Son and my God, hear the prayer of Your Mother, for she is praying for the world. Kiev Rus King, 1125-1132, Mstislav I, The Great ; I Vladimirovich the Great or Mstislav the Great (1076 - April 14, 1132) was the Grand Prince of Kiev (Kyiv, 1125-1132), the eldest son of Vladimir II Monomakh by Gytha of Wessex.[1] is figured prominently in the Norse Sagas under the name Harald, to allude to his grandfather, Harold II of England. Mstislav's Christian name was Theodore. Commemoration of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and the deliverance of Moscow from the Invasion of Tamerlane, Commemorated on August 26; Right-believing Great Prince Rostislav-Michael the Prince of Kiev, Commemorated on March 14 ;

Russia, Kiev, 1155, Andrey Bogolyubsky, vision moved him from his Vyshgorod to Vladimir with his Vladimir Icon
Russia, Kiev, 1155, Andrey Bogolyubsky, vision moved him from his Vyshgorod to Vladimir with his Vladimir Icon night in the summer of 1155, Prince Andrew secretly removed the wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God from the Vyshgorod church without the blessing of his father, Prince George Dolgoruky, and started northward toward Suzdal'. Some sources say that his father bequeathed the Icon to Prince Andrew. Later, this Icon would be known as the Vladimir Icon (August 26, June 23, May 21). Tradition says it was one of the Icons painted by the Holy Evangelist Luke (October 18), or a copy made from the original. Vladimir Great Prince, 1157-1174, Andrey Bogolyubsky; I Yuryevich, commonly known under his sobriquet Andrei the Pious (c. 1111 - June 28, 1174), was Grand prince of Vladimir-Suzdal from 1157 until his death. His reign saw a complete decline of Kiev's rule over northeastern Rus, and the rise of Vladimir as the new capital city. Andrei was known in the West as Scythian Caesar, and is canonized as a saint in the Russian Orthodox Church.[1] 1 Life 2 See also 3 References 4 External links Prince Saint Andrei Bogolyubsky, by Viktor Vasnetsov was the son of Yuri Dolgoruki,[2] who proclaimed Andrei a prince in Vyshgorod (near Kiev). His mother was a Polovtsian (Cuman) princess, khan Aepa's/Ayepa's daughter. left Vyshgorod in 1155 and moved to Vladimir. After his father's death (1157), he became Knyaz (prince) of Vladimir, Rostov and Suzdal.[1] Bogolyubsky tried to unite Rus' lands under his authority. From 1159 he persistently struggled for submission of Novgorod to his authority and conducted a complex military and diplomatic game in South Rus. In 1162, Andrey Bogolyubsky sent an embassy to Constantinople, lobbying for a separate metropolitan see in Vladimir. In 1169 his troops sacked Kiev, devastating it as never before.[3][4] After plundering the city,[5] stealing much religious artwork, which included the Byzantine "Mother of God" icon.[6] Andrei appointed his brother Gleb as prince of Kiev, in an attempt to unify his lands with Kiev.[7] Following his brother's death in 1171, Andrei became embroiled in a two-year war to maintain control over Kiev, which ended in his defeat.[7] achieved the right to receive a tribute from the population of the Northern Dvina land. Becoming "ruler of all Suzdal land", Andrei Bogolyubsky transferred his capital to Vladimir, strengthened it and constructed the magnificent Assumption Cathedral,[2] the Church of the Intercession on the Nerl,[8] and other churches and monasteries. Under his leadership Vladimir was much enlarged, and fortifications were built around the city.[9] the same time the castle Bogolyubovo was built next to Vladimir, and was a favorite residence of his.[9] In fact he received his nickname "Bogolyubsky" in honor of this place. It was he who brought the Theotokos of Vladimir to the city whose name it now bears. During Andrei Bogolyubsky's reign the Vladimir-Suzdal principality attained significant power and was the strongest among the Rus' principalities.[citation needed] of princely authority and conflict with outstanding boyars was the cause of a plot against Andrei Bogolyubsky, as a result of which he was killed on the night of June 28 to June 29, 1174.[6] Twenty of his disgruntled retainers burst into his chambers and slew Andrei in his bed.[6] His silver-inlaid war axe can now be viewed at the State Historical Museum in Moscow. son, Yuri Bogolyubsky, was the first husband of Queen Tamar of Georgia. An ancient icon, Theotokos of Bogolyubovo, is associated with him.[citation needed] St John the Archbishop and Wonderworker of Novgorod, Commemorated on September 7; Icon of the Mother of God "Mirozh", Commemorated September 24 ; Commemoration of the Weeping Icon of the Mother of God of the SignÂ at Novgorod, Commemorated on November 27; Venerable Gerasimus of Vologda, Commemorated on March 4; St Cyril the Bishop of Turov, Commemorated on April 28; St Nikita the Bishop of Novgorod and Recluse, of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on May 14; Icon of the Mother of God œthe God LovingÂ, Commemorated on June 18; Bogolyubov Icon of the Mother of God, one of the most ancient wonderworking icons of Russia, was painted in the twelfth century at the request of Prince Andrew Bogolyubsky (July 4), to commemorate the appearance of the Mother of God to him. Painted on cypress wood, the Icon is remarkable because of its large size. the year 1131, an Icon was sent from Constantinople to the Holy Prince Mstislav (Theodore in Baptism, commemorated April 15) in Russia, and was placed in the Devichii monastery in Vyshgorod, the ancient appanage (land given by kings and princes to their younger children for their support) city of Saint Olga (July 11). night in the summer of 1155, Prince Andrew secretly removed the wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God from the Vyshgorod church without the blessing of his father, Prince George Dolgoruky, and started northward toward Suzdal'. Some sources say that his father bequeathed the Icon to Prince Andrew. Later, this Icon would be known as the Vladimir Icon (August 26, June 23, May 21). Tradition says it was one of the Icons painted by the Holy Evangelist Luke (October 18), or a copy made from the original. versts from Vladimir, the cart carrying the wonderworking Icon stopped and could not be moved from that spot. Prince Andrew asked the priest Nicholas, who accompanied him, to serve a Moleben before the Icon. For a long time Andrew prayed before the holy image with tears. Later, he went into his tent and continued his fervent prayers. The Most Holy Theotokos appeared to him holding a small scroll in her right hand, and said: "I do not wish you to take my Icon to Rostov, but to the city of Vladimir. Here, in this place (the site of her miraculous appearance), you shall build a stone church and a monastery in honor of my Nativity." the All-Holy Virgin lifted one hand toward Heaven, and received a blessing from Christ the Savior, and the vision ended. obedience to the will of the Mother of God, Prince Andrew built a stone church dedicated to her Nativity, as well as a monastery. After this, the Prince commissioned skilled iconographers to depict the All-Holy Virgin just as he had seen her in his vision: in full stature, with a scroll1 in her right hand, and her face turned toward the Savior in the upper right hand corner. When the church was completed, the Icon he had commissioned was placed inside, and June 18 was designated as the annual commemoration of the appearance of the Mother of God. The Icon depicting the appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos remained at Bogolyubov and was called the Bogolyubov Icon. Andrew named both the monastery and the city which sprang up around it Bogolyubov because as he himself said, "the Mother of God loves this place." The Prince also became known as Bogolyubsky ("the lover of God"). The Vladimir Icon remained in the convent until work was completed on the Dormition Cathedral at Vladimir, then it was solemly transferred to the cathedral. Bogolyubov Icon of the Mother of God has been glorified by countless miracles, and over the course of many centuries she has consoled the pious Christians of Russia, and has healed their infirmities. The fame of the miracles which took place before her Icon have inspired the faithful in many places to make copies of this holy Icon, some of which are also wonderworking. Moscow Bogolyubov Icon (1157) shows several saints gathered before the Theotokos: the Metropolitans of Moscow Peter, Alexis, Jonah, and Philip; The blessed Basil and Maxim, fools for Christ; Venerable Paraskeve; Saint Basil the Great; Saint Alexis the Man of God; Symeon, the kinsman of the Lord; the Apostle Peter; the monastic martyr Eudokia; and the Martyr Paraskeve. In some variants of the Icon the following Saints are also included: Saint Onouphrios, Venerable Mary of Egypt, Zosimas and Sabbatius, and the Great Martyrs Barbara and Katherine. 1771 an annual feast day was established in in honor of the Bogolyubov Icon to commemorate the deliverance of the city of Vladimir and the surrounding area from plague. As soon as the Icon was brought to Vladimir, the plague disappeared. It became customary to bring the Icon from Bogolyubovo to Vladimir on May 21. As many people as possible took turns in carrying the Icon at different times to and from Vladimir Province. The Icon stayed at Bogolyubovo Monastery, 10 versts from the city. In 1820, the inhabitants of the city of Vladimir adorned the Icon with an expensive riza. the Bolshevik Revolution, the Icon was customarily brought to the city of Vladimir on May 21, where it remained until July 16, when it was returned to the monastery. The scroll on the Icon reads: O Most Gracious Master, Lord Jesus Christ, my Son and my God, hear the prayer of Your Mother, for she is praying for the world. Burial of St Andrew the Prince, Commemorated on July 4 ;

Russia, Kiev, 1157-1174, G Prince, Andrey Bogolyubsky, strong, tried to unite w Kiev and Novgorod, N Dvina, killed
Vladimir Great Prince, 1157-1174, Andrey Bogolyubsky; St John the Archbishop and Wonderworker of Novgorod, Commemorated on September 7; Icon of the Mother of God "Mirozh", Commemorated September 24 ; Commemoration of the Weeping Icon of the Mother of God œof the SignÂ at Novgorod, Commemorated on November 27; Venerable Gerasimus of Vologda, Commemorated on March 4; St Cyril the Bishop of Turov, Commemorated on April 28; St Nikita the Bishop of Novgorod and Recluse, of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on May 14; Icon of the Mother of God œthe God LovingÂ, Commemorated on June 18; Burial of St Andrew the Prince, Commemorated on July 4 ; Prince Andrew Bogoliubsky (1110-1174), a grandson of Vladimir Monomakh, was the son of Yurii Dolgoruky and a Polovetsian princess (in holy Baptism Maria). While still in his youth he was called “Bogoliubskyâ€ (“God-lovingâ€) for his profound attention to prayer, his diligence for church services and “his adoption of secret prayers to God.â€ From his grandfather, Vladimir Monomakh, the grandson inherited great spiritual concentration, love for the Word of God and the habit of turning to the Scripture in all the circumstances of life. brave warrior [Andrew means “braveâ€], a participant in his military father’s many campaigns, more than once he came close to death in battle. But each time Divine Providence invisibly saved the princely man of prayer. Thus for example, on February 8, 1150, in a battle near Lutsk, Saint Andrew was saved from the spear of an enemy German by a prayer to the Great Martyr Theodore Stratelates, whose memory was celebrated that day. chronicles also stress Saint Andrew’s peace-making activity, a rare trait among the princes and military commanders of those harsh times. The combination of military valor with love for peace and mercy, of great humility with indomitable zeal for the Church were present in Prince Andrew in the highest degree. A responsible master of the land, and a constant coworker in the city construction and church building activity of Yurii Dolgoruky, he built with his father: Moscow (1147), Iuriev-Polsk (1152), Dmitrov (1154), and he also adorned the cities of Rostov, Suzdal’, and Vladimir with churches. In 1162 Saint Andrew could say with satisfaction, “I have built up white Rus with cities and settlements, and have rendered it with much populace.â€ Yurii Dolgoruky became Great Prince of Kiev in 1154, he gave his son Vyshgorod near Kiev as his appanage (land given by kings and princes to their younger children for their support), but God willed otherwise. One night in the summer of 1155, the wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God in the Vyshgorod church was removed. This icon was painted by the holy Evangelist Luke, and in some period before this had been transferred here from Constantinople. Later, it was called the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. On this night with the icon in hand, holy Prince Andrew left Vyshgorod going northwards to the Suzdal territory, secretly and without the blessing of his father, mindful only of the will of God. miracle of this holy icon, which occured on the way from Vyshgorod to Vladimir, was recorded by a clergyman of Prince Andrew, “the priest Mikulaâ€ [Nicholas], in his “Reports of the Miracles of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.â€ versts before reaching Vladimir, the horse bearing the icon suddenly stopped. During the night the Mother of God appeared to Saint Andrew with a scroll in her hand and commanded, “I do not want you to take my icon to Rostov, but rather leave it in Vladimir. Build a stone church here in the name of My Nativity.â€ In memory of this miraculous event, Saint Andrew commissioned an iconographer to paint an icon of the Mother of God the way that the All-Pure Virgin had appeared to him. He established Feast of this icon as June 18. The icon, named the Bogoliubsk, was afterwards glorified by numerous miracles. the place decreed by the Queen of Heaven, Prince Andrew built (in 1159) the church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. He also remained in the city of Bogoliubov, which became his constant dwelling and the place of his martyric end. his father Yurii Dolgoruky died (+ May 15, 1157), Saint Andrew did not take up his father’s throne at Kiev, but rather remained prince at Vladimir. During the years 1158-1160 was built the Dormition cathedral at Vladimir, and in it was placed the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. In the year 1164 the Golden Gates were set in place, over which was the church of the Placing of the Robe of the Mother of God, and also the church of the Savior at the princely court. churches were built by Prince Andrew during the years of his rule. The finest of them is the Dormition cathedral. The richness and splendor of the church helped to spread Orthodoxy among the surrounding peoples and foreign merchants. Saint Andrew had directed that all travellers, whether Latins or pagans, were to be led into the churches he built and to have “true Christianityâ€ pointed out to them. The chronicler writes: “Both Bulgars, and Jews, and every sort of common person, beholding the glory of God and churchly adornment, came to be baptized.â€ conquest of the great Volga journey-way became for Saint Andrew a fundamental task of his civil service to Russia. The Volga Bulgars from the time of the campaigns of Svyatoslav (+ 972) presented a serious danger to the Russian state. Saint Andrew continued with the initiatives of Svyatoslav. shattering blow was struck against the enemy in 1164, when Russian forces burned and destroyed several Bulgar fortresses. Saint Andrew took with him on this campaign the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God and a two-sided icon, on one side was depicted the Icon of the Savior “Not-Made-by-Hands,â€ and the “Veneration of the Crossâ€ on the opposite side. [At the present time both icons are in the Tretyakov State Gallery.] great miracle from the holy icons occurred for the Russian army on the day of the decisive victory over the Bulgars, August 1, 1164. After the destruction of the Bulgar army, the princes (Andrew, his brother Yaroslav, his son Izyaslav and others) returned towards the infantry standing by the princely standards with the Vladimir Icon, and they made a prostration before the Icon, “bestowing on it praise and song.â€ And then all beheld the blinding rays of light, issuing from the face of the Mother of God and the Savior Not-Made-by-Hands. a faithful son of the Orthodox Church in all things, vigilant in belief and canons, Saint Andrew turned to the Patriarch of Constantinople with a filial request to establish a separate metropolitan for northeastern Rus. And with the prince’s letter of accord there journeyed to Byzantium the candidate chosen by the prince, Archimandrite Theodore of Suzdal. Patriarch Luke Chrysoverges, however, only agreed to consecrate Theodore as Bishop of Vladimir, but not as Metropolitan. Yet at the same time, wanting to uphold the position of Prince Andrew as the most powerful among the rulers of the Russian Land, the Patriarch honored Bishop Theodore with the right to wear the white klobuk [monastic head covering], which in ancient Rus was a distinctive sign of church autonomy. Such recognition (the white klobuk) was also granted to the Archbishop of Novgorod. Evidently, since the Russian chronicles speak of Bishop Theodore with the title of “White Klobukâ€, much later historians sometimes call him “the bishop of an autonomous diocese.â€ the year 1167 Saint Rostislav died at Kiev. He was the twin brother of Andrew, and had been able to carry out compromise during the complicated political and churchly life of the time. But after this, there was dispatched from Constantinople a new metropolitan, Constantine II. The new metropolitan demanded that Bishop Theodore come before him to be confirmed in his position. Saint Andrew again went to Constantinople for the affirmation of the autonomous status of the Vladimir diocese and again he requested a separate metropolitanate. The letter of reply from Patriarch Luke Chrysoverges has been preserved. It contains a categorical refusal for establishing a new metropolitan, a demand to accept the expelled bishop Leo, and to submit to the Metropolitan of Kiev. fulfilling this churchly obedience, Saint Andrew urged Bishop Theodore to journey in repentance to Kiev for the restoration of canonical relations with the Metropolitan. The repentance of Bishop Theodore was not accepted. Without investigation by a council, and in accord with the Byzantine morals of the time, Metropolitan Constantine condemned him to a terrible execution. Saint Theodore’s tongue was cut out, they cut off his right hand, and then they gouged out his eyes. After this he was drowned by servants of the Metropolitan (by other accounts, he died in prison). only the churchly, but also the political affairs of Southern Rus demanded the decisive response of the Great Prince of Vladimir. On 8 March 8, 1169 an army of allied princes with Andrew’s son Mstislav at the head conquered Kiev. The city was devastated and burned, and the Polovetsians participating in the campaign did not spare even the churchly treasures. The Russian chronicles viewed this event as something that was deserved: “These misfortunes were for their sins (the Kievans), especially for the outrage perpetuated by the Metropolitan.â€ In the same year (1169) the prince moved an army against unruly Novgorod, but they were repulsed by a miracle of the Novgorod Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign (November 27), which had been carried along the city walls by holy Archbishop John (September 7). But when the understandable wrath of the Great Prince gave way to mercy, and in peace he summoned the Novgorod people to him, the blessing of God returned to him. Novgorod accepted the prince appointed by Saint Andrew. such a manner, towards the end of 1170, Saint Andrew Bogoliubsky was able to attain the unity of the Russian Land under his rule. the winter of 1172 he sent a large army under the command of his son Mstislav against the Volga Bulgars. The Russian forces gained the victory, but their joy was overshadowed by the death of the valiant Mstislav (March 28, 1172). the night of June 30, 1174 holy Prince Andrew Bogoliubsky accepted a martyr’s death at the hands of traitors in his own household. The Tver Chronicle relates that Saint Andrew was murdered at the instigation of his second wife (a Volga Bulgar), who participated in the conspiracy. At the head of the conspiracy stood her brothers, the Kuchkovichi: “and they commited murder in the night, as did Judas against the Lord.â€ A throng of assassins, twenty men, burst in upon the court, they killed the few guards and stormed into the bedchamber of the unarmed prince. The sword of Saint Boris, which hung constantly over his bed, had been treacherously removed that night by the steward Anbal. The prince succeeded in pushing the first of his assailants down on the floor. The conspirators then mistakenly ran him through with their swords. Soon they realised their mistake, “and then they perceived the prince, and he fought much with them, for he was strong, and they did thrust with swords and sabres, and gave him copious wounds.â€ The forehead of the holy prince was struck on the side with a spear, while all the remaining blows from the cowardly assassins were dealt from behind. When the prince finally fell, they abruptly rushed out of the bedchamber, taking along their murdered accomplice. saint was still alive, however. With his final strength he lowered himself along the palace stairway, hoping to alert a guard. Instead, his groans were heard by the assassins and they turned back. The prince was able to hide himself in a niche below the stairway and so they passed by him. The conspirators rushed to the bedchamber but did not find the prince there. “Disaster stands before us, since the prince is alive,â€ the assassins cried out in terror. But all around it was quiet, and no one came to the aid of the suffering prince. Then the evil-doers again regained their boldness, they lit candles and followed the bloody trail to seek out their victim. Prayer was on the lips of Saint Andrew when the assassins again surrounded him. Russian Church remembers and venerates its martyrs and makers. A special place belongs to Saint Andrew Bogoliubsky. Having taken in his hands the wonderworking icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, the holy prince, as it were, blessed the major events of Russian history with it. In 1395 was the year of the transfer of the Vladimir Icon to Moscow and the deliverance of the capital from the invasion of Tamerlane (August 26); the year 1480 marks the salvation of Rus from the invasion of Khan Akhmat and the ultimate collapse of the Mongol Horde (June 23); in the year 1521 Moscow was saved from the invasion of the Crimean Khan Makhmet-Girei (May 21). Through the prayers of Saint Andrew, his fondest dreams for the Russian Church came true. In the year 1300, Metropolitan Maximus transferred the metropolitan See of All-Russia from Kiev to Vladimir, making the Dormition cathedral the foremost cathedral of the Russian Church. There rest the relics of Saint Andrew, and the Vladimir wonderworking Icon is its chief holy object. on, when the center of the Russian Church was moved to Moscow, selections of the metropolitans and patriarchs of the Russian Church were made before the Vladimir Icon. In the year 1448, a Council of Russian bishops raised up the first metropolitan of the autocephalous Russian Church, Saint Jonah. On November 5, 1917, in front of it was made the selection of His Holiness Patriarch Saint Tikhon, the first such election after the restoration of the patriarchate in the Russian Church. And in 1971, on the Feast of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, the enthronment of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen took place. liturgical activity of Saint Andrew was multi-faceted and fruitful. In 1162 the Lord granted the holy prince a great solace: in Rostov there was discovered the relics of Rostov saints -- the holy hierarchs Isaiah and Leontius. The glorification of these Rostov saints throughout all the Church took place somewhat later, but Saint Andrew initiated their national veneration. In 1164 the military forces of Saint Andrew crushed their long-time enemy, the Volga Bulgars. The victories of the Orthodox nation were marked by a blossoming of liturgical creativity within the Russian Church. this same year of 1164, at the initiative of Saint Andrew, the Church established the Feast of the All-Merciful Savior and the Most Holy Theotokos on August 1 (venerated by the Russian people as “Savior of the First Honeyâ€), in memory of the Baptism of Rus by holy Equal of the Apostles Vladimir and in memory of the victory over the Bulgars in 1164. The Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God on October 1 embodied in liturgical forms the faith of the holy prince and all the Orthodox nation in the acceptance by the Mother of God of Holy Rus beneath Her omophorion. The Protection of the Theotokos became one of the most beloved of Russian Church Feasts. The Protection is a Russian national holiday, unknown to the Latin West. It is a liturgical continuation and creative development of theological ideas inherent to the Feast of the Placing of the Robe of the Mother of God on July 2. first church consecrated to the new Feast was the Protection church at Nerla (1165), a remarkable monument of Russian Church architecture, built by the master artisans of Saint Andrew at the head-waters of the River Nerla, so that the prince could always see it from a window of his Bogoliubov garret. Andrew took an active part in the literary work of the Vladimir church writers. He participated in the compiling of the Service of the Protection (the most ancient copy is in the manuscript of a fourteenth century Psalter), and also a preface about the establishment of the Feast of the Protection in the Great Reading Menaion for October, as well as a “Discourse on the Protection.â€ He wrote an “Account of the Victory over the Bulgars and the Establishing of the Feast of the Savior in the Year 1164,â€ which in several of the old manuscripts is called, “Discourse concerning the Mercy of God by Great Prince Andrew Bogoliubsky.â€ The fate of Bogoliubsky is also noted in the Vladimir Chronicle entry for the year 1177, completed after the death of the prince by his confessor, the priest Mikula, who inserted his special “Account of the Murder of Saint Andrew.â€ To Saint Andrew’s time belongs also the final editing of the “Account of Boris and Gleb,â€ inserted into the “Dormition Sbornikâ€ (“Compendiumâ€ or “Book of Collected Servicesâ€ of these Rostov saints). The prince particularly venerated Saint Boris, and his chief household treasure was a cap belonging to Saint Boris. Saint Boris’s sword always hung over his bed. Another memorial of Saint Andrew’s prayerful inspiration is “A Prayer,â€ included in the chronicle under the year 1096 after the “Instructions of Vladimir Monomakh.â€

Russia, Kiev, 1159-1167, 1154, Rostislav 1, Michael, Monomakh, left N for K after 1 week, Chernigov, Smolensk, then K 59-67
Kiev Rus King, 1154-1157, Rostislav-Michael; Mstislavich (c. 1110-“1167), Kniaz' (Prince) of Smolensk (1125-“1160), Novgorod (1154) and Velikiy Kniaz (Grand Prince) of Kiev (Kyiv, 1154, 1159-“1167). He was the son of Mstislav I of Kiev and Christina Ingesdotter of Sweden. Yaroslav II of Kiev was driven out of Novgorod, Rostislav was invited to become the ruler of Novgorod. He accepted, and became the prince on April 17, 1154. Then, learning that Iziaslav II had died, Rostislav left Novgorod to take the Kievan throne. Indignant that their prince had abandoned them and angered that "he did not make order among them, but tore them more apart", the citizens of Novgorod drove out Rostislav's son, David, who was their governor. They replaced him with Mstislav Yurievich, the son of Yury Dolgoruky. ruled Kiev for one week before Iziaslav III of Kiev forced him to flee to Chernigov. left four sons, princes David Rostislavich of Novgorod, Mstislav Rostislavich of Smolensk, Roman I of Kiev and Rurik Rostislavich and two daughters Elena Rostislavna of Kiev-Smolensk (died 1204) and Agrafena Rostislavna (died 1237). Venerable John the Long-Suffering of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on July 18; Venerable Polycarp the Archimandrite of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on July 24; Venerable Abramius the Archimandrite and Wonderworker of Smolensk, Commemorated on August 21; St John the Archbishop and Wonderworker of Novgorod, Commemorated September 7 ; Venerable Titus the Presbyter of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on February 27; Venerable Gerasimus of Vologda, Commemorated on March 4; Right-believing Great Prince Rostislav-Michael the Prince of Kiev, Commemorated on March 14 ; St Niphon the Bishop of Novgorod, Commemorated on April 8; St Cyril the Bishop of Turov, Commemorated on April 28; St Nikita the Bishop of Novgorod and Recluse, of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on May 14; Blessed Constantine the Metropolitan of Kiev, Commemorated on June 5;

Russia, Kiev, 1162-1186, John, Wonderworker of Novgorod, MOG gold, Savior Icon voice, Molieben, icon itself moved, much more
Russia, Novgorod, 1162-1186, John, Archbishop & Wonderworker of Novgorod (Volkhov River Source (Lake llmen)), inheritance, w b Gabriel small monastery, means ran out, MOG sent horse w gold, wrote vocation of pastor, 1165 Archbishop Novgorod Cathedral, 1170 Vladimir forces seige N, Savior Icon voice, Ilna st MOG icon not move, Molieben, icon itself moved, to city walls, arrows like rain, darkness covered Suzdal forces, 1172 jounneyed to Vladimir to reconcile w Andrew B, spiritual conversations, monks guidance, unusual grace powers, against deamon story, one night holy land visit, deamon's revenge, sensed death, took schema as John, appointed brother; Veliky Novgorod; St John the Archbishop and Wonderworker of Novgorod, Commemorated September 7 ; John, Archbishop of Novgorod, was born at Novgorod of the pious parents Nicholas and Christina. He passed his childhood in quiet and peaceful surroundings. the death of their parents, John and his brother Gabriel decided to establish a small monastery in honor of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos with their inheritance. first they built a wooden church, but a short time later they also built a stone church. good intentions were not without difficulties. they finished construction on the stone temple, the brothers totally exhausted their means. Only their steadfast and living faith inspired them to continue what they had started. turned for help with it to the Queen of Heaven, on Whose account this God-pleasing matter was begun. of their unflagging faith and zeal, She manifested Her mercy to them. She told them in a dream that everything necessary for the completion of the temple would be provided. the following morning, the brothers saw a splendid horse loaded with two sacks of gold. No one came for it, and when the brothers removed the sacks, the horse vanished. Thus did the Mother of God provide for the monastery. completion of the monastery construction, under the protection of the Mother of God, the brothers were clothed in the monastic schema. Saint John took the name of Elias, and Saint Gabriel took the name Gregory. chronicles speak of Saint John being made bishop under the entries for the year 1162. first archpastoral letter was addressed to the clergy of his diocese. was filled with an endearing concern about his flock, written in a spirit of fatherly guidance: “It has pleased God and the Most Holy Theotokos, through your prayers, that I, a mere man, should not refuse this high office, of which I am unworthy. Since you yourselves have encouraged me to this service, now listen to me ...” saint spoke about the vocation of the pastor. is concerned about his sheep, he not only chastizes, but also heals those who lead a sinful life. “At the beginning of my discourse I ask you not to be too much attached to this world, but rather be instructive to people. Look first of all, that they not give themselves over to drunkenness. You yourselves know, that through this vice most of all, not only do the simple people perish, but we also. your spiritual children come to you in repentance, then question them with mildness. It is not seemly to impose harsh penances. not scorn the reading of books, since if we do not start doing this, then what will distinguish us from the simple unschooled people? Do not impose penances upon orphans.... Let everything be seemly, for the yoke of Christ ought to be light.” the year 1165 Saint John was elevated to archbishop (from that time the Novgorod cathedra became an archbishopric). winter of 1170 was a very difficult time for Novgorod. Suzdal forces with their allies laid siege to the city for two days, since the Novgorod people would not accept Prince Svyatoslav. They also took the tribute-tax of the Dvina district which was not subject to them. grief the people of Novgorod prayed to God and the Most Holy Theotokos for the salvation of the city. the third night, while he was praying before an icon of the Savior, Saint John heard a voice ordering him to go to the church of the Savior on Il’ina street, to take the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and carry it out to the walls of the city. the morning the saint told the people about the command and sent his deacon with clergy to the church of the Savior for the icon. into the church, the archdeacon bowed down before the icon and wanted to take it, but the icon would not budge. The archdeacon returned to the archbishop and told him what had happened. the saint with all the assembly went to the Il’ina church and on their knees began to pray before the icon. They began to sing a Molieben, and after the Sixth Ode at the kontakion “Protectress of Christians,” the icon itself moved from the place. The people with tears cried out: “Lord, have mercy!” Saint John took the icon and together with two deacons carried it to the city walls. Novgorodian people saw their doom, for the Suzdal forces and their allies were ready for pillage. the sixth hour the assault began, and the arrows fell like rain. the icon turned its visage towards the city, and tears trickled down from the eyes of the Most Holy Theotokos, which the saint gathered on his phelonion. darkness covered the Suzdal forces, they became unable to see and they fell back in terror. occurred on February 25, 1170. Saint John established a solemn feastday for Novgorod, the Sign of the Most Holy Theotokos (November 27). Suzdal army inflicted great harm on the Novgorod region. also the archpastor did not remain on the sidelines. He showed fatherly concern for devastated households suffering hunger, and he distributed aid to orphans. like other Russian hierarchs, he calmed and soothed the internecine strife in much-suffering Rus by his prayers and his virtue. 1172, the archpastor journeyed to Vladimir to reconcile Prince Andrew Bogoliubsky with the Novgorod people. saint not only shared in the adversity of his people, but most of all he concerned himself with their spiritual enlightenment. John devoted much attention to spiritual conversations, which often occurred in the circle of the clergy and the laypeople. There are preserved about 30 of his instructions concerning Baptism, Confession, the Holy Eucharist. Guidance for Monks is filled with spiritual grandeur: “Once having followed after Christ, monks as actualisers of spiritual life by the Cross ought to live in solitary places, separate from worldly folk. them steal nothing for themselves, and let them be wholly dedicated to God. monk ought always to be a monk, at every time and at every place, both in asleep and awake he should preserve the memory of death, and be fleshless in the flesh.” “Not for everyone does the monastery serve as a therapy for sensual love, just as silence is for anger, and non-acquisitiveness is for money, and the tomb is for avarice. life and worldly life are incompatible, just as one would not harness a camel and horse together. monk bends his neck beneath the yoke of the Creator and ought to pull the plow in the valley of humility, in order to multiply the fine wheat by the warmth of the Life-giving Spirit and to sow the seeds of the reason of God. black-robed is not his own master; like gods, take care not to rot in likeness to people, nor fall from the heights like Lucifer... for haughty pride comes from human glory.” saint’s spiritual powers of grace were unusual. his simplicity of soul and purity of heart God gave him power against demons. Once, when the saint prayed by night, as was his custom, he heard something splashing the water in the washbasin. Seeing that there was no one beside him, the saint realized that this was a demon trying to scare him. saint made the Sign of the Cross over the washbasin and restrained the devil. Soon the evil spirit could no longer bear the prayer of the saint, which scorched it like fire, and it began to beg to be released from the washbasin. saint was agreeable, ordered the demon to carry him from Novgorod to Jerusalem to the Sepulchre of the Lord and back, all in one night. demon fulfilled the saint’s command, but asked him to tell no one about his shame. one of his conversations, the saint told his flock that he knew a man who visited the Holy Land in one night. revenge of the evil spirit was not slow in coming. It began to scatter women’s things in his cell. when people had gathered in Saint John’s cell, the devil transformed himself into a woman who ran in front of them as if fleeing from the cell. saint heard the racket and gently asked, “What has happened, my children, what is the noise all about?” The unruly crowd, shouting various charges of perverse life against the saint, dragged him to the River Volkhov. put the saint on a raft and released it down along the current of the river. the raft, contrary to expectation, sailed against the current straight to the Saint George men’s monastery, three versts from Novgorod. this, people were ashamed and with weeping and shouts they went along the riverbank after the raft, beseeching the saint to forgive them and to return to the city. heart of the simple archpastor was filled with joy, not only for himself, but for his flock: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” he prayed, and granted pardon to all. happened not long before the death of the saint. Sensing its approach, he put off the hierarch’s omophor and took the schema with the name John, the same name he had in his youth. appointed his brother, Saint Gregory (May 24) as his successor. The saint died on September 7, 1186 and was buried in the church of Holy Wisdom. 1439, repairs were being made at the cathedral of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) through the zeal of Saint Euthymius; in the portico chapel of Saint John the Forerunner, a stone suddenly came loose and cracked the lid of the tomb standing there. Saint Euthymius gave orders to lift off the boards broken by the stone, and the temple was filled with fragrance. the tomb they beheld the incorrupt relics of the saint, but no one was able to identify who this archpastor was. In his cell, Saint Euthymius fervently began to pray for God to reveal to him the name of this saint. night a man appeared before him, clothed in the vestments of a hierarch, and said that he was Archbishop John, who was found worthy to serve the miracle of the Most Holy Theotokos in honor of Her Sign. “I proclaim to you the will of God,” continued the saint, “to celebrate the memory of the archbishops and princes lying here, on October 4, and I shall pray Christ for all Christians.” His memory is also celebrated at the Synaxis of Novgorod hierarchs on February 10. In 1630, a feastday was also established for December 1.

Russia, Kiev, 1165-1224, Abramius the Wonderworker, teacher of repentence
Smolensk, 1165-1224, Abramius the Wonderworker; Smolensk; Venerable Abramius the Archimandrite and Wonderworker of Smolensk, Commemorated August 21 ; Abramius of Smolensk, a preacher of repentance and the Dread Last Judgment, was born in the mid-twelfth century at Smolensk of rich parents, who had twelve daughters before him, and they begged God for a son. childhood he grew up in the fear of God, he was often in church and had the opportunity to read books. The parents hoped that their only son would enter into marriage and continue their illustrious lineage, but he sought a different life. After the death of his parents, having given away all his wealth to monasteries, to churches and to the destitute, the saint walked through the city in rags, asking God to show him the way to salvation. was tonsured in the monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos, five versts from Smolensk, at Selischa. Having passed through various obediences there, the monk fervently occupied himself with copying books, culling spiritual riches from them. The Smolensk prince Roman Rostislavich (+ 1170) started a school in the city, in which they taught not only in Slavonic, but also from Greek and Latin books. The Prince himself had a large collection of books, which Saint Abramius used. He had struggled for more than 30 years at the monastery, when in the year 1198 the igumen persuaded him to accept the dignity of presbyter. Every day he served the Divine Liturgy and fulfilled the obedience of clergy not only for the brethren, but also for the laity. the monk became widely known. This aroused the envy of the brethren, and then of the igumen also, and five years later, the monk was compelled to transfer to the Exaltation of the Cross monastery in Smolensk itself. With offerings from the devout, he embellished the cathedral church of the poor monastery with icons, and with curtains and candle-stands. He himself painted two icons on themes which most concerned him. On one he depicted the Dread Last judgment, and on the other the suffering of the trials of life. Lean and pale from extreme toil, in priestly garb the ascetic resembled Saint Basil the Great in appearance. The saint was strict both towards himself, and towards his spiritual children. He preached constantly in church and to those coming to him in his cell, conversing with rich and poor alike. city notables and the clergy demanded that Bishop Ignatius bring the monk to trial, accusing him of seducing women and tempting his spiritual children. But even more terrible were the accusations of heresy and the reading of forbidden books. For this they proposed to drown or burn the ascetic. At the trial by the Prince and the Bishop, the saint answered all the false accusations. Despite this, they forbade him to serve as a priest and returned him to his former monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos . A terrible drought occurred in consequence of God’s wrath over the unjust sentence, and only when Saint Ignatius pardoned Saint Abramius, permitting him to serve and preach, did the rain again fall on Smolensk. bishop Saint Ignatius built a new monastery, in honor of the Placing of the Robe of the Most Holy Theotokos, and he entrusted the guidance of it to Saint Abramius, and he himself settled into it, retiring from the diocese because of age. Many wished to enter under the guidance of Saint Abramius, but he examined them very intensely and only after great investigation, so at his monastery there were only seventeen brethren. Saint Abramius, after the death of Saint Ignatius, having become his spiritual friend, urged the brethren, more than before, to think about death and to pray day and night, that they be not condemned in the Judgment by God. Abramius died after the year 1224, having spent 50 years in monasticism. Already at the end of the thirteenth century a service had been compiled to him, together with his disciple Saint Ephraim. The terrible Mongol-Tatar invasion, seen as the wrath of God for the nation’s sins, not only did not stifle the memory of Saint Abramius of Smolensk, but rather was a reminder to people of his calling to repentance and recollection of the dread Last Judgment.

Russia, Kiev, 1167-1170, Mstislav II, K Rus King, Michael Izyaslavich, wars w Yuri D, fled to Poland, killed Yuri at Vohly
Kiev Rus King, 1167-1170, Mstislav II ; Venerable Arethus the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on October 24; Commemoration of the Weeping Icon of the Mother of God œof the Sign at Novgorod, Commemorated on November 27; Venerable Athanasius œthe Resurrected OneÂ, Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on December 2; Venerable Titus the Presbyter of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on February 27; St Cyril the Bishop of Turov, Commemorated on April 28;

Russia, Kiev, 1170, Weeping Sign Icon, Suzdal attack, voice, walls, arrow, tears, terror, friendly fire
Russia, Novgorod, 1170, Weeping Sign Icon, against Bogoliubsky of Suzdal, voice, carry around walls, arrow, tears, terror, friendly fire, engouragement, people of N win; Veliky Novgorod; Commemoration of the Weeping Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign" at Novgorod, Commemorated November 27 ; Icon of the Mother of God “Of the Sign”, depicts the Most Holy Theotokos with prayerfully uplifted hands, and the Divine Infant is at Her bosom in a mandorla (or sphere). depiction of the Mother of God is regarded as one of the very first of Her iconographic images. In the mausoleum of Saint Agnes at Rome is a depiction of the Mother of God with hands raised in prayer with the Infant Christ sitting upon Her knees. This depiction is ascribed to the fourth century. There is also an ancient Byzantine icon of the Mother of God “Nikopea” from the sixth century, where the Most Holy Theotokos is depicted seated upon a throne and holding in Her hands an oval shield with the image of the Savior Emmanuel. of the Mother of God, known as “The Sign”, appeared in Russia during the eleventh-twelfth centuries, and were so called because of a miraculous sign from the Novgorod Icon in the year 1170. that year the allied forces of Russian appanage princes, headed by a son of Prince Andrew Bogoliubsky of Suzdal, marched to the very walls of Great Novgorod. For the people of Novgorod, their only remaining hope was that God would help them. Day and night they prayed, beseeching the Lord not to forsake them. On the third night Bishop Elias of Novgorod heard a wondrous voice commanding that the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos be taken out of the church of the Savior’s Transfiguration on Ilina street, and carried about on the city walls. they carried the icon, the enemy fired a volley of arrows at the procession, and one of them pierced the iconographic face of the Mother of God. Tears trickled from Her eyes, and the icon turned its face towards the city. After this divine Sign an inexpressible terror suddenly fell upon the enemy. They began to strike one another, and taking encouragement from the Lord, the people of Novgorod fearlessly gave battle and won the victory. remembrance of the miraculous intercession of the Queen of Heaven, Archbishop Elias established a feastday in honor of the Sign of the Mother of God, which the Russian Church celebrates to the present day. The Athonite hieromonk Pachomius the Logothete, who was present at the festal celebration of the Icon in Russia, composed two Canons for this Feast. certain Novgorod Icons of the Sign, the miraculous occurrences of the year 1170 were also depicted. For 186 years afterwards, the wonderworking icon remained in the Savior-Transfiguration church on Ilina street. In 1356 it was transferred to a church built in Novgorod in honor of the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “of the Sign,” which became the cathedral church of the monastery of the Sign. copies of the Sign Icon are known throughout Russia. Many of them were also glorified by miracles in their local churches, and were then named for the place of the appearance of the miracle. Similar copies of the Sign Icon are the icons of Dionysievo-Glushets, Abalaka (July 20), Kursk, Seraphim-Ponetaev and others.

Russia, Kiev, 1171-1177, Roman I (Smolensk, Rosislav's son Mstislav's gson Monomahk' ggson), K Rus King
Kiev Rus King, 1171-1177, Roman I of Kiev (Roman Rostislavich (+ 1170) ; Venerable Abramius the Archimandrite and Wonderworker of Smolensk, Commemorated on August 21; Venerable Arethus the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on October 24; Commemoration of the Weeping Icon of the Mother of God œof the SignÂ at Novgorod, Commemorated on November 27; Venerable Athanasius œthe Resurrected OneÂ, Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on December 2; Venerable Titus the Presbyter of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on February 27; St Cyril the Bishop of Turov, Commemorated on April 28 ;

Russia, Kiev, 1173-1210, Rurik Rostislavich, Oleg's grandson, K Rus King, w Cumans
Kiev Rus King, 1173-1210, Rurik Rostislavich; Venerable Pambo the Recluse of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on July 18; Martyr Florus of Illyria, Commemorated on August 18; Venerable Arethus the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on October 24; Venerable Sisoes the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on October 24; Venerable Theophilus the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on October 24; Venerable Athanasius œthe Resurrected OneÂ, Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on December 2; Venerable Anthony of Dymsk, Novgorod, Commemorated on January 17; Venerable Titus the Presbyter of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on February 27; Venerable Gerontius the Canonarch of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on April 1; Venerable Alexius the Recluse of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on April 24; St Cyril the Bishop of Turov, Commemorated on April 28;

Russia, Kiev, 1174, Gleb Andreevich, Vladimir, young ascetic, died at 19, incorrupt relics produced miracles 1238,1410,1613
Russia, Vladimir, 1174, Gleb Andreevich, son of Andrew Bogoliubsky, Vladimir Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos at Bogolubovo, young ascetic, strict fasting and prayer, died at 19, incorrupt relics produced miracles, 1238 tomb protected from fire, 1410 flames shot forth from tomb and Tartars fled, Glebs prayers protected V in 1613 ; Vladimir Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos at Bogolubovo; Blessed Prince Gleb Andreevich the Son of St Andrew Bogoliubsky, Commemorated on June 20 ; Prince Gleb of Vladimir, named George in holy Baptism, was a younger son of the holy Prince Andrew Bogoliubsky (July 4). the influence of his pious parents he grew up with a deep faith, and from twelve years of age he led a solitary spiritual life. parents did not hinder their son and even assisted him in spiritual growth. The prince especially loved the reading of holy books, he esteemed the clergy and he was charitable to all. Despite his young age, he chose for himself the exploit of strict fasting and prayerful vigilance. Gleb died in the year 1174, at age nineteen. incorrupt relics were preserved and glorified by miracles. the year 1238, during the time of the incursion of Batu upon the Russian Land, the Tatars burned the cathedral at Vladimir. In this conflagration perished Bishop Metrophanes, Great-princess Agatha, wife of Great-prince George Vsevolodovich (+ 1238), and many inhabitants of the city of Vladimir, who were locked in the cathedral church. fire, however, did not even touch the tomb of Saint Gleb. later, in July 1410, Tatars again descended upon Vladimir. In plundering the city, they began to sack the cathedral church treasury, having murdered the door-keeper Patrick. Supposing that treasure was hidden in the saint’s tomb, they set about to break it open. Just as the Tatars touched the stone crypt of Saint Gleb, flames shot forth from it, and the Tatars fled the city in terror. the prayers of the holy prince the city was saved from an incursion of Polish-Lithuanian plunderers in 1613. celebration of Saint Gleb was established in the year 1702, and then also a service was written to him, and somewhat later, a Life. His relics rest in the Dormition cathedral in Vladimir. In the year 1774 the south chapel of the cathedral was dedicated to him. Prince Gleb is revered as the special patron and defender of the city of Vladimir.

Russia, Kiev, 1176-1198, Yaroslav II, Vsevolod II's son, Oleg's gson, Rus Prince and Saint, Cherginov
Kiev Rus Prince and Saint, 1176-1198, Yaroslav II Vsevolodovich (Vasily); Venerable Arethus the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on October 24; Venerable Theophilus the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on October 24; Venerable Anthony of Dymsk, Novgorod, Commemorated on January 17; Monkmartyr Anastasius the Deacon of the Kiev Near Caves Commemorated on January 22; St Cyril the Bishop of Turov, Commemorated on April 28 ; Right-believing Prince Basil of Yaroslavl, Commemorated on July 3;

Russia, Kiev, 1177, Anastasius the Deacon of the Kiev Near Caves, received everything he prayed for
Russia, Kiev, 1177, Anastasius the Deacon of the Kiev Near Caves, received everything he prayed for; Kiev Near Caves; Monastic Martyr Anastasius the Deacon of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on January 22; Monk Martyr Anastasius, Deacon of the Kiev Caves, lived an ascetical life in the Near Caves. hieromonk Athanasius the Sooty calls him brother of Saint Titus the Presbyter (February 27). the manuscripts of the saints he is called a deacon. the Service to the Synaxis of the Fathers of the Near Caves, it says that the Monk Martyr Anastasius possessed such steadfastness in God, that he received everything he asked for. His memory is celebrated also on September 28 and on the second Sunday of Great Lent.

Russia, Kiev, 1177-1212, Vsevolod III, the Big Nest, K Rus King, Yuri D's 11th son, long reign in Vladimir, m Georgian
Kiev Rus King, 1173, Vsevolod III, the Big Nest; Venerable Abramius the Archimandrite of Rostov, Commemorated on October 29; Commemoration of the Weeping Icon of the Mother of God œof the SignÂ at Novgorod, Commemorated on November 27; Venerable Anthony of Dymsk, Novgorod, Commemorated on January 17; Monkmartyr Anastasius the Deacon of the Kiev Near Caves Commemorated on January 22; St Ignatius, Wonderworker and Bishop of Smolensk, Commemorated on January 29; St Laurence the Recluse of the Kiev Caves, Far Caves, and Bishop of Turov, Near Caves, Commemorated on January 29; Venerable Erasmus of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on February 24; Venerable Titus the Presbyter of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on February 27; Venerable Gerontius the Canonarch of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on April 1; St Cyril the Bishop of Turov, Commemorated on April 28 ;

Russia, Kiev, 1180-1699, Kupyatich Icon, Kobrin, Volhynia, found on a tree, shone w unusual light, found again after fire
Russia, Volhynia, 1180, Kupyatich Icon, Kobrin, Volhynia, found on a tree, shone w unusual light, found again after church burned, 1600 K Monastery, 1699 Roman Catholics, Uniate monks, 1699 to Sophia C Kiev; Kupyatich monastery, Kobrin, Belarus, Leposovsky monastery today; Icon of the Mother of God of Kupyatich, Commemorated on November 15; Kupyatich Icon of the Mother of God appeared in the year 1180 near the village of Kupyatich in the area of the former Pinsk district of the Minsk governance. icon was found in the forest on a tree by the peasant girl Anna, a cattle herder. The image, in the form of a cross, shone with an unusual light. the spot of the miraculous appearance of the icon, peasants built a church in the name of the Most Holy Theotokos, and placed the icon within it. After some years, Tatars burned the church. The icon was found a second time after many years by a traveler named Joachim. Peasants transferred the cruciform-icon to the village church. Joachim remained at the church as church attendant, by God’s will. the beginning of the seventeenth century, the Kupyatich monastery was built next to the church. Roman Catholics seized both at the end of the century. Later on, Uniate monks struggled there. monks, when they abandoned the monastery, took with them the holy icon of the Kupyatich Mother of God. They transferred the wonderworking icon to the Kiev Sophia cathedral. Kupyatich Icon is a small copper cross. On one side of the cross the Mother of God is depicted with the Pre-eternal Infant, and on the other side, the Crucifixion.

Russia, Kiev, 1182, Erasmus of Kiev Near Caves, monastery adornment, temptations, careless, sickness, 3 days time for repentence
Russia, Kiev, 1182, Erasmus of Kiev Near Caves, monastery adornment, donated icons, temptations for not giving to poor, careless, saved by sickness, 3 days time for repentence from Anthony, Theodosius and MOG for icons; Kiev Near Caves; Venerable Erasmus of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated February 24 ; Erasmus of the Kiev Caves Saint Simon, Bishop of Vladimir (May 10), wrote about him to his friend Saint Polycarp (July 24): “At the Caves was Erasmus the black-robed. He acquired a legacy of fame because he used everything he possessed for the adornment of the monastery church. He donated many icons, which even now may be seen over the altar. “The saint experienced great temptations after he had given away his wealth. The Evil One began to suggest to him that he should have given the money to the poor, rather than spend it on the beautification of the church. Saint Erasmus did not understand such thoughts, so he fell into despondency and began to live in a careless manner. Because of his former virtue the gracious and merciful God saved him. He sent him a grievous illness, and the monk lay near death. “In this sickness Erasmus lay for seven days, unable to see or speak, and hardly breathing. On the eighth day the brethren came to him and, seeing the difficulty of his approaching death, said, ‘Woe to the soul of this brother, for he lived in idleness and in sin. Now his soul beholds something and tarries, not having the strength to leave the body.’ “Erasmus suddenly got up, as though he had not been ill, and said to the monks, ‘Fathers and brethren! It is true that I am a sinner, and have not repented, as you said. Today, however, our monastic fathers Anthony and Theodosius have appeared to me, and said: “We have prayed for you, and the Lord has given you time for repentance.” Then I saw the All-Pure Mother of God with Christ in Her arms, and She said to me, “Erasmus, since you adorned My Church with icons, I will also adorn you and exalt you in the Kingdom of my Son! Arise, repent, take the angelic schema, and on the third day you will be taken from this life.”’ “Having said this, Erasmus began to confess his sins before all without shame, then went to church and was clothed in the schema, and on the third day he died.” Saint Erasmus was buried in the Near Caves. His memory is also celebrated on September 28 and on the second Sunday of Great Lent.

Russia, Kiev, 1200-1299, 13th Century Folder, Mongol Yoke begins , Alexander Nevsky, Theodore the Black

Russia, Kiev, 1210-1238, K Rus King, Yuri II of Vladimir, St George, d at Sit River, family d at V
Kiev Rus King, 1210-1238, Yuri II of Vladimi; Venerable Arethus the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on October 24; Venerable Sisoes the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on October 24; Venerable Theophilus the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on October 24; Venerable Mardarius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on December 13; Venerable Anthony of Dymsk, Novgorod, Commemorated on January 17; Venerable Erasmus of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on February 24; Venerable Gerontius the Canonarch of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on April 1;

Russia, Kiev, 1219-1246, Michael of Chernigov, Oleg's gggson, promoted t, t routes K and Vohl, first O Martyr
Russia, Kiev, 1219-1246, Michael of Chernigov, Mikhail Vsevolodovich; Chernigov; Martyr and Confessor Michael the Wonderworker of Chernigov, Commemorated September 20 ; Venerable Euphrosyne of Suzdal, Commemorated on September 25; Translation of the relics of the Martyr Michael of Chernigov, Commemorated February 14 ;

Russia, Kiev, 1223, Ukraine, Battle of the Kalka River 1223, decisive Mongol v
Battle of the Kalka River; Mongol-Tatar invasions 1223-1778; Venerable Pambo the Recluse of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on July 18; Venerable Abramius the Archimandrite and Wonderworker of Smolensk, Commemorated August 21 ; Right-believing Prince Basil (Vasilko) of Rostov, Commemorated on March 4;

Russia, Kiev, 1223, Battle of Kalka River, at Mariupol, decisive Mongol v
Battle of Kalka River at Mariupol; Mongol Tartar Invasion 1223-1241; Venerable Pambo the Recluse of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on July 18; Venerable Abramius the Archimandrite and Wonderworker of Smolensk, Commemorated August 21 ; Icon of the Mother of God œof the Sign, the œKursk-Root, Commemorated on September 8;

Russia, Kiev, 1223-1240, Mongol (Tartar) invasion of Rus 1223-1240, Kiev
Mongol (Tartar) invasion of Rus 1223-1240; Princess Anna Vsevolodna, Commemorated on November 3 ; Venerable Silvanus the Schemamonk, of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on June 10;

Russia, Kiev, 1225-1246, Michael of Chernigov, cured, promoted t, t routes K and Vohl, f Oleg, Martyr
Novgorod, 1225-1246, Saint Michael of Chernigov; Martyr and Confessor Michael the Wonderworker of Chernigov, Commemorated on September 20 ; St Oleg the Prince of Briansk, Commemorated on September 20 ;

Russia, Kiev, 1230-1262, K Rus King, Rostislav Mikhailovich, Rostislav III of Kiev, m Hun king's d
Kiev Rus King, 1230-1262, Rostislav Mikhailovich, Rostislav III of Kiev; St Theodore the Prince of Smolensk and Yaroslav, Commemorated on September 19;

Russia, Kiev, 1236-1243, Michael of Chernigov, focus on trade w Poland through Kiev and Vohly G
Kiev, 1236-1243, Kiev Rus King, Saint, Michael of Chernigov ; Venerable Polycarp of Briansk, Commemorated on February 23;

Russia, Kiev, 1238-1252, K Rus King, Sviatoslav III of Vladimir, short uneventful reign, visited GH
Kiev Rus King, 1238-1252, Sviatoslav III of Vladimir; Translation of the relics of Venerable St John the Abbot of Rila in Bulgaria, Commemorated on October 19; Venerable Sisoes the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on October 24; Venerable Mardarius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on December 13; Venerable Gerontius the Canonarch of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on April 1;

Russia, Kiev, 1240, Theodore Icon, Luke, Gorodets chapel, T Stratelates, in tree, Nevsky, copies
Russia, Vologda, 1551, Theodore Icon; to Tradition, his elder brother, Saint George (February 4), had found the icon in an old wooden chapel near the city of Gorodets. Later, the Gorodets monastery of Saint Theodore was built on this spot. When the citizens of Gorodets fled the city at the approach of Khan they did not have time to take the Icon with them. 1239 the residents of Kostroma saw the Icon being carried through their city by a radiant figure who resembed Saint Theodore Stratelates. The next day the Icon was found in a tree by Prince Basil of Kostroma, Saint Alexander Nevsky’s younger brother, while he was hunting in the forest. The Icon was placed in the church of Saint Theodore Stratelates, and many miracles took place before it. Kostroma, and Kostroma Region; Icon of the Mother of God of Kostroma, Commemorated July 28 ; Kostroma Hodegetria Icon of the Mother of God was painted in 1672 on the wall of the southwest tower of the Kostroma Theophany monastery. In 1779 a great conflagration occurred at the monastery, and the tower was all enveloped by flames, but the holy Icon of the Mother of God did not suffer from the fire. In the year 1824 a church was built at the tower. - Icon of the Mother of God of Igritsa, Commemorated July 28 ; Icon of the Mother of God of St Theodore, Commemorated on August 16; August 16 we commemorate the miraculous finding of the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Saint Theodore. According to Tradition, the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God was painted by the Evangelist Luke, and resembles the famous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. icon received its name from Saint Alexander Nevsky’s father Great Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich (+ 1246), who in holy Baptism was named Theodore in honor of Saint Theodore Stratelates (February 8). to Tradition, his elder brother, Saint George (February 4), had found the icon in an old wooden chapel near the city of Gorodets. Later, the Gorodets monastery of Saint Theodore was built on this spot. When the citizens of Gorodets fled the city at the approach of Khan they did not have time to take the Icon with them. 1239 the residents of Kostroma saw the Icon being carried through their city by a radiant figure who resembed Saint Theodore Stratelates. The next day the Icon was found in a tree by Prince Basil of Kostroma, Saint Alexander Nevsky’s younger brother, while he was hunting in the forest. The Icon was placed in the church of Saint Theodore Stratelates, and many miracles took place before it. Yaroslav-Theodore became the Great Prince of Vladimir after his brother Saint George perished in battle with the Mongols at the Sita River. He gave the icon which he inherited from his brother to his own son, Saint Alexander Nevsky. wonderworking Theodore Icon of the Mother of God was constantly with Saint Alexander, and he often prayed before it. After Saint Alexander Nevsky died on November 14, 1263 at the monastery founded by his father, the icon was taken by his younger brother Basil. copies of the Kostroma Theodore Icon were made, and one of the first was commissioned and brought to Moscow by Tsar Michael’s mother, the nun Martha. From the second half of the seventeenth century, various copies of the Theodore Icon were enlarged with scenes depicting events from the history of the wonderworking icon. Theodore Icon is two-sided. On the reverse side is the image of the holy Great Martyr Paraskevḗ, depicted in the splendid attire of a princess. It is believed that the image of Paraskevḗ on the reverse of the icon is connected with the wife of Saint Alexander Nevsky. first Romanov tsar was acclaimed as sovereign before the Theodore Icon in 1613. The Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Saint Theodore is also commemorated on March 14. Icon of the Mother of God of Slovenka, Commemorated on September 23; Icon of the Mother of God of St Theodore, Commemorated on March 14; "œMyrrh-Bearing" Icon of the Mother of God, Commemorated on May 1;

Russia, Kiev, 1240-1263, Alexander Nevsky, he d Europe & G Horde by submition, GH Orthodoxy & lands to t Pacific
Russia, Pereslavl, 1240-1263, Alexander Nevsky, extremely important, he defeated Europe by Converting Mongol Horde, Orthodoxy then covering Ghengis Khan's lands to the Pacific; Russia, Pereslavl, 1240-1263, Alexander Nevsky, Yaroslav II son, Big Nest's gson, Yuri's bro, Saint Simon of Suzdal, to Novgorod w dad by Yuri, Michael of Chernigov, back to P, back to N, Euphrosvne, fought Germans in Estonia, Y to Kiev, A to rule in N, married Polotsian Alexandra, Theodore icon, troublesome time, mongols, teutonic knights, cross bearers, Batu, Swedes, Neva, Birger, haughty, prayer, c of Saint Sophia, hasten towards enemy, m omen, B and G boat, emboldened, fight valiantly, Angel, slain opposite bank, lightning quick captured rus fort Kopore from knights, but they captured Pskov, winter campaign, l pskov, spring, battle of the Ice, famous world wide, to the Horde w his father, meekness and wisdom, alliance w Batu, Batu wishing to break w G Horde, Mongolia, Y poisoned, only 10 days after Michael, w support from Alex, Batu took over Mongol Horde with Christian Monke Khan , Batu took over Mongol Horde with Christian Monke Khan, but other Russian princes sought support from Europe against Mongols, M of Cherginov, D of Galich, brother A of V sought help from Pope, 1252 bro Andrew rose up against Mongols, A to the Horde once more, Andrew defeated fled to Swedes, whom A had defeated, AN then became ruler of all Rus, repelled new Pskov G invasion, treaty w norway, converted Finland, 1256 Batu died, Sartak poisoned 3rd trip to new Khan Berke, a moslem, who needed Rus, 1261 Cyril and AN established diocese at Sarai, Great christianization of East, 1262 Tartar Tribute and conscription stopped by decree w no reprisal, 4th trip, another channel, Berke independent GH, shield for Russia from East, uniting Rus w GH against Mongolia and Europe, Russian Church now to Pacific Ocean, all Ghengis Khan's lands Yaroslavich Nevsky[1] (13 May 1221[2] - 14 November 1263) served as Prince of Novgorod (1236–40, 1241–56 and 1258–1259), Grand Prince of Kiev (1236–52) and Grand Prince of Vladimir (1252–63) during some of the most difficult times in Kievan Rus' history. regarded as a key figure of medieval Rus', Alexander was a grandson of Vsevolod the Big Nest and rose to legendary status on account of his military victories over German and Swedish invaders. He preserved Russian statehood and Russian Orthodoxy, agreeing to pay tribute to the powerful Golden Horde. Metropolite Macarius canonized Alexander Nevsky as a saint of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1547.[3] Pereslavl-Zalessky; Repose of St Alexander Nevsky, Commemorated on November 23; Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky was born on May 30, 1220 in the city of Pereslavl-Zalessk. His father Yaroslav II, Theodore in Baptism (+1246), “a gentle, kindly and genial prince”, was the younger son of Vsevolod III Large Nest (+ 1212), brother of the Holy Prince Yuri Vsevolodovich (February 4). Saint Alexander’s mother, Theodosia Igorevna, a Ryazan princess, was Yaroslav’s third wife. Their older son was the Holy Prince Theodore (June 5), who departed to the Lord at age fifteen. Saint Alexander was their second son. childhood was spent at Pereslavl-Zalessk, where his father was prince. princely tonsure of the lad Alexander (a ceremony of initiation to be soldier) was done in the Savior Transfiguration Cathedral of Pereslavl by Saint Simon, Bishop of Suzdal (May 10), one of the compilers of the Kiev Caves Paterikon (Lives of the Fathers). this Elder-hierarch, Saint Alexander received his first blessing for military service in the name of God, to defend the Russian Church and the Russian Land. 1227 Prince Yaroslav, at the request of the people of Novgorod, was sent by his brother Yuri, the Great Prince of Vladimir, to rule as prince in Novgorod the Great. He took with him his sons, Saints Theodore and Alexander. Dissatisfied with the Vladimir princes, the people of Novgorod soon invited Saint Michael of Chernigov (September 20), and in February 1229 Yaroslav with his sons departed to Pereslavl. The matter ended peacefully: in 1230 Yaroslav with his sons returned to Novgorod, and Saint Michael’s daughter Theodosia was betrothed to Saint Theodore, the elder brother of Saint Alexander. After the death of the bridegroom in 1233 the young princess went to a monastery and became famous in monastic exploits as the nun Saint Euphrosynē of Suzdal (September 25). his early years Saint Alexander went along on his father’s campaigns. In 1235 he participated in a battle at the River Emajogi (in present-day Estonia), where the forces of Yaroslav totally routed the Germans. In the following year Yaroslav went to Kiev, “settling” his son, Saint Alexander, to rule independently as prince at Novgorod. In 1239 Saint Alexander entered into marriage, taking as wife the daughter of the Polotsian prince Briacheslav. Some histories relate that the day the princess was baptized was the Name Day of her saintly spouse, and she was named Alexandra. His father, Yaroslav, blessed them at betrothal with the holy wonderworking icon of the Theodore Mother of God (the father was named Theodore in Baptism). Afterwards, Saint Alexander constantly prayed before this icon. Later, it was taken from the Gorodetsk Monastery, where he died, by his brother Basil of Kostroma (+1276), and transferred to Kostroma. very troublesome time had begun in Russian history: from the East came the Mongol Horde destroying everything in their path; from the West came the forces of the Teutonic Knights, which blasphemously and with the blessing of the Roman Pope, called itself “Cross-bearers” by wearing the Cross of the Lord. In this terrible hour the Providence of God raised up for the salvation of Russia holy Prince Alexander, a great warrior, man of prayer, ascetic and upholder of the Land of Russia. “Without the command of God there would not have been his prince.” by the invasion of Batu, by the ruin of Russian cities, by the dismay and grief of the nation, by the destruction of its finest sons and leaders, a horde of crusaders made incursions into the borders of Russia. First were the Swedes. “A king of Roman faith from the midnight land,” Sweden, in 1240 gathered a great armed force and sent them to the Neva on many ships under the command of his son-in-law, Yarl (Prince) Birger. The haughty Swede sent his messengers to Novgorod to say to Saint Alexander: “Fight me if you have the courage, for I am already here and I am taking your land captive.” Alexander, then not yet twenty years old, prayed a long time in the church of Saint Sophia, the Wisdom of God. He recited the Psalm of David, saying: “Judge, O Lord, those who injure me, fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up to help me” (Ps. 34/35). Archbishop Spyridon blessed the holy prince and his army for the battle. Leaving the church, Saint Alexander exhorted his troops with words of faith: “The power of God is not in numbers, but in truth.” With a smaller force, trusting in the Holy Trinity, the prince hastened towards the enemy to await help from his father, not knowing whether the enemy would attack, nor when. there was a miraculous omen: at dawn on July 15 the warrior Pelgui, in Baptism Philip, saw a boat, and on it were the Holy Martyrs Boris and Gleb, in royal purple attire. Boris said: “Brother Gleb, let us help our kinsman Alexander.” When Pelgui reported the vision to the prince, Saint Alexander commanded that no one should speak about the miracle. Emboldened by this, he urged the army to fight valiantly against the Swedes. “There was a great slaughter of the Latins, and a countless multitude was killed, and their leader was left with a mark upon his face from a sharp spear.” An angel of God invisibly helped the Orthodox army: when morning came, on the opposite bank of the River Izhora, where the army of Saint Alexander was unable to proceed, was a multitude of the slain enemy. Because of this victory at the River Neva on July 15, 1240, the nation called the saint Alexander Nevsky. Teutonic Knights remained a dangerous enemy. In a lightning-quick campaign in 1241 Saint Alexander recaptured the ancient Russian fortress of Kopore, expelling the knights. But in 1242, the Germans succeeded capturing Pskov. The enemy boasted of “subjecting all the Slavic nation.” Saint Alexander, setting forth in a winter campaign, liberated Pskov, that ancient home of the Holy Trinity, and in spring of the year 1242 fought a decisive battle against the Teutonic Order. On the ice of Lake Chud both armies clashed on April 5, 1242. Raising his hands towards the heavens, Saint Alexander prayed: “Judge me, O God, and judge my strife with a boastful nation and grant help to me, O God, as to Moses of old against Amalek, and to my great-grandfather Yaroslav the Wise against accursed Svyatopolk.” his prayer, by the help of God, and by military might the Crusaders were completely destroyed. There was a terrible slaughter, and there was such a crashing of striking spears and swords that it seemed as though the frozen lake were in motion and not solid ice, since it was covered with blood. When they turned to flee, the enemy was pursued and slashed by Alexander’s army “as if they sped through the air, and there was nowhere for the enemy to flee.” Later, they led a multitude of captives behind the holy prince, marching in disgrace. clearly understood the universal historical significance of the Great Battle of the Ice, and the name of Saint Alexander was celebrated throughout Holy Russia, “through all the lands, from the Egyptian Sea to Mount Ararat, from both sides of the Varangian Sea to Great Rome.” western boundaries of the Russian land were safely secured, and it was time to guard Russia from the East. In 1242 Saint Alexander Nevsky and his father Yaroslav journeyed to the Horde. Metropolitan Cyril blessed them for this new service of many hardships: it was necessary to turn the Tatars from enemies and plunderers into honorable allies, and this required “the meekness of an angel and the wisdom of a snake.” Lord crowned the holy mission of the defenders of the Russian land with success, but this required years of hardship and sacrifice. Having made an alliance with Khan Batu, Prince Yaroslav was required to travel to faraway Mongolia, to the capital of all the nomadic empire. The situation of Batu himself being precarious, he sought the support of the Russian princes, wishing to break with his own Golden Horde from faraway Mongolia. And there in turn, they trusted neither Batu nor the Russians. Yaroslav was poisoned. He died in agony, surviving the Holy Martyr Michael of Chernigov, whose relative he nearly became, by only ten days. his father bequeathed him an alliance with the Golden Horde, it was necessary for Saint Alexander Nevsky to hold fast to it in order to avert a new devastation of Russia. the son of Batu, had accepted Christianity, and was in charge of Russian affairs with the Horde. became his friend, and like a brother to him. his support, Saint Alexander allowed Batu to launch a campaign against Mongolia, to become the chief power in all the Great Steppes, and to raise up the Tatar Christian leader, Khan Munke (most of his Tatar Christians were Nestorians) on the throne in Mongolia. all the Russian princes possessed the wisdom of Saint Alexander Nevsky. Many hoped for European help in the struggle against the Mongol Yoke. Saint Michael of Chernigov, Prince Daniel of Galich, and Andrew, Saint Alexander’s brother, conducted negotiations with the Roman Pope. Saint Alexander well knew the fate of Constantinople, seized and devastated by Crusaders in the year 1204. His own personal experience taught him not to trust the West. The alliance of Daniel of Galich with the Pope, giving him nothing in return, was a betrayal of Orthodoxy, a unia with Rome. Saint Alexander did not want this to happen to his Church. ambassadors of the Roman Pope appeared in 1248 to seduce him also, he wrote in answer that the Russians were faithful to the Church of Christ and to the belief of the Seven Ecumenical Councils: “These we know very well, but we do not accept your teaching.” was unsuitable for the Russian Church, and a unia signified a rejection of Orthodoxy, a rejection of the source of spiritual life, a rejection of the historical future foreordained by God, and the dooming of itself to spiritual death. the year 1252 many Russian cities rose up against the Tatar Yoke, supporting Andrew Yaroslavich. The situation was very risky. Again there arose a threat to the very existence of Russia. Alexander had to journey to the Horde once more, in order to prevent a punitive Tatar incursion on the Russian lands. Defeated, Andrew fled to the Swedes seeking the help of those very robbers whom his great brother had crushed with the help of God at the Neva. Alexander became the ruling Great Prince of All Rus: Vladimir, Kiev and Novgorod. great responsibility before God and history lay upon his shoulders. 1253, he repelled a new German incursion against Pskov; 1254 he made a treaty with Norway concerning peacetime borders; in 1256 he went on a campaign to the Finnish land. The chronicler called it “the dark campaign,” because the Russian army went along through the polar night, “going to impassable places, unable to see either day or night”. Into the darkness of paganism Saint Alexander brought the light of Gospel preaching and Orthodox culture. All the coastal region was enlightened and opened up by the Russians. 1256 Khan Batu died, and soon his son Sartak was poisoned, the one who was like a brother to Alexander Nevsky. holy prince journeyed a third time to Sarai in order to confirm peaceful relations of Rus and the Horde with the new Khan, Berke. Although the successor to Batu had accepted Islam, he needed the alliance with Orthodox Rus. 1261, by the diligent efforts of Saint Alexander and Metropolitan Cyril, a diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church was established at Sarai, the capital of the Golden Horde. followed an epoch of great Christianization of the pagan East, and Saint Alexander Nevsky prophetically speculated about the historical vocation of Rus. The holy prince used every possibility to uplift his native land and the ease its allotted cross. 1262 by his decree in many of the cities the Tatar collectors of tribute and the conscription of soldiers were stopped. They waited for a Tatar reprisal. But the great intercessor of the nation again journeyed to the Horde and he wisely directed the event into quite another channel. been dismissed for the uprising of the Russians, Khan Berke ceased to send tribute to Mongolia and proclaimed the Golden Horde an independent entity, making it a veritable shield for Russia from the East. this great uniting of the Russian and Tatar lands and peoples the future multi-national Russian State was matured and strengthened. within the bounds of the Russian Church, was encompassed nearly the entire legacy of Ghenghis Khan to the coasts of the Pacific Ocean. diplomatic journey of Saint Alexander Nevsky to Sarai was his fourth and last. The future of Rus was rescued, his duty before God was fulfilled. But his power was wholly devoted, and his life put to the service of the Russian Church. On the return journey from the Horde Saint Alexander fell deathly ill. Unable to reach Vladimir, in a monastery at Gorodets the prince-ascetic gave up his spirit to the Lord on November 14, 1263, completing his difficult earthly path by receiving the monastic schema with the name of Alexis. Cyril, the spiritual Father and companion of the holy prince, said in the funeral eulogy: “Know, my child, that already the sun has set for the land of Suzdal. There will be no greater prince in the Russian land.” They took his holy body to Vladimir, the journey lasted nine days, and the body remained undecayed. November 23, before his burial at the Nativity Monastery in Vladimir, there was manifest by God “a wondrous miracle and worthy of memory.” When the body of Saint Alexander was placed in the crypt, the steward Sebastian and Metropolitan Cyril wanted to take his hand, in order to put in it the spiritual gramota (document of absolution). The holy prince, as though alive, reached out his hand and took the document from the hand of the Metropolitan. “Because of their terror, and they were barely able to stumble from his tomb. Who would not be astonished at this, since he was dead and the body was brought from far away in the winter time.” did God glorify the saintly Soldier-Prince Alexander Nevsky. The universal Church glorification of Saint Alexander Nevsky took place under Metropolitan Macarius at the Moscow Cathedral in 1547. The Canon to the saint was compiled at that time by the monk Michael of Vladimir.

Russia, Kiev, 1240-1263, K Rus Prince, Alexander Nevsky, battles Neva and Ice, Politician, Mongol friend
Kiev Rus Prince, 1240-1263, Alexander Nevsky Venerable Pambo the Recluse of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on July 18; St Eupraxia, Princess of Pskov, Commemorated October 16; Translation of the relics of Venerable St John the Abbot of Rila in Bulgaria, Commemorated on October 19; Venerable Sisoes the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves, Commemorated on October 24; Repose of St Alexander Nevsky, Commemorated on November 23; St Maximus, Metropolitan of Kiev, Commemorated on December 6; Venerable Mardarius the Recluse of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on December 13; Icon of the Mother of God of Saint Theodore, Commemorated on March 14 Theodore—Kostroma Icon of the Mother of God was painted by the Evangelist Luke and resembles the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. icon received its name from Great Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich (+ 1246), the father of Saint Alexander Nevsky, and who in holy Baptism was named Theodore in honor of Saint Theodore Stratelates (February 8). to Tradition, the icon was found by his elder brother, Saint George (February 4), in an old wooden chapel near the city of Gorodets. Later, the Gorodetsk Theodorov monastery was built on this spot. Prince Yaroslav-Theodore became the Great Prince of Vladimir after his brother Saint George perished in battle with the Mongols at the Sita River. In the year 1239, he solemnly transferred the relics of his brother from Rostov to the Vladimir Dormition cathedral. He gave the icon which he inherited from his brother to his own son, Saint Alexander Nevsky. is renowned in Russian history. He continued with the glorious traditions of his uncle Saint Andrew Bogoliubsky (July 4), and of his father Vsevolod III Big-Nest, and he was connected to almost all of the significant events in the history of Rus in the first half of the thirteenth century. was burned and torn apart by the Mongols in 1237-1238. He raised it up from the ashes, rebuilt and embellished the cities, the holy monasteries and the churches. He restored cities along the Volga devastated by the enemy: Kashin, Uglich, Yaroslavl’, Kostroma, Gorodets. founded he church of Theodore Stratelates at Kostroma and the Theodorov monastery near Gorodets in honor of his patron saint. For eight years he ruled as Great Prince, but he had to guide the land through a singularly difficult path, maintaining a military-political balance with the Golden Horde to the East, while mounting an active opposition to Catholic Europe in the West. His closest companion was his son, Saint Alexander Nevsky, who also continued his policies. wonderworking Theodore Icon of the Mother of God was constantly with Saint Alexander, and he prayed before it. After Saint Alexander Nevsky died on November 14, 1263 at the monastery founded by his father, the icon was taken by his younger brother Basil. Yaroslavich was the youngest (eighth) son of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. In 1246 after the death of his father (Prince Yaroslav was poisoned in the capital city of Mongolia, Karakorum when he was only five years old) Basil became prince of the Kostroma appanage-holding, the least important of his father’s domains. In the year 1272, he became Great Prince of Vladimir. four years as Great Prince (1272-1276) were filled with fratricidal princely quarrels. For several years he waged war against Novgorod with an unruly nephew Demetrius. In becoming Great Prince, however, Basil did not journey to Vladimir, but remained under the protection of the wonderworking icon at Kostroma, regarding this place as safer in case of new outbreaks of strife. had occasion also to defend Rus against external enemies. In 1272, during a Tatar incursion, a Russian army came forth from Kostroma to engage them. Following the example of his grandfather, Saint Andrew Bogoliubsky (who took the wonderworking Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God with him on military campaigns), Prince Basil went into battle with the wonderworking Theodore Icon. A blinding light came forth from the holy image, and the Tatars dispersed and fled from the Russian land. Chronicles say that the Great Prince Basil had a special love for the Church and the clergy. After the martyric death of Bishop Metrophanes of Vladimir during the storming of Vladimir by Tatars on February 4, 1238, the Vladimir diocese had remained widowed for many years. This grieved Great Prince Basil. With his help, a large cathedral was constructed in Vladimir in 1274. This was apparently in connection with the consecration of Saint Serapion (July 12) as Bishop of Vladimir. He was an igumen from the Monastery of the Caves. Cyril III (+ 1282) presided over a council of Russian hierarchs. This was the first council in the Russian Church since the time of the Mongol invasion. Many problems and disorders had arisen in Church life, but the Russian Church was just barely beginning to recover from the woe that had befallen it. One of its main tasks was to recover a Russian churchly literacy, and the restoration of the tradition of the ancient Russian “princely order.â€ books the Church’s salvific activity would be almost impossible. Books were needed for church services, and for preaching, for the monastic cell rule, and for believers to read at home. Through the efforts of Metropolitan Cyril and the Russian bishops and monastic scholars, this important task was begun. The council approved new editions of essential books which formed the canonical basis of Orthodox church life. 1276, Prince Basil completed his life’s journey. Most of the important events in his life occured with the blessing of the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God. He died at Kostroma, and there he also found his final resting place. Since that time, the holy icon has been in the Kostroma cathedral of Saint Theodore Stratelates. interest in the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God and the spread of its veneration throughout all Russia is connected with events of the beginning of the seventeenth century, and the end of the Time of Troubles. In the year 1613, the wonderworking Theodore Icon from the Kostroma cathedral was used at the proclamation of Michael Romanov as the new Tsar. In memory of this historic event, March 14 was designated for the commemoration of the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God. copies were made from the Kostroma Theodore Icon, and one of the first was commissioned and brought to Moscow by Tsar Michael’s mother, the nun Martha. From the second half of the seventeenth century, various copies of the Theodore Icon were enlarged with scenes depicting events from the history of the wonderworking icon. the year 1670 the hierodeacon Longinus from the Kostroma Hypatiev monastery wrote the “Narrative concerning the Manifestations and Miracles of the Theodore Icon of the Mother of God in Kostroma.â€ Not all the things contained in it agree with things previously stated. Theodore Icon is two-sided. On the reverse side is the image of the holy Great Martyr Paraskeva, depicted in the splendid attire of a princess. It is believed that the image of Paraskeva on the reverse of the icon is connected with the wife of Saint Alexander Nevsky. Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Saint Theodore is also commemorated on August 16. Venerable Gerontius the Canonarch of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on April 1;

Russia, Kiev, 1246-1288, Prince, Roman of Chernigov, and Bryansk, to GH, cured by Icon
Kiev Prince, 1246-1288, Roman of Chernigov; Icon of the Mother of God of Sven, Commemorated on August 17; St Maximus, Metropolitan of Kiev, Commemorated on December 6; Venerable Gerontius the Canonarch of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on April 1; Icon of the Mother of God of Sven, Commemorated on May 3 ; Venerable Silvanus the Schemamonk, of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on June 10;

Russia, Kiev, 1250-1298, Saint Theodore the Black, Prince of Smolensk, bored, went to Sarai, prominence in H
Kiev, 1250-1298, Saint Theodore the Balck; St Theodore the Prince of Smolensk and Yaroslav, Commemorated on September 19;

Russia, Kiev, 1259, Kursk-Root Icon, icon found on root face down, tried to move to Ryla, events there
Russia, Kiev, 1259, Icon the Sign, Kursk-Root, Ukraine (Seym River Source, Kur and Tuskar River mouths), icon found on rood face down, chapel there, tried to move to Ryla, back to chapel, imporant events there; Kursk; Icon of the Mother of God “of the Sign”, the “Kursk-Root”, Commemorated on September 8 ; Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God “Of the Sign” is one of the most ancient icons of the Russian Church. the thirteenth century during the Tatar invasion, when all the Russian realm was put to the extremest tribulation, the city of Kursk, ravaged by the Horde of Batu, fell into desolation. day in the environs of the city a hunter noticed the ancient icon, lying on a root face downwards to the ground. hunter lifted it and saw that the image of the icon was similar to the Novgorod “Znamenie” Icon. the appearance of this icon immediately there appeared its first miracle. as the hunter lifted up the holy icon from the earth, right then, at that place where the icon lay, gushed up strongly a spring of pure water. occurred on September 8, 1259. The hunter decided not to leave the icon in the forest and settled on as a resting place an ancient small chapel, in which he put the newly-appeared image of the Theotokos. inhabitants of the city of Ryl’a heard about this, and being in location not far away, they began to visit the place of the appearance for venerating the new holy image. transferred the icon to Ryl’a and put it in a new church in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. the icon did not long remain there. It disappeared and returned to its former place of appearance. The inhabitants of Ryl’a repeatedly took it and carried it to the city, but the icon incomprehensibly returned to its former place. then realized, that the Theotokos preferred the place of appearance of Her Icon. special help granted by the Mother of God through this icon is bound up with important events in Russian history: the war of liberation of the Russian nation during the Polish-Lithuanian incursion in 1612, the 1812 Fatherland war. the icon several copies were made, which also were glorified. Icon of the Mother of God œKursk-Root, Commemorated on November 27 ; Story Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God “Of the Sign” is one of the most ancient icons of the Russian Church. In the thirteenth century during the Tatar invasion, when all the Russian realm was put to the extremest tribulation, the city of Kursk, ravaged by the Horde of Batu, fell into desolation. day in the environs of the city a hunter noticed the ancient icon, lying on a root face downwards to the ground. The hunter lifted it and saw that the image of the icon was similar to the Novgorod “Znamenie” Icon. With the appearance of this icon immediately there appeared its first miracle. Just as the hunter lifted up the holy icon from the earth, right then, at that place where the icon lay, gushed up strongly a spring of pure water. This occurred on September 8, 1259. The hunter decided not to leave the icon in the forest and settled on as a resting place an ancient small chapel, in which he put the newly-appeared image of the Theotokos. Soon inhabitants of the city of Ryla heard about this, and being in location not far away, they began to visit the place of the appearance for venerating the new holy image. transferred the icon to Ryla and put it in a new church in honor of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos. But the icon did not long remain there. It disappeared and returned to its former place of appearance. The inhabitants of Ryla repeatedly took it and carried it to the city, but the icon incomprehensibly returned to its former place. Everyone then realized, that the Theotokos preferred the place of appearance of Her Icon. The special help granted by the Mother of God through this icon is bound up with important events in Russian history: with the war of liberation of the Russian nation during the Polish-Lithuanian incursion in 1612, and the 1812 Fatherland war. From the icon several copies were made, which also were glorified.

Russia, Kiev, 1275, Mongol Tartar Invasion of Rus, 1223-1241, up at Kursk in 1275
Mongol Tartar Invasion 1223 - 1241; Venerable Pambo the Recluse of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on July 18; Icon of the Mother of God œof the SignœKursk-RootÂ, Commemorated on September 8; Icon of the Mother of God Kursk Root œof the SignÂ, Commemorated on March 8;

Russia, Kiev, 1283-1303, P Daniel of Moscow, Nevsky's 4th, yngst s, Churches and Ms, first victory over Ts, unified rus
Russia, Moscow, 1283-1303, Prince Daniel of Moscow; father died when he was only two years old. Of his father's patrimonies, he received the least valuable, Moscow.[1] Aleksandrovich (1261-“ 4 March 1303) was the youngest son of Alexander Nevsky and forefather of all the Grand Dukes of father died when he was only two years old. Of his father's patrimonies, he received the least valuable, Moscow.[1] When he was a child, the tiny principality was being governed by tiuns (deputies), appointed by his paternal uncle, Grand Prince Yaroslav has been credited with founding the first Moscow monasteries, namely the Lord's Epiphany, and The Danilov Monestery (Saint Daniel Monestery): named in his honor, situated on the right bank of the Moskva River at a distance of 5 miles from the Moscow Kremlin, and founded, by Daniel, as the first monastery wooden church of St. Daniel-Stylite no later than also built the first stone church in the Moscow Kremlin in the 1280s, dedicated to the Great Martyr took part in his brothers (”Dmitri of Pereslavl and Andrey of Gorodets) ”struggle for the right to govern Vladimir and Novgorod, respectively. After Dmitry's death in 1294, Daniel made an alliance with Mikhail of Tver and Ivan of Pereslavl against Andrey of Gorodets of Novgorod. participation in the struggle for Novgorod in 1296 indicated Moscow's increasing political influence. Constantine, the prince of Ryazan, tried to capture the Moscow lands with the help of a Mongol force. Prince Daniel defeated it near Pereslavl. This was a first victory over the Tatars, though not a tremendous victory, but it was noteworthy as a first push towards freedom.[2] 1300, he went to Ryazan with an army and imprisoned the ruler of the Ryazan Principality "by some ruse", as the chronicle says, and destroyed a multitude of Tatars. To secure his release, the prisoner ceded to Daniel his fortress of Kolomna. It was an important acquisition, as now Daniel controlled all the length of the Moskva River. 1302 his childless nephew and ally, Ivan of Pereslavl, bequeathed to Daniel all his lands, including Pereslavl-Zalessky.[2] the Mongol occupation and internecine wars among the Rus' princes, Daniel created peace in Moscow without bloodshed. 30 years of ruling Daniel participated in battles only once.[1] According to legend, Daniel was popular and respected by his subjects for his meekness, humility and peacefulness. Right-believing Prince Daniel of Moscow, Commemorated on March 4; the time of Great Prince Ivan III (1462-1505), Saint Daniel gave reminders of himself to his forgetful descendents. He appeared as a stranger to a youth who attended the Great Prince and said: Don’t be afraid of me. I was a Christian and the master of this place, my name is Daniel Prince of Moscow, and by the will of God I am here. Tell Great Prince John about me saying: you are enjoying yourself while you have forgotten me, but God has not forgotten me. this, the Great Prince ordered panikhidas for his ancestral princes to be sung in the cathedral. During the time of Tsar Ivan the Terrible, the dying son of a barge merchant was healed at the grave of Saint Daniel. The Tsar, struck by the miracle, renovated the ancient Danilov monastery and established a yearly church procession. The Metropolitan led the way to the the holy prince’s tomb, and served a panikhida there. 1652 holy Prince Daniel was glorified by the uncovering of his incorrupt relics, which were transferred on August 30 to the church dedicated to the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council. holy relics were placed in a reliquary “to the glory of the Holy Trinity and for the healing of the infirm. Metropolitan Platon of Moscow (+ 1812), in the Life of the holy prince which he compiled, writes: “The founder laid the foundation of Moscow’s grandeur, modestly making only a small path to it. Just as any edifice, which is not built with excessive haste, but rather with great artistry and skill, receives a particular firmness and stands indestructible for a long time; like a tall tree that grows for many centuries after beginning as a small sapling, then slowly becomes sturdier, with its branches spreading about far around, so this city was to grow from small, but firm beginnings, so that its first sparkle would not bedazzle the eyes of the envious, and so it would not be shaken or felled early on, before it had attained its full height. Thus did this founder prepare the great city given him, giving it a modest but steady radiance, undisturbed by any gusts of the wind. He left the great glory of its rise to his son Great Prince John, called Kalita.

Russia, Kiev, 1283-1305, Maximus, Met of all Rus, throne north, MOG stay Vladimir, need Yuri D peace Michael of T, & go Horde
Russia, Kiev, 1283-1305, Maximus, Metropolitan of all Rus, from Greece in 1283, to Kiev, Tartars there, to Briansk, to Suzdal, to Volhynia, terrible times throne north to Tver, prayer, MOG stay in Vladimir 1299, recognizing needs, need Yuri D of M peace w Michael of T, need Yuri D go to Horde, Michael of T throne of V, rules for fasting, lawful marriage, gilded over grave 1305, Maximov Icon 1299 from his vision, v on crypt ; Saint Maximus, Metropolitan of Kiev, Commemorated on December 6; Maximus, successor of Metropolitan Cyril III of Kiev (1243-1280), was a Greek by birth, and he arrived in Rus, then suffering under the Mongol (Tatar) Yoke, in 1283 as Metropolitan. saint decided to remain at Kiev, but the city was completely devastated by the plundering incursions of the Tatars. Metropolitan Maximus withdrew to Briansk, and from there to Suzdal. During his visit to Volhynia the saint met with Saint Peter the igumen of the Rata monastery, (December 21), who would succeed him as metropolitan. 1295 the saint deposed James from the bishop’s cathedra at Vladimir and replaced him with Simon. these terrible times the throne of the Great Prince was first at Vladimir, then at Pereslavl, then at Tver. lest he insult the South Russian princes by moving to the north, the saint offered fervent prayers to the Mother of God, and She indicated Vladimir as the place of his residence. the year 1299 Metropolitan Maximus went to Vladimir, and in the following year he established Saint Theoctistus (December 23) as Bishop of Novgorod. 1301, Metropolitan Maximus was in Constantinople for a Patriarchal Council, where at the urging of Saint Theognostus, Bishop of Zaraisk, he set forth questions concerning the needs of the Russian Church to be resolved by the Council. the need to build up the strength of subjugated Rus, the saint urged Prince Yuri Danilovich of Moscow to make peace with the holy Prince Michael of Tver. also advised Yuri to journey to the Horde to receive the throne. 1304, the saint installed Saint Michael of Tver (November 22) upon the Great-princely throne of Vladimir. an example of intense spiritual life for others, Metropolitan Maximus was concerned about the spiritual growth of his proverbial flock. the saint established rules for fasting for other times in addition to Great Lent. He ordained it for the Apostles’, Dormition and Nativity lenten periods, and he defined when fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays is allowed (in Russia until the fourteenth century they did not fast on the Midfeast and Leave-taking of Pascha). holy metropolitan was particularly concerned with upholding lawful marriage: “I write, therefore, about this, so that you my children, born and newly-sanctified in the baptismal font, will take your wife from the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, for the woman is for the salvation of the man. If you cleave to them in promiscuity without marriage, does it benefit you? No, but rather beseech and implore them, whether young or old, to be married in the Church.” saint reposed on December 6, 1305, and his body was buried in the Dormition cathedral in Vladimir. A gilded covering was built over the saint’s grave. Maximov Icon of the Mother of God (April 18) was placed on the wall above the grave of the saint. It was painted in the year 1299 following a vision to Metropolitan Maximus. A description of this vision was inscribed on the left side of the crypt. Repose of St Peter the Metropolitan of Moscow and Wonderworker of All Russia, Commemorated on December 21; Icon of the Mother of God of St. Maximus, Commemorated on April 18; Saint Maximus Icon is in the cathedral church of the city of Vladimir. Metropolitan Maximus (December 6), a Greek by birth, painted the Icon in 1299, as he was told to do in a vision while he slept in his cell. When St. Maximus arrived in Vladimir from Kiev, the Mother of God appeared to him in a dream and gave him an omophorion saying, "My servant Maximus, it is good that you have come to visit my city. Take this omophorion and shepherd the rational flock of my city." he awoke, he found he was holding an omophorion. The appearance of the Mother of God was regarded as a sign of approval for the transfer of the metropolitan See from Kiev to Vladimir. description of this vision was inscribed on the left side of his crypt. The Mother of God is shown in full stature, holding the Divine Child on her left arm. With her right hand, she offers the omophorion to Saint Maximus, who is standing on a pillar. The contrast in the size of their figures is meant to show the difference in their spiritual states. A variant Icon depicts Saint Maximus kneeling at the feet of the Theotokos. a golden coffer was made, and the omophorion was placed inside. This omophorion was kept in the Vladimir cathedral as a relic for 112 years. It was hidden by the cathedral’s doorkeeper Patrick in 1412 during an invasion by the Tartars, Patrick was killed when he refused to show them where the cathedral's treasures were hidden. The coffer has not yet been found. Icon, which measures five feet by two and a half feet, has been glorified by many miracles.

Russia, Kiev, 1288, Sven Icon, Briansk, appeared 1288, deliverance from invasion during the 1812 Napoleonic War
Briansk, Ukraine (Desna River 1) ; Icon of the Mother of God of Sven, Commemorated on August 17; Sven Icon of the Mother of God of the Caves has two festal celebrations: May 3 (the day of the repose of Saint Theodosius of the Caves), and August 17 (the day of the repose of Saint Alypius), who painted the icon. August 17 celebration was established in the year 1815 in thanksgiving for the deliverance of the city of Briansk (around which the icon appeared in 1288) from invasion during the 1812 Napoleonic War. Icon of the Mother of God of Sven, Commemorated on May 3 ; Sven Caves Icon of the Mother of God was painted by Saint Alypius of the Caves (August 17). the icon the Mother of God is depicted sitting upon a throne, and with the Divine Infant on Her knees. Saint Theodosius is on the right side of the throne, and Saint Anthony of the Caves on the left. the year 1288 it was in the Kiev Caves monastery, where it was glorified by miracles. In 1288 it was transferred to the Briansk-Svensk monastery, which is dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. Roman of Chernigov, then at Briansk, became blind. Hearing about the miracles worked by the icon of Saint Alypius, the prince sent a courier to the monastery requesting that the icon be sent to him at Briansk. They sent a priest with the icon along the River Desna. the voyage the boat landed on the right bank of the River Svena. lodging for the night they went to the boat to pray before the icon, but they did not find it there. saw it on a hill on the opposite bank, resting in the branches of an oak tree. News of this reached Prince Roman, and they led him to the icon on foot. prince prayed fervently before the icon and vowed to build a monastery on that spot, donating all the land which could be seen from the hill. After the prayer the prince regained his sight. First he saw the footpath, then nearby objects, and finally all the surroundings. making a shrine for the icon, the prince had a Molieben served, and then they laid the foundations for a wooden church in honor of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. tree on which the icon rested was cut up and used as wood for other icons. Feast day of the Sven Icon of the Mother of God was set for May 3. It is also commemorated on August 17 (the day of the repose of Saint Alypius the Iconographer). The icon was glorified by healings of the blind and of the possessed, and has long been regarded as a protector from enemies.

Russia, Kiev, 1288, Sven Icon, Briansk, Ukraine, from Kiev Caves M to Sven M, in tree other side Desna, healed blind Roman of C
Russia, Kiev, 1288, Sven Icon, Briansk, Ukraine (Desna River 2, First Great Abatis Line 1566, trade r, Smolensk, Br, Ch, Kiev, Vohly to Poland), 1288 from Kiev Caves M to Sven M, in tree other side Desna, healed blind Roman of Chernigov at B, monastery on spot, 1812 delivered B from Napoleon; Briansk, Ukraine (Desna River 1) ; Icon of the Mother of God of Sven, Commemorated on August 17; Sven Icon of the Mother of God of the Caves has two festal celebrations: May 3 (the day of the repose of Saint Theodosius of the Caves), and August 17 (the day of the repose of Saint Alypius), who painted the icon. August 17 celebration was established in the year 1815 in thanksgiving for the deliverance of the city of Briansk (around which the icon appeared in 1288) from invasion during the 1812 Napoleonic War. Icon of the Mother of God of Sven, Commemorated on May 3 ; Sven Caves Icon of the Mother of God was painted by Saint Alypius of the Caves (August 17). the icon the Mother of God is depicted sitting upon a throne, and with the Divine Infant on Her knees. Saint Theodosius is on the right side of the throne, and Saint Anthony of the Caves on the left. the year 1288 it was in the Kiev Caves monastery, where it was glorified by miracles. In 1288 it was transferred to the Briansk-Svensk monastery, which is dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. Roman of Chernigov, then at Briansk, became blind. Hearing about the miracles worked by the icon of Saint Alypius, the prince sent a courier to the monastery requesting that the icon be sent to him at Briansk. They sent a priest with the icon along the River Desna. the voyage the boat landed on the right bank of the River Svena. lodging for the night they went to the boat to pray before the icon, but they did not find it there. saw it on a hill on the opposite bank, resting in the branches of an oak tree. News of this reached Prince Roman, and they led him to the icon on foot. prince prayed fervently before the icon and vowed to build a monastery on that spot, donating all the land which could be seen from the hill. After the prayer the prince regained his sight. First he saw the footpath, then nearby objects, and finally all the surroundings. making a shrine for the icon, the prince had a Molieben served, and then they laid the foundations for a wooden church in honor of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. tree on which the icon rested was cut up and used as wood for other icons. Feast day of the Sven Icon of the Mother of God was set for May 3. It is also commemorated on August 17 (the day of the repose of Saint Alypius the Iconographer). The icon was glorified by healings of the blind and of the possessed, and has long been regarded as a protector from enemies.

Russia, Kiev, 1299, Appearance of Maximas Icon, Patriarch Maximus' vision, Metropolitan of all Rus
Icon of the Mother of God of St. Maximus, Commemorated on April 18; Saint Maximus Icon is in the cathedral church of the city of Vladimir. Metropolitan Maximus (December 6), a Greek by birth, painted the Icon in 1299, as he was told to do in a vision while he slept in his cell. When St. Maximus arrived in Vladimir from Kiev, the Mother of God appeared to him in a dream and gave him an omophorion saying, "My servant Maximus, it is good that you have come to visit my city. Take this omophorion and shepherd the rational flock of my city." he awoke, he found he was holding an omophorion. The appearance of the Mother of God was regarded as a sign of approval for the transfer of the metropolitan See from Kiev to Vladimir. description of this vision was inscribed on the left side of his crypt. The Mother of God is shown in full stature, holding the Divine Child on her left arm. With her right hand, she offers the omophorion to Saint Maximus, who is standing on a pillar. The contrast in the size of their figures is meant to show the difference in their spiritual states. A variant Icon depicts Saint Maximus kneeling at the feet of the Theotokos. a golden coffer was made, and the omophorion was placed inside. This omophorion was kept in the Vladimir cathedral as a relic for 112 years. It was hidden by the cathedral’s doorkeeper Patrick in 1412 during an invasion by the Tartars, Patrick was killed when he refused to show them where the cathedral's treasures were hidden. The coffer has not yet been found. Icon, which measures five feet by two and a half feet, has been glorified by many miracles. Saint Maximus, Metropolitan of Kiev, Commemorated on December 6; Maximus, successor of Metropolitan Cyril III of Kiev (1243-1280), was a Greek by birth, and he arrived in Rus, then suffering under the Mongol (Tatar) Yoke, in 1283 as Metropolitan. saint decided to remain at Kiev, but the city was completely devastated by the plundering incursions of the Tatars. Metropolitan Maximus withdrew to Briansk, and from there to Suzdal. During his visit to Volhynia the saint met with Saint Peter the igumen of the Rata monastery, (December 21), who would succeed him as metropolitan. 1295 the saint deposed James from the bishop’s cathedra at Vladimir and replaced him with Simon. these terrible times the throne of the Great Prince was first at Vladimir, then at Pereslavl, then at Tver. lest he insult the South Russian princes by moving to the north, the saint offered fervent prayers to the Mother of God, and She indicated Vladimir as the place of his residence. the year 1299 Metropolitan Maximus went to Vladimir, and in the following year he established Saint Theoctistus (December 23) as Bishop of Novgorod. 1301, Metropolitan Maximus was in Constantinople for a Patriarchal Council, where at the urging of Saint Theognostus, Bishop of Zaraisk, he set forth questions concerning the needs of the Russian Church to be resolved by the Council. the need to build up the strength of subjugated Rus, the saint urged Prince Yuri Danilovich of Moscow to make peace with the holy Prince Michael of Tver. also advised Yuri to journey to the Horde to receive the throne. 1304, the saint installed Saint Michael of Tver (November 22) upon the Great-princely throne of Vladimir. an example of intense spiritual life for others, Metropolitan Maximus was concerned about the spiritual growth of his proverbial flock. the saint established rules for fasting for other times in addition to Great Lent. He ordained it for the Apostles’, Dormition and Nativity lenten periods, and he defined when fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays is allowed (in Russia until the fourteenth century they did not fast on the Midfeast and Leave-taking of Pascha). holy metropolitan was particularly concerned with upholding lawful marriage: “I write, therefore, about this, so that you my children, born and newly-sanctified in the baptismal font, will take your wife from the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, for the woman is for the salvation of the man. If you cleave to them in promiscuity without marriage, does it benefit you? No, but rather beseech and implore them, whether young or old, to be married in the Church.” saint reposed on December 6, 1305, and his body was buried in the Dormition cathedral in Vladimir. A gilded covering was built over the saint’s grave. Maximov Icon of the Mother of God (April 18) was placed on the wall above the grave of the saint. It was painted in the year 1299 following a vision to Metropolitan Maximus. A description of this vision was inscribed on the left side of the crypt. Repose of St Peter the Metropolitan of Moscow and Wonderworker of All Russia, Commemorated on December 21;

Russia, Kiev, 1299, MOG icon painted by Maximus 1299, from vision, transfer See to Vladimir from Kiev, many miracles
Russia, Vladimir, 1299, Vladimir (Nerl River Mouth, Klyazma River 5), painted by Maximus 1299, from vision, omophorion (identifies bishop), transfer See to Vladimir from Kiev, golden coffer (strongbox), many miracles; Vladimir (Klyazma River 5); Icon of the Mother of God of St Maximus, Commemorated on April 18; Saint Maximus Icon is in the cathedral church of the city of Vladimir. Maximus (December 6), a Greek by birth, painted the Icon in 1299, as he was told to do in a vision while he slept in his cell. St. Maximus arrived in Vladimir from Kiev, the Mother of God appeared to him in a dream and gave him an omophorion saying, "My servant Maximus, it is good that you have come to visit my city. Take this omophorion and shepherd the rational flock of my city." he awoke, he found he was holding an omophorion. The appearance of the Mother of God was regarded as a sign of approval for the transfer of the metropolitan See from Kiev to Vladimir. description of this vision was inscribed on the left side of his crypt. The Mother of God is shown in full stature, holding the Divine Child on her left arm. With her right hand, she offers the omophorion to Saint Maximus, who is standing on a pillar. The contrast in the size of their figures is meant to show the difference in their spiritual states. A variant Icon depicts Saint Maximus kneeling at the feet of the Theotokos. a golden coffer was made, and the omophorion was placed inside. This omophorion was kept in the Vladimir cathedral as a relic for 112 years. It was hidden by the cathedral’s doorkeeper Patrick in 1412 during an invasion by the Tartars, Patrick was killed when he refused to show them where the cathedral's treasures were hidden. The coffer has not yet been found. Icon, which measures five feet by two and a half feet, has been glorified by many miracles.

Russia, Kiev, 1300-1399, 14th Century Folder, Orthodox Golden Horde by Theodore the Black

Russia, Kiev, 1308-1325, Patriarch Peter of Moscow
Kiev Patriarch, 1308-1325, Peter of Moscow; Icon of the Mother of God of St Peter of Moscow, Commemorated on August 24; Translation of the relics of St Peter the Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, Commemorated on August 24; St Athanasius the Patriarch of Constantinople, Commemorated on October 24 ;

Russia, Kiev, 1320, Battle of Irpen River, Lithuania over Kiev
Russia, Kiev, 1320, Battle of Irpen River, Lithuania over Kiev; Venerable Mercurius the Faster of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on November 24;

Russia, Kiev, 1327-1352, Patriarch, Theognostus of Kiev and All Russia
Moscow Patriarch, 1327-1352, Theognostus of Kiev and All Russia; St Theognostus the Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia, Commemorated on March 14; Venerable Micah the Disciple of the Venerable Sergius of Radonezh, Commemorated on May 6 ;

Russia, Kiev, 1334-1362, Fiodor of Kiev, a Lithuanian tax collector for the Horde
Russia, Kiev, 1334-1362, K Rus King, Fiodor of Kiev, a Lithuanian tax collector for the Horde; Venerable Mercurius the Faster of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on November 24;

Russia, Kiev, 1334-1392, Demetrius the Wonderworker of Priluki, Pereyaslavl, Poltava, Ukraine (Udai River 1)
Russia, Moscow, 1334-1392, Demetrius the Wonderworker of Priluki, Pereyaslavl, Poltava, Ukraine (Udai River 1) ; of Priluki Prilutsky by iconographer Dionisius holy, God-bearing Father Dimitri of Priluki, also Demetrius of Priluki, was a Russian monastic and Wonderworker of the fourteenth century who pioneered monastic life into the Russian North and founded the Nikolsky Monastery, now the Spaso-Prilutsky Monastery in Pereslavl-Zalessky. A disciple of St. Sergius of Radonezh, he is commemorated on February 11. is known of the early life of St. Dimitri. He was born into a rich merchant's family in Pereyaslavl-Zalessk in present day Yaroslavl Oblast and entered early on a religious life. He was tonsured a monk at one of the monasteries in Pereyaslavl. Later, he founded the cenobitic monastery of St. Nicholas near the city on Ss. Boris and Gleb Hill on the shore of Lake Plescheevo. He became its hegumen. 1334, Dimitri met St. Sergius of Radonezh who had come to Pereyaslavl to visit the local hierarch, Metropolitan Athanasius. From this meeting a close friendship grew as they would often conversed with each other. The holiness of hegumen Dimitri spread widely. He became the godfather to the children of Grand Prince Dmitri Ioannovich. As he became more famous, and encouraged by St. Sergius, Demetrius looked to a more isolated life and decided to move to a remote place. his disciple Pachomius, he traveled north to a spot near Avnezh at the Obnora River in the Vologda forests. There they built a church dedicated to the Resurrection of Christ and prepared to lay the foundations for a monastery. The local inhabitants, however, fearful that their village would become monastery property if a monastery were built there, demanded that the monks leave their territory. The two monks, wishing not to be a burden to any one, moved further north. an isolated spot not far from the city of Vologda, Dimitri decided to establish at a bend of the Vologda River the first cenobitic monastery of the Russian North. The people of Vologda and the surrounding area welcomed the monks and gladly consented to help Dimitri. The monastery was built on land owned by Elias and Isidore who even trampled down a grain field so that a temple might be built immediately. By 1371, a wooden cathedral, dedicated to the Savior, was built and brethren began to arrive at the new monastery, including many disciples of Dimitri who came from the Pereyaslavl monasteries. The monastery would later be known as the Spaso-Prilutsky Monastery. established a life at the monastery that combined prayer and strict asceticism with kindliness. He fed the poor and hungry and took in strangers. He conversed with those in need of consolation and gave counsel. And he loved to pray in solitude. His Lenten food consisted of prosphora with warm water. On feast days, he would not even partake of the wine and fish that was permitted by the Rule. He wore an old sheepskin coat during both winter and summer, and, even in his old age, he joined with the brethren on common tasks. St. Dimitri accepted contributions to the monastery cautiously, so that the welfare of the monastery would not be detrimental to those living nearby. Lord granted His servant the gift of clairvoyance, in which the saintly monk attained a high degree of spiritual perfection. On February 11, 1392, St. Dimitri died at an advanced age. As the brethren approached his cell at the time, they found him as though asleep and with his cell filled with a wondrous fragrance. associated with the relics of St. Dimitri began in the year 1409, and during that century his veneration spread throughout all Rus. By the year 1440, the Priluki monk Macarius recorded his Life (Great Reading Menaion, February 11) based on the narratives of St. Dimitri's disciple Igumen Pachomius. Priluki city (Udai River); Venerable Demetrius the Wonderworker of Priluki, Vologda, Commemorated February 11 ; Demetrius of Priluki, Wonderworker, was born into a rich merchant’s family in Pereyaslavl-Zalessk. From his youth the saint was uncommonly handsome. Receiving monastic tonsure at one of the Pereyaslavl monasteries, the saint later founded the Saint Nicholas cenobitic monastery on the Saints Boris and Gleb Hill at the shore of Lake Plescheevo near the city, and became its igumen. 1334 Saint Demetrius first met with Saint Sergius of Radonezh, who had come to Pereyaslavl to see Metropolitan Athanasius. From that time, he frequently conversed with Saint Sergius and became close with him. The fame of the Pereyaslavl igumen was so widespread that he became godfather to the children of Great Prince Demetrius Ioannovich. Under the influence of the Radonezh wonderworker, Saint Demetrius decided to withdraw to a remote place, and went north with his disciple Pachomius. the Vologda forests, at the River Velika, near the Avnezh settlement, they built a church of the Resurrection of Christ and they prepared to lay the foundations for a monastery. The local inhabitants were fearful that if a monastery were built there, their village would become monastery property. They demanded that the monks leave their territory, and wishing to be a burden to no one, they moved farther away. far from Vologda, at the bend of a river in an isolated spot, Saint Demetrius decided to form the first of the cenobitic monasteries of the Russian North. The people of Vologda and the surrounding gladly consented to help the saint. The owners of the land intended for the monastery, Elias and Isidore, even trampled down a grain field, so that a temple might be built immediately. In 1371 the wooden Savior cathedral was built, and brethren began to gather. disciples of the monk came there from Pereyaslavl. Saint Demetrius combined prayer and strict asceticism with kindliness. He fed the poor and hungry, he took in strangers, he conversed with those in need of consolation, and he gave counsel. He loved to pray in solitude. His Lenten food consisted of prosphora with warm water. Even on feastdays, he would not partake of the wine and fish permitted by the Rule. Both winter and summer he wore an old sheepskin coat, and even in his old age he went with the brethren on common tasks. The saint accepted contributions to the monastery cautiously, so that the welfare of the monastery would not be detrimental to those living nearby. Lord granted His servant the gift of clairvoyance, and he attained a high degree of spiritual perfection. Saint Demetrius died at an advanced age on February 11, 1392. The brethren approaching found him as though asleep, and his cell was filled with a wondrous fragrance. from the relics of Saint Demetrius began in the year 1409, and during the fifteenth century his veneration spread throughout all Rus. And no later than the year 1440, the Priluki monk Macarius recorded his Life (Great Reading Menaion, February 11) based on the narratives of Saint Demetrius’s disciple Igumen Pachomius. St Euphrosyne the Princess, (Eudoxia) of Moscow, Commemorated on May 17 ; Uncovering of the relics of the Venerable Sergius of Radonezh, Commemorated on July 5;

Russia, Kiev, 1350, Mercurius t Faster of the Far Caves, deep spiritual friendship & buried w Paisus
Russia, Kiev, 1350, Mercurius of the Far Caves, buried w Paisus; Kiev Far Caves - Berestovo Village ; Venerable Mercurius the Faster of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated November 24 ; Mercurius of Kiev Caves pursued asceticism in the Farther Caves in the fourteenth century, and was strict in fasting. During his lifetime Saint Mercurius had a deep spiritual friendship with Saint Paisius, and when they died, they were buried in the same grave. November 24 commemoration of the saint is made because of his namesake, the holy Great Martyr Mercurius. He is also remembered on August 28, the Synaxis of the Saints of the Far Caves; and on the second Sunday of Great Lent, the Synaxis of all the monastic Fathers of the Kiev Caves. Venerable Paisius of the Kiev Far Caves Commemorated on July 19 Saint Paisius of the Caves was a monk of the Kiev Caves monastery. From the Canon to the Kiev Caves monks, venerated in the Far Caves, it is known that he was connected by oneness of mind and brotherly love with Saint Mercurius (November 24). Both saints were inseparable, they lived in the same cell, and after death were placed in the same grave. At the present time their relics rest in separate reliquaries.

Russia, Kiev, 1354-1378, Patriarch Alexius, Metropolitan of Moscow and Kiev
Moscow, 1354-1378, Patriarch Alexius, Metropolitan of Moscow; St Eudokia, in Monasticism Euphrosyne, the Grand Duchess of Moscow, Commemorated on July 7; St. Alexis the Metropolitan of Moscow and Wonderworker of All Russia, Commemorated on February 12;

Russia, Kiev, 1359-1389, Prince Dimitri of the Don
Novgorod, 1359-1389, Prince Dimitri of the Don; Blessed Nicholas Kochanov the Fool-For-Christ at Novgorod, Commemorated July 28 ; Repose of St Theoctistus the Archbishop of Novgorod, Commemorated on December 23; Righteous Theodore of Novgorod the Fool-For-Christ, Commemorated on January 19; St Moses the Archbishop of Novgorod, Commemorated on January 25; Venerable Arsenius the Abbot of Konevits, Commemorated on June 12;

Russia, Kiev, 1362, Battle of Blue Waters, S Bug, Lithuanians take over Kiev from Horde
Russia, Kiev, 1362, Battle of Blue Waters, S Bug, Lithuanians take over Kiev from Horde; Venerable Mercurius the Faster of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on November 24;

Russia, Kiev, 1362-1394, Lithuanian, Vladimir Olgerdovich, replaced Fiodore after Blue Watters battle
Kiev Lithuanian King, 1362-1394, Vladimir Olgerdovich; Venerable Mercurius the Faster of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on November 24; Venerable Gregory the Recluse, of the Kiev Caves, Commemorated on January 8; Venerable Gerontius the Canonarch of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on April 1; Venerable Joseph the Much-Ailing, of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on April 4; Venerable Alphan with his brother of Novgorod, founder of the Sokolnitzky Monastery, Commemorated on May 4; Venerable Arsenius the Lover-of-Labor of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on May 8; Venerable Leontius of the Kiev Far Caves, Commemorated on June 18;

Russia, Kiev, 1380-1382, 1390-1406, Patriarch, Cyprian, Metropolitan of Kiev and all Rus
Kiev Patriarch, 1380-1382, Cyprian, Metropolitan of Kiev, then Kiev and all Rus with his residence in Moscow, until 1406 with a little time off inbetween; St Arsenius the Bishop of Tver, Commemorated on March 2 ; Icon of the Mother of God of Volokolamsk, Commemorated on March 3 ;

Russia, Kiev, 1382-1384, Patriarch, Pimen I, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus
Kiev Patriarch, 1382-1384, Pimen I, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus ; Icon of the Mother of God of Pimen, Commemorated on June 6; Pimen Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos was brought to Moscow from Constantinople in 1381 by Metropolitan Pimen. Many miracles took place before this icon, which flowed with a fragrant healing myrrh. Pimen Icon was kept in the altar of the Dormition Cathedral in the Kremlin.

Russia, Kiev, 1385-1406, Patriarch Cyprian, Metropolitan of Moscow
Moscow Patriarch, 1385-1406, Cyprian, Metropolitan of Moscow ; Repose of St Cyprian the Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, Commemorated on September 16 ; Venerable Sava the Abbot of Moscow, Commemorated on June 13;