Holy warriors

One of the most important matters in a person’s life was and remains the defense of the Fatherland. The Lord said: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). These words have remained the spiritual motto of our army for centuries.

Once from one of the officers, also Soviet army, Major Yuri Blanutsa, I heard an interesting legend, according to which the cockade, preserved on the headdresses of our officers since pre-revolutionary times, represents the memory of the patron saints of the Russian army. Since ancient times, this element of military uniform has 32 rays. And it is precisely 32 patrons of our army who stand before the Throne of the Lord.

It is symbolic that both before the revolution and now, the center of the cockade, like a seal, is fixed with the colors of the ribbon of the Order of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious, one of the most revered Christian warriors. And if, some of the 32 heavenly patrons Our army, like Saint George the Victorious, is known to everyone, but some of these saints are known only to a few.

In our churches, most of these saints are easy to recognize by the armor, spears and swords with which they appear in holy images. Here they are the heavenly patrons of our army: the righteous Joshua, the great martyr Nikita, the blessed Grand Duke Igor of Chernigov, Venerable Sergius Abbot of Radonezh, Great Martyr Eustathius Placidas, Martyr Longinus the Centurion, Great Martyr Artemy, Martyr Arethas, Great Martyr Dmitry of Thessalonica, Martyr Affonius, Archangel Michael, Great Martyr Mina, Great Martyr Mercury, Great Martyr Jacob the Persian, Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra of Lycia, Apostle Andrew the First-Called, Great student Theodore Stratilates , Great Martyr Theodore Tiron, Blessed and Reverend Prince Daniel of Moscow, Blessed Prince Vsevolod, Great Martyr George the Victorious, Martyr Savva Stratelates, Passion-Bearers Princes Boris and Gleb, Martyr Christopher, Blessed Prince Dmitry of Uglich, Blessed Prince Dmitry Donskoy, Blessed Prince b Dovmont of Pskov, Equal-to-the-Apostles Tsar Constantine , Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir, Great Martyr Procopius, Martyr Eustignius, Martyr Andrei Stratelates, Right-Believing Prince Alexander Nevsky. And don’t be confused by the fact that our list of heavenly patrons still includes more than thirty-two. Just as the fate of its Christ-loving army is inseparable from the fate of Russia, it is also impossible, in any particular way, to single out the names of its patron saints. How can one not remember here St. John the Warrior, Oslyabya, Peresvet, Ilya of Muromets and many others...

Numerous icons beloved by the people became confirmation of the unity of heavenly forces in the matter of patronage of our people and army. “The Image of the Christ-loving Army” depicts 12 Christian soldiers glorified by our Church. IN different time they lived in Rus', but each of them did a lot for the gathering, protection and prosperity of our Orthodox homeland.

An uncompromising, sincere and almost prayerful appeal for help to the holy princes Alexander Nevsky and Dmitry Donskoy were the words spoken in the address of the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, Metropolitan Sergius of Moscow and Kolomna on June 22, 1941. Following him, these holy names were pronounced on November 7, 1941 at a military parade by I.V. Stalin. A sign of the highest respect for the merits of the glorious warriors was the establishment in 1942 of the Order of Alexander Nevsky, and in 1944 of the Order of Ushakov. These awards practically repeated in status the orders of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky, and the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious that existed before the revolution.

One of most interesting works dedicated to the study of evidence of God's intercession during the years of severe trials of the Great Patriotic War became Andrei Farberov’s book “Save and Preserve.” About this book, which was published by the Kovcheg publishing house on the eve of its 60th anniversary Great Victory have already written on the pages of the newspaper “Red Star”. This unique narrative contains a huge amount of evidence about what help the Lord provided to our people during the war years through the prayers of the saints and the Most Pure Virgin.

In addition, the book contains very appropriate words from Archpriest G.I. Mansvetov, what he said on the eve of the Patriotic War of 1812. “Wars are only started by people, but God Himself ends them, Who, as a rule, helps those who are right. Therefore, victory cannot be attributed only to one’s courage, and failure on the battlefield to the mistake of military leaders. Victory and defeat are in the hands of the Lord.”

Let us remember these words, not forgetting the words of the prayer: “For the most wonderful, holy saint of God, pray to God for us!”
Creating icons

Military Temple of St. blgv. book Alexander Nevsky is located in the Vidnovsky deanery near Moscow in the Petrovskoye military garrison on the old Kashirskoye highway. In the fall of 2003, services began to be held here. In 2005, after priestly ordination, priest Dimitry Dovbysh, a reserve officer of the Military Space Forces, was appointed rector of the Temple. Behind us are five years of study at the Military Space Engineering Academy named after. A.F. Mozhaisky in St. Petersburg and three years of service as an officer at the Plesetsk cosmodrome. When Father Dimitri arrived, the temple was in the process of being rebuilt. In addition, in the fall of 2004, the clergy house and bell tower burned down. The first winter I had to serve in felt boots - the church was wooden, unlined - all the warmth was blown out by drafts. But the most important thing is that prayer was performed in it for the Russian army.

With God's help, the arrangement of the Temple began. External and interior decoration. It also came to the iconostasis. All the icons had been decided upon, but one place was empty. As a result, the idea arose of painting the icon “Cathedral of the patron saints of the Russian army,” where the holy saints of God would be gathered - the patrons of the branches of the Russian Armed Forces.
The development of the concept of painting the future icon began. In the center, it was decided to place the Most Holy Theotokos with the ubrus in her hands - as on the Port Arthur icon. The saints stand in rows from bottom to top, surrounding the Intercessor of the Russian army. Below in the center is the Holy Archangel Michael - the head of the Heavenly Host. Next to him is the prophet Elijah - the patron of the winged infantry - the Airborne Forces, the Apostle Andrew the First-Called - the patron of the Navy, etc. Then the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Juvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna was received to paint and reproduce the icon.

The icon appeared in the military Temple in October 2008, after the events in South Ossetia. The cathedral consecration of the military icon, at which so many patrons of the Russian military were gathered for the first time in the history of the Church, took place on February 28, 2009 at a meeting of the clergy of the Vidnovsky deanery with representatives of military units and law enforcement agencies of the Leninsky municipal district of the Moscow region.

With the money of philanthropists, it was possible to replicate the icon for distribution to soldiers.

In the summer of 2010, an Icon of the patrons of the Russian Navy was painted in the military temple. There was also a need for this icon. The Leninsky municipal district has been patronizing the Guards destroyer of the Northern Fleet “Thundering” for 15 years. District conscripts serve on this ship. Since 2005, the patronage delegation visiting the ship on WFM Day has included a clergyman from the Vidnovsky deanery. Priest Dimitri has been visiting the ship since 2007. First, a particle of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker appeared in the military temple, then the holy righteous warrior Theodore Ushakov. A year ago, before the next trip to Severomorsk for Navy Day, a particle of the relics of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called. Father Dimitri always takes icons of patrons with him to the fleet for prayer services. And in order not to carry three icons, it was decided to paint one. Just in time for Navy Day 2010, the circulation of the icons was transferred to the North Sea residents. One of the submarine officers, picking up the icon, said: “I knew that someone was protecting me. Now I know who exactly..."

List of saints depicted in the icon
1. blgv. book Dovmont Pskovsky
2. blgv. book Mstislav the brave (Novgorod)
3. blgv. book Igor Chernigovsky
4. Tsarevich Dimitri
5. Tsarevich Alexy
5. Tsar Nicholas II
6. blgv. book Mikhail Tverskoy
7. blgv. book Mercury Smolensky
8. martyr Adrey Stratilat
9. martyr Victor
10. martyr Longinus Sotnik
11. martyr Korniliy Sotnik
12. martyr Savva Stratilat
13. St. right Feodor Ushakov
14. martyr John the Warrior
15. military Jacob the Persian
16. military Nikita
17. military Procopius
18. military Mercury
19. St. right John the Russian
20. blgv. book Andrey Bogolyubsky
21. blgv. book Daniil Moskovsky
22. blgv. book Dimitry Donskoy
23. military Mine
24. VMC. Varvara
25. VMC. Anastasia Pattern Maker
26. military Artemy
27. bgk. book Alexander Nevskiy
28. blgv. book Boris
29. blgv. book Gleb
30. Rev. Sergius of Radonezh
31. military Theodore Tyrone
32. vmch. St. George the Victorious
33. St. Nikolai Mirlikiysky
34. equal. Tsar Constantine
35. prophet Elijah
36. Apostle Andrew the First-Called
37. equal. Book Vladimir
38. equal. Book Olga
39. military Demetrius of Solunsky
40. vmch. Theodore Stratilates
41. Rev. Ilya Muromets

THREE GREAT PROTECTORS

The Russian land has three great intercessor warriors - Vladimir Monomakh, Alexander Nevsky and Dmitry Donskoy. All of them are canonized by the Orthodox Church as saints. I will try to very briefly talk about them all in one article. They are united by unsurpassed heroism, patriotism, and the desire to defend their Fatherland, giving their lives in the name of the Motherland. All of them are an example for subsequent generations of Russian people.

Saint Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh

Vladimir Vsevolodovich Monomakh (1053-1125) - Prince of Smolensk, Chernigov of Pereyaslavl, Grand Duke of Kiev, statesman, military leader, writer, thinker. Son of Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich. Nicknamed Monomakh after the name of the family of his mother, who was presumably the daughter or niece of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomakh.
What is this man remembered for many centuries in Rus', in Russia?

*First of all, he perfectly understood that the disparate principalities warring in internecine struggle Kievan Rus could not withstand the onslaught of the Polovtsian hordes, which ravaged the economy, drove away the inhabitants into captivity, causing irreparable damage to the state. And Vladimir Monomakh becomes the organizer of the anti-Polovtsian union under Svyatopolk.

*During the reign of Vladimir Monomakh, the Novgorodians and Pskovites successfully fought with the Chud tribe, to the west of Lake Peipsi (1116). In the northeast of Rus', the Russians fought no less successfully against the Bulgarians and Mordovians.

*In 1116-1117, on behalf of Vladimir Monomakh, the 2nd edition of The Tale of Bygone Years was created by Sylvester, a monk of the Kyiv Vydubitsky Monastery. It is this edition of the chronicle that has survived to this day.
*The reign of Vladimir Monomakh was a time of strengthening of Kievan Rus. He managed to unite up to 3/4 of the territory of the Old Russian state and stop princely civil strife. Under Vladimir Monomakh, Kievan Rus briefly regained its former glory.

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Prince Vladimir Monomakh spent his childhood and youth at the court of his father Vsevolod Yaroslavich in Pereyaslav-Yuzhny. He constantly led his father's squad, carried out long campaigns, suppressed the Vyatichi uprising, and fought against the Polovtsians.
In 1076, together with Oleg Svyatoslavich, he took part in a campaign to help the Poles against the Czechs. In 1078, his father became the prince of Kyiv, and Vladimir Monomakh received Chernigov. In 1080, he repelled the Polovtsian raid on the Chernigov lands and defeated the Torque nomads.
In 1093, after the death of his father, Grand Duke Vsevolod, he had the opportunity to take the Kiev throne, but, not wanting new strife, he voluntarily ceded this right to his cousin Svyatopolk, saying: “His father was older than mine and reigned in Kiev before me.” He himself remained to reign in Chernigov.
After the Dolob Congress (1103), Vladimir Monomakh became the inspirer and direct leader of military campaigns against the Polovtsians (1103, 1107, 1111). He began to resort to the help of the people's militia. The Polovtsians suffered a series of defeats and left Russian lands for a long time.
After death (1113) Prince of Kyiv A popular uprising broke out in Kyiv under Svyatopolk Izyaslavich; the top of Kyiv society called Vladimir Monomakh to reign. Having become the prince of Kyiv, he suppressed the uprising, but at the same time was forced to somewhat soften the position of the lower classes through legislation. This is how the “Charter of Vladimir Monomakh” or the “Charter on Res” arose, which became part of the lengthy edition of “Russian Pravda”. This charter limited the profits of moneylenders, determined the conditions of enslavement and, without encroaching on the foundations of feudal relations, eased the situation of debtors and purchases.

The reign of Vladimir Monomakh was the period of the last strengthening of Kievan Rus. Vladimir Monomakh, through his sons, ruled 3/4 of the territory of the Old Russian state. Monomakh received Turov after the death of Svyatopolk as a Kyiv volost. In 1118, Monomakh summoned the Novgorod boyars to Kyiv and swore them in. In 1118, Yaroslav was expelled from Volyn, after which he tried to return the principality with the help of the Hungarians, Poles and the Rostislavichs, who broke the alliance with Monomakh, but to no avail. In 1119, Monomakh also took possession of the Principality of Minsk by force of arms.
Under Vladimir Monomakh, dynastic marriages between the Rurikovichs began to take place. Yaroslav Svyatopolchich and Vsevolod Olgovich - the Chernigov prince were married to the daughters of Mstislav Vladimirovich (granddaughters of Monomakh), Vsevolodko Gorodensky was married to Monomakh's daughter Agafya, Roman Vladimirovich was married to the daughter of Volodar Rostislavich of Peremyshl.
Stability in the state rested on the authority of Monomakh, the presence of a common enemy - the Polovtsians, and the concentration of all power in the hands of the Grand Duke.
Vladimir Monomakh is buried in Kyiv, in the Church of St. Sophia.
After the death of Vladimir Monomakh, the feudal fragmentation of Rus' intensified again.

“God does not lie in might, but in righteousness.” Alexander Nevskiy.

Holy Blessed Grand Duke
Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky

Alexander Nevsky, in schema Alexy (1220-1263).
Memory: August 30, November 23, July 16.
Church-wide glorification of the blessed Prince Alexander by the Russian Church followed at the Moscow Council in 1547, when they ordered him to compile a lengthy life, service and eulogy.
The holy relics, on the orders of Emperor Peter I, were solemnly transferred to St. Petersburg and placed on August 30, 1724 in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Since 1753, the holy relics have rested in a silver shrine. The day of August 30 is revered as the day of the transfer of holy relics. This event secured St. Petersburg's title as the new capital.
Empress Catherine II established the Order of Saint Prince Alexander Nevsky. On August 30, 1790, the cavaliers of the order transferred the shrine with relics to the newly rebuilt grandiose Trinity Cathedral. At the same time, a religious procession was established from the Kazan Cathedral to the Lavra.
The holy noble prince Alexander Nevsky is depicted on icons in the schema and robe of the venerable...

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What did the great warrior of Rus' deserve such glorification Orthodox Church, that upon learning of his death, Metropolitan Kirill said in the Assumption Cathedral of the capital city of Vladimir: “My dear children, understand that the sun of the Russian land has set,” and everyone exclaimed with tears: “We are already perishing!”?
There will be many different answers to this question, all of which may be correct. But their essence will be in just three words - “Intercessor for Rus'”!
What exactly is his intercession? There are many answers. Here are the most important of them:

*Victory over the Swedes on July 15, 1240 on the Neva. This victory coincided with the day of remembrance of Prince Vladimir the Saint, the baptizer of the Russian land, which was imprinted in the memory of generations.

* Victory over the German invaders on the ice of Lake Peipsi on April 5, 1242. An end was put to the encroachments of enemies who threatened Rus' from the west at a time when Rus' was fighting the Tatar-Mongol invasion in the east.

*To protect the Motherland from new troubles, Alexander Nevsky travels to the Horde and Karakorum and, reluctantly, shows humility before the Horde.

*Constant settlement of clashes between Russian people and Tatar tribute collectors. These clashes could provoke the Horde into new raids on Rus'.

*The prince saved the Russians from harm during the census and levying taxes on the population in favor of the Horde. Reluctantly, the defender of Rus' persuaded the people not to resist, thereby averting a much greater misfortune from the Motherland. Rus' did not have the strength to resist the winner for the time being.

*He rejected the offer from the Pope to accept Catholicism and with it the title of king. He remained faithful to Orthodoxy. This is how the Life of the Prince conveys his famous answer to the papal envoys:

“Once upon a time, ambassadors from the Pope from great Rome came to him with the following words: “Our Pope says this: We heard that you are a worthy and glorious prince and your land is great. That’s why they sent to you two of the most skilled of the twelve cardinals... so that you could listen to their teaching about the law of God.”

Prince Alexander, having thought with his sages, wrote to him, saying: “From Adam to the flood, from the flood to the division of languages, from the confusion of languages ​​to the beginning of Abraham, from Abraham to the passage of Israel through the Red Sea, from the exodus of the children of Israel to death king David, from the beginning of the kingdom of Solomon until Augustus the king, from the beginning of Augustus until Christmas Nativity, from the Nativity of Christ to the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord, from His Resurrection to the Ascension into heaven, from the Ascension into heaven to the kingdom of Constantine, from the beginning of the kingdom of Constantine to the first council, from the first council to the seventh - we know all this well, and from you We don’t accept teachings.” They returned home."

*Prince Alexander won his main military victories in his youth. During the Battle of the Neva (1240) he was at most 20 years old, during the Battle of the Ice - 22 years old. Subsequently, he became famous more as a politician and diplomat, but he also periodically acted as a military leader. In his entire life, Prince Alexander did not lose a single battle.

*Through the efforts of Alexander Nevsky, the preaching of Christianity spread to the northern lands of the Pomors. He also managed to promote the creation of an Orthodox diocese in the Golden Horde.

*Prince Alexander Nevsky is one of those great people in the history of our Fatherland whose activities not only influenced the destinies of the country and people, but largely changed them and predetermined the course of Russian history for many centuries to come. It fell to him to rule Russia in the most difficult, turning point that followed the ruinous Mongol conquest, when it came to the very existence of Rus', whether it would be able to survive, maintain its statehood, its ethnic independence, or disappear from the map, like many other peoples of Eastern Europe, who were invaded at the same time as her.

*The prince erected churches and rebuilt cities.

*The whole life of Alexander Yaroslavich was devoted to serving the Fatherland.

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Prince Alexander was born on May 30, 1220 in the city of Pereslavl-Zalessky, and from 1222 he lived in Gorodishche near Veliky Novgorod, where his father, Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, reigned.
In 1225, Yaroslav gave his sons “princely tonsure,” after which the experienced governor, boyar Fyodor Danilovich, began to teach them military affairs. In 1228, together with his elder brother Fedor, they were “installed” by their father in Novgorod, but due to unrest, the princes were forced to go to their father that same year (according to other sources, in February 1229). In 1230, Grand Duke Yaroslav managed to leave Novgorod again to Fedor and Alexander, but three years later, at the age of fifteen, Fedor died.
In 1236 Yaroslav left to reign in Kyiv and Alexander began to rule independently in Novgorod, which was proud of its prince. He acted as a defender of orphans and widows, and was an assistant to the hungry.
From a young age the prince revered the priesthood and monasticism, i.e. was a prince from God and obedient to God.
In 1238, Mongol hordes approached the Novgorod lands. The young prince had to solve the problem of protecting lands from the south and east. Alexander fortified the city and borders, and the enemy did not invade.

Another, closer and more serious danger also arose. It came from the Swedes, Livonians and Lithuania. The struggle with the Livonians and the Swedes was, at the same time, a struggle between the Orthodox East and the Catholic West. In 1237 - scattered forces of the Livonians - Teutonic Order and the Swordsmen - united against the Russians.
In 1240, the Germans attacked the Pskov region, and the Swedes, encouraged by the pope, moved to Novgorod under the leadership of the ruler of the country himself, the royal son-in-law Birger. Confident of victory, Birger sent Alexander a declaration of war, proud and arrogant: “If you can, resist, know that I am already here and will take your land captive.” Novgorod was left to its own devices. Rus', defeated by the Tatars, could not provide him with any support.
With a relatively small squad of Novgorodians and Ladoga residents, Alexander surprised the Swedes on the night of July 15, 1240, when they stopped at a rest camp at the mouth of Izhora, on the Neva, and inflicted complete defeat on them. The impression of the victory was all the stronger because it occurred during a difficult period of adversity in the rest of Rus'. In the eyes of the people on Alexander and Novgorod land the special grace of God was manifested. Historians called the battle itself the Battle of the Neva.
However, the Novgorodians, always jealous of their liberties, managed to quarrel with Alexander that same year, and he retired to his father, who gave him the principality of Pereslavl-Zalessky. Meanwhile, the Livonian Germans, Chud and Lithuania were advancing on Novgorod. They fought and imposed tribute on the leaders, built a fortress in Koporye, took the city of Tesov, plundered the lands along the Luga River and began to rob Novgorod merchants 30 versts from Novgorod. The Novgorodians turned to Yaroslav for a prince; he gave them his second son, Andrei. This did not satisfy them. They sent a second embassy to ask Alexander. In 1241 Alexander came to Novgorod and cleared his region of enemies, and in next year together with Andrei he moved to the aid of Pskov, where the German governors were sitting. Pskov was liberated, and Alexander headed to the Peipus land, to the domain of the order.
On April 5, 1242, the Battle of Lake Peipsi took place. This battle is known as the Battle of the Ice. Before the battle, Prince Alexander ordered his warriors to take off their iron armor. By a cunning maneuver (the enemy was let through the Russian barrier), the enemy soldiers clad in iron were lured onto the ice. According to the Novgorod chronicle, the Russians drove the Germans across the ice for 7 miles, 400-500 knights fell and up to 50 were captured; According to the Livonian chronicle, the order's losses amounted to 20 killed and 6 prisoners. The Master of the Order was frightened by Nevsky's campaign against Riga and turned to the Danish king for help. But Alexander still needed to put an end to the Lithuanian raids. With a series of victories in 1242 and 1245, according to the chronicler, he instilled such fear in the Lithuanians that they began to “fear his name.” Alexander's six-year victorious defense of northern Rus' led to the fact that the Germans, according to a peace treaty, abandoned all recent conquests and ceded to him part of Letgolia. There is news that Pope Innocent IV in 1251 sent two cardinals to Nevsky with a bull written in 1248. The pope, promising help to the Livonians in the fight against the Tatars, convinced Alexander to follow the example of his father, who allegedly agreed to submit to the Roman throne. According to the chronicler's story, Nevsky, after consulting with wise people, outlined the entire history of Rus' and in conclusion said: “We will know everything good, but we will not accept teachings from you.”

Alexander pursued a completely different policy towards the Tatars.
The Khan granted Andrei the principality of Vladimir, and gave Kyiv and Novgorod to Alexander (1249). After the Tatar devastation, Kyiv lost all significance; Therefore, Alexander settled in Novgorod. He realized that submission to the conqueror could bring benefits to the princes that they had never had before. It was easier and more convenient for the Tatars to deal with obedient princes than with the numerous and fickle veche. It was in their interests to strengthen the princely power, especially the power of the Grand Duke. And this was necessary to strengthen Rus', torn apart by strife. Andrei, by his nature, was not capable of such a role. In 1250, Prince Alexander had to go to Mongolia to visit the Great Khan. Knowing what was to come and with whom he was to meet, Prince Alexander said before leaving: “Even if I shed my blood for Christ’s sake from the godless king, like my relatives, I will not worship bush and fire and idols.” This was a refusal to perform obligatory rites in the Horde. The prince kept his word, and the Lord saved him.
In 1256, the Swedes tried to take the Finnish coast from Novgorod by starting to build a fortress on the Narova River, but at one rumor about the approach of Alexander with the Suzdal and Novgorod regiments, they fled back. To frighten them even more, the prince, despite the extreme difficulties of the winter campaign, entered Finland and fought along the coast.
In 1258, Prince Alexander went to the Horde to “honor” the Khan’s governor Ulavchiy, and in 1259, threatening a Tatar pogrom, he obtained consent from the Novgorodians to a census of the population for a universal tribute. By his submission, Alexander saved the Russian land from defeat even when in 1262 Tatar tribute farmers were killed in Vladimir, Suzdal, Rostov, Pereyaslavl, Yaroslavl and other cities. The Tatar regiments were already ready to move to Rus', but Alexander Nevsky came to the khan, averted trouble and even achieved benefits for the Russians in the delivery of military detachments for the Tatars. Having lived in the Horde during this last, fourth trip, winter and summer, he fell ill and on the way back he fell ill in Gorodets on the Volga, where he took monastic vows and received the schema with the name Alexy. He died on November 14, 1263.

Several decades after the death of the prince, his Life was compiled, which was subsequently repeatedly subjected to various alterations, revisions and additions (in total there are up to twenty editions of the Life, dating from the 13th-19th centuries). The official canonization of the prince by the Russian Church took place in 1547, at a church council convened by Metropolitan Macarius and Tsar Ivan the Terrible, when many new Russian wonderworkers, previously revered only locally, were canonized. The Church equally glorifies the prince’s military prowess, “never defeated in battle, but always victorious,” and his feat of meekness, patience “more than courage” and “invincible humility” (in the seemingly paradoxical expression of the Akathist).

A new page in the veneration of the holy and blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky began in the 18th century, under Emperor Peter the Great. The conqueror of the Swedes and the founder of St. Petersburg, which became for Russia a “window to Europe,” Peter saw in Prince Alexander his immediate predecessor in the fight against Swedish domination on the Baltic Sea and hastened to transfer the city he founded on the banks of the Neva under his heavenly protection. Back in 1710, Peter ordered that the name of St. Alexander Nevsky be included in the dismissals during divine services as a prayer representative for the “Neva Country.” In the same year, he personally chose the place to build a monastery in the name of the Holy Trinity and St. Alexander Nevsky - the future Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Peter wanted to transfer the relics of the holy prince here from Vladimir. Wars with the Swedes and Turks slowed down the fulfillment of this desire, and only in 1723 did they begin to fulfill it. On August 11, with all due solemnity, the holy relics were taken out of the Nativity Monastery; the procession headed towards Moscow and then towards St. Petersburg; Everywhere she was accompanied by prayer services and crowds of believers. According to Peter’s plan, the holy relics were supposed to be brought into the new capital of Russia on August 30, the day the Treaty of Nystad was concluded with the Swedes (1721). However, the distance of the journey did not allow this plan to be implemented, and the relics arrived in Shlisselburg only on October 1. By order of the emperor, they were left in the Shlisselburg Church of the Annunciation, and their transfer to St. Petersburg was postponed until next year.

The meeting of the shrine in St. Petersburg on August 30, 1724 was distinguished by special solemnity. According to legend, on the last leg of the journey (from the mouth of Izhora to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery), Peter personally ruled the galley with a precious cargo, and at the oars were his closest associates, the first dignitaries of the state. At the same time, an annual celebration of the memory of the holy prince was established on the day of the transfer of the relics on August 30.

Nowadays the Church celebrates the memory of the holy and blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky twice a year: November 23 (December 6, new style) and August 30 (September 12).

“For our native land!” Dmitry Donskoy

Holy Blessed Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy
Grand Duke of Moscow and Vladimir
(12 October 1350 - 19 May 1389)

During his 30-year reign, Dmitry Donskoy managed to become a collector of Russian lands (“bringing all Russian princes under his will”) and the recognized head of anti-Horde politics in Rus'.
Dmitry also sought recognition of the independence of the Russian Orthodox Church from Constantinople. Under him, fortress monasteries were erected (Simonov Monastery, Andronikov Monastery), which covered the approaches to the center of Moscow.
Dmitry for the first time in Russian military history introduced a new (territorial) principle of formation instead of the old principle of troop recruitment.
Under Dmitry Donskoy, silver coinage was introduced in Moscow - earlier than in other Russian principalities and lands.
The reign of Dimitri Donskoy belongs to the most unfortunate and sad times of the era in the history of the long-suffering Russian people. Incessant ruin and devastation, either from external enemies or from internal strife, followed one after another on an enormous scale.
Over the course of several centuries, the name of Dmitry Donskoy has become a symbol of Russian military glory. In 2002, the Order “For Service to the Fatherland” was established in memory of the Holy Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy and the Venerable Abbot Sergius of Radonezh.
The military exploits of Dmitry Donskoy are sung by Safoniy Ryazan in “Zadonshchina”, as well as in “The Tale of the Massacre of Mamayev”.
In Moscow, a monument to Dmitry Donskoy was erected in front of the Marinka Tower of the Kolomna Kremlin.
Since the fall of 2007, the largest nuclear submarine in the world, the Dmitry Donskoy, listed in the Guinness Book of Records, has hosted an exhibition at the Kulikovo Pole museum-reserve.
The memory of Saint Dmitry Donskoy is celebrated on May 19/June 1.
The Grand Duke of Vladimir and Moscow Dmitry died on May 19, 1389. He was buried in Moscow in the Archangel Cathedral of the Kremlin. Canonized as a saint at the Local Council in 1988.

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The name of the Great Russian Hero, who cared for Holy Rus' all his life, is not forgotten, and cannot be forgotten! Its glory is passed on from generation to generation. His heroism is a shining example for all Russian people. His pride is his exploits on the battlefield. The desire to unite the Russian principalities, suffering under the yoke of eastern conquerors, did not leave him until his death. Throughout his reign, Moscow was drowning in internecine wars. When, after the invasion of Tokhtamysh, the capital weakened again, civil strife broke out from new strength. After this, Dmitry Donskoy, in order to save Rus' from new raids, gave his son Vasily to the Horde, and also promised to constantly pay tribute. “Life is a Feat”, this is how his phenomenon in the history of Russia is characterized.

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Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy was born on October 12, 1350. He is from a family of princes who formed a single principality. Descendant of the Ruriks, the family of the first Russian princes, with whom a new beginning began public education. Son of the Grand Duke of Vladimir and Moscow Ivan Kalita, grandson of the Blessed Prince Daniil of Moscow and great-grandson of the Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky, descendant of Vladimir Monomakh and Yuri Dolgoruky.
Dmitry Donskoy's childhood was spent in completely childish worries.
At the age of nine, Dmitry ascends to the princely throne. Moscow lands are given to him to manage. And at the same time, he began to have ill-wishers, but the Moscow boyars stood for the young Dimitri; For the most part, these were people who did not belong to Moscow by origin; partly they themselves, and partly their fathers and grandfathers came from different directions and found a common Fatherland in Moscow. It was they who took up arms together for the primacy of Moscow over Russia. Because Moscow sheltered them all and contributed to their mutual assistance in the interests of their common Fatherland.

Many times Prince Dmitry was forced to travel to the Golden Horde.
At the age of ten, Dmitry was taken by the Moscow boyars to Khan Khidyrem for a label to reign. Thus, Moscow at this time acquired primacy among other lands and cities in Rus'; before elevating it. And the ten-year-old young prince Dimitri becomes the oldest, precisely because he became the prince of Moscow. And just as at that time there was an internecine war among the Russian princes, so a turning point occurred in the Horde, many were eager to take control of the khan’s place.
Eleven-year-old Dmitry went to the Horde. At first, the label for the reign was obtained by the boyars from Khan Murid, who at that time was stronger than his rival Abdul, but already in 1362 they received the label on behalf of Abdul. Both khans did not like the policy of the Grand Duke, he lost the favor of the khans, and the label was given to Dmitry Konstantinovich of Suzdal. But Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy soon went against him with an army and drove him out of the city of Vladimir.

Dmitry spent a very active foreign policy. He humbled the Suzdal, Nizhny Novgorod, Ryazan and Tver princes (1363), and repulsed the great Lithuanian prince. Olgerd, who tried to seize the Moscow Principality (November 21, 1368, battle on the Trostna River near Moscow). Uglich, Galich Mersky, Beloozero, as well as the Kostroma, Dmitrov, Chukhloma, and Starodub principalities were finally annexed to Moscow. Dmitry forced Novgorod the Great to obey himself.
Under Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy, a white stone Kremlin was built in Moscow in 1367.
In 1376, his troops defeated the Volga Bulgars, and in 1378 they defeated the strong Tatar army of Murza Begich on the Vozha River.

But the hardest, bloodiest battle took place on the Kulikovo Field.
Leaving for the battle, the prince stopped by Sergius of Radonezh, the spiritual father of Rus', for a blessing.
The fact that the holy noble prince Dimitry Donskoy clearly understood his role as a holder is evidenced by the “Word” of his life. “Establish me, Lady, a pillar of the fortress from the face of the enemy, magnify the Christian name before the filthy,” Saint Demetrius asked the Most Holy Theotokos in prayer before the battle on the Kulikovo Field. From time immemorial, the attitude towards the Mother of God in Rus' was especially reverent and affectionate - it was not for nothing that they called the Russian land Home Holy Mother of God. Even if the Russian fate is difficult, the path of service of the “Holy Russian” is full of sorrows and narrow, fidelity to one’s duty does not remain without heavenly reward.
A reliable defender of the southeastern borders - the miraculous Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Don arrived together with the Don Cossacks in the Russian camp to help the Grand Duke and the entire army, for victory and defeat the enemy. On the day of the battle, the icon was carried among Orthodox soldiers to encourage and help them against the Tatar army.

“On that Kulikovo field
The Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary herself walks,
And behind her are the apostles of the Lord,
Archangels - holy angels...
They perform the funeral service for the relics of the Orthodox,
The Most Holy Mother of God herself censes on them.”

Before the battle they told him:
“You should stand apart from the battle and look at those fighting, and then honor and favor the survivors and create a memorial for the slain.” If we lose you, sovereign, then we will become like a flock of sheep without a shepherd; the wolves will come and scare us away.
“My dear brother,” answered Dimitri, your kind speeches are worthy of praise. But if I am your leader, then I want to start the battle ahead of you. I will die or live with you.

When the battle was over, the Cossacks presented Dmitry Donskoy with an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos as a gift. In memory of the victory won by the intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the banks of the Don, the icon was named Donskaya.
Eight days after that, the Russians remained on the Kulikovo field, held funeral services, and buried their brothers. Fifteen of the princes alone fell. Many noble boyars were also killed.

People of that time understood the Russian army only as a holy, valiant army. For nine years, until 1389, Prince Dimitri defended the Russian land from Tatar raids. And although the Tatar yoke had not yet been thrown off, the Russian people already knew: the Tatars were not so terrible.

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Three great warrior-defenders of Rus'. Three great warriors. Three politicians. Three great hearts are only the brightest constellation preserved in the memory of the Russian people. And there are too many of them - Defenders of the Motherland - to count. Can't remember. But they were, are and will be. And we must not forget in our prayers all the famous and nameless Heroes, thanks to whom Rus'-Russia stands!

An Orthodox person is accompanied by an icon everywhere, including in the workplace. And there is nothing surprising when help unexpectedly comes after prayer in front of the icon of the saint - the patron saint of your work.

The icon can be placed in the office and addressed to it with prayer in difficult situations, one way or another occurring at work, before making a responsible decision. And the saint depicted on the icon will invisibly help in difficult times.

The patron of professions is chosen according to the deeds of the saint. This tradition has existed since immemorial Christian times - for example, sailors from ancient times worshiped St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

The Church specifically blesses us to consider this or that saint as a patron in business. Now it is usually announced by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. Not long ago, Patriarch Alexy II blessed miners and all workers in the mining industry to turn to the Holy Great Martyr Barbara. But there is no list or “schedule” of how often and for what professions (narrow specializations or entire industries) a patron saint should be appointed.

If a patron has not yet been identified for your profession, you yourself can read the lives of the saints and find one whose deeds are related to your profession. For example, the patron of the Internet has not been officially announced, but as a result of discussions, Internet users themselves chose who is John the Evangelist and who is John Chrysostom.

Even better if this saint is your local. For example, there was a great martyr in your region who healed people with herbs, and you are a doctor - you pray to him.

Our appeal to holy helpers in various needs is never in vain. With their prayers they provide assistance in work, sorrows, illnesses and sorrows, material and spiritual needs, and help resist slander and divination.

For the success of the saints' intercession for us before God, it is necessary to sincerely repent of our sins and pray before the icon of the saint to whom the Lord has granted the grace of help.

“And whatever you ask in prayer in faith, you will receive” (Matthew 20:22).

Patrons of trade, commercial directors, sales managers

From the life of St. Nicholas: when a great famine came in Lycia, Archbishop Nicholas, in order to save the starving, created a new miracle: one merchant loaded a large ship with bread and, on the eve of sailing somewhere to the west, he saw St. Nicholas in a dream, who ordered him to deliver all the grain to Lycia, for he buys the entire cargo from him and gives him three gold coins as a deposit. Waking up, the merchant was very surprised to find three gold coins actually clutched in his hand. He realized that this was a command from above, brought bread to Lycia, and the starving people were saved. Here he spoke about the vision, and the citizens recognized their archbishop from his description.
In Rus', churches to St. Nicholas were most often erected in trading areas by Russian merchants, sailors and explorers, who revered the wonderworker Nicholas as the patron of all travelers on land and sea.

He lived in the 14th century in the city of Trebizond, was engaged in trade, was pious, firm in Orthodoxy and merciful to the poor.

He was originally a Varyag, a rich merchant. While in Novgorod on trade business, he was captivated by the splendor of the churches and worship. Leaving the comrades who had come with him and all the goods he had brought, he came to St. Varlaam, who joyfully accepted the new son of the Church, baptized him and was his mentor. The pious life of Procopius soon became known throughout the Novgorod Pyatina and surrounding lands, so that many began to come to him for his blessing.

Bankers, accountants, financiers, tax inspectors, treasuries

holy apostle matthew

By profession he was a publican (tax collector for Rome) and is usually depicted with an abacus or a bag of gold. Hearing the voice of Jesus Christ: “Follow Me” (Matthew 9.9), he threw the collected taxes into the dust and followed the Savior lightly.

Diplomats, postal workers

One of the seven main angels who “offer the prayers of the saints and enter before the glory of the Holy One” (Tov. 12:15). Archangel Gabriel is mentioned several times in Scripture as a heavenly messenger whom God sends to announce to people His plans for the salvation of the human race.

Archangel Gabriel was chosen by God to preach the good news to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and with Her to all people the great joy of the Incarnation of the Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

If the number of Archangels begins with Michael, the champion and conqueror of the enemies of God, then Gabriel is in second place. The Lord sends him to proclaim and clarify the Divine Mysteries.

He taught Moses, who escaped the hand of Pharaoh, the book of books in the desert, told him about the beginning of the world and the creation of the first man Adam, told him about the life and deeds of the former patriarchs, told him about the flood and the division of languages, explained to him the location of the celestial planets and elements, taught him arithmetic, geometry and all wisdom.

He explained to the Prophet Daniel miraculous visions about future kings and kingdoms, told him about the time of the liberation of the people of God from Babylonian captivity, as well as about the time of the first coming of Christ into the world.

He appeared to the holy righteous Anna, who in her garden was grieving over infertility and praying to God with tears, and said to her: “Anna, Anna! Your prayer has been heard, your sighs have passed the clouds, and your tears have reached God: you will conceive and give birth to a blessed Daughter, in whom all the tribes of the earth will be blessed. She will give salvation to the world, and She will receive the name of Mary.”

Archangel Gabriel also appeared to the righteous Joachim, who was fasting in the desert, and announced to him the same thing as to Saint Anna: they will have a Daughter, chosen from time immemorial as the Mother of the Messiah coming to save the human race. This great archangel was appointed by God as the guardian of the barren Virgin Mary, and when She was brought into the temple, he nourished Her, bringing Her food daily.

He appeared to the holy priest Zechariah and announced to him about the release from infertility of his elderly wife Elizabeth and the birth of Saint John the Baptist of the Lord, and when he did not believe, he bound his tongue with silence until the day his words were fulfilled (Luke 1:5-25). From this it is clear that Archangel Gabriel is unusually close to the Lord and is sent by Him to proclaim the greatest secrets concerning the salvation of the human race.

This same representative of God, being sent by God to Nazareth, appeared to the Most Holy Virgin, betrothed to the righteous Joseph, and announced to Her the conception of the Son of God. He also appeared in a dream to Joseph, explaining to him that the Young Lady remained innocent, for what was conceived in her was from the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18-21).

And when our Lord was born in Bethlehem, Archangel Gabriel appeared to the shepherds guarding their flocks and said:

– I proclaim to you great joy that will be to all people: for in the city of David a Savior was born to you, who is Christ the Lord, and then immediately with a multitude of heavenly warriors he sang: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!” (Luke 2:14).

It is believed that this angel appeared from heaven to Christ the Savior before His suffering, when He prayed in the garden, for the name Gabriel means “the strength of God.” The Archangel Gabriel who appeared strengthened Him, since between other ministries he had this too - strengthening in his exploits, and our Lord then labored in fervent prayer (Luke 22:43; Heb. 5:7).

The same Angel appeared to the myrrh-bearing women sitting on the stone at the tomb, announcing to them about the resurrection of the Lord (Matt. 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20): thus, being the gospel and the one of the conception and birth of the Lord, he appeared and the harbinger of His Resurrection.

He also appeared to the Most Holy Virgin Theotokos, fervently praying on the Mount of Olives, announcing to Her the approach of Her honest Dormition and Her relocation to heaven, and gave Her a bright branch of paradise.

But being God’s messenger of the most important Old Testament and New Testament events, Archangel Gabriel, therefore, should be especially close to God. The Holy Church sometimes depicts him with a branch of paradise in his hand, which he brought to the Mother of God, and sometimes in right hand with a lantern with a candle burning inside, and on the left - with a jasper mirror. Depicts with a mirror, because Gabriel is the messenger of God's destinies for the salvation of the human race, or with a candle in a lantern, because God's destinies are hidden until the time of their fulfillment, and, after their fulfillment, are comprehended only by those who steadily look into their hearts as a reflection of the word of God and one’s conscience.

Builders, construction companies

The founder of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Saint Anthony, was born at the beginning of the 11th century in the city of Lyubech (near Chernigov) and was named Antipas in baptism. From a young age, he felt an attraction to a higher spiritual life and, by inspiration from above, decided to go to Athos. In one of the Athos monasteries, he took monastic vows and began a solitary life in a cave near this monastery, which is still shown today. When he acquired spiritual experience in his exploits, the abbot gave him obedience so that he would go to Rus' and plant monasticism in this newly enlightened Christian country. Anthony obeyed. When the Monk Anthony came to Kyiv, there were already several monasteries here, founded at the request of the princes by the Greeks. But Saint Anthony did not choose any of them; he settled in a two-story cave dug by Presbyter Hilarion. This was in 1051. Here Saint Anthony continued the feats of strict monastic life, for which he was famous on Athos: his food was black bread every other day and water in extremely moderate quantities. Soon his fame spread not only throughout Kyiv, but also throughout other Russian cities. Many came to him for spiritual advice and blessings. Some began to ask to live with him. The first to be accepted was a certain Nikon, a priest, and the second was the Monk Theodosius.

The Monk Theodosius spent his youth in Kursk, where his parents lived. From an early age, he discovered a pious mood of spirit: every day he went to church, diligently read the word of God, and was distinguished by modesty, humility and other good qualities. Having learned that the liturgy was sometimes not served in the church due to a lack of prosphora, he decided to take up this matter himself: he bought wheat, ground it with his own hands, and brought the baked prosphora to the church.
For these exploits, he suffered many troubles from his mother, who loved him dearly, but did not sympathize with his aspirations. Having once heard the words of the Lord in church: “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37), he decided to leave both his mother (his father had already died) and his hometown and came to Kiev to the Monk Anthony . “Do you see, child,” Anthony asked him, “that my cave is modest and cramped?” “God himself brought me to you,” answered Theodosius, “I will do what you command me.”

When the number of associates of St. Anthony's life increased to 12, he retired to a nearby mountain, dug a cave for himself here and began to asceticize in seclusion. Theodosius remained in the same place; he was soon elected by the brethren to the abbot and began to try to establish a proper dormitory according to the charter of the Constantinople Studite monastery. The main features of the hostel he established were the following: all property of the brethren should be common, time was spent in constant work; the labors were divided according to the strength of each by the abbot; every task began with prayer and the blessing of the elder; thoughts were revealed to the abbot, who was the true leader of all to salvation.

The Monk Theodosius often walked around the cells and observed whether anyone had anything extra, and what the brethren were doing. Often at night he came to the door of the cells and, if he heard the conversation of two or three monks who had come together, he would hit the door with his staff, and in the morning he would denounce the culprits. The monk himself was an example for the brethren in everything: he carried water, chopped wood, worked in a bakery, wore the simplest clothes, came first to church and to monastic work. In addition to ascetic deeds, Rev. Theodosius was distinguished by his great mercy towards the poor and his love for spiritual enlightenment and tried to win over his brethren towards them. In the monastery he built a special house for the residence of the poor, the blind, the lame, and the paralytic, and allocated a tenth of the monastic income for their maintenance.
In addition, every Saturday he sent a whole cart of bread to prisoners in prison. From the writings of St. Theodosius the following are known: two teachings to the people, ten teachings to monks, two epistles to the Grand Duke Izyaslav and two prayers.
Founded by the Monk Anthony and arranged by the Monk Theodosius, the Kiev-Pechersk monastery became a model for other monasteries and was of great importance for the development of the Russian Church. From its walls came famous archpastors, zealous preachers of the faith and wonderful writers. Of the saints who were tonsured at the Kiev-Pechersk monastery, Saints Leonty and Isaiah (bishops of Rostov) and Nifont (bishop of Novgorod) are especially famous. Rev. Kuksha (enlightener of the Vyatichi), writers Rev. Nestor the Chronicler and Simon.

Mining workers

Her father, the pagan Dioscorus, was a rich and noble man and became furious when he learned that his daughter was a Christian, drew his sword and wanted to kill her. The girl ran from her father, and he rushed after her. Their path was blocked by a mountain, which parted and hid the saint in a chasm. On the other side of the chasm there was an exit to the top. Saint Barbara managed to hide in a cave on the opposite slope of the mountain.

Fishermen and hunters

Icon “Cathedral of the Patron Saints of Hunters and Fishermen” was written quite recently, in 2005, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II. The patriarch's blessing was received in response to a corresponding appeal from the Russian Hunting Club.

At the top of the holy image there is a row miraculous icons, through which the Mother of God at different times provided Her protection to hunting and fishing people. These are the Tikhvin, Kazan, Ozeryansk, “Znamenie” and Fedorovskaya icons of the Mother of God. Below them, on the left and right, are saints who help everyone involved in hunting and fishing: St. Nicholas - Archbishop of Myra, the apostles John the Theologian, Peter and Jacob Zebedee. In the second row are St. Nicodemus of Kozheezersky, Apostles Andrew the First-Called and Thomas, Righteous Procopius of Ustyug, St. Paphnutius of Borovsk and Varlaam of Keret.

In the first row of the right side of the icon are depicted the Great Martyr Eustathius Plaxis, the Martyr Tryphon, the Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye and Tsar Nicholas, the holy passion-bearer. In the second row of saints are the blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, the great martyrs Dmitry of Thessalonica and St. George the Victorious. Above we see Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir, Martyr Mercury and Blessed Prince Dimitri Donskoy. All of them are turned to the image of the Savior Not Made by Hands on the ubrus.

Sailors

During his life, the saint provided help to people who even did not know him at all. One day, a ship sailing from Egypt to Lycia was caught in a severe storm. The sails were torn off, the masts were broken, the waves were ready to swallow the ship, doomed to inevitable death. No human power could prevent it. One hope is to ask for help from St. Nicholas, whom, however, none of these sailors had ever seen, but everyone knew about his miraculous intercession. The dying shipmen began to pray fervently, and Saint Nicholas appeared at the stern at the helm, began to steer the ship and brought it safely to the harbor.

In Rus', churches to St. Nicholas were most often erected in trading areas by Russian merchants, sailors and explorers, who revered the wonderworker Nicholas as the patron of all travelers on land and sea.

Armed forces, military

He is called so for his courage and for his spiritual victory over his tormentors, who could not force him to renounce Christianity, as well as for his miraculous help to people in danger.

He was a native of the city of Murom, labored in the Kiev-Pechersk monastery and died around 1188. Folk legend identifies him with the famous hero Ilya Muromets, about whom Russian epics were sung. A number of historians also think so.

Rocketeers and artillerymen

Saint Barbara was executed by her own father, Dioscorus. God's retribution was not slow to comprehend both tormentors. Martiana (ruler of the city of Iliopolis of Phoenicia) and Dioscorus: they were burned by lightning. The official day of the Strategic Missile Forces is celebrated on the day of the celebration of the memory of the Great Martyr Barbara - December 17.

Doctors, midwives, pharmacists, pharmacists

He dedicated his life to the suffering, the sick, the poor and the poor. He treated everyone who turned to him free of charge, healing them in the Name of Jesus Christ. He visited prisoners in prison, especially Christians, with whom all prisons were overcrowded, and treated them for their wounds. Soon the rumor about the gracious doctor spread throughout the city. Leaving other doctors, the residents began to turn only to Saint Panteleimon.

In his youth, he took monastic vows in one of the monasteries. Here the saint worked hard and became an experienced ascetic. Once the Monk Paul was slandered by a woman. She brought a newborn baby to the monastery and said that she gave birth to him from the monk Paul. The elder endured the slander with humility and joy, did not renounce and accepted the baby as his own son. When the saint began to be reproached for violating his monastic vow, St. Paul said: “Brethren, let us ask the baby who his father is!” The newborn, pointing his hand at the blacksmith, said: “This is my father, not Pavel the monk.” Seeing this miracle, people bowed to the elder, asking for forgiveness. From that time on, Saint Paul received from God the gift of healing diseases, which is why he was called a doctor.

The godly ascetic life of Saint Euthymius was rewarded by the Lord with the gift of clairvoyance and miracles: with his prayers he healed the sick; the demons trembled at his prohibitions.

He devoted himself entirely to serving the sick and for his selfless deed received from God the gracious gift of miraculous healings by laying hands on the sick. Those suffering from various ailments received healing by resorting to the prayerful intercession of St. Hypatius. It fulfilled the words of St. Pimen the Many-Sick: “The one who is sick and the one who serves him will have an equal reward.”

Elizaveta Feodorovna decided to devote her life to the Lord through serving people and create a monastery of work, mercy and prayer in Moscow. She bought a plot of land with four houses and a large garden on Bolshaya Ordynka Street. In the monastery, which was named Marfo-Mariinskaya in honor of the holy sisters Martha and Mary, two churches were created - Marfo-Mariinsky and Pokrovsky, a hospital, which was later considered the best in Moscow, and a pharmacy where medicines were dispensed to the poor for free, an orphanage and a school . Outside the walls of the monastery, a house-hospital was set up for women suffering from tuberculosis.

(world famous surgeon Valentin Feliksovich Voino-Yasenetsky)— after graduating from medical university, the future saint was engaged in medical practice and scientific research. In the 1920s he worked as a surgeon in Tashkent, actively participating in church life, attending meetings of the church brotherhood. The words of Bishop Innocent of Tashkent: “Doctor, you need to be a priest” were perceived as God’s call. After three years of service as a priest, Father Valentin took monastic vows with the name of the apostle, evangelist and physician Luke, and on May 30, 1923, Hieromonk Luke was secretly consecrated bishop. From this time on, the Vladyka’s way of the cross as a confessor begins. Numerous arrests, torture and exiles did not weaken the Saint’s zeal in fulfilling his archpastoral duty and serving people as a doctor.

The Lord gave them special grace - the gift of healings and miracles. The illnesses stopped as soon as Cosmas and Damian began to treat. This, of course, attracted many sick people of all kinds to them.

The blind, the lame, the paralytic, and the possessed surrounded the miracle workers. But the saints were not burdened by this. Not only to be more accessible to the sick, they themselves looked for them and for this they moved from city to city, from city to city, and to all the sick, without distinction of gender and age, rank and condition, they gave healing.

And they did this not in order to get rich or become famous, but with the purest, highest goal - to serve the suffering for the sake of God, to express love for God in love for their neighbors. Therefore, they never accepted any reward from anyone for their labors, not even any signs of gratitude for their own good deeds. They firmly knew and faithfully preserved the Savior’s commandment: Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons: eat tuna, give tuna (Matthew 10:8).

They received grace from God freely, and freely distributed it. They asked only one thing of those healed by them: that they firmly believe in Christ, live holy in Christ; if those being healed were not yet enlightened by the light of the Gospel, then they tried to convert them to the Christian faith. Thus, while healing physical ailments, they at the same time healed mental ailments.

For this selfless service to suffering humanity, for these miraculous healings of diseases, the Holy Church calls them unmercenary and miracle workers.

Veterinarians

The healing power of the holy doctors extended not only to people. They did not forget dumb animals. The righteous has mercy on the souls of beasts and speaks the word of God (Proverbs 12:10). Faithful to this commandment, they walked through houses, deserts and forests, themselves looking for sick animals and giving them healing. Grateful animals felt their benefits, knew their benefactors, and, as soon as they appeared in the deserts, followed them in whole herds.

Farmers and pastoralists

It can be assumed that the appearance of St. George on horseback to protect the inhabitants from the serpent, as well as the miraculous revival of the farmer’s only ox described in the life, served as the reason for the veneration of St. George as the patron of agriculture and cattle breeding, the protector from predatory animals.

Livestock farms, livestock breeders

She is considered the patroness of cattle. Milkmaids and cattle breeders pray to her. The Holy Martyr Agathia was the daughter of eminent and wealthy Christian parents from the city of Palermo (formerly Panormos) in Sicily. During the persecution under Emperor Decius (249 - 251), the city ruler of Catana, Quintian, heard about the wealth and beauty of Agathia, sent soldiers after her to bring her to trial as a Christian. In Katana, the saint was placed with a rich woman who had five daughters. They all tried to seduce Saint Agathia with outfits, treats, and entertainment, convincing her to make sacrifices to the pagan gods, but the saint did not succumb to their tricks and, despising all pleasures, prayed to the Lord to grant her strength for martyrdom. During interrogation by Quintian, the holy martyr did not bow to either affection or persuasion and was subjected to cruel mockery: they tormented her breasts with iron claws and, finally, cut off her nipples. In prison, the holy Apostle Peter appeared to the sufferer and healed her of her wounds. Saint Agathia, brought again for torture, amazed Quintianus by the fact that her breast was unharmed. Then they began to torture her again. At this time, an earthquake began in the city, and the opening of the earth swallowed up Quintian's closest friends. Frightened residents ran to Quintian, demanding that he stop the torture. Fearing popular outrage, Quintian sent Saint Agathia back to prison, where the martyr, having given thanks, peacefully surrendered her spirit to God.

Beekeepers

Saint John grew up in the wild desert, preparing himself for great service through a strict life of fasting and prayer. He wore rough clothes secured with a leather belt and ate wild honey and locusts (a genus of locust). He remained a desert dweller until the Lord called him to preach at the age of thirty.

Considered the patrons of beekeeping and guardians of bees, they were also called "beekeepers."

Flax growing

Holy queen equal to the apostles Helen is the mother of Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine the Great, an active, warlike man, accessible and generous to everyone, far-sighted and insightful, who showed the traits of a world genius. Elena is a Christian, and under her son, after three hundred years of persecution, Christians for the first time had the opportunity to openly profess their faith.
At the request of Saint Constantine, Saint Queen Helena went to Jerusalem in search of the Cross of the Lord. Miraculously, the Life-Giving Cross was found in 326 and given to the Patriarch of Jerusalem for safekeeping; Saint Helena brought part of it to Constantinople. For her great services to the Church and her labors in obtaining the Life-Giving Cross, Queen Helena is called Equal-to-the-Apostles.

Winegrowers

One gardener threw out the cut dry branches from the vineyard. Saint Tikhon collected them, planted them in his garden and asked the Lord that these branches would take root and produce fruits that were healing for people’s health. The Lord created a holy young man by faith. The branches began to grow, their fruits had a special, very pleasant taste and were used during the life of the saint and after his death for wine to celebrate the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

Flower growers and gardeners

When the saint was being led to execution, a certain learned man, (scholastic) Theophilus, said to her mockingly: “Bride of Christ, send me Thy Bridegroom from the garden pink flowers and apples." In response, the martyr nodded to him. Before her death, the saint asked to be given time to pray. When she finished the prayer, an Angel appeared to her in the form of a beautiful young man and handed her three apples and three pink flowers. The saint asked to give all this to Theophilus, after which she was beheaded with a sword. Having received gifts of grace, the recent persecutor of Christians was amazed, believed in the Savior and confessed himself to be a Christian.

Teachers, lecturers

Slovenian teachers. From his youth, Saint Cyril showed brilliant success in both secular and religious-moral education. Having received an excellent education, he perfectly mastered all the sciences of his time and many languages. Saint Cyril, with the help of his brother Saint Methodius and his disciples, compiled the Slavic alphabet and translated it into Slavic language books without which Divine services could not be performed: the Gospel, the Psalter and selected services.

Pupils, students

They pray to him for enlightenment of the mind, for help in difficult teaching - St. Sergius (in the world Bartholomew) was the son of the Rostov boyars Cyril and Maria, who moved closer to Moscow to the village of Radonezh. At the age of seven, Bartholomew was sent to learn to read and write. He longed for learning with all his soul, but literacy was not given to him. Grieving over this, day and night he prayed to the Lord to open the door of book understanding to him. One day, while looking for missing horses in the field, he saw an unfamiliar old monk under an oak tree. The monk prayed. The youth approached him and told him his grief. Having listened sympathetically to the boy, the elder began to pray for his enlightenment. Then, taking out the reliquary, he took out a small piece of prosphora and, blessing Bartholomew with it, said: “Take, child, and eat: this is given to you as a sign of God’s grace and understanding.” Holy Scripture" This grace really descended on the boy: the Lord gave him memory and understanding, and the boy began to easily assimilate book wisdom.

It is considered a patron because of a historical coincidence - it was on January 12 (25 according to the new style) 1755 that Empress Elizabeth approved the project of Moscow University, presented to her by Count Ivan Shuvalov. And although the opening of this first state higher educational institution in Russia took place only on April 26 of the same year, the Holy Great Martyr Tatiana was then named the patroness of Moscow University.

By tradition, for almost 250 years, the rector of Moscow State University has publicly read out a report on the university’s activities for the year on Tatiana’s Day. And only after other higher educational establishments, Tatyana began to be considered the patroness of not only Moscow State University, but also the entire student body of the country. Russian President V.V. Putin signed a Decree stating that January 25 is the Day of Russian Students.

Patrons of the family

The Holy Blessed Prince Peter, in monasticism David, and the Holy Blessed Princess Fevronia, in monasticism Euphrosyne, Murom miracle workers. The blessed Prince Peter was the second son of Murom Prince Yuri Vladimirovich. He ascended the Murom throne in 1203. A few years earlier, Saint Peter fell ill with leprosy, from which no one could cure him. In a dream vision, it was revealed to the prince that he could be healed by the beekeeper’s daughter, the pious maiden Fevronia, a peasant woman from the village of Laskovoy in the Ryazan land. Saint Peter sent his people to that village.

When the prince saw Saint Fevronia, he fell in love with her so much for her piety, wisdom and kindness that he vowed to marry her after healing. Saint Febronia healed the prince and married him. The holy spouses carried love for each other through all trials. The proud boyars did not want to have a princess of ordinary rank and demanded that the prince let her go. Saint Peter refused and the couple were expelled. They sailed on a boat along the Oka River from their hometown. Saint Febronia supported and consoled Saint Peter. But soon the city of Murom suffered the wrath of God, and the people demanded that the prince return along with Saint Fevronia.

The holy spouses became famous for their piety and mercy. They died on the same day and hour, June 25, 1228, having previously taken monastic vows with the names David and Euphrosyne. The bodies of the saints were laid in one coffin.

Saints Peter and Fevronia are an example of Christian marriage. With their prayers they bring down Heavenly blessings on those entering into marriage.

Known among Orthodox Christians as the patrons of matrimony, marriage, and a happy family; They are prayed to “if the husband innocently hates his wife” - they are the intercessors of a woman in a difficult marriage.

Patron of children

Born on March 22, 1684 in the village of Zverki, Bialystok district, Grodno province, in the family of pious peasants Peter and Anastasia. He grew up meek, gentle, and had a noticeable tendency toward contemplative solitude. In 1690, on April 11, the mother of six-year-old Gabriel brought lunch to her husband in the field. Soon the holiday of Holy Easter was approaching. At this time, a Jewish tenant climbed into the house, caressed the child and secretly took him to the city of Bialystok, where the baby was tortured: he was crucified, his sides were pierced, gradually bleeding out. On the ninth day, the child died; he was thrown into a field at the edge of the forest near the village of Zverki. The hungry dogs that found the body not only did not tear it to pieces, but even protected it from birds of prey. Hearing the barking of dogs, the villagers came, found the body of the martyr and recognized that the baby had died as a result of ritual murder. The body of the tortured Gabriel, in front of a large crowd of people deeply moved by such atrocity, was buried near the temple.

30 years after the burial of the relics of St. Gabriel remained incorrupt. In 1746, the temple in which the baby was buried burned down, but the holy relics survived. The handle was partially burned, but when the holy relics were transferred to the monastery, the handle miraculously healed and was covered with skin again.

St. Gabriel is considered a healer of children. His holy relics changed their location several times. From 1944 to 1992 they were kept in the Grodno Intercession Church, from where they were solemnly transferred to St. Nicholas Cathedral in Bialystok.

Singers, vocalists, choir artists

He was of Greek origin and was born in the middle of the 5th century in the Syrian city of Emes. After receiving his education, he became a deacon at the Church of the Resurrection in Beirut. Under Emperor Anastasia Dikor (401-518), he moved to Constantinople and became a cleric at the patriarchal church of Hagia Sophia. He diligently helped during divine services, although he was not distinguished by either his voice or hearing. However, Patriarch Euthymius loved Roman and even brought him closer to himself for his sincere faith and virtuous life.

The patriarch's affection for Saint Roman aroused several cathedral clergy against him, who began to oppress him. At one of the pre-Christmas services, these clerics pushed Roman onto the church pulpit and forced him to sing. The temple was filled with pilgrims; the patriarch himself served in the presence of the emperor and court retinue. Confused and frightened, Saint Romanus publicly disgraced himself with his trembling voice and indistinct singing. Arriving home completely depressed, Saint Roman prayed long and intensely at night before the icon of the Mother of God, pouring out his grief. The Mother of God appeared to him, handed him a paper scroll and ordered him to eat it. And then a miracle happened: Roman received a beautiful, melodic voice and at the same time a poetic gift. In a surge of inspiration, he immediately composed his famous kontakion for the feast of the Nativity of Christ: “Today a virgin gives birth to the Most Essential, and the earth brings a den to the Unapproachable; Angels and shepherds praise, while wolves travel with a star; For our sake, the Child of Mlado, the Eternal God, was born.”

The next day, Saint Roman came to the church for the all-night vigil on the Nativity of Christ. He insisted that he be allowed to sing on the pulpit again, and this time he sang the hymn he composed, “Virgin Today,” so beautifully that he aroused general delight. The emperor and patriarch thanked Saint Roman, and the people called him the Sweet Singer. Since then, Saint Romanus has adorned divine services with his wondrous singing and inspired prayers.

Beloved by everyone, Saint Romanus became a singing teacher in Constantinople and raised his splendor high Orthodox services. For his poetic gift he took place of honor among church hymn writers. More than a thousand prayers and hymns for various holidays are attributed to him. Particularly famous is the akathist to the Annunciation of the Mother of God, which is sung on the fifth Saturday of Great Lent. Other akathists were compiled based on his model. The Monk Roman died in 556.

Originally from Dyrrachia (Bulgaria), he was orphaned as a child. Possessing very in a beautiful voice, entered the court school of Constantinople, where for his talents he gained the favor of Emperor John Komnenos (1118 - 1143) and became the first court singer. But the delights of the imperial court tormented the God-loving young man. Not wanting to remain among comforts and luxury, avoiding the marriage that the emperor was preparing for him, young John began to look for ways to leave the capital and hide in the remote desert. By the will of God, having met with the Athonite elder - abbot, who arrived in Constantinople on monastic affairs, John revealed his intention to him and, with his blessing, went with him to the Holy Mountain. There he was accepted, tonsured as a monk and entrusted with shepherding the monastery flock. Leaving with the herd into the distant deserts of Svyatogorsk, the young man could, in solitude, freely indulge in prayer, contemplation of God and the singing of Divine hymns. The angelic beauty of his voice enchanted even the animals, who gathered around the shepherd and listened to him spellbound. Due to his modesty and humility, the young singer did not reveal his gift to the brethren. Only once did the touching shepherd’s singing shock one hermit, and he informed the abbot about the wondrous singer. Young John revealed that he was a former court singer, and tearfully begged the abbot to leave him in his former shepherd's obedience. Fearing the disfavor of the emperor, who could find his favorite and return him from the Holy Mountain, the abbot himself went to Constantinople, told the emperor everything about the fate of his former subject and asked not to interfere with the young monk to follow his chosen path of salvation.

Since then, John Kukuzel sang on Sundays and other holidays in the cathedral on the right choir. For his singing, the saint was awarded the great mercy of the Mother of God Herself: one day, after an akathist sung before the icon of the Mother of God, the Mother of God Herself appeared to Saint John in a subtle dream and said to him: “Sing and don’t stop singing. I won’t leave you for that.” At these words, She placed a gold coin in John’s hand and became invisible. The coin was suspended from the icon, and from that time on, miracles began to happen from the icon and the coin. That icon, called “Kukouzelisa,” is still located in the Lavra of St. Athanasius. The memory is celebrated on October 1 and on the 10th Friday after Easter.

Subsequently, the Mother of God once again appeared to Saint John and healed him of a serious illness in his legs caused by long standing in the temple. Saint John spent the rest of his days in intense ascetic labors. Anticipating the hour of his death, he said goodbye to the brethren, bequeathing to bury himself in the Archangel Church he created. Church choristers venerate St. John of Kukuzel as their special patron.

A skilled singer, the Monk John Kukuzel worked a lot in the science of church singing and deservedly earned himself the title of master and domestic: he himself corrected and composed melodies for church stichera, troparions and kontakions and for the entire church service; rearranged the texts of chants, wrote his own troparia. The following works of his are known from manuscripts: “A book containing, by God’s will, the entire order of the church order, compiled by the master, Mr. John Kukuzel.” - “Sequences compiled by Master John Kukuzel, from the beginning of Great Vespers even to the end Divine Liturgy" — “The science of singing and singing signs with all the regulations for the hand and with the entire structure of singing”, etc.

In every family there is a turning point when one of the men has to go to serve in the army, and in the future his decision may be long-term military service and a career. It is even more difficult when a person liable for military service has to go to a place of paramilitary operations, therefore at such moments the help of the Lord and intercession for the health of other saints before him are so necessary. To strengthen the spirit of a fighter and protect him from possible troubles, believers turn to the saints with various prayers. In addition to God himself, desperate, worried mothers of sons who went to war, the army or military service. There are many other saints who patronize warriors and even special units of troops.

Which saint should I pray to?

Many pious Christians wonder which saint to pray to and ask for protection when going on a journey of their own accord or obligation. military service. Relatives of conscripted military personnel are asking the same question. There are many military patrons:

You can also turn to the following saints with prayerful words asking for protection: Nikita the Warrior, John the Warrior, Mercury of Smolensk, Igor of Chernigov, Varvara of Illiopol, Eugene of Sevastia, Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, Ilya Muromets, Theodore Stratilates, Savva Storozhevsky, Fyodor Ushakov, Andrei the Pristine . Regardless of which saint you pray to, the main thing is to do it sincerely with faith in your heart.

Prayer for military personnel

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother, hear me, unworthy of a slave [or slave] (name). Lord, in Your merciful power, my children [or my child], Your servants (names), have mercy and save them, for the sake of Your Name. Lord, forgive them all the sins, voluntary and involuntary, that they committed before You. Lord, guide them on the true path of Your commandments, and enlighten their minds with the light of Christ for the salvation of the soul and the healing of the body. Lord, bless their service in the army, on land, air and sea, on the road, in flying and sailing, and in every place of Your dominion. Lord, save them by the power of Your Honest and Life-giving Cross under the shelter of Your saints from a flying bullet, arrow, sword, fire, from a deadly wound, water drowning and vain death. Lord, protect them from all visible and invisible enemies, from all trouble, evil, misfortune, betrayal and captivity. Lord, heal them from every illness and wound, from every defilement and ease their mental suffering. Lord, grant them the grace of Your Holy Spirit for many years of life, health and chastity in all piety and love in peace and unanimity with the rulers around them, near and far. Lord, increase and strengthen their mental abilities and physical strength, return them healthy and prosperous to their parental home.
All good Lord, grant me, Thy unworthy and sinful servant (name), a parental blessing on my children (names) at this time of morning, day, night, for Your Kingdom is eternal, omnipotent and omnipotent. Amen.

Since the appearance of the first regular army in our country, a good tradition has arisen for Orthodox warriors to have their heavenly patrons. In pre-revolutionary Russia, everyone who wore a military uniform, of course, considered the Archangel Michael their patron. But the air fleet, for example, still especially honored Elijah the Prophet. Saints Florus and Laurus were considered patrons of the cavalry. And Saint George the Victorious patronized the Cossacks. Temples were built in all military units in the name of beloved saints. In today's Russian army this bright tradition has not been forgotten either. Almost every branch or type of army has its own heavenly protector. Here are some of them.

Chief Patron of the Armed Forces Russian Federation and Ground Forces - Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious

He was born in the mid-270s in Cappadocia (a region in Asia Minor), into a very rich and noble family professing Christianity. His father was killed when George was still a baby. The mother, who owned estates in Palestine, moved with her son to her homeland, where she raised him. When the boy grew up, he enlisted in the Roman army. The young man surpassed everyone in intelligence, courage, and physical strength and quickly became the most notable warrior in his cohort (a division of the legion, about 1000 people). Already at the age of 24, he was appointed commander of an elite cohort of invictors (translated from Latin - invincible). In the war with Persia in 296–297, George more than once showed courage and was included in the number of comits - the emperor's close associates. In modern times, this is a member of the military council of the military branch, a representative of the supreme headquarters.

In 303, Emperor Dilectian began persecuting Christians, and his first blow was aimed at the army, where there were a large number of them. He thought that it would be easy to break the others if he overcame the military resistance. His plan didn't work to its full potential. Many soldiers decided to leave service and become ordinary citizens, so as not to renounce their faith in Christ. But there were also those who openly objected. George distributed property to the poor and publicly declared himself a Christian before the emperor. He was arrested and began to be tortured.

For eight days, George was subjected to the most sophisticated torture. But it was all in vain. Every morning there was no trace of the wounds. In bewilderment and horror, the guards peered at him and became convinced that a miracle was really happening.

George endured all the torment and did not renounce Christ. The night before his death penalty, the Savior appeared to him in a dream and said that paradise awaited him. The next morning, the former warrior calmly and courageously bowed his head under the sword. It was April 23, 303.

Saint George could become a talented commander and surprise the world with his military exploits. He died when he was not even 30 years old.

Many may ask why in the iconography St. George is depicted on a horse, killing a snake? This is one of the most famous posthumous miracles performed by a saint. As the legend says, in the lake on the shore of which the city stood, a monster appeared - either a serpent or a dragon. Attempts to defeat him with weapons in hand led to nothing. Then the inhabitants, being pagans, decided to sacrifice the king’s daughter to the beast. At the moment when the girl was supposed to be eaten, George appeared from heaven to earth on horseback and pierced the snake with a spear, saving the princess from death. The appearance of the saint contributed to the conversion of local residents to Christianity.

Patron of the Airborne Forces - Prophet Elijah

August 2 marks the birthday of the Russian Airborne Forces. The same day is the day of the prophet Elijah; liturgies are held in his honor and a procession of the cross is held.

Holy Prophet Elijah - one of the greatest prophets Old Testament- born in Thesbia of Gilead in 900 BC. The name Elijah (the fortress of the Lord) given to the baby determined his entire life.

From an early age he devoted himself to God. He lived in the desert, observing strict fasting and prayer. At that time, the people of Israel worshiped pagan idols, which led to complete moral decay. Seeing the death of his people, the prophet Elijah began to denounce King Ahab of wickedness, urging him to repent and turn to faith in one God. The king did not listen to him. Then the prophet Elijah announced to him that as punishment there would be no rain or dew on the earth for three years and the drought would end only through his prayer. And indeed, there was drought and famine throughout the land.

After three years, the prophet Elijah ordered all the inhabitants of Israel to gather on Mount Carmel. When the people gathered, he proposed to build two altars: one from the priests, the other from the prophet Elijah to serve the true God. “On which of them fire falls from heaven, that will be an indication whose God is true,” said the prophet Elijah, “and everyone will have to worship Him.

Through the prayer of the prophet, fire came down from heaven and burned the sacrifice, wood, stones and even water, and then the sky opened and abundant rain fell, watering the thirsty earth. Having seen what happened, millions of people drew conclusions for themselves.

Later, for his fiery zeal for the glory of God, the prophet Elijah was taken to heaven alive in a fiery chariot, which is how the iconographic tradition depicts him. According to legend, the prophet Elijah will be the forerunner of the terrible second coming of Christ to earth and will suffer bodily death during the sermon.

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker - patron saint of the Navy

Saint Nicholas the Pleasant was born in the city of Patara, Lycian region (now Türkiye). Very young, he was elevated to the rank of priest. While serving the Lord, the young man was burning in spirit, and in his experience in matters of faith he was like an old man, which aroused the surprise and deep respect of the believers. Constantly working and vigilant, being in unceasing prayer, priest Nicholas showed great mercy, coming to the aid of the suffering, and distributed all his property to the poor.

Nicholas's miraculous gift was revealed when he was sailing on a ship as a pilgrim to the Holy Land. He warned the crew of an impending storm and revived a sailor who had fallen from the mast.

Going to worship the holy places in Jerusalem, on the way Nicholas predicted an approaching storm that would threaten the ship with sinking, for he saw the devil himself entering the ship.

He performed many other miracles. Through the prayers of the saint, the city of Myra was saved from severe famine. More than once the saint saved those drowning in the sea, and brought them out of captivity and imprisonment in dungeons.

Having reached a ripe old age, Saint Nicholas died peacefully in 345.

He is especially revered in Russia as an ambulance in the most seemingly hopeless and insoluble problems - both spiritual and everyday. It is difficult to imagine a ship flying the Russian flag that would not have an icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on it.

Patron Saint of the Strategic Missile Forces - Holy Great Martyr Barbara

The memory of the Great Martyr Barbara, a saint who accepted death for Christ in the 4th century, is celebrated on December 17. On this day in 1995, the President of Russia signed a decree establishing the Day of Strategic Missile Forces. In the same year, having visited the Main Headquarters of the Strategic Missile Forces in Vlasikha, His Holiness Patriarch handed over the icon of St. to the rocket men. Great Martyr Barbara. Her image is now on every command post of all Russian missile divisions.

The Holy Great Martyr Barbara lived with her father in the city of Iliopolis, Phoenician, during the reign of Emperor Maximilian. She lost her mother early. Having been widowed, the father focused all his attention on raising his only daughter. Protecting her in every possible way from communicating with unwanted people, he settled her in the tower. Only teachers and maids had access to it.

One day, when her father was not at home, Varvara left the tower and met Christian girls who told her about Jesus Christ and his teachings. The desire to be a Christian burned in the girl’s heart. She was baptized.

Returning and learning about his daughter’s act, the father severely beat her, and then handed her over to the authorities, persecutors of Christians. They bullied her for a long time, forcing her to renounce her faith, but she did not give in. According to legend, at night an unspeakable light shone in the prison, and the Lord himself appeared to the suffering great martyr, healed her wounds and consoled her with the hope of bliss in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The next day, Varvara was executed by her father. This happened around 306. In her dying prayer, the Holy Great Martyr Barbara asked the Lord to deliver everyone who resorted to her help; from unexpected troubles, from sudden death without repentance and would pour out his grace on them. In response, she heard a voice from heaven, promising to fulfill her request. Immediately after the burial, miraculous healings began at her relics.

Patron of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia - Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir

Prince Vladimir was born in 963. In 972 he began to rule Novgorod. In 980, having defeated his brother Yaropolk in the war, he conquered Kyiv. Later he conquered Galicia, humbled the Vyatichi, fought with the Pechenegs, and extended the boundaries of his power from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Bug River in the south. He had five wives and numerous concubines. He installed idols on the Kyiv mountains, to which they began to make human sacrifices. Then the Varangians Theodore and John died for Christ. The circumstances of their death made Vladimir doubt the truth of the pagan faith.

At the invitation of the prince, preachers from different countries: ambassadors from Muslim Bulgarians who lived beyond the Volga, Latin Germans, Jews and Greeks. The prince asked about their faith, and each offered him theirs. But the strongest impression on him was made by the Orthodox Byzantine preacher, who, at the conclusion of his conversation, showed him a picture of the Last Judgment.

Vladimir was baptized himself, and later invited his twelve sons to do so. They were baptized in the same spring, known in Kyiv as Khreshchatyk. Many boyars followed them, and a little later all the residents.

After Kyiv and its surroundings Orthodox faith was planted in Novgorod, Suzdal, Rostov and everywhere else. Under her influence, the Slavic tribes began to unite into a single state.

The era of Saint Vladimir was a key period for the state formation of Orthodox Rus'. The unification of the Slavic lands and the formalization of the state borders of the Rurik power took place in an intense spiritual and political struggle with neighboring tribes and states. The baptism of Rus' from Orthodox Byzantium was the most important step in its state self-determination.

Prince Vladimir held back enemies on the borders with a firm hand, built cities and fortresses. He built the first “zasechnaya line” in Russian history - a line of defensive points against nomads.

Prince Vladimir, whom the people called the Red Sun, died on July 15, 1015. He ruled the Russian state for thirty-seven years.

Patron of the Border Service of the FSB of Russia - Rev. Ilya Muromets

Very little reliable information about the life of St. Elijah of Murom of Pechersk has survived to this day.

It is believed that he was born around 1143 in the village of Karacharovo near Murom in the Vladimir region into a peasant family. Folk legend identified him with the famous hero Ilya Muromets, about whom numerous epics were written.

From childhood until the age of 30, Ilya was paralyzed, and then miraculously received healing from three prophetic elders - beggar wanderers, who predicted that “death in battle is not written for him.” Having taken his parents' blessing, Ilya was a member of the squad of the Kyiv prince Vladimir Monomakh for many years. There was “the first hero in Kyiv” who did not know defeat.

Ilya Muromets became famous for his numerous military exploits and unprecedented strength, which he used only to fight the enemies of the Fatherland, protect the Russian people and restore justice. And then there was someone to endure insults from: the “filthy idol” (as the Pechenegs were called) prowled the steppes, the forests were favored by robber nightingales, and the “damned Jew” threatened from the Khazar side.

All legends testify to the truly Christian humility and meekness of Ilya Muromets, majestic calm and peace of mind: “I am a simple Russian hero, a peasant son. ...My wealth is heroic strength, my business is to serve Rus', to defend it from enemies.”

Having received an incurable wound in the chest in one of the battles with the Polovtsy and obeying the call of his heart, Ilya took monastic vows at the Kiev-Pechersk Dormition Monastery. At that time, many warriors did this, replacing the iron sword with the spiritual sword.

Ilya Muromets died around 1188, at about the 45th year of his life.

Victor BOLTIKOV