One of the most revered Orthodox saints is Dmitry Rostovsky. He became famous mainly for the fact that he composed the well-known Chet-Minei. This priest lived during the reforms of Peter the Great and generally supported them. However, at the same time, the saint in every way resisted the interference of the state in the affairs of the Church and at the end of his life became close to the supporters of Tsarevich Alexei.
Childhood
Orthodox saint Dmitry Rostovsky was born in the winter of 1651 in the village of Makarovo, located near Kiev. They called him Daniel. His family was very pious, the boy grew up a deeply religious Christian. In 1662, his parents moved to Kiev, and he entered the Kiev-Mohyla College. Here he successfully studied Latin and Greek, as well as a number of classical sciences. In 1668, a quiet, weak health Daniel accepted monasticism in the Cyril Monastery and received the name of Dmitry. Monastic obedience, he passed until 1675.
God's Word Preacher
In 1669, Dmitry Rostovsky, whose biography is full of various events, was initiated into the Hierodeacon. In 1975, Bishop Lazar Baranovich summoned him to Chernigov and, having consecrated him as a hieromonk, appointed him a preacher at the Cathedral of the Assumption Cathedral. From here, father Dmitry traveled to Slutsk and Vilna, where he worked hard for the glory of God. Soon, the fame of a very talented preacher entrenched to him, he was often invited to his secular and spiritual authorities. After the death of his friend, the creator of the Slutsky monastery, the monk Skachkevich, he returned to his homeland - to Little Russia in Baturino.
Motherhood and the beginning of the work of a lifetime
In Little Russia, St. Dmitry Rostovsky settled in a monastery in Baturino. However, soon the bishop of Chernigov drew attention to him. In 1681, a 30-year-old preacher became abbot of the Maksanovsky monastery, and after a while - Baturinsky. Father Dmitry did not stay in this position for very long. In 1683, he moved to the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Here, in 1684, the saint began the main work of his life - the compilation of “Fourth Mineas”. After some time, he was re-appointed rector of the Baturinsky monastery. But in 1692 he again moved to Kiev. Further, he was successively appointed hegumen of the Glukhovsky, Kirillovsky and Yelets (Chernihiv) monasteries. In 1700, he was called to Moscow, where he first met with Peter the Great, and was appointed Metropolitan of Rostov. The initiation was made on March 23, 1701.
Metropolitan of Rostov
In 1703, Dmitry Rostovsky, whose biography until his death was closely connected with these parishes, arrived at a new duty station. Here he encountered many difficulties, the main of which was the interference of secular authorities in the affairs of the parish. Shortly before the appointment of Father Dmitry in the city, the Monastic Order was administered, managing the church property, supervising the monks and almshouses. The rudeness and ignorance of not only the common people, but also the ministers of the Church, also struck the saint in Rostov. The priests did not venerate the saints at all, disdain the poor, disclose the secret of confession, etc. Seeing such a mess, Father Dmitry zealously set about correcting the situation. He gave instructions, explained what a priest's duty means, and delivered sermons to the people.
One of his main concerns was a school for children of Church ministers and the poor. Education here was completely free. Greek and Latin were taught in the school opened by Metropolitan Dmitry, as in Kiev, and theater productions were shown. The first graduates left its walls in 1706. Unfortunately, the school was closed that spring.
October 28, 1709, father Dmitry Rostovsky died. He was buried in the cathedral church of Rostov, next to his predecessor - Saint Joasaph. According to the will of the Metropolitan, drafts of his unfinished books were laid in the coffin. Tsarina Paraskeva Fedorovna herself, the widowed wife of Tsar Ivan, brother of Peter the Great, arrived at the funeral of the saint.
Relics of the saint
In 1752, they decided to make repairs in the cathedral church. During its execution on September 21, when the floor was repaired , the imperishable body of Father Dmitry was found. It was a real miracle. The walls in the burial were damp. The oak coffin of the saint and the manuscripts inside were completely decayed. The body of the saint himself, as well as his rosary, miter and saccos, were incorrupt.
After some time, miraculous healings of many diseases began to occur at the relics of the saint, as reported to the Synod. By prescription of the latter, Archimandrite Simonovsky Gabriel and Metropolitan of Suzdal Sylvester arrived in Rostov. They witnessed the relics and their healing. On April 29, 1757, Metropolitan Dmitry of Rostov was canonized .
May 25, 1763 the relics of the saint were transferred to a silver crab, where they are to this day. The cancer was made on the orders of Empress Catherine the Second, who carried it to the installation site personally, along with the holy fathers.
The Lives of the Saints by Dmitry Rostovsky
The saint wrote this book for 20 years. The result was a work of 12 volumes. It describes the life, miracles and feat of many great holy Christians. The "Little Minei" of St. Dmitry became a warning for all Orthodox who wish to follow the path of piety.
The narratives in this book are presented in order of months and days in them. Hence their name "Minea" (Greek month). "Church" in Church Slavonic means "read," "intended to be read." Compiled “Lives of the Saints” by Father Dmitry were partly based on the work of Makarii. At present, several Meneas are recognized in the Orthodox Church (Hieromonk German Tulumov, Chudovsky, Ionna Milyutina, etc.). However, the “Lives of the Saints” by Dmitry Rostovsky are the most revered and common. This book is written in a very competent Church Slavonic language.
Other books of the saint
Another well-known work of the Metropolitan of Rostov is the “Search for the Bryn faith”. This book was directed against the Old Believers. This work, unlike Minea, was not very successful. Of course, he did not convince the Old Believers, but he caused a surge of hatred on their part.
Among other things, Saint Dmitry of Rostov actively collected historical information about his diocese and the country as a whole. For example, he worked on compiling a chronology of the Slavic people. He also wrote books such as “The Irrigated Fleece”, “Discourse on the Image of God and Similarity in Man”, “Diarias”, “Brief Martyrology”, “Catalog of Russian Metropolitans”. Belong to his pen and all sorts of prayers and instructions.
Church of st. Dmitry Rostovsky in Ochakovo
In Russia, many saints are revered. Dmitry Rostovsky, of course, is one of them. Many temples are dedicated to him. For example, such a structure is in Ochakovo. In 1717, a wooden church was built here and consecrated in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos. In 1757, the village was transferred to another owner. He erected next to the wooden new stone church in the name of Metropolitan Dmitry. This church has reached us almost unchanged. It was built in the beautiful style of Russian Baroque. With the help of the refectory, a high bell tower is connected to the temple.
History of the Church of St. Dmitry is very rich. In 1812, a fire occurred in Ochakovo. At the same time, the old wooden church of the Blessed Virgin Mary burned in the fire. Ekaterina Naryshkina, who bought the village in the same year, traditionally decided to open a new church in her place, under which she rebuilt one of her estates. The church was consecrated in honor of the Holy Trinity and allegedly attributed to the church of St. Dmitry.
In 1926, this religious building was closed by decision of the authorities. It is known that in 1933 the church of Dmitry Rostovsky was adapted for a grain warehouse and had a completely deplorable appearance. The cross was demolished from it, and on one of the gables a five-pointed star was painted, which later was very difficult to erase.
In 1972, the church decided to restore. The work lasted about 6 years. In 1992, the church of Dmitry Rostovsky was again returned to believers. Those Orthodox who want to visit this ancient church should go to General Dorokhov Street , 17 , in Moscow.
Church of Dmitry Rostovsky in the village. Right Hawa
This church, also consecrated in honor of Dmitry Rostovsky, was built in 1824 in the style of classicism. Its dome is crowned with a cylindrical head. The bell tower built next to it is crowned with a beautiful curly spire.
In 1882, a school was opened in this church by the enlightener Lutitsky. It is officially believed that from 1930 to 1990 this temple was also used as a grain warehouse. However, there is evidence that the grain in this historic building was never stored. Believers recall that in 1954-1962 the church even functioned with short interruptions (since there were not enough priests).
In 1990, the church of Dmitry Rostovsky in Right Hava was transferred to the diocese, after which it was restored by the parishioners themselves. Inside the temple miraculously preserved the remains of wall paintings, as well as the frame of the iconostasis. Since September 2010, V.V. Kolyadin. At the moment, this oldest church, among other things, is an object of cultural and historical heritage of the Voronezh region.
Prayer to Dmitry Rostovsky
Dmitry Rostovsky, whose life was righteous, and after death, continues to protect believers from all sorts of misfortunes. For example, you can recover from a disease by not only bowing to the relics of this saint. Prayer dedicated to him is also considered miraculous. Its original text can be found in church literature. It sounds something like this:
“The Holy Great Martyr of Christ Dmitry. When you appear before the King of Heaven, ask him for forgiveness for our sins and for our deliverance from the devastating plague, fire, and eternal execution. Ask for his mercies about our temple and parish, as well as about strengthening us for good works pleasing to Jesus Christ. We will be strong with your prayers and inherit the kingdom of heaven, where we will glorify it with the Father and the Holy Spirit. ”
Conclusion
Dmitry Rostovsky, whose prayer can heal from diseases, has come a long pious way and can serve as an example for all Orthodox Christians. Today it is one of the most revered saints. Most often, he is consulted for pulmonary diseases. It is also believed that praying to this saint can help get rid of all kinds of eye problems.