Russian saints ... The list of God's saints is inexhaustible. In their way of life, they pleased the Lord and because of this they became closer to eternal being. Each saint has his own face. This term denotes the category to which the Divine pleaser is considered during its canonization. These include the great martyrs, martyrs, reverends, the righteous, the disinterested, the apostles, the saints, the martyrs, the holy fools (blessed), the faithful, and the equally apostles.
Suffering in the name of the Lord
The first saints of the Russian church among the saints of God are the great martyrs who suffered for the faith of Christ, having died in painful and long torment. Among the Russian saints, the brothers Boris and Gleb were the first to be ranked. That is why they are called first martyrs - martyrs. In addition, the Russian saints Boris and Gleb were the first to be canonized in the history of Russia. The brothers died in the internecine war for the throne, which began after the death of Prince Vladimir. Yaropolk, nicknamed the Cursed, first killed Boris when he slept in the tent, being on one of the campaigns, and then Gleb.
Face like the Lord
Reverends are those saints who led an ascetic lifestyle, being in prayer, labors and fasting. Among the Russian saints of God, we can distinguish the Monk Seraphim of Sarov and Sergius of Radonezh, Savva Storozhevsky and Methodius Peshnoshsky. The first saint in Russia, canonized in this image, is considered the monk Nikolai Svyatosh. Before the adoption of the rank of monasticism, he was a prince, great-grandson of Yaroslav the Wise. Renouncing worldly goods, the monk worked as a monk in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Nicholas the Sacred is revered as a miracle worker. It is believed that his hair coat (a rough woolen shirt), left after his death, cured one sick prince.
Sergius of Radonezh - a chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit
Of particular note is the 14th-century Russian saint Sergius of Radonezh, in the world of Bartholomew. He was born into the pious family of Mary and Cyril. It is believed that while still in the womb, Sergius showed his God-chosen. During a Sunday liturgy, the unborn Bartholomew cried out three times. At that time, his mother, like the rest of the parishioners, was embraced by horror and embarrassment. After his birth, the reverend did not drink breast milk if Mary ate meat on that day. On Wednesdays and Fridays, little Bartholomew went hungry and did not take his mother's breast. In addition to Sergius, the family had two more brothers - Peter and Stefan. Parents raised their children in Orthodoxy and severity. All the brothers, except Bartholomew, studied well and were able to read. And only the youngest in their family was given a hard letter - letters blurred before his eyes, the boy was lost, not daring to utter a word. Sergius suffered greatly from this and earnestly prayed to God in the hope of gaining the ability to read. Once, again ridiculed by his brothers for illiteracy, he fled to the field and met an old man there. Bartholomew spoke of his grief and asked the monk to pray to God for him. The elder gave the boy a piece of prosphora, promising that the Lord would surely grant him a letter. In gratitude for this, Sergius invited the monk to the house. Before taking the meal, the elder asked the boy to read the psalms. Shy, Bartholomew took the book, afraid to even look at the letters that always blurred before his eyes ... But a miracle! - the boy began to read as if he had long known a letter. The elder predicted to the parents that their youngest son would be great, since he is the chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit. After such a fateful meeting, Bartholomew began to fast fast and constantly pray.
The beginning of the monastic path
At the age of 20, the Russian saint Sergius of Radonezh asked his parents to give him a blessing to accept tonsure. Cyril and Mary asked the son to stay with them until their death. Not daring to disobey, Bartholomew lived with his parents until the Lord took their souls. Having buried his father and mother, the young man, together with his older brother Stefan, go to take tonsure. In a desert called Makovets, the brothers erect the Trinity Church. Stephen does not withstand the austere ascetic lifestyle that his brother adhered to and goes to another monastery. At the same time, Bartholomew takes tonsure and becomes monk Sergius.
Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius
World-famous abode of Radonezh once originated at the dense forest in which the monk once secluded himself. Sergius was in fasting and prayer daily . He ate plant foods, and his guests were wild animals. But once, several monks found out about the great feat of asceticism performed by Sergius, and decided to come to the monastery. There, these 12 monks remained. They became the founders of the Lavra, which was soon led by the reverend himself. Prince Dmitry Donskoy came to Sergius for advice, preparing for a battle with the Tatars. After the death of the saint, 30 years later, his relics were discovered, which still perform the miracle of healing. This Russian saint of the 14th century is still invisibly taking pilgrims to his abode.
The righteous and the blessed
Righteous saints earned God's grace through a pious lifestyle. These include both worldly people and clergy. The parents of Sergius of Radonezh - Cyril and Mary, who were true Christians and taught the Orthodoxy of their children, are considered righteous.
Blessed are those saints who deliberately adopted the image of people not of this world, becoming ascetics. Among the Russian Pleasures of God , St. Basil the Blessed, who lived during the time of John the Terrible, Ksenia of Petersburg, who abandoned all blessings and went to distant wanderings after the death of her beloved husband, Matron of Moscow, famous for the gift of clairvoyance and healing in life, is especially revered. It is believed that I. Stalin himself, who was not distinguished by religiosity, listened to the blessed Matronushka and her prophetic words.
Ksenia - a holy fool for Christ
Blessed was born in the first half of the 18th century in the family of pious parents. Having become an adult, she married the singer Alexander Fedorovich and lived with him in joy and happiness. When Xenia was 26 years old, her husband passed away. Unable to bear such grief, she handed out her property, put on her husband’s clothes and went into long wanderings. After that, the blessed woman did not respond to her name, asking to call herself Andrei Fedorovich. “Ksenia is dead,” she assured. The saint began to wander the streets of St. Petersburg, occasionally going to dine with her friends. Some people scoffed at the grief-stricken woman and made fun of her, but Ksenia resigned all humiliation. Only once did she show her anger when local boys threw stones at her. After what they saw, the locals stopped mocking the blessed one. Ksenia of Petersburg, having no shelter, prayed at night in the field, and then again came to the city. The blessed one imperceptibly helped the workers build a stone church in the Smolensk cemetery. At night, she tirelessly laid bricks in a row, contributing to the speedy erection of the church. For all good deeds, patience and faith, the Lord endowed Ksenia the Blessed with the gift of perspicacity. She predicted the future, and also saved many girls from unsuccessful marriages. Those people to whom Ksenia came, became happier and more successful. Therefore, everyone tried to serve the saint and bring her into the house. Ksenia of Petersburg died at 71. They buried her in the Smolensk cemetery, where the Church built by her own hands was not far away. But even after physical death, Ksenia continues to help people. Great miracles took place at her grave: the sick were healed, those seeking family happiness successfully married and got married. It is believed that Ksenia especially protects unmarried women and already held wives and mothers. A chapel was built over the blessed tomb, to which crowds of people still come, asking the holy intercession before God and longing for healing.
Holy sovereigns
Monarchs, princes and kings who distinguished themselves are counted among the faithful
a pious lifestyle that helps strengthen the faith and position of the church. The first Russian saint Olga is just canonized in this category. Among the faithful, Prince Dmitry Donskoy, who won the Kulikovo field after the appearance of the holy image of Nicholas to him, is especially distinguished; Alexander Nevsky, who did not compromise with the Catholic Church in order to maintain his power. He was recognized as the only secular Orthodox sovereign. Among the faithful there are other famous Russian saints. Prince Vladimir is one of them. He was canonized in connection with his great activity - the baptism of all Russia in 988.
Sovereigns - God's Pleasures
Princess Anna, the wife of Yaroslav the Wise, was also ranked among the faithful saints , thanks to which relative peace was observed between the Scandinavian countries and Russia. During her life, she built a convent in honor of St. Irina, since she received this name during baptism. Miss Anna honored the Lord and faithfully believed in him. Shortly before her death, she took the tonsure and died. Memorial Day - October 4, according to the Julian style, but in the modern Orthodox calendar, this date, unfortunately, is not mentioned.
The first Russian holy princess Olga, in the baptism of Elena, converted to Christianity, influencing its further spread throughout Russia. Due to its activities that contribute to the strengthening of faith in the state, it was ranked among the saints.
Ministers of the Lord on earth and in heaven
The saints are such saints of God who were priests and for their way of life received a special arrangement of the Lord. One of the first saints attributed to this face was Dionysius, Archbishop of Rostov. Arriving from Athos, he headed the Savior-Stone Monastery. People were drawn to his monastery, since he knew the human soul and could always guide those in need on the true path.
Among all the saints canonized by the Orthodox Church, the archbishop of Myra, Nikolai the Wonderworker , stands out. And although the saint does not have Russian origin, he truly became an intercessor of our country, always being on the right hand of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The great Russian saints, whose list continues to be replenished to this day, can patronize a person if he will earnestly and sincerely pray to him. You can appeal to the Pleasures of God in different situations - everyday needs and illnesses, or simply wanting to thank the Higher Powers for a calm and serene life. Be sure to purchase the icons of Russian saints - it is believed that prayer before the image is the most effective. It is also desirable that you have a personalized icon - the image of that saint in whose honor you are baptized.