Some researchers are still skeptical about the reality of Ilya Muromets - his biography seems too fabulous to scientists, - says Sergey Khvedchenya, Doctor of Geographical Sciences, researcher at the Institute of History of Ukraine of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kyiv).

However, the materials collected by the researcher made it possible not only to completely restore the biography of the Holy Russian hero, but also to answer controversial questions about the life of Ilya Muromets, which baffled many researchers.

Elijah's healing

According to the epics, God sent Elijah to his parents in his old age. Until the age of 30-33, he, who was distinguished by a heroic physique, "sat on the stove," because "there was no walking at his feet," until he was healed by "passing stones", after the visit of which the hero immediately entered the military service. Studies of the remains of St. Elijah from the city of Murom, which were carried out in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra by scientists, fully confirmed the epic version of the life of Ilya Muromets.

Elijah's height was 177 cm - for that time he was a very tall man (the height of other saints from the Lavra was 160-165 cm). Well-developed tuberosities were found on the bones of the mummy - this means that a person had a well-developed muscular system during his lifetime. An X-ray examination revealed changes characteristic of acromegaly - a disease that disrupts the proportional growth of bones and internal organs), - such people have disproportionately large limbs, a large head, "an oblique fathom in the shoulders." Studies have shown that the hero also had spondylarthrosis - a disease similar to sciatica and preventing movement. A good chiropractor can, by adjusting the vertebrae, quickly put a person on his feet. The cross-country Kaliki were, most likely, chiropractors who restored Ilya's mobility.

Fight with the Nightingale the Robber

The most famous feat of Ilya Muromets is the battle with the Nightingale the Robber, who seized the direct road to Kyiv and did not give anyone a pass - "neither on horseback nor on foot." The liberation by the epic hero of the way to Kyiv (1168) is confirmed by historical facts. During the arrival of Ilya in Kyiv, the throne was occupied by Prince Mstislav, who set the task of organizing the protection of trade caravans, which were mercilessly plundered by the Polovtsy. Most likely, the prince entrusted this to Ilya Muromets, who is in the prince's squad.

Nightingale, it seems, was a robber who hunted thefts on the road, and he was nicknamed Nightingale for his ability to whistle well. Ilya Muromets, having defeated the whistler, cleared the straight road, which was of great economic importance. If a straight road is five hundred miles, then a roundabout way is “a whole thousand”. Cleansing the straight path from robbers was equated by the people with a feat.

Elijah's departure to the monastery

If the feats of arms of Ilya were widely reflected in epics, then little is known about the monastic period of his life. Most likely, the wound forced him to leave for the monastery of the hero. The holy relics of St. Elijah testify to severe injuries - a fracture of the right collarbone and two right ribs after being hit with a battle club. Scientists have established that the hero-monk died in battle! At the end of the XII century. attacks on Kyiv became more frequent, and the monks had to defend their monastery. The Holy Russian hero died from a wound in the area of ​​the projection of the heart, penetrating into the chest cavity. Death, apparently, came instantly.

The saint of God, the Monk Elijah Muromets (nicknamed Chobotok) was from Murom. The hero of numerous epics about Russian heroes lived in the 12th century and died as a monk of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra around 1188.

Very little reliable information about the life of this saint has survived to our time. It is known that he came from a simple peasant family. In childhood and adolescence, he suffered from paralysis and could not move. However, at the age of thirty he was miraculously healed. Prior to his monastic vows, he was a member of the prince's retinue and became famous for his military exploits and unprecedented strength.

Ilya Muromets is the main character not only of our epics, but also of German epic poems of the 13th century, based on earlier legends. In them, he is represented by a mighty knight, a princely family, Ilya the Russian.

The relics of the monk no less clearly testify to a bright military biography - in addition to a deep rounded wound on the left arm, the same significant injury is visible in the left chest area. It seems that the hero covered his chest with his hand, and with a blow of a spear it was nailed to his heart.

After a quite successful military career and, apparently, as a result of a serious wound, Elijah decides to end his days as a monk and is tonsured at the Theodosius Monastery, now the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

It should be noted that this is a completely traditional step for an Orthodox warrior - to change an iron sword for a spiritual sword and spend days in battle not for earthly blessings, but for heavenly ones. The Monk Elijah is not the first and not the last warrior to do so.

Of our compatriots, in this regard, we can recall the great commander Rev. Alexander Nevsky, as well as the professional soldiers of Peresvet and Oslyabya, who underwent obedience under the command of St. Sergius of Radonezh and died heroically on the Kulikovo field.

One of the most popular epic heroes, the hero Ilya Muromets, possessed not only an incredible physical strength, but was also unusually strong spiritually. All surviving legends speak of his Christian virtue, faith and unshakable calmness. Stories about the most significant Russian hero have been passed down from generation to generation for many centuries in a row. There are many variants of legends that reflect the image of Ilya Muromets unchanged. This is due to the fact that the people fell in love with the great hero, first of all, for his enormous spiritual power.

The Russian hero, according to legend, was born around 1143. This happened near the ancient city of Murom, in the village. To this day, the name of the native village of the hero is preserved. In addition, many of its inhabitants bear the surname of the Gushchins, from whose family Ilya came. The people also preserved the names of the bogatyr's parents: Efrosinia Yakovlevna and Ivan Timofeevich.

Unlike other heroes of noble origin, Ilya Muromets is the only one who came from a peasant family. Perhaps that is why it was he who was endowed by the people with the greatest bodily and spiritual strength.

Historian and literary critic D.S. Likhachev believed that in those days there were no invented heroes, and all the stories reflected historical events with the participation of real people. And even if there were fantastic moments in the stories, they cannot be considered fiction, since the author himself sincerely believed in what he wrote about.

The legend of the miraculous healing of the hero

The most amazing thing is that Ilya was sick from birth, and could not walk until he was thirty years old. But, apparently, it was thanks to his illness that he brought up in his soul great patience, meekness and humility, for which he received from God a great destiny to stand at the head of the army in order to defend the Russian land.

Together with him, Russia was defended by other heroes who really lived at that time, but it was Ilya, despite his peasant origin, who managed to lead them. Other heroes were young and ardent, passions boiled in their souls, which resulted in open confrontation. And they needed just such a leader, significantly superior to them in bodily strength and wisdom, ready to unite and try on.

The artist Vasnetsov, in his famous painting "Three Heroes", captured the images of three Russian heroes.

“Under the glorious city near Kyiv ... there was a heroic outpost. At the outpost, the ataman was Ilya Muromets, the subtaman was Dobrynya Nikitich, the captain was the priest's son Alyosha.

It is these words that are reflected on the canvas, symbolizing the significance of each character.

The fact that Ilya Muromets was chosen by God is obvious. He acquires his strength miraculously: from the holy elders. One day, at Ilya's house, where he was lying, as usual, "passable Kaliki" came and demanded that he get up and bring them water to drink. Ilya could not walk, but, not daring to disobey the elders, he tried to get up. And for his meekness he was healed by God.

In this plot, the fact of testing Elijah's faith is very important. After all, it is not for nothing that the Lord God says that everyone will receive according to his faith. If a person is full of determination and has a strong will, then God's grace will certainly descend on him. And Ilya proved to the Creator that he is worthy to be chosen. Because you need to have truly great faith, so that at the request of the wanderers, try to get up, knowing that this is impossible.

Ilya not only gets up, but also brings them a bucket of water filled to the top. But instead of taking water, the elders tell Elijah to drink it. Then they ask how he feels. To which Ilya replies that he hears such strength in himself that he is ready to uproot a tree from the ground.

Then the elders ask him to bring another bucket of water and also give it to him to drink. Ilya drinks, and the saints again ask him what he hears in himself. To which the hero replies that he could turn the earth.

The elders believe that this power will be too much for Elijah and ask him to bring and drink the third bucket of water. Ilya obeys, his strength becomes less, and the saints, deciding that he will have enough strength, leave.

Having received great power in a miraculous way, Ilya did not become proud, but treated it as a gift that was sent to him to protect the Russian people from adversity. He unselfishly served people until old age, becoming a model of spiritual and bodily strength.

The exploits of Ilya Muromets

Ilya was brought up in accordance with the laws of Christianity, and therefore goes to exploits. Bowing to his father and mother to the ground, he asks to bless him.

“Oh, you goy, dear, dear father!
Give me your blessing
I will go to the glorious capital Kyiv-grad -
Pray to the wonderworkers of Kyiv,
Mortgage for Prince Vladimir
Serve him faithfully
Stand up for the Christian faith."

From the legends it is clear that the parents understand the great destiny of their son. Despite the fact that they are no longer young, and they themselves need the help of their son, the parents let Ilya go. They bless him and take a promise that his son will not destroy people of the Christian faith. And in none of the legends we have seen that the hero broke the covenant or entered the battle out of boasting or in anger. The power received from God, he uses only to protect his land and restore the truth.

After receiving a parental blessing, Ilya goes to Kyiv to the Grand Duke Vladimir. That time was very turbulent, and no one tried to get to the city in a direct way. The hero decided to go directly, and having met the robbers, he did not engage in battle with them, but simply fired an arrow into the oak, after which the tree broke into cuttings. The robbers, surprised at such incredible power, let him in with a bow.

It is known that then Ilya Muromets defeated the Nightingale the Robber, who, according to some researchers, was not a real person, but personified paganism. Therefore, Elijah, as a true Christian, fought with him. And in proof of the Christian faith, many legends describe his weapon as a spear with a cross.

Ilya, not forgetting the promise given to his mother, before the battles tried to persuade the enemy to leave voluntarily, so as not to shed blood. All these actions speak of mercy and the infinite Christian patience of the hero.

Many epics begin the story about the exploits of Ilya with a story about the feast of Prince Vladimir, which the hero falls into when he is in Kyiv. All those who arrived at the feast are invited to sit where they want. Ilya, on the other hand, renders everyone the same honor, having prayed to the images and bowed not only to the prince and princess, but also to all the guests.

The peasant son Ilya Muromets is greeted by the prince as an equal and all honors are given to him, thanks for clearing the road to Kyiv from robbers

It is worth clarifying that Ilya came to Prince Vladimirau Monomakh (1053-1125), and not to Equal-to-the-Apostles Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, as many legends say. The conclusion about this can be drawn from the fact that the Christian teaching has not only spread throughout the Russian land, but also entrenched in the soul of the people. And this could not happen immediately after the baptism of Russia.

Vladyka Chernigov is already present in the legends, and a temple has been rebuilt in Rostov the Great, where the father of the bogatyr Alyosha Popovich serves. But Christianity in these lands faced rejection from the population and did not take root right away.

Thanks to Ilya Muromets and the heroes subject to him, the battles with the Polovtsy were transferred far to the steppes. It was in those days that the phrase took root in the minds of the people: "God is not in power, but in truth." And this wisdom nourished the strength of the people's spirit for many centuries.

Relics of Saint Elijah of Muromets

Ilya Muromets died around 1188, at about the 45th year of his life. His relics rest to this day in the Anthony caves of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

Ilya Muromets
Hired clever carpenters.
He built a cathedral church
Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk
In the glorious city in Kyiv.
He himself drove into the deep caves,
Here Ilya died.
Until now, his relics are imperishable!”

The first mention of the name of the hero dates back to 1574. In the 16th century, the traveler Lassota came to Kyiv, who, talking about the church of St. Sophia, mentions the tomb of Ilya Muromets, which was previously and now destroyed there. Most likely, initially the hero (as a particularly respected person) was buried in the church of St. Sophia, and then his remains were moved to the Anthony Cave of the Kiev Caves Monastery. Here and today you can see the oak log, in which, according to legend, Ilya Muromets rested.

Ilya Muromets was officially canonized in 1643 among sixty-nine saints of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.

In 1988, the Interdepartmental Commission of the Ministry of Health of the Ukrainian SSR conducted an examination of the relics of St. Elijah of Muromets. To obtain objective data, the most modern technique and ultra-precise Japanese equipment were used. The research results are amazing.

The age was determined - 40-55 years, height - 177 cm (at one time he was a head taller than a person of average height). Also, such defects of the spine were revealed, which allow us to talk about the transfer of paralysis of the limbs by our hero in his youth (strictly in accordance with life). And the cause of death was also established: this is an extensive wound in the region of the heart. Unfortunately, the dating of death was set very approximately: 11-12 centuries.

The image of the hero Ilya Muromets, on the one hand, is very bright and inaccessible, and on the other hand, close to every person. For the past 800 years, new generations have been brought up on the tales of his amazing exploits. Through epics about the hero, children receive examples of courage, honor, good nature and love for their land. So St. Elijah continues to carry out his feat, filling young hearts with goodness, courage and justice.

Currently, in the homeland of Ilya Muromets in the village (now it is a suburb of Murom), a temple is being restored. There is also a holy spring here, to which residents of near and far cities and villages constantly go for tasty and healing water. A chapel and a font were built nearby, where everyone can plunge three times in the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the health of soul and body.

At the very beginning of October, according to legend, the legendary Ilya Muromets was born. But this is only a legend, his name is not mentioned in the historical chronicles, the exact place of his birth is unknown, and there is no data on the day of death. However, the hero really existed, but was buried in the deep caves of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, along with 68 other saints.

“Some researchers are still skeptical about the reality of the existence of Ilya Muromets - his biography seems very fabulous to modern scientists,” says Sergey Khvedchenya, a researcher at the National Institute of History of Ukraine. “However, the materials collected by the researchers made it possible not only to restore the biography of the great Holy Russian hero, but also to answer some controversial questions about the life path of Ilya Muromets, which baffled many historians.”

Sensational evidence

Back in 1988, the established Interdepartmental Commission conducted a scientific study of the surviving relics of St. Ilya of Muromets. The results of the work were amazing. The remains belong to a strong man who died at the age of 45-55 years, quite tall - 177 centimeters. Given the fact that in the 12th century the average population growth was 165 centimeters, Ilya, of course, was a very tall person for his time. Moreover, on the skeleton of Ilya, scientists have identified traces of many battles - broken ribs, multiple fractures of the collarbones, traces of a sword, spear, and saber. This confirmed the ancient myths that the hero Ilya Muromets was a powerful warrior and participated in fierce battles.

But most of all, scientists were struck by something completely different: they unanimously assert that, as indicated in folk legends, Ilya really could not walk on his own for a long time! According to the conclusion of the researchers, the main reason for this was an extremely serious disease - poliomyelitis or tuberculosis of the bones. This led to paralysis of the legs.

The hero Ilya Muromets was born between 1150 and 1165 in the city of Murom. And he died when he was about 50 years old, as scientists suggest, during the capture of Kyiv by the army of Prince Rurik Rostislavich in 1204, when the famous Pechersk Lavra was destroyed and plundered by the Cumans, allied with Rurik. Death came from a blow to the chest with a sharp weapon (sword or spear).

Terrible curse and miraculous recovery

Such a story was spread among the people. As if the grandfather of the future Russian hero Ilya Muromets was a real pagan and, refusing to recognize Christianity, once cut an Orthodox icon with an ax. Since that time, a curse has fallen on his family and all boys must be born crippled.

10 years later, the grandson Ilya was born, and it seemed that the terrible curse was fulfilled: the boy could not walk. Numerous attempts to cure him were unsuccessful. But Ilya himself did not wilt, he stubbornly trained his hands, strengthened his muscles. However, with strong arms, he could not walk. Probably, he was repeatedly visited by thoughts of resigning himself to fate and remaining crippled forever.

But on the day when Ilya turned 33 years old, the impossible happened. Prophetic elders came to his father's house - poor wanderers (passing kaliki) and asked Ilya to give water. He explained that he could not get up. But the guests, as if they did not hear him, persistently repeated their request, which had already sounded like an order. And the sick Ilya, suddenly feeling an unprecedented strength, rose to his feet for the first time ...

Miraculous healing? But is it possible to assume that the strange guests were able to miraculously heal the seemingly terminally ill? There are various assumptions about this. Perhaps the wanderers were magicians or sorcerers and knew the secrets of ancient healing conspiracies. It is not known for certain and science is not yet able to explain the fact of the healing itself ...

And yet, Ilya got on his feet after a long 33 years of real estate. And scientists who conducted research on the relics confirm the fact that the bone tissue of this person was miraculously completely restored. Moreover, as indicated in the conclusion, after thirty years, Ilya led a full life, which fully corresponds to the epics.

The exploits of the Russian hero

From the moment of miraculous healing, the hero Ilya Muromets, as is inherent in heroes, performs many feats. The most famous feat of the hero is the battle with the bandit Nightingale the Robber, who occupied the direct road to the capital of Russia, Kyiv, and did not allow free passage "neither on horseback nor on foot." The cleansing by the epic hero of the direct path to Kyiv (approximately 1168) is confirmed by historical facts. At that moment, when Ilya arrived in Kyiv, Prince Mstislav sat on the throne, who ordered to organize the protection of trade caravans going to the capital from the Polovtsy who mercilessly robbed them. Most likely, the prince of Kyiv entrusted this to his hero Ilya Muromets, who was in the prince's squad.

Nightingale was a robber who hunted for raids and thefts on the road, and the nickname stuck to him for his ability to whistle loudly. Ilya Muromets defeated the whistler in a duel and freed the "straight road", which, undoubtedly, was of great economic importance. The cleansing of the straight path from the robbers did not go unnoticed and was equated by the people with a real feat.

But if Ilya Muromets is indeed a historical figure, why is there not a single mention of him as a Russian hero in the annals?

First, very few written sources have survived from that time. And this is not surprising, if we take into account the turbulent history of Russia. Hordes of various conquerors repeatedly burned and completely destroyed cities. Once, during a fire, books from the library of the Pechersk Lavra also burned down.

Secondly, in the ancient Germanic poems, written down in the 13th century, but based on earlier legends, there is a mention of the great hero Ilya the Russian. The legend says that in one very cruel battle, the hero Ilya almost fell, but miraculously saved his life and vowed to settle in a monastery, devote himself to serving God and never again raise a sword. Ilya approached the walls of the Lavra, threw off all his armor, but, however, could not throw his sword on the ground. He became a monk of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra and spent most of his days in a cell in constant prayer.

But one day the enemy approached the walls of the monastery. The mortal blow struck the abbot of the Lavra right in front of Ilya. And then the hero, despite this vow, again raised the sword. But suddenly he felt that his legs refused to serve him. At that moment, the enemy dealt a mortal blow to his chest, but Ilya's strength left and he could no longer defend himself ...

The life of an epic hero after death

The hero Ilya Muromets managed to survive his own death, leaving a noticeable imprint in the memory of people and having a huge impact on all subsequent generations.

But not only an imperishable memory remained from the Russian hero. The body of Ilya, like the remains of other monks who are buried in the caves of the Pechersk Lavra, is incorruptible. But, unlike the remains of the Egyptian pharaohs, it turned into a mummy not due to treatment with mummifying compounds, but for a reason unknown to modern science. The Orthodox are sure that if the human body does not decompose, but gradually turns into relics, this indicates a special gift from God, inherent only to the saints. They say that the relics of the Holy Russian hero Ilya Muromets are able to heal those who suffer from terrible diseases of the spine and those whose legs are completely paralyzed. The hero of epics continues to serve people even after death...

Researchers of Russian folklore know 53 epic heroic stories, and in 15 of them Ilya Muromets is the main character. All these epics belong to the Kyiv cycle associated with Vladimir the Red Sun - an idealized image of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich.

The deeds of the epic hero

The beginning of the epic “biography” of Ilya Muromets is connected with the motif of belated maturation, which is very typical for an epic hero: for 33 years the hero has been sitting on the stove, unable to move either his arms or legs, but one day, three elders come to him - “transitory kaliks”. In the publications of Soviet times, a clarification was “cut out” of epics who these people were, but tradition hints that they were Jesus Christ and the two apostles. The elders ask Ilya to bring them water - and the paralyzed man gets to his feet. Thus, even the healing of the hero turns out to be associated with a willingness to do a small, but good deed.

Having gained heroic strength, Ilya sets off to perform feats. It is noteworthy that neither Ilya Muromets nor other Russian heroes ever perform feats just for the sake of personal glory, as heroes of Western chivalric novels sometimes do. The deeds of Russian knights are always socially significant. This is the most famous feat of Ilya Muromets - the victory over the Nightingale the Robber, who killed travelers with his robber whistle. “You are full of tears and fathers and mothers, you are full of widows and young wives,” says the hero, killing the villain.

Another feat of the hero is the victory over Idolishche, who seized power in Constantinople. Idolishche is a collective image of nomadic enemies - Pechenegs or Polovtsians. These were pagan peoples, and it is no coincidence that Idolishche threatens to "put God's churches into smoke." Defeating this enemy, Ilya Muromets acts as a defender of the Christian faith.

The hero always appears as a defender of the common people. In "Ilya Muromets and Kalin-Tsar" Ilya refuses to fight, offended by the injustice of Prince Vladimir, and only when the prince's daughter asks the hero to do this for the sake of poor widows and small children, he agrees to fight.

Possible historical prototypes

No matter how fabulous the plots of epics about Ilya Muromets may seem, historians say: this is a real person. His relics rest in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, but originally the tomb was located in the aisle of St. Sophia of Kyiv - the main temple of Kievan Rus. Usually only princes were buried in this cathedral, even the boyars were not honored with such an honor, therefore, the merits of Ilya Muromets were exceptional. Researchers suggest that the hero died in 1203 during the raid of the Polovtsian troops on Kyiv.

Another version is offered by the historian A. Medyntseva, who tried to explain why the epic tradition connected the image of Ilya Muromets with Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich, who lived much earlier. Without denying the connection of the epic hero with the real-life Ilya Muromets, she points out that another source of the image could be the same person who served as the prototype for Dobrynya Nikitich. It was the uncle of Prince Vladimir - the brother of the housekeeper, a commoner who managed to become first a prince's combatant, and then a governor.

This man did a lot of good for his nephew: he insisted that Svyatoslav give Vladimir to the princes of Novgorod, after the death of Svyatoslav he helped Vladimir come to power. Introducing Christianity in Russia, it was Vladimir Dobrynya who entrusted the baptism of Novgorod. After this event, Dobrynya is no longer mentioned in the annals, although his death is not mentioned anywhere. A. Medyntseva suggests that this person, having been baptized, received the name Ilya, and later it became one of the sources of the image of Ilya Muromets.

• Victory over the Nightingale the Robber.
• Tsar Kalin and the battle for Russia.
• Victory over the Idol.

Battle with Nightingale the Robber

Once Ilya decided to help the common people build a road through the forest. I took my heavy club and went to break trees. So he went to the Smorodina River, where the Nightingale the Robber was sitting. Angered by the fact that the hero walks through his forest, the robber took in more air into his lungs and whistled with all his strength. However, Ilya Muromets was not afraid, he took a wooden bow, took an arrow, pulled the string stronger and shot at the robber. The nightingale, struck down by Ilya's well-aimed shot, stopped whistling and fell down. Then Ilya took the robber and carried him to the king in Kyiv. He decided to check whether the Nightingale the Robber is really so strong. The king ordered to whistle the robber sparing no effort. The nightingale took a breath and whistled, so much so that everyone in the hall fell from the strong wind. The king was afraid of such a force and hid behind Ilya. The hero got angry, went up to the Nightingale and cut off the head of the robber with his sword.

Ilya Muromets and Tsar Kalin

Ilya once quarreled with Tsar Vladimir, so much so that the Tsar decided to put him in prison. That's where the trouble happened. Tsar Kalin went to war against Russia. Vladimir did not have a good army and came to Ilya, asking for forgiveness and helping the enemy to win. The hero took pity on the king of Kyiv, equipped himself for battle and went to the enemy. Tsar Kalin did not know about the power of the hero and sneered at him in every possible way. Ilya got angry, took the conceited king by the leg and began to smash the enemy army with him. And of course, our glorious warrior won.

Victory over Idol

Ilya decided to check the borders of Russia. In the meantime, he was gone, the filthy Idolishche captured the capital. The hero returned to the city, put on a simple shirt and went to pray. But on the way he was caught, tied up and brought to Idolishche. Idolishche knew about the exploits of Ilya Muromets, but he thought that an ordinary resident was standing in front of him. The invader began to laugh and mock him. The hero could not stand it, took Idolishche and smashed it on the floor. Then the servant interrupted him. So Ilya liberated the city from the filthy Idolishche.