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 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 are 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 hero's healing turns out to be connected with the readiness to do a good deed, albeit an insignificant one.
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 of 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.
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 was on the throne, who ordered to organize the protection of trade caravans going to the capital from the Polovtsians 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...
victories
Russian
hero
Ilya Muromets
Russia The first feat of Elijah was the feat
mercy, for which the elders rewarded him
healing and heroic power. The first test of heroic forces is
fight with the Nightingale the robber. He captivated
robber, tied him up and took him to the city
Kyiv to Prince Vladimir. Ilya Muromets and the filthy Idolishche. Ilya
dressed in peasant clothes and
went to the filthy Idolishch for alms
ask. Idolishche mocked, mocked, not
endured here Ilya Muromets, grabbed
Idolishche and his floor he killed and his servants
interrupted. Ilya Muromets and the Invader Bogatyr.
I went, once, Ilya Muromets in Russia
take a walk and border check and see what's on
Russian land, a strange hero is having fun.
He saw Ilya Muromets and stood over him
laugh and praise yourself. Ilya could not resist
grabbed his sword. Three days and three nights they
fought tirelessly, and on the third day
defeated Ilya the stranger. The last feat of Ilya Muromets too
known: having passed the last of the "three
roads", Ilya found a treasure, countless
hidden treasures. But why does the hero need gold?
silver? He spent all his wealth
for the construction of the temple.
The Russian land is rich in natural resources, full of historical values and full of wonders. A special place here is occupied by the lives of great people who made history. But the greater the degree of prescription of any event, the more likely it is to encounter discrepancies in historical facts. This also applies to such a person as Ilya Muromets. The biography of this person is still controversial and gives rise to speculation.
Russian bogatyrs
Great importance in history is given to people who defended their native land. At all times of unrest, strife and wars, there were heroes, those who often defended their homeland at the cost of their own lives. Sometimes the course of the battle can depend on one person. Especially if these people led the troops, like Alexander Nevsky, Dmitry Donskoy, princes Igor and Svyatoslav.
More than others, the family of Rurikovich succeeded in this. From time immemorial they have defended the Russian land from pagan raids. And as the story goes, Russia was often invaded by foreigners.
They began to talk about heroes from the time of the reign of Prince Vladimir. In 988, the Grand Duke made the most important decision in history for the Russian lands. But even after the Baptism of Russia, its lands were subjected to numerous attacks from enemies.
However, this is precisely what contributed to the glorification of the defenders, among whom the Russian hero Ilya Muromets is also included. The biography of this hero is not fully disclosed. History also tells about impostors who wanted to take advantage of someone else's glory.
Ilya Muromets: biography through history
The birthplace of the defender of Russia is the village of Karacharovo, near Murom. There is no official data on the date of birth, but it was more than eight hundred years ago. It is known that his parents were peasants of advanced age.
The main key point, based on epics, is the achievement of strength by the hero. The first mention of the defender is dedicated to the story of where Ilya Muromets came from. The biography tells about the miraculous healing of the future hero.
The miracle that gave Kievan Rus a defender
Until the age of 33 (there are discrepancies in age in different sources), Ilya Muromets did not control his arms and legs, being a cripple from birth. One day, when he was alone at home, passers-by elders came under the windows. They asked him for alms and a drink. Ilya invited them to the house, but said that he would give alms if he could walk. Then the elders ordered him to get up from the stove and go. Having obeyed them, the future hero got down from the stove and, to his great surprise, went, as if he had not been sick before.
And when the elders drank the water brought to them, they ordered him to drink the rest. Ilya drank water and felt such strength in himself, as if he could turn the whole earth over. After that, the elders told him to find a horse and go to serve the prince. And so began the service of the hero in the defense of the Fatherland.
About exploits
Ilya Muromets was a legendary person. The biography is summarized in epics and legends that praised him.
In the service of Prince Vladimir, Ilya Muromets gathered a mighty squad and was appointed by the prince in chief over the soldiers. By that time, the existence of many other famous heroes is also reckoned. And Ilya had someone to learn from. After all, his godfather was a famous hero. Samson Samoilovich was also a member of the princely squad, which included Ilya Muromets.
The biography, the summary of which tells about the exploits of the hero, however, is conveyed by short epics that went among the people. And here one can only guess whose prototype was the enemies of Ilya Muromets.
It is known that the great defender kept the Russian lands from enemy raids, fought with other foreign heroes, as well as heroes of epics. All of them posed a threat to Russia, robbed or tried to seize power and land. In epics, these heroes are named: the Nightingale the Robber, the Pogany Idol, the dragon and others.
The memory of the venerable saint
The hero Ilya Muromets, whose biography speaks of numerous exploits, is most often identified with Saint Elijah of the Caves. The relics of the monk are still kept incorrupt in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. However, it follows from this that the hero lived 150-200 years later than Vladimir the Great, who is mentioned in epics. But this can be explained by the fact that Prince Vladimir was more famous than his successors, and therefore was mentioned in folk tales even after his death.
Scientists have established that Ilya Muromets was killed in battle by a blow to the heart. And his relics testify to numerous combat injuries. Perhaps it was the severe wounds in battle that served as the reason for taking the veil as a monk.
Folk fiction and epics
Epics circulate in the homeland of the hero, identifying his image with the holy prophet Elijah. However, this cannot be considered true. The only thing that unites these people is the name. Although there is no exact information about the years of the life of Ilya Muromets, all historical facts about him testify to the reign of Russian princes.
And this means that the history of the hero can be attributed to approximately 970-1200 years. While the prophet Elijah lived until the birth of Christ. It turns out that more than a thousand years of time pass between the lives of these people. In addition, it is believed that the prophet Elijah, the only one of the people, except for the Most Holy Theotokos, was ascended by God to heaven without dying, along with the body. And the relics of Ilya Muromets are kept to this day.
In the life of great people there is always a place for folk speculation and legends, especially if it is backed up by time. So the life of the Russian hero remained undisclosed, shrouded in a veil of secrecy. And epics and folk tales about him are also widespread far beyond the borders of Russian land. And everyone knows perfectly well who Ilya Muromets is. The biography of the hero has to write books and create films about a selfless defender.
Ilya Muromets, the legendary Russian hero and one of the central characters of ancient Russian epics, was widely known both in his homeland and far beyond its borders, for example, in ancient German poems of the 13th century there is a mention of the Russian valiant knight Ilya the Russian.
The Russian hero, the defender of the Russian lands, the brave and powerful warrior Ilya Muromets is not a mythical epic character, but a real person who lived around the 12th century in Russia and was buried in the caves of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. He was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in the middle of the 17th century, the day of his memory is revered by Orthodox Christians on January 1 (December 19).
By the way, he is the heavenly protector of the Strategic Missile Forces of the Russian Federation, so the Russian soldiers especially honor him and ask for help and intercession in difficult times.
The image of the hero - the birth, calling of the epic hero
(V. Vasnetsov "Bogatyrsky lope" 1914)
The future defender of the Russian land was born in 1143 to the peasants Ivan and Efrosinya Timofeev in the village of Karacharovo near Murom in the Vladimir region. His name was not found in the historical chronicles of those years, but this may be due to the fact that Russian cities and villages were often raided by Tatars and Polovtsy, and historical documents were simply destroyed in fires and robberies.
In the 80s of the twentieth century, anthropologists who studied the remains of St. Ilya Muromets, preserved to this day in the Lavra, established that it was a large, tall (height 177 cm) man with a powerful build. He died at the age of about 45-55 years from numerous wounds and fractures received as a result of blows with a sword, spear and saber, which confirms his epic feats of arms.
Scientists have also established that this man suffered from paralysis of the lower extremities at an early age and could not walk. As it is written in the epics, “for thirty years and three years Elijah sat and did not have walking at his feet,” he was miraculously healed by passing kaliks, who asked him to drink some water. Then Ilya felt an unprecedented strength in his legs, he was able to get up and give water to the wanderers. So he was healed and received a blessing for exploits for the glory of the Fatherland, to which he immediately set about, devoting his whole future life to serving the Russian people and protecting them.
The years that he spent, practically imprisoned in four walls, tempered his character, which, according to epic storytellers, was distinguished by great patience, meekness and amazing fortitude.
Glorious deeds of the Russian hero
(Frame from the film "Ilya Muromets" 1956)
The exploits of the Russian heroes described in the epics, no matter how fantastic and amazing they are, have a real basis, because they still echo the real events that took place in real life, a little embellished and with the addition of a bit of fiction and fantasy that composed them of people.
One of the most famous exploits of Ilya Muromets is his battle and victory over the legendary Nightingale the Robber, who robbed and killed innocent people and merchants on the way to Kyiv. The Kyiv prince Mstislav, who ruled at that time, organized a princely squad to protect merchants and their goods, and most likely appointed the experienced and wise warrior Ilya Muromets, who at that time served in this squad, as its leader. Having slain in battle the whistling robber Nightingale the Robber, who personified all the dashing people of that time in epics, the Russian legendary hero freed the road to Kyiv, thereby accomplishing, in the opinion of the people, a considerable feat of arms, a good deed for the entire Russian land.
Also known are other exploits of the famous Russian hero, who was revered and glorified by the Russian people for all the glorious deeds for the good of the Fatherland, this is his victory over Pogany Idolishche (most likely this is a collective image of all nomads who attacked Russian lands), the fight against Babka-Gorynka, Zhidovin, various robbers and dashing people.
(Boris Fedorovich Andreev - People's Artist of the USSR in the role of Ilya Muromets)
And although Ilya Muromets, according to the epic storytellers, never suffered defeat and always won in battle, he was never proud of this and did not flaunt himself, but he pardoned the defeated enemies and even let go on all four sides.
Having received an incurable chest wound in one of the battles, the Russian hero retired from military affairs and, having taken monastic vows, began to live in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. Not much is known about this side of his life; he died at the age of 45 from a stab wound in the heart (there is a version that the warrior monk was killed in his last battle when he defended Kyiv from the attack of the Polovtsians). He was buried with special honors on the territory of St. Sophia Cathedral, in those days the former main burial place of the great Russian princes. Later, his remains were reburied in one of the caves of the Lavra, where his incorrupt relics are kept to this day.
