According to the Christian religion, God gives each of the Christians two angels. In the works of St. Theodore of Edessa explains that one of them - the guardian angel - protects from all evil, helps to do good and protects from all misfortunes. Another angel - a saint of God, whose name is given at baptism - intercedes for a Christian before God. It is necessary to resort to the mediation of your Angel in various cases in life, he will pray for us before God. In addition, the Christian tradition has determined which saints can help in certain situations, if you turn to them with faith and hope for resolving the situation. For example, about luck in blacksmithing in Rus', they turned to the patronage of the unmercenaries and miracle workers Kozma and Demyan, the holy brothers - artisans and healers. Against pride, they prayed to the Monk Wonderworker Sergius of Radonezh and Alexy the Man of God, known for deep humility. Prayers were built, for example, like this: “Reverend Seraphim of Sarov, martyrs Anthony, Eustathius and John of Vilna, holy healers of the feet, weaken my ailments, strengthen my strength and legs!”.
Orthodox Christians had patron saints who helped both in captivity by the enemy (the righteous Filaret the Merciful through prayer leads the awake out of captivity), and in the patronage of the entire state (Great Martyr George the Victorious, in whose honor the state award for services to the fatherland "George's Cross" was established), and even in digging wells (Great Martyr Theodore Stratilat).
Many saints and great martyrs knew the art of medicine during their lifetime and successfully used it to heal the suffering (for example, the martyrs Cyrus and John, the Monk Agomit of the Caves, the martyr Diomedes and others). They resort to the help of other saints because during their lifetime they experienced similar suffering and received healing by trusting in God.
For example, Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir (XI century) suffered from eye problems and recovered after Holy Baptism. Prayers succeed only with faith in the power of their intercession before God, from whom believers receive help. For greater success in prayer, a prayer service was ordered in a church with water blessing.
Your attention is invited to a list of saints who glorified themselves by helping people get rid of physical and mental ailments. It should be noted that holy healers help not only fellow believers, but also other suffering people. For example, there is a well-known case of a cure by Metropolitan Alexy of Moscow (XIV century) of the wife of Khan Chanibek Taidula from eye diseases. It is Saint Alexis who is prayed for the gift of insight.
The proposed list of intercessors in illnesses does not claim to be complete, it does not include miraculous icons, Archangels - the patrons of Christians at different stages of life. Here only information about the saints - healers. After the name of the saint, numbers are indicated in brackets - the age of life, death or the acquisition of relics by the church (Roman numeral) and the day when the memory of this saint is honored by the Orthodox Church (according to the new style).

Hieromartyr Antipas(I century, April 24). When he was thrown by his tormentors into a red-hot copper bull, he asked God for the grace to heal people from toothache. This saint is mentioned in the Apocalypse.

Alexy Moskovsky(XIV century, February 23). The Metropolitan of Moscow, even during his lifetime, healed from eye diseases. He is prayed for to get rid of this disease.

Righteous youth Artemy(IV c., July 6, November 2) was crushed by the persecutors of the faith with a huge stone that squeezed the insides. Most of the healings were received by those suffering from pain in the stomach, as well as from a hernia. Christians received healing from the relics in case of serious illnesses.

Agapit Pechersky(XI century, June 14). During the treatment he did not require payment, therefore he was nicknamed "the doctor without compensation." Helped the sick, including the hopeless.

Reverend Alexander Svirsky(XVI century., September 12) was given the gift of healing - of the twenty-three of his miracles known from life, almost half relate to the healing of paralyzed patients. After his death, this saint was prayed for the gift of boy children.

Rev. Alypy of the Caves(XII century, August 30) during his lifetime he had the gift of healing leprosy.

Andrew the First-Called, holy apostle from Bethsaida (I century, December 13). He was a fisherman and the first apostle to follow Christ. The apostle went to preach the Christian faith in the Eastern countries. He passed through the places where the cities of Kyiv, Novgorod later arose, and through the lands of the Varangians to Rome and Thrace. He performed many miracles in the city of Patras: the blind received their sight, the sick (including the wife and brother of the ruler of the city) were healed. Nevertheless, the ruler of the city ordered Saint Andrew to be crucified, and he accepted a martyr's death. Under Constantine the Great, the relics were transferred to Constantinople.

Blessed Andrew(X century, October 15), who took upon himself the feat of foolishness, was honored with the gift of insight and healing of those deprived of reason.
Saint Anthony (4th century, January 30) parted from worldly affairs and led an ascetic life in the desert in complete solitude. He should pray for the protection of the weak.

Martyrs Anthony, Eustathius and John of Vilna(Lithuanian) (XIV century, April 27) received holy baptism from Presbyter Nestor, for which they were tortured - this happened in the XIV century. Prayer to these martyrs gives healing for leg diseases.

Great Martyr Anastasia(IV c., January 4), a Roman Christian woman who kept her virginity in marriage because of illnesses that tormented her, helps women in childbirth in resolving a difficult burden.

Martyr Agrippina(July 6), a Roman woman who lived in the III century. The holy relics of Agrippina were transferred from Rome to Fr. Sicily by revelation from above. Many sick people received miraculous healing from the holy relics.

Reverend Athanasia- the abbess (IX century, April 25) did not want to get married in the world, wanting to devote herself to God. However, by the will of her parents, she married twice and only after the second marriage she retired to the desert. She lived holy, and she needs to pray for the well-being of her second marriage.

Holy Martyrs Princes Boris and Gleb(in baptism Roman and David, XI century, May 15 and August 6), the first Russian martyrs - passion-bearers constantly provide prayer assistance to their native land and those suffering from diseases, especially with leg diseases.

Blessed Basil, Moscow miracle worker (XVI century, August 15) helped people by preaching mercy. The relics of Basil the Blessed during the reign of Fyodor Ivanovich brought a miracle of healing from diseases, especially from eye diseases.

Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir(in holy baptism, Vasily, XI century., July 28) during worldly life he was almost blind, but after baptism he recovered. In Kyiv, he first of all baptized his children in a place called Khreshchatyk. This saint is prayed for healing from eye diseases.

Vasily Novgorodsky(XIV century, August 5) - the archpastor, known for the fact that during the epidemic of the ulcer, also known as the black death, which mowed down almost two-thirds of the inhabitants of Pskov, he neglected the danger of infection and came to Pskov to calm and console the inhabitants. Trusting the reassurance of the saint, the citizens humbly began to wait for the end of the disaster, which soon really came. The relics of St. Basil of Novgorod are in St. Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod. Prayer to St. Basil is brought to get rid of an ulcer.

Reverend Basil the New(X century, April 8) bring a prayer for healing from a fever. Saint Basil, even during his lifetime, had the gift of healing the sick with a fever, for which the patient had to sit next to Basil. After that, the patient felt better, and he recovered.

Saint Basil the Confessor(VIII century, March 13), together with Procopius Dekanomite, imprisoned for icon veneration, they pray to get rid of severe shortness of breath and bloating.

Hieromartyr Basil of Sebaste(IV century, February 24) prayed to God for the possibility of healing the sick with a throat. He should pray for sore throats and in danger of being strangled by a bone.

Reverend Vitaly(VI-VII centuries, May 5) during his lifetime he was engaged in the conversion of harlots. They bring him a prayer for redemption from carnal passion.

Martyr Wit(IV century, May 29, June 28) - a saint who suffered during the time of Diocletian. He is prayed to get rid of epilepsy (epilepsy).

Great Martyr Barbara(IV c., December 17) pray for salvation from serious illnesses. Barbara's father was a noble man in Phoenicia. Upon learning that his daughter had converted to Christianity, he severely beat her and took her into custody, and then handed her over to Martinian, the ruler of the city of Heliopolis. The girl was severely tortured, but at night, after the torture, the Savior himself appeared in the dungeon, and the wounds healed. After that, the saint was subjected to even more cruel tortures, she was led naked around the city, and then beheaded. Saint Barbara helps to overcome severe mental anguish.

Martyr Boniface(III century., January 3) during his lifetime he suffered from an addiction to drunkenness, but he healed himself and was awarded martyrdom. Those who suffer from the passion of drunkenness and hard drinking pray to him.

Great Martyr George the Victorious(IV c., May 6) was born into a Christian family in Cappadocia, professed Christianity and called on everyone to accept the Christian faith. Emperor Diocletian ordered that the saint be subjected to terrible tortures and executed. The Great Martyr George died before he reached the age of thirty. One of the miracles performed by Saint George was the destruction of a man-eating serpent that lived in a lake near Beirut. George the Victorious is prayed as an assistant in sorrow.

Saint Gury of Kazan(XVI century., July 3, December 18) was innocently convicted and imprisoned. After two years, the doors of the dungeon opened freely. Gury of Kazan is prayed to get rid of stubborn headaches.

Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica(IV c., November 8) at the age of 20 he was appointed proconsul of Thessaloniki region. Instead of oppressing Christians, the saint began to teach the inhabitants of the region the Christian faith. He is prayed for insight from blindness.

Tsarevich Dmitry Uglich and Moscow(XVI century, May 29) sufferers bring prayer to get rid of blindness.

Saint Demetrius of Rostov(XVIII century., October 4) suffered from chest disease and died from this disease. After his death, his imperishable relics help the sufferers, who are exhausted, especially from chest disease.

Martyr Diomede(III century, August 29) during his lifetime he was a healer, selflessly helping sick people get rid of ailments. Prayer to this saint will help to receive healing in a painful condition.

Reverend Damian, presbyter and healer of the Pechersk Monastery (XI century, October 11 and 18), was called a pelebnik during his lifetime "and they heal the sick with prayer and holy oil." The relics of this saint have the grace to heal the sick.

Martyrs Domnina, Virineya and Proskudiya(IV c., October 17) help in fear of extraneous violence. The persecutors of the Christian faith led Domnina's daughters Virineya and Proskudiya to judgment, that is, to death. In order to save her daughters from violence from drunken warriors, the mother, during the meal of the soldiers, entered the river with her daughters as if into a grave. Martyrs Domnina, Virineya and Proskudiya are prayed for help in preventing violence.

Venerable Evdokia, Princess of Moscow(XV century., July 20), the wife of Dimitry Donskoy, shortly before her death, she took the veil as a nun and received the name Euphrosyne in monasticism. She exhausted her body with fasts, but slander did not spare her because her face remained friendly and cheerful. The rumor about the doubtfulness of her feat reached her sons. Then Evdokia took off part of her clothes in front of her sons, and they were amazed at her thinness and withered skin. Saint Evdokia is prayed for deliverance from paralysis and for the enlightenment of the eyes.

Venerable Efimy the Great(V century, February 2) lived in a deserted place, spent time in labor, prayers and abstinence - he took food only on Saturday and Sunday, slept only sitting or standing. The Lord gave the saint the ability to perform miracles and insight. By prayer, he caused the necessary rain, healed the sick, cast out demons. They pray to him during a famine, as well as during marital childlessness.

First Martyr Evdokia(II century, March 14) was baptized and renounced her wealth. For a strict fasting life, she received from God the gift of miracles. Women who cannot get pregnant pray to her.

Great Martyr Catherine(IV c., December 7) possessed extraordinary beauty and intelligence. She announced her desire to marry someone who would surpass her in wealth, nobility and wisdom. Catherine's spiritual father put her on the path of serving the heavenly bridegroom - Jesus Christ. Having been baptized, Catherine was honored to see the Mother of God with the infant Christ. She suffered for Christ in Alexandria, was broken on the wheel and beheaded. Saint Catherine is prayed for permission in difficult childbirth.

Reverend Zotik(IV century, January 12) during an epidemic of leprosy, he ransomed lepers, condemned by order of Emperor Constantine to death by drowning, from the guards and kept them in a remote place. Thus, he saved the doomed from violent death. They pray to Saint Zotik for the healing of those who are ill with leprosy.

Righteous Zechariah and Elizabeth, parents of St. John the Baptist (I century, September 18), help those who suffer in difficult childbirth. Righteous Zechariah was a priest. The couple lived righteously, but they had no children, since Elizabeth was barren. One day, an angel appeared to Zacharias in the temple, who predicted the birth of his son John. Zakharia did not believe - both he and his wife were already in old age. For unbelief, dumbness attacked him, which passed only on the eighth day after the birth of his son, John the Baptist, and he was able to speak and glorify God.

Saint Jonah, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus', miracle worker (XV century, June 28) - the first of the metropolitans in Russia, elected by the cathedral of Russian bishops. The saint even during his lifetime had the gift of healing toothache. They pray to him to get rid of this scourge.

John the Baptist(I century, January 20, July 7). The Baptist was born of Saints Zacharias and Elizabeth. After the birth of Christ, King Herod ordered to kill all the babies, and therefore Elizabeth and the baby took refuge in the wilderness. Zechariah was killed right in the temple, because he did not betray their shelter. After the death of Elizabeth, John continued to live in the desert, eating locusts, and wearing a sackcloth. At the age of thirty he began to preach on the Jordan about the coming of Christ. Many were baptized by him, and this day is known among the people as the day of Ivan Kupala. At the dawn of this day, it was customary to bathe, both dew and medicinal herbs collected that day were considered healing. The Baptist died a martyr's death through the beheading. Prayer to this saint can help with an unbearable headache.

Jacob Zheleznoborovsky(XVI century, April 24 and May 18) was tonsured by Sergius of Radonezh and retired to the Kostroma desert places near the village of Zhelezny Borok. During his lifetime he had the gift of healing the sick. Despite the exhaustion in his legs, he twice walked to Moscow. Lived to a ripe old age. Saint James is prayed for the healing of leg diseases and paralysis.

Saint John of Damascus(VIII c., December 17) was slandered and had his hand cut off. His prayer in front of the icon of the Mother of God was heard, and his severed hand grew together in a dream. As a sign of gratitude to the Virgin Mary, John of Damascus hung a silver image of a hand on the icon of the Mother of God, which is why the icon received the name "Three-Handed". Grace was given to John of Damascus to help in pains of the hands and in case of mutilation of the hands.

St. Julian of Kepomania(I century, July 26) during his lifetime he healed and even resurrected babies. On the icon, Julian is depicted with a baby in his arms. Prayer to Saint Julian is offered when the baby is sick.

Venerable Hypatius of the Caves(XIV century, April 13) during his lifetime he was a healer and especially helped to heal women's bleeding. He is also prayed for mother's milk for babies.

Reverend John of Rylsky(XIII century., November 1), Bulgarian, spent sixty years in solitude in the Rylskaya desert. Saint John of Rylsky is prayed for healing from dumbness.

John of Kiev-Pechersk(I century, January 11), the baby - martyr, cut in half, belongs to the number of Bethlehem babies. Prayer before his grave helps with marital infertility. (Kiev-Pechersk Lavra).
Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian (1st century, May 21) - the guardian of purity, chastity and assistant in the painting of icons.

Venerable Irinarkh, recluse of Rostov(XVII century, January 26), was a farmer in the world, during the famine he lived in Nizhny Novgorod for two years. At the age of thirty, he renounced the world and spent 38 years in the Borisoglebsky Monastery. He was buried there in a grave dug by him. Irinarchus spent sleepless nights in seclusion, therefore it is recognized that prayer to Saint Irinarchus helps with persistent insomnia.

Righteous Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Virgin Mary (September 22), had no children until old age. They made a vow, if a child appears, to dedicate it to God. Their prayers were heard, and at an advanced age they had a child - the Blessed Virgin Mary. Therefore, in case of marital infertility, prayer should be addressed to Saints Joachim and Anna.

Unmercenaries and Wonderworkers Cosmas and Damian(Kozma and Demyan) (3rd century, November 14), two brothers studied the art of medicine and treated without requiring payment from the sick, except for faith in Jesus Christ. They helped in many diseases, treated both eye diseases and smallpox. The main commandment of the unmercenaries: "We received it for free (from God) - for free and give!". Miracle workers helped not only sick people, but also healed animals. They pray to the unmercenaries not only in case of illness, but also for the patronage of those entering into marriage - so that the marriage is happy.

Martyr Conon of Isauria(III century., March 18) during his lifetime he treated patients with smallpox. This help was especially valuable for believers in those days, since other means were not yet known. And after death, prayer to the martyr Konon helps in healing smallpox.

Unmercenary Martyrs Cyrus and John(IV c., February 13) during their lifetime they disinterestedly healed various diseases, including smallpox. Patients received relief in ailments and celiac diseases. They should read the prayer in a sick state in general.

Blessed Xenia of Petersburg(XVIII-XIX centuries, February 6) was widowed early. Grieving for her husband, she gave away all her property and took a vow of foolishness for Christ's sake. She had the gift of clairvoyance and miracles, especially the healing of the afflicted. Honored while still alive. Canonized in 1988.

Martyr Lawrence of Rome(III c., August 23) during his lifetime he was endowed with the gift of giving sight to blind people, including those who were blind from birth. He should pray for healing from eye diseases.

Apostle and Evangelist Luke(I century, October 31) studied the art of medicine and helped people with diseases, especially eye diseases. Wrote the Gospel and the book of the Acts of the Apostles. He also studied painting and art.

Martyr Longinus Centurion(I century, October 29) suffered from eyes. He was on guard at the Cross of the Savior, when the blood from the perforated rib of the Savior dripped into his eyes - and he was healed. When his head was truncated, the blind woman received her sight - this was the first miracle from his truncated head. Longinus the Centurion is prayed for the sight of the eyes.

Venerable Maron of Syria(IV century, February 27) during his lifetime he helped patients with fever or fever.

Martyr Mina(IV century, November 24) helps in troubles, infirmities, including eye diseases.

Venerable Maruf, Bishop of Mesopotamia(V century, March 1 - February 29) pray to get rid of insomnia.

Reverend Moses Murin(IV c., September 10) in worldly life he lived far from righteously - he was a robber and a drunkard. Then he accepted monasticism and lived in a monastery in Egypt. He died a martyr at the age of 75. He is prayed to get rid of the passion for alcohol.

Reverend Moses Ugrin(XI century, August 8), a Hungarian by birth, “strong in body and beautiful in face”, was captured by the Polish king Boleslav, but was ransomed by a wealthy Polish young widow for a thousand hryvnias of silver. This woman was inflamed with carnal passion for Moses and tried to seduce him. However, the blessed Moses did not change his holy life, for which he was thrown into a pit, where he was starved and beaten daily with sticks by the lady's servants. Since this did not break the saint, he was castrated. When King Boleslav died, the rebellious people defeated the oppressors. Including the widow was killed. Saint Moses came to the Caves Monastery, where he lived for more than 10 years. They pray to Moses Ugrin to strengthen the spirit in the fight against carnal passion.

Reverend Martinian(V century, February 26) the harlot appeared in the form of a wanderer, but he quenched his carnal lust by standing on hot coals. In the struggle with carnal passion, Saint Martinian spent his days in exhausting wanderings.

Venerable Melania the Roman(V century, January 13) almost died in worldly life from difficult childbirth. She is prayed for a safe resolution from the pregnancy.

Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker(IV c., December 19 and May 22) during his lifetime not only healed eye diseases, but also restored sight to the blind. His parents Feofan and Nonna vowed to dedicate their child to God. From early. For years, Saint Nicholas fasted and prayed zealously, and doing good, he tried so that no one would know about it. He was elected Archbishop of Myra. During a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, he stopped a storm at sea and saved (resurrected) a sailor who had fallen from the mast. During the persecution of Christians under Diocletian, he was thrown into prison, but remained unharmed. The saint performed many miracles, in Rus' he was especially revered: it was believed that he helps when traveling on the waters. Nikola was called "marine" or "wet".

Great Martyr Nikita(IV c., September 28) lived on the banks of the Danube, was baptized by the Sofia Bishop Theophilus and successfully spread the Christian faith. He suffered during persecution from the pagan Goths, who tortured the saint and then threw him into the fire. His body was found at night by his friend, the Christian Marion - it was illuminated by a radiance, the fire did not damage it. The body of the martyr was interred in Cilicia, and the relics were later transferred to Constantinople. Saint Nikita is prayed for the healing of babies, including those from a "relative".

Saint Nikita(XII century., February 13) was the bishop of Novgorod. He became famous for miracles, especially in seeing the blind. People with poor eyesight can get help by turning to this saint.

Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon(IV c., August 9) studied healing as a young man. He treated selflessly in the name of Christ. He owns the miracle of the resurrection of a dead child bitten by a poisonous snake. He healed both adults and children from various diseases, including abdominal pain.
The Monk Pimen of Pechora the Painful (XII century, August 20) suffered from various illnesses from childhood and only at the end of his life received healing from ailments. They pray to the Monk Pimen for healing from a long painful condition.

Blessed Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia(XIII century., July 8), Murom wonderworkers should pray for a happy marriage. During his lifetime, Prince Peter of Murom, having performed the feat of freeing his brother's wife from the snake, became covered with scabs, but was healed by the Ryazan commoner healer Fevronia, whom he married. The married life of Peter and Fevronia was pious and was accompanied by miracles and good deeds. At the end of their lives, blessed Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia accepted monasticism and were named David and Euphrosyne. Died in one day. Believers from the cancer of their relics received healing from ailments.

Martyr Proclus(II century., July 25) was considered a healer of eye diseases. Proclus dew heals eye diseases and plagues the eye.

Martyr Paraskeva Friday(III century., November 10) received her name from pious parents, because she was born on Friday (in Greek "paraskeva") and in memory of the passions of the Lord. As a child, Paraskeva lost her parents. Growing up, she took a vow of celibacy and devoted herself to Christianity. For this, she was persecuted, tortured and died in agony. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa has long been especially revered in Russia, considered the patroness of the hearth, the healer of childhood diseases, and an assistant in field work. They also pray to her for the gift of rain in a drought.

Reverend Roman(V century., December 10) during his lifetime he was distinguished by unusual abstinence, eating only bread with salt water. He healed many ailments very successfully, especially became famous for the treatment of marital infertility with fervent prayers. Spouses pray to him with infertility.

Righteous Simeon of Verkhoturye(XVIII century., September 25) treated for prolonged blindness, being sick in a dream. They also resorted to his help in diseases of the legs - the saint himself made a pedestrian transition from Russia to Siberia with sick legs.

Righteous Simeon the God-bearer(February 16) on the fortieth day from Christmas, he received the Christ child from the Virgin Mary in the temple with joy and called out: “Now, Vladyka, let your servant go in peace according to your word.” He was promised repose after he took the holy baby in his arms. Righteous Simeon is prayed for the healing of sick children and the protection of healthy ones.

Venerable Simeon the Stylite(V century., September 14) was born in Cappadocia in a Christian family. In the monastery since adolescence. Then he settled in a stone cave, where he devoted himself to fasting and prayer. People who wanted to receive healing and edification flocked to the place of his asceticism. For solitude, he invented a new kind of asceticism - he settled on a pillar four meters high. Of the eighty years of life, forty-seven stood on a pillar.

Reverend Seraphim of Sarov(XIX century, January 15 and August 1) took upon himself the feat of camping: every night he prayed in the forest, standing on a huge stone with his hands raised. During the day he prayed in a cell or on a small stone. He ate meager food, exhausting the flesh. After the revelation of the Mother of God, he began to heal the suffering, especially helping people with sore legs.

Reverend Sergius of Radonezh(XIV century., October 8), boyar son, Bartholomew by birth. He surprised everyone from an early age - on Wednesdays and Fridays he didn’t even drink mother’s milk. After the death of his parents at the age of 23, he took monastic vows. From the age of forty he was hegumen of the Radonezh Monastery. The life of the saint was accompanied by miracles, especially the healing of the weak and sick. Prayer to St. Sergius heals from "forty ailments."

Reverend Sampson, priest and healer (VI century, July 10). He was given the ability to heal people with various illnesses through his prayers to God.

Saint Spyridon - Wonderworker, Bishop of Trimifuntsky(IV century., December 25), became famous for many miracles, including the proof of the trinity at the First Ecumenical Council in 325. Even during his lifetime, he healed the sick. Prayer to this saint can give help in various painful conditions.

Martyr Sisiny(III century., December 6) was a bishop in the city of Kizin. Persecuted under Diocletian. God gave the martyr Sisinius the opportunity to heal the sick with a fever.
Saint Tarasius, Bishop of Constantinople (9th century, March 9), was the protector of orphans, the offended, the unfortunate, and possessed the gift of healing the sick.

Martyr Tryphon(III century, February 14) for his bright life he was awarded even in adolescence the grace of healing the sick. Among other misfortunes, Saint Tryphon saved the afflicted from snoring. The eparchs of Anatolia brought Tryphon to Nicaea, where he experienced terrible torment, was sentenced to death and died at the place of execution.

Reverend Taisia(IV century, October 21) during social life she became famous for her extraordinary beauty, which drove crazy fans who competed with each other, quarreled - and went bankrupt. After Saint Paphnutius converted the harlot, she spent three years as a recluse in a convent, atoning for the sin of fornication. Saint Taisia ​​pray for deliverance from obsessive carnal passion.

Reverend Fedor Studit(IX century., November 24) during his lifetime he suffered from diseases of the stomach. After death from his icon, many patients were healed not only from stomach pains, but also from other abdominal diseases.

Holy Great Martyr Theodore Stratilat(IV c., June 21) became popularly known when he killed a huge snake that lived in the vicinity of the city of Euchait and devoured people and cattle. During the persecution of Christians under the emperor Likinia, he was subjected to severe torture and crucified, but God healed the body of the martyr and removed him from the cross. However, the great martyr decided to voluntarily accept death for his faith. On the way to the execution, the sick who touched his clothes and body were healed and freed from demons.

Venerable Therapont of Moizen(XVI century., December 25). From this saint receive healing in eye diseases. It is known, for example, that the elder Procopius, who had been ill with his eyes and almost blind since childhood, received his sight at the tomb of Ferapont.

Martyrs Flor and Laurus(II century., August 31) lived in Illyria. Brothers - stonemasons were very close to each other in spirit. At first they suffered from the passion of drunkenness and hard drinking, then they accepted the Christian faith and got rid of the disease. For their faith, they were martyred: they were thrown into a well and buried alive with earth. Even during their lifetime, God gave them the ability to heal from various diseases and from hard drinking.

Martyr Thomais of Egypt(V century., April 26) preferred death to adultery. Those who fear violence pray to St. Thomas, and she helps in maintaining chastity.

Hieromartyr Charlampy(III century., February 23) is considered a healer of all diseases. He suffered for the Christian faith in 202. He was 115 years old when he healed not only ordinary diseases, but also the plague. Before his death, Harlampy prayed that his relics would prevent the plague and heal the sick.

Martyrs Chrysanthus and Darius(3rd century, April 1), even before marriage, they agreed to lead a life worthy, consecrated to God in marriage. These saints are prayed for a happy and lasting family union.

Orthodox Christians most often turn to the saint whose name they bear with a request to pray for them before God. Such a saint is called a saint and helper. To communicate with him, you must know the troparion - a short prayer appeal. Saints must be called upon with love and unfeigned faith, only then will they hear the request.

May 18 (New Style) The Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Holy Great Martyr Irina. Irina, a Slav by birth, lived in the second half of the 1st century and was the daughter of the pagan Licinius, the ruler of the city of Mageddon in Macedonia, so they began to call Saint Irene of Macedonia.
She was given the name "Penelope" at birth. When Penelope began to grow up and she was 6 years old, she seemed unusually beautiful in face, so that she overshadowed all her peers with her appearance. Licinius assigned to his daughter the old woman Caria as a teacher. Licinius also instructed an old man named Apelian to teach her book wisdom. Penelope's father did not know that Apelian was a secret Christian. So the girl spent six years and three months, and when she was 12 years old, her father began to think about whom to marry her daughter to.
One day, when the girl was sitting in her room, a dove flew into her through an open window facing the east, holding a small branch in its beak; placing it on the table, he immediately flew out of the room through the window. Then, an hour later, an eagle flew into the room with a wreath of different flowers, and he also, putting the wreath on the table, immediately flew away. Then a raven flew in through another window, carrying a small snake in its beak, which he laid on the table, and he also flew away.
Seeing all this, the maiden, together with her teacher, were very surprised, wondering what this arrival of birds foreshadowed? When the teacher Apelian came to them, they told him about what had happened.
Apelian explained it this way:
- Know, my daughter, that the dove means your good disposition, your meekness, humility and girlish chastity. The branch of the olive tree signifies God's grace, which will be given to you through baptism. The eagle, soaring high, depicts itself as a king and a conqueror, it marks that you will reign over your passions and, exalted by thought of God, will defeat invisible enemies, as an eagle defeats birds. A wreath of flowers is a sign of retribution that you will receive for your deeds from the King of Christ in His heavenly kingdom, where an incorruptible crown of eternal glory is being prepared for you. A raven with a snake marks the enemy-devil, who is trying to inflict sorrow, sorrow and persecution on you. Know, girl, that the great King, who holds heaven and earth in His power, wants to betroth you into His bride, and you will endure many sufferings for His name.

Saint Panteleimon (Panteleimon), often called "Panteleimon the Healer", was born in the 3rd century in the city of Nicomedia (now Izmit, Turkey) into a noble pagan family and was named Pantoleon. Pantoleon's mother was a Christian, but she died early and did not have time to raise her son in the Christian faith. Pantoleon was sent by his father to a pagan school, after which he began to study the art of medicine from the famous doctor Euphrosynus and became known to Emperor Maximian, who wanted to see him at his court.
Saint Ermolai, who lived in Nicodemea, told Pantoleon about Christianity. Once a young man saw a dead child on the street, bitten by a snake that was still nearby. Pantoleon began to pray to Christ for the resurrection of the dead and the killing of the poisonous reptile. He firmly decided that if his prayer was fulfilled, he would be baptized. The child came to life, and the snake shattered into pieces in front of Pantoleon.
St. Ermolai baptized Pantoleon under the name Panteleimon - "all-merciful" (it is the spelling "Panteleimon" that is canonical in Orthodoxy, the variant of the name with "y" is a secular version of this name). Panteleimon's father, seeing how he healed the blind man, was also baptized.

Conversation of St. Panteleimon and St. Ermolai

Saint Panteleimon devoted his life to healing the sick, including prisoners, among whom were Christians. The fame of a wonderful doctor who did not take money for treatment spread throughout the city and the rest of the doctors were left without work. Embittered doctors reported to the emperor that Panteleimon was treating Christian prisoners. Emperor Maximian demanded that Panteleimon renounce his faith and sacrifice to idols. The saint suggested to the emperor that he summon an incurable patient and arrange a test to see who would heal him: he or the pagan priests. The pagan priests could not heal the patient, and Panteleimon, by the power of prayer, granted the patient healing, proving the true Christian faith and the falsity of paganism.

Almost everyone knows what "Valentine's Day" is, but few know the history of Saint Valentine himself. This article will examine the origin of the legend of St. Valentine, as well as images of this saint, including his Orthodox icons.

On February 14, Catholicism celebrates the day of memory of three saints at once: Valentine of Rome, Valentine - Bishop of Interamna, and Valentine from the Roman province of Africa. Almost nothing is known about the third, the first two are possibly the same person. In connection with this confusion, in 1969 the Catholic Church excluded Valentine from the universal Roman calendar (lat. Calendarium Romanae Ecclesiae) - a list of those saints whose memory is obligatory for liturgical veneration by all Catholics. At the same time, the name of Valentine remained in the Catholic Martyrology - a list of saints, the decision to honor which is made at the level of local churches. In the Russian Orthodox Church, the day of memory of Valentine of Interamnsky is celebrated on August 12, and the day of memory of Valentine of Rome is celebrated on July 19 (both dates are according to the new style).

On December 7, the Russian Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine of Alexandria (287 - 305).

Catherine was the daughter of the ruler of Alexandria of Egypt, Constas, during the reign of Emperor Maximian (305 - 313). Living in the capital - the center of Hellenic learning, Catherine, who had a rare beauty and intelligence, received an excellent education, having studied the works of the best ancient philosophers and scientists.

Carlo Dolci. Saint Catherine of Alexandria reading a book

In Christianity, several saints bearing the name of Paraskeva are revered. In Russian Orthodoxy, the holy martyr of the 3rd century Paraskeva-Pyatnitsa is most revered (the memory is celebrated on November 10). Among the Orthodox in Bulgaria and Serbia, another saint named Paraskeva is popular, called "Petka" in these countries. The memory of St. Paraskeva-Petka is celebrated on October 27. In Russian Orthodoxy, Saint Petka is called Serbian or Bulgarian Paraskeva.

St. Petka (Paraskeva Bulgarian / Serbian)

Jerome is a Christian saint revered in Catholicism (commemoration day on September 30) and in Orthodoxy (commemoration day on June 28). The main merit of Saint Jerome is the translation of the Old Testament into Latin and the edition of the Latin version of the New Testament. The Latin Bible, created by Jerome and called the Vulgate, is the canonical Latin text of the Bible to this day. Saint Jerome is considered the heavenly patron of all translators.

Jerome was born around 340-2 years (according to other sources, in 347) in the Roman province of Dalmatia, in the city of Stridon (not far from the place where the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, is now located). Jerome went to study in the capital of the empire - Rome, where he was baptized in the period from 360 to 366. Jerome studied under the well-known grammarian Aelius Donatus, a specialist in ancient and Christian literature. Continuing his studies, Jerome traveled a lot. In the Syrian city of Antioch in the winter of 373-374, Jerome fell seriously ill and had a vision that forced him to abandon secular studies and devote himself to God. Jerome retired to the Chalkis desert in Syria, where he began to study the language of the Jews in order to read the biblical texts in the original. Jerome returned to Antioch in 378 or 379, where he was ordained a bishop. Later, Jerome leaves for Constantinople, and then returns to Rome. In the capital of the empire, Jerome won great confidence from famous noble women of Rome: Paula, the same age as Jerome, and her daughters Blazilla and Eustochia, under the influence of Jerome, abandoned their aristocratic lifestyle and became ascetics.

On September 30, the Orthodox Church honors the memory of the holy martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sophia, who suffered in Rome under the emperor Hadrian (2nd century AD).

Saint Sophia, a firm Christian, managed to raise her daughters in ardent love for God. The rumor about the virtue, mind and beauty of the girls reached the emperor Hadrian, who wished to see them, having learned that they were Christians.

Adrian called all three sisters in turn and affectionately urged them to sacrifice to the goddess Artemis, but received a firm refusal from all and consent to endure all the torments for Jesus Christ.

Vera was 12 years old, Nadezhda - 10 and Lyubov - 9. In front of their mother, they were tortured in turn. Vera was beaten mercilessly and her breasts were cut off, but instead of blood, milk flowed from the wound. Then they laid her on a hot iron. The mother prayed with her daughter and strengthened her in suffering - and the iron did not burn Vera. Being thrown into a cauldron of boiling tar, Vera prayed loudly to the Lord and remained unharmed. Then Adrian ordered to cut off her head.

Nadezhda and Lyubov were tortured and killed next.

To prolong the torment of his mother, the emperor did not torture her, he gave her the tormented bodies of three girls. Sophia put them in an ark and buried them with honors on a high hill outside the city. For three days the mother sat at the grave of her daughters and finally gave her soul to the Lord. Believers buried her body in the same place.

The relics of Saints Faith, Hope, Love and Sophia rest in Alsace, in the church of Esho.

Tatyana Rimskaya (in Church Slavonic Tatiana) is a holy martyr, whose memory in Orthodoxy is honored on January 25.

Tatiana was born in Rome to a noble family. Her father was elected consul three times, he was a secret Christian and raised his daughter in the Christian faith. When Tatiana came of age, she decided not to marry and be the bride of Christ. Tatyana's piety became known in Christian circles and she was chosen as a deaconess (the duties of a deaconess consisted of visiting sick women and caring for them, preparing women for baptism, "serving the presbyters during the baptism of women for decency", etc.). In 222, Alexander Severus became emperor. He was the son of a Christian woman and did not persecute Christians. However, the emperor was only 16 years old and all power was concentrated in the hands of Ulpian, who fiercely hated Christians. Christians began to be persecuted. Tatyana was also captured. She was brought into the temple of Apollo and forced to bow to his statue. She prayed to the true God and the idol of Apollo fell and broke, along with it a part of the temple collapsed.

Tatyana began to be tortured. The author of the life of St. Tatiana, Dmitry Rostovsky writes about it this way:
“At first they began to beat her in the face and torment her eyes with iron hooks. After a long torment, the tormentors themselves became exhausted, for the body of Christ’s sufferer for those who inflicted wounds on her was hard, like an anvil, and the tormentors themselves accepted the torment more than the holy martyr. And angels stood invisibly near the saint and struck blows at those who tormented Saint Tatiana, so that the tormentors appealed to the lawless judge and asked him to order an end to the torment, saying that they themselves suffered more than this holy and innocent virgin. ", courageously enduring suffering, she prayed for her tormentors and asked the Lord to reveal to them the light of truth. And her prayer was heard. Heavenly light illuminated the tormentors, and their spiritual eyes were opened". Eight executioners who tortured Tatiana converted to Christianity and were executed for it.

The next day, Tatyana was again tortured (she was healed from past tortures). They began to cut Tatyana's body, but milk poured out of the wounds.
“Then they spread her crosswise on the ground and beat her with rods for a long time, so that the tormentors grew weak and often changed. For, as before, the angels of God invisibly stood near the saint and inflicted wounds on those who inflicted blows on the holy martyr. that someone is striking them with iron sticks. Finally, nine of them died, struck by the right hand of an angel, and the rest fell to the ground barely alive.
The next day, Tatyana was persuaded to make a sacrifice to the goddess Diana. She prayed to the true God and fire fell from heaven, scorching the statue, the temple and many pagans.

Natalia is a female name formed in the first centuries of Christianity from lat. Natalis Domini - birth, Christmas. The meaning of the name "Natalia" is Christmas. Of the bearers of this name in Orthodoxy, the most famous is St. Natalia of Nicomedia, whose memorial day falls on September 8th. Saint Natalia is venerated along with her husband, Saint Adrian.
Adrian and Natalia lived in Bithynian Nicomedia under Emperor Maximian (305-311). Adrian was a pagan, and Natalia was a secret Christian. When their marriage was one year and one month old, Adrian, as the head of the judicial chamber of Nicomedia, was instructed by the emperor to draw up protocols of interrogations of 23 Christians arrested on the denunciation of pagans in caves where they secretly prayed. The martyrs were severely beaten, but did not renounce Christ. Adrian wanted to know why Christians suffer so much and they told him about faith in eternal life and in divine retribution. This faith entered the heart of Adrian, he converted to Christianity and himself entered himself into the list of arrested Christians. Natalia, having learned about this, was delighted, because now her husband shared her secret faith. Natalia went to prison and began to beg Adrian to courageously accept the crown of martyrdom for the sake of Christ. She cared for Christians crippled by torture, alleviating their suffering. When Adrian was released home to tell his wife about the day of his execution, she at first did not want to let him into the house, thinking that he had denied Christ. On the day of the execution, Natalia, fearing that Adrian might hesitate at the sight of the suffering and death of other martyrs, asked the executioners to begin the execution with her husband and herself laid his feet on the anvil. When Adrian's legs were broken, Natalia put his hand under the blow of the hammer. The executioner cut her off with a strong blow and Adrian died. He was 28 years old. Natalia secretly took her husband's hand and hid it. Maximian, having executed all the Christians in prison, ordered the bodies of the martyrs to be burned. But by the will of God, a strong thunderstorm began, and many of the tormentors were killed by lightning. The rain extinguished the burning furnace, and the Christians were able to take out the bodies of the saints, undamaged by fire, from the furnace. A pious Christian named Eusebius collected the remains of the saints and brought them to the city of Argyropol near Byzantium. The emperor wanted to give Natalia as a wife to a noble commander, then Natalia took the hand of Adrian and went on a ship to Argyropol. The commander, having learned about Natalia's escape, pursued her on the ship, but got into a storm and turned the ship back, while many of those sailing on it drowned, and the ship with the Christians bypassed the storm. They were saved by Adrian, appearing to them in a radiance of light. Upon arrival in Argyropol, Natalia came to the temple with the bodies of the martyrs and connected Adrian's hand with his body. On the same day the sufferer died.
Natalia, despite her bloodless death and the fact that she was not subjected to bodily torture, was counted among the martyrs for her boundless compassion for her husband and other martyrs.

The modern name Audrey (Audrey) comes from the Old English name Ethelfrita (option - Edilfrida) (Aethelthryth, aethele - noble, excellent, excellent + thryth - power, power, strength). In the Latinized form, the name sounded like Etheldreda (Etheldreda, Etheldred). The German forms of the same name are Edeltraud, Edeltrud.
The name "Etheldreda" entered history thanks to the saint who bore this name.

Saint Audrey (Etheldreda) on a stained-glass window in the church of Saint Leonard (Horringer community, England)

Saint Etheldreda (Saint Audrey) was born in 630 at Exning, the seat of the East Angles, in western Suffolk. She was the daughter of Anna, the future king of the East Angles Land. She was baptized by the apostle of East Anglia, St. Felix. While still a young girl, Etheldreda, thanks to the influence of St. Felix, as well as his friend and associate St. Aidan and the latter's disciple, the future abbess Ilda (Hilda), experienced a strong attraction to the monastic life. However, in 652 she was married to a nobleman from the "Low Country" (located on the border of the current counties of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire). As a dowry, Etheldreda received the city of Ely and the island on which it was located.

In 655 her husband died; they probably never got married. Contrary to her hopes for the beginning of a monastic feat in Ely, in 660 she was again forced to marry for political reasons, this time to the 15-year-old king of Northumbria, thus becoming the queen of this country.

Holiness is a purity of heart that seeks the uncreated divine energy manifesting in the gifts of the Holy Spirit as many colored rays in the solar spectrum. Pious ascetics are the link between the earthly world and the heavenly Kingdom. Penetrated by the light of divine grace, they, through contemplation of God and communion with God, come to know the highest spiritual mysteries. In earthly life, the saints, performing the feat of self-denial for the sake of the Lord, receive the highest grace of divine Revelation. According to biblical teaching, holiness is likening a person to God, who is the only bearer of all-perfect life and its unique source.

The ecclesiastical procedure for canonization of a righteous person is called canonization. She encourages believers to honor the recognized saint in public worship. As a rule, church recognition of piety is preceded by popular glory and veneration, but it was the act of canonization that made it possible to glorify the saints by creating icons, writing lives, compiling prayers and church services. The reason for official canonization can be the feat of the righteous, the incredible deeds he has done, his whole life or martyrdom. And after death, a person can be recognized as a saint because of the incorruptibility of his relics, or miracles of healing occurring at his remains.

In the event that a saint is venerated within the same church, city or monastery, they speak of diocesan, local canonization.

The official church also recognizes the existence of unknown saints, the confirmation of whose piety is not yet known to the entire Christian flock. They are called the revered dead righteous and they are served memorial services, while prayers are served to the canonized saints.

That is why the names of Russian saints, who are revered in one diocese, may differ and be unknown to the parishioners of another city.

Who was canonized in Rus'

Long-suffering Rus' gave birth to more than a thousand martyrs and martyrs. All the names of the holy people of the Russian land, who were canonized, are listed in the calendar, or calendars. The right to solemnly rank the righteous as saints was originally possessed by the Kyiv, and later Moscow, metropolitans. The first canonizations were preceded by the exhumation of the remains of the righteous for the creation of a miracle by them. In the 11-16 centuries, the burials of princes Boris and Gleb, princess Olga, Theodosius of the Caves were opened.

From the second half of the 16th century, under Metropolitan Macarius, the right to canonize saints passed to church councils under the primate. The indisputable authority of the Orthodox Church, which had existed in Rus' by that time for 600 years, was confirmed by numerous Russian saints. The list of names of the righteous people glorified by the Makarievsky cathedrals was supplemented by the naming of 39 pious Christians as saints.

Byzantine canonization rules

In the 17th century, the Russian Orthodox Church succumbed to the influence of the ancient Byzantine rules for canonization. During this period, mainly clergymen were canonized for the fact that they had an ecclesiastical rank. Also reckoning deserved missionaries who carry the faith, and associates of the construction of new churches and monasteries. And the need to create miracles has lost its relevance. Thus, 150 righteous people were canonized, mainly from among the monks and the higher clergy, and the Saints filled up the new names of Russian Orthodox saints.

Weakening of church influence

In the 18-19 centuries, only the Holy Synod had the right to canonize. This period is characterized by a decrease in the activity of the church and the weakening of its influence on social processes. Before the ascension to the throne of Nicholas II, only four canonizations took place. During the short period of the reign of the Romanovs, seven more Christians were canonized as saints, and the saints supplemented the new names of Russian saints.

By the beginning of the 20th century, universally recognized and locally venerated Russian saints were included in the calendars, the list of names of which was supplemented by a list of the deceased Orthodox Christians, with whom requiems were performed.

Modern canonizations

The beginning of the modern period in the history of canonizations conducted by the Russian Orthodox Church can be considered the Local Council held in 1917-18, by which the universally revered Russian saints Sophronius of Irkutsk and Joseph of Astrakhan were canonized as saints. Then, in the 1970s, three more clergymen were canonized - Herman of Alaska, Archbishop of Japan and Metropolitan Innokenty of Moscow and Kolomna.

In the year of the millennium of the baptism of Rus', new canonizations took place, where Xenia of Petersburg, Dmitry Donskoy and other equally famous Orthodox Russian saints were recognized as pious.

In 2000, a jubilee Bishops' Council was held, at which Emperor Nicholas II and members of the Romanov royal family were canonized "as martyrs."

First canonization of the Russian Orthodox Church

The names of the first Russian saints, who were canonized by Metropolitan John in the 11th century, became a kind of symbol of the true faith of the newly baptized people, of their complete acceptance of Orthodox norms. Princes Boris and Gleb, sons of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich, after canonization became the first heavenly defenders of Russian Christians. Boris and Gleb were killed by their brother in the internecine struggle for the throne of Kyiv in 1015. Knowing about the impending assassination attempt, they accepted death with Christian humility for the sake of autocracy and tranquility of their people.

The veneration of princes was widespread even before the recognition of their holiness by the official church. After canonization, the relics of the brothers were found incorruptible and showed miracles of healing to ancient Russian people. And the new princes ascending the throne made pilgrimages to the holy relics in search of blessings for a just reign and help in military exploits. Memorial Day of Saints Boris and Gleb is celebrated on July 24.

Formation of the Russian Holy Brotherhood

The Monk Theodosius of the Caves was next after Princes Boris and Gleb canonized. The second solemn canonization, carried out by the Russian Church, took place in 1108. The Monk Theodosius is considered the father of Russian monasticism and the founder, together with his mentor Anthony, of the Kiev Caves Monastery. The teacher and the student showed two different paths of monastic obedience: one is severe asceticism, rejection of everything worldly, the other is humility and creativity for the glory of God.

In the caves of the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery, bearing the names of the founders, the relics of 118 novices of this monastery, who lived before and after the Tatar-Mongol yoke, rest. All of them were canonized in 1643, making up a common service, and in 1762 the names of Russian saints were included in the calendar.

Rev. Abraham of Smolensk

Very little is known about the righteous people of the pre-Mongolian period. Abraham of Smolensk, one of the few saints of that time, about whom a detailed biography compiled by his student has been preserved. Abraham was revered for a long time in his native city even before his canonization by the Makarievsky Cathedral in 1549. Having distributed to the needy all his property left after the death of rich parents, the thirteenth child, the only son begged from the Lord after twelve daughters, Abraham lived in poverty, praying for salvation during the Last Judgment. Having taken the veil as a monk, he copied church books and painted icons. Saint Abraham is credited with saving Smolensk from a great drought.

The most famous names of the saints of the Russian land

Along with the princes Boris and Gleb mentioned above, unique symbols of Russian Orthodoxy, there are no less significant names of Russian saints who became intercessors for the whole people through their contribution to the participation of the church in public life.

After liberation from the Mongol-Tatar influence, Russian monasticism saw as its goal the enlightenment of pagan peoples, as well as the construction of new monasteries and temples in the uninhabited northeastern lands. The most prominent figure in this movement was St. Sergius of Radonezh. For God-obedient solitude, he built a cell on Makovets hill, where the Trinity-Sergius Lavra was later erected. Gradually, the righteous began to join Sergius, inspired by his teachings, which led to the formation of a monastic monastery, living on the fruits of their own hands, and not on the alms of believers. Sergius himself worked in the garden, setting an example for his brothers. The disciples of Sergius of Radonezh built about 40 monasteries throughout Rus'.

St. Sergius of Radonezh carried the idea of ​​charitable humility not only to ordinary people, but also to the ruling elite. As a skilled politician, he contributed to the unification of the Russian principalities, convincing the rulers of the need to unite dynasties and scattered lands.

Dmitry Donskoy

Sergius of Radonezh was greatly revered by the Russian prince, canonized as a saint, Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy. It was St. Sergius who blessed the army for the Battle of Kulikovo started by Dmitry Donskoy, and for God's support he sent two of his novices.

Having become a prince in early childhood, Dmitry in state affairs heeded the advice of Metropolitan Alexy, who was rooting for the unification of the Russian principalities around Moscow. This process has not always gone smoothly. Where by force, and where by marriage (to the Suzdal princess), Dmitry Ivanovich annexed the surrounding lands to Moscow, where he built the first Kremlin.

It was Dmitry Donskoy who became the founder of a political movement that aimed to unite the Russian principalities around Moscow to create a powerful state with political (from the khans of the Golden Horde) and ideological (from the Byzantine church) independence. In 2002, in memory of Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy and St. Sergius of Radonezh, the Order "For Service to the Fatherland" was established, fully emphasizing the depth of influence of these historical figures on the formation of Russian statehood. These Russian holy people cared for the well-being, independence and tranquility of their great people.

Faces (ranks) of Russian saints

All the saints of the Ecumenical Church are summarized in nine faces or ranks: prophets, apostles, saints, great martyrs, hieromartyrs, reverend martyrs, confessors, unmercenaries, holy fools and blessed.

The Orthodox Church of Russia divides the saints into faces in a different way. Russian holy people, due to historical circumstances, are divided into the following ranks:

princes. The first righteous people recognized as saints by the Russian Church were princes Boris and Gleb. Their feat consisted in self-sacrifice in the name of the tranquility of the Russian people. Such behavior became an example for all the rulers of the times of Yaroslav the Wise, when the power in whose name the prince sacrificed was recognized as true. This rank is divided into Equal-to-the-Apostles (distributors of Christianity - Princess Olga, her grandson Vladimir, who baptized Rus'), monks (princes who were tonsured monks) and martyrs (victims of civil strife, assassination attempts, murders for the faith).

Reverends. This is the name of the saints who chose monastic obedience during their lifetime (Theodosius and Anthony of the Caves, Sergius of Radonezh, Joseph Volotsky, Seraphim of Sarov).

Saints- righteous people who have a church rank, who based their ministry on the protection of the purity of faith, the spread of Christian teaching, the foundation of churches (Nifont of Novgorod, Stefan of Perm).

Holy fools (blessed)- saints who wore the appearance of madness during their lifetime, rejecting worldly values. A very numerous rank of Russian righteous, replenished mainly by monks who considered monastic obedience insufficient. They left the monastery, going out in rags on the streets of cities and enduring all hardships (Basil the Blessed, St. Isaac the Recluse, Simeon of Palestine, Xenia of Petersburg).

Holy Laity and Wives. This rank brings together dead babies recognized as saints, renouncing the wealth of the laity, the righteous, distinguished by their boundless love for people (Yuliania Lazarevskaya, Artemy Verkolsky).

Lives of Russian Saints

The Lives of the Saints is a literary work containing historical, biographical and everyday information about a righteous man canonized by the church. Lives are one of the oldest literary genres. Depending on the time and country of writing, these treatises were created in the form of a biography, encomium (praise), martyria (testimony), patericon. The style of writing lives in the Byzantine, Roman and Western church cultures differed significantly. Back in the 4th century, the Church began to unite the saints and their biographies into vaults that looked like a calendar indicating the day of commemoration of the pious.

In Rus', the Lives appear together with the adoption of Christianity from Byzantium in Bulgarian and Serbian translations, combined into collections for reading by months - the Menaion and the Menaion of Chetya.

Already in the 11th century, a laudatory biography of princes Boris and Gleb appeared, where the unknown author of the life is Russian. The holy names are recognized by the church and added to the calendars. In the 12th and 13th centuries, along with the monastic desire to enlighten the northeast of Rus', the number of biographical works also grew. Russian authors wrote the lives of Russian saints for reading during the Divine Liturgy. The names, the list of which was recognized by the church for glorification, now received a historical figure, and holy deeds and miracles were enshrined in a literary monument.

In the 15th century there was a change in the style of writing lives. The main attention the authors began to pay not to factual data, but to the skillful use of the artistic word, the beauty of the literary language, the ability to pick up a lot of impressive comparisons. Skillful scribes of that period became known. For example, Epiphanius the Wise, who wrote the vivid lives of Russian saints, whose names were most famous among the people - Stephen of Perm and Sergius of Radonezh.

Many lives are considered a source of information about important historical events. From the biography of Alexander Nevsky, you can learn about political relations with the Horde. The lives of Boris and Gleb tell of princely civil strife before the unification of Rus'. The creation of a literary and ecclesiastical biographical work largely determined which names of Russian saints, their deeds and virtues would become most known to a wide circle of believers.

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