Holy Right-Believing Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky - in schema Alexy. Why Alexander Nevsky is canonized

Canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in the guise of the faithful under Metropolitan Macarius at the Moscow Council of 1547. Commemorated on December 6 and September 12 according to the new style (the transfer of relics from Vladimir-on-Klyazma to St. Petersburg, to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (from 1797 - Lavra) on August 30, 1724).

Alexander Nevsky: only the facts

Prince Alexander Yaroslavovich was born in 1220 (according to another version - in 1221) and died in 1263. In different years of his life, Prince Alexander had the titles of Prince of Novgorod, Kiev, and later Grand Duke of Vladimir.

Prince Alexander won his main military victories in his youth. During the Battle of the Neva (1240), he was at most 20 years old, during the Battle of the Ice - 22 years old.

Subsequently, he became more famous as a politician and diplomat, but occasionally acted as a military leader. In all his life, Prince Alexander did not lose a single battle.

- Alexander Nevsky canonized as a noble prince.

Lay people who have become famous for their sincere deep faith and good deeds, as well as Orthodox rulers who managed to remain faithful to Christ in their public service and in various political conflicts, are ranked among this saint. Like any Orthodox saint, the noble prince is not at all an ideal sinless person, however, he is first of all a ruler who was guided in his life primarily by the highest Christian virtues, including mercy and philanthropy, and not by a thirst for power and not self-interest.

Contrary to popular belief that the Church canonized almost all the rulers of the Middle Ages as the faithful, only a few of them were glorified. Thus, among Russian saints of princely origin, the majority are glorified as saints for their martyrdom for the sake of their neighbors and for the sake of preserving the Christian faith.

-Through the efforts of Alexander Nevsky, the preaching of Christianity spread to the northern lands of the Pomors.

He also managed to contribute to the creation of an Orthodox diocese in the Golden Horde.

The modern idea of ​​Alexander Nevsky was influenced by Soviet propaganda, which spoke exclusively about his military merits. As a diplomat who built relations with the Horde, and even more so as a monk and saint, he was completely inappropriate for the Soviet government. Therefore, Sergei Eisenstein's masterpiece "Alexander Nevsky" does not tell about the whole life of the prince, but only about the battle on Lake Peipsi. This gave rise to a common stereotype that Prince Alexander was canonized for his military merits, and holiness itself became something of a “reward” from the Church.

The veneration of Prince Alexander as a saint began immediately after his death, at the same time a rather detailed Tale of the Life of Alexander Nevsky was compiled.

The official canonization of the prince took place in 1547.

Life of the Holy Right-Believing Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky

Portal "Word".

Prince Alexander Nevsky is one of those great people in the history of our Fatherland, whose activities not only influenced the fate of the country and people, but changed them in many ways, predetermined the course of Russian history for many centuries to come. It fell to him to rule Russia at the most difficult, turning point that followed the devastating Mongol conquest, when it was about the very existence of Russia, whether it would be able to survive, maintain its statehood, its ethnic independence, or disappear from the map, like many other peoples of Eastern Europe that were invaded at the same time.

He was born in 1220 (1), in the city of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, and was the second son of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, at that time the prince of Pereyaslavl. His mother Theodosius, apparently, was the daughter of the famous Toropets prince Mstislav Mstislavich Udatny, or Udaly (2).

Very early, Alexander was involved in the turbulent political events that unfolded around the reign in Veliky Novgorod - one of the largest cities in medieval Russia. Most of his biography will be connected with Novgorod. The first time Alexander came to this city as a baby was in the winter of 1223, when his father was invited to reign in Novgorod. However, the reign was short-lived: at the end of that year, having quarreled with the Novgorodians, Yaroslav and his family returned to Pereyaslavl. So Yaroslav will either put up, then quarrel with Novgorod, and then the same will happen again in the fate of Alexander.

This was explained simply: the Novgorodians needed a strong prince from North-Eastern Russia, close to them, so that he could protect the city from external enemies. However, such a prince ruled Novgorod too abruptly, and the townspeople usually soon quarreled with him and invited some southern Russian prince who did not annoy them too much to reign; and everything would be fine, but, alas, he could not protect them in case of danger, and he cared more about his southern possessions - so the Novgorodians had to again turn to the Vladimir or Pereyaslav princes for help, and everything was repeated anew.

Again Prince Yaroslav was invited to Novgorod in 1226. Two years later, the prince again left the city, but this time he left his sons in it as princes - nine-year-old Fyodor (his eldest son) and eight-year-old Alexander. The boyars of Yaroslav, Fyodor Danilovich and the princely tiun Yakim, remained with the children. They, however, failed to cope with the Novgorod "freemen" and in February 1229 had to flee with the princes to Pereyaslavl.

For a short time, Prince Mikhail Vsevolodovich Chernigov, a future martyr for the faith and a revered saint, established himself in Novgorod. But the southern Russian prince, who ruled remote Chernigov, could not protect the city from outside threats; besides, severe famine and pestilence began in Novgorod. In December 1230, the Novgorodians invited Yaroslav for the third time. He hastily arrived in Novgorod, concluded an agreement with the Novgorodians, but stayed in the city for only two weeks and returned to Pereyaslavl. His sons Fedor and Alexander again remained in reign in Novgorod.

Novgorod reign of Alexander

So, in January 1231, Alexander formally became the Prince of Novgorod. Until 1233 he ruled together with his elder brother. But this year Fedor died (his sudden death happened just before the wedding, when everything was already ready for the wedding feast). The real power remained entirely in the hands of his father. Probably, Alexander took part in his father's campaigns (for example, in 1234 near Yuryev, against the Livonian Germans, and in the same year against the Lithuanians). In 1236, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich took the vacant throne of Kyiv. From that time on, sixteen-year-old Alexander became the independent ruler of Novgorod.

The beginning of his reign fell on a terrible time in the history of Russia - the invasion of the Mongol-Tatars. The hordes of Batu, who attacked Russia in the winter of 1237/38, did not reach Novgorod. But most of North-Eastern Russia, its largest cities - Vladimir, Suzdal, Ryazan and others - were destroyed. Many princes died, including Alexander's uncle, the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yuri Vsevolodovich and all his sons. Alexander's father Yaroslav (1239) received the Grand Duke's throne. The catastrophe that occurred turned the whole course of Russian history upside down and left an indelible mark on the fate of the Russian people, including, of course, Alexander. Although in the first years of his reign he did not have to directly face the conquerors.

The main threat in those years came to Novgorod from the west. From the very beginning of the 13th century, the princes of Novgorod had to hold back the onslaught of the growing Lithuanian state. In 1239, Alexander built fortifications along the Shelon River, protecting the southwestern borders of his principality from Lithuanian raids. In the same year, an important event took place in his life - Alexander married the daughter of the Polotsk prince Bryachislav, his ally in the fight against Lithuania. (Later sources give the name of the princess - Alexandra (3).) The wedding was held in Toropets, an important city on the Russian-Lithuanian border, and a second wedding feast was held in Novgorod.

An even greater danger for Novgorod was the advance from the west of the German crusader knights from the Livonian Order of the Sword (merged in 1237 with the Teutonic Order), and from the north - Sweden, which in the first half of the 13th century intensified the offensive on the lands of the Finnish tribe em (tavasts), traditionally included in the sphere of influence of the Novgorod princes. One can think that the news of the terrible defeat of Batu Rus prompted the rulers of Sweden to transfer military operations to the territory of Novgorod proper.

The Swedish army invaded Novgorod in the summer of 1240. Their ships entered the Neva and stopped at the mouth of its tributary, the Izhora. Later Russian sources report that the Swedish army was led by the future Jarl Birger, the son-in-law of the Swedish king Erik Erikson and the long-term ruler of Sweden, but researchers are doubtful about this news. According to the chronicle, the Swedes intended to "capture Ladoga, simply say Novgorod, and the entire Novgorod region."

Battle with the Swedes on the Neva

This was the first truly serious test for the young Novgorod prince. And Alexander withstood it with honor, showing the qualities of not only a born commander, but also a statesman. It was then, upon receipt of the news of the invasion, that his famous words sounded: “ God is not in power, but in truth!»

Having gathered a small squad, Alexander did not wait for help from his father and went on a campaign. On the way, he connected with the Ladoga residents and on July 15 suddenly attacked the Swedish camp. The battle ended with a complete victory for the Russians. The Novgorod chronicle reports huge losses on the part of the enemy: “And many of them fell; they filled two ships with the bodies of the best husbands and let them go ahead of them on the sea, and for the rest they dug a hole and threw it there without a number.

The Russians, according to the same chronicle, lost only 20 people. It is possible that the losses of the Swedes are exaggerated (it is significant that there is no mention of this battle in Swedish sources), and the Russians are underestimated. A synodicon of the Novgorod church of Saints Boris and Gleb in Plotniki, compiled in the 15th century, has been preserved with the mention of “princely governors, and Novgorod governors, and all our beaten brethren” who fell “on the Neva from the Germans under Grand Duke Alexander Yaroslavich”; their memory was honored in Novgorod in the 15th and 16th centuries, and later. Nevertheless, the significance of the Battle of the Neva is obvious: the Swedish onslaught in the direction of North-Western Russia was stopped, and Russia showed that, despite the Mongol conquest, it was able to defend its borders.

The life of Alexander highlights the feat of six "brave men" from Alexander's regiment: Gavrila Oleksich, Sbyslav Yakunovich, Yakov from Polotsk, Misha from Novgorod, Sava's combatant from the younger squad (who cut down the golden-domed royal tent) and Ratmir, who died in the battle. The Life also tells about a miracle performed during the battle: on the opposite side of Izhora, where there were no Novgorodians at all, subsequently they found many corpses of fallen enemies, who were struck by the angel of the Lord.

This victory brought loud glory to the twenty-year-old prince. It was in her honor that he received the honorary nickname - Nevsky.

Shortly after the victorious return, Alexander quarreled with the Novgorodians. In the winter of 1240/41, the prince, together with his mother, wife and "his court" (that is, the army and the prince's administration), left Novgorod for Vladimir, to his father, and from there - "to reign" in Pereyaslavl. The reasons for his conflict with the Novgorodians are unclear. It can be assumed that Alexander sought to dominate Novgorod, following the example of his father, and this caused resistance from the Novgorod boyars. However, having lost a strong prince, Novgorod could not stop the advance of another enemy - the crusaders.

In the year of the Neva victory, the knights, in alliance with the “chud” (Estonians), captured the city of Izborsk, and then Pskov, the most important outpost on the western borders of Russia. The following year, the Germans invaded the Novgorod lands, took the city of Tesov on the Luga River and set up the Koporye fortress. Novgorodians turned to Yaroslav for help, asking him to send his son. Yaroslav first sent his son Andrei, Nevsky's younger brother, to them, but after a repeated request from the Novgorodians, he agreed to let Alexander go again. In 1241, Alexander Nevsky returned to Novgorod and was enthusiastically received by the inhabitants.

Battle on the Ice

Once again, he acted decisively and without any delay. In the same year, Alexander took the fortress of Koporye. He captured the Germans in part, and sent them home in part, but hanged the traitors of the Estonians and the leaders. The next year, with the Novgorodians and the Suzdal squad of his brother Andrei, Alexander moved to Pskov. The city was taken without much difficulty; the Germans who were in the city were killed or sent as booty to Novgorod. Developing success, Russian troops entered Estonia. However, in the first clash with the knights, Alexander's guard detachment was defeated.

One of the governors, Domash Tverdislavich, was killed, many were taken prisoner, and the survivors fled to the prince's regiment. The Russians had to retreat. On April 5, 1242, a battle took place on the ice of Lake Peipus ("on Uzmen, near the Raven Stone"), which went down in history as the Battle of the Ice. The Germans and Estonians, moving in a wedge (in Russian, “pig”), pierced the advanced Russian regiment, but were then surrounded and completely defeated. “And they chased after them, beating them, seven miles across the ice,” the chronicler testifies.

In assessing the losses of the German side, Russian and Western sources differ. According to the Novgorod chronicle, countless "chuds" and 400 (in another list 500) German knights died, and 50 knights were captured.

“And Prince Alexander returned with a glorious victory,” says the Life of the Saint, “and there were many prisoners in his army, and those who call themselves “God’s knights” were led barefoot near the horses.” There is also a story about this battle in the so-called Livonian rhymed chronicle of the end of the XIII century, but it reports only 20 dead and 6 captured German knights, which is, apparently, a strong understatement.

However, the differences with Russian sources can partly be explained by the fact that the Russians considered all the killed and wounded Germans, and the author of the Rhyming Chronicle - only "knight brothers", that is, full members of the Order.

The battle on the ice was of great importance for the fate of not only Novgorod, but the whole of Russia. Crusader aggression was stopped on the ice of Lake Peipsi. Russia received peace and stability on its northwestern borders.

In the same year, a peace treaty was concluded between Novgorod and the Order, according to which an exchange of prisoners took place, and all Russian territories occupied by the Germans were returned. The chronicle conveys the words of the German ambassadors addressed to Alexander: “What we occupied by force without Prince Vod, Luga, Pskov, Latygol - we retreat from everything. And if they captured your husbands, they are ready to exchange them: we will let yours go, and you will let ours go.

Battle with the Lithuanians

Success accompanied Alexander in battles with the Lithuanians. In 1245, he inflicted a severe defeat on them in a series of battles: near Toropets, near Zizhich and near Usvyat (near Vitebsk). Many Lithuanian princes were killed, and others were captured. “His servants, mocking, tied them to the tails of their horses,” says the author of the Life. “And from that time on they began to fear his name.” So the Lithuanian raids on Russia were also stopped for a while.

There is another, later Alexander's campaign against the Swedes - in 1256. It was undertaken in response to a new attempt by the Swedes to invade Russia and establish a fortress on the eastern, Russian, bank of the Narova River. By that time, the fame of Alexander's victories had already spread far beyond the borders of Russia. Having learned not even about the performance of the Russian rati from Novgorod, but only about the preparations for the performance, the invaders "ran away across the sea." This time, Alexander sent his squads to Northern Finland, recently annexed to the Swedish crown. Despite the hardships of the winter passage through the snowy desert terrain, the campaign ended successfully: “And Pomorie fought everything: they killed some, and took others in full, and returned back to their land with a lot of full.”

But Alexander not only fought with the West. Around 1251, an agreement was concluded between Novgorod and Norway on the settlement of border disputes and the delimitation of the collection of tribute from the vast territory inhabited by the Karelians and the Saami. At the same time, Alexander was negotiating the marriage of his son Vasily to the daughter of the Norwegian king Hakon Hakonarson. True, these negotiations were unsuccessful due to the invasion of Russia by the Tatars - the so-called "Nevryuev rati."

In the last years of his life, between 1259 and 1262, Alexander, on his own behalf and on behalf of his son Dmitry (proclaimed Prince of Novgorod in 1259) “with all Novgorodians” concluded a trade agreement with the “Gotsky Coast” (Gotland), Lubeck and German cities; this agreement played an important role in the history of Russian-German relations and proved to be very durable (it was referred to even in 1420).

In wars with Western opponents - the Germans, Swedes and Lithuanians - Alexander Nevsky's military leadership talent was clearly manifested. But his relationship with the Horde developed in a completely different way.

Relations with the Horde

After the death in 1246 of Alexander's father, the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, who was poisoned in faraway Karakorum, the throne passed to Alexander's uncle, Prince Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich. However, a year later, Alexander's brother Andrei, a warlike, energetic and decisive prince, overthrew him. Subsequent events are not entirely clear. It is known that in 1247 Andrei, and after him Alexander, made a trip to the Horde, to Batu. He sent them even further, to Karakorum, the capital of the vast Mongol Empire (“to the Kanovichi,” as they said in Russia).

The brothers returned to Russia only in December 1249. Andrei received from the Tatars a label to the grand-ducal throne in Vladimir, while Alexander received Kyiv and “the whole Russian land” (that is, Southern Russia). Formally, the status of Alexander was higher, because Kyiv was still considered the main capital city of Russia. But ruined by the Tatars and depopulated, he completely lost his significance, and therefore Alexander could hardly be satisfied with the decision made. Even without stopping in Kyiv, he immediately went to Novgorod.

Negotiations with the papacy

By the time of Alexander's trip to the Horde are his negotiations with the papal throne. Two bulls of Pope Innocent IV, addressed to Prince Alexander and dated 1248, have survived. In them, the primate of the Roman Church offered the Russian prince an alliance to fight against the Tatars - but on condition that he accepted the church union and transferred under the protection of the Roman throne.

Papal legates did not find Alexander in Novgorod. However, one can think that even before his departure (and before receiving the first papal message), the prince held some kind of negotiations with representatives of Rome. In anticipation of the upcoming trip "to the Kanovichi," Alexander gave an evasive answer to the pope's proposals, calculated to continue negotiations. In particular, he agreed to the construction of a Latin church in Pskov - a church, which was quite common for ancient Russia (such a Catholic church - the "Varangian goddess" - existed, for example, in Novgorod since the 11th century). The pope regarded the prince's consent as a readiness to agree to a union. But this assessment was deeply erroneous.

The prince probably received both papal messages already upon his return from Mongolia. By this time, he had made a choice - and not in favor of the West. According to researchers, what he saw on the way from Vladimir to Karakorum and back made a strong impression on Alexander: he was convinced of the invincible power of the Mongol Empire and the impossibility of ruined and weakened Russia to resist the power of the Tatar "kings".

This is how the Life of his prince conveys famous response to papal envoys:

“Once upon a time, ambassadors from the pope from great Rome came to him with these words: “Our dad says this: We heard that you are a worthy and glorious prince and your land is great. That is why they sent two of the most skillful cardinals to you ... so that you listen to their teaching about the law of God.

Prince Alexander, having thought with his wise men, wrote to him, saying: “From Adam to the flood, from the flood to the division of languages, from the confusion of languages ​​\u200b\u200bto the beginning of Abraham, from Abraham to the passage of Israel through the Red Sea, from the exodus of the sons of Israel to death King David, from the beginning of the kingdom of Solomon to August the king, from the beginning of August to the Nativity of Christ, from the Nativity of Christ to the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord, from His Resurrection to the Ascension to heaven, from the Ascension to heaven and to the kingdom of Constantine, from the beginning of the kingdom of Constantine to the first council, from the first council to the seventh - all that we know well, but we do not accept teachings from you". They returned home."

In this answer of the prince, in his unwillingness to even enter into a debate with the Latin ambassadors, it was by no means any of his religious limitations, as it might seem at first glance. It was a choice both religious and political. Alexander was aware that the West would not be able to help Russia in liberation from the Horde yoke; the struggle with the Horde, to which the papal throne called, could be disastrous for the country. Alexander was not ready to go to a union with Rome (namely, this was an indispensable condition for the proposed union).

The acceptance of the union—even with the formal consent of Rome to the preservation of all Orthodox rites in worship—in practice could only mean simple submission to the Latins, both political and spiritual at the same time. The history of the dominance of the Latins in the Baltics or in Galicia (where they briefly established themselves in the 10s of the XIII century) clearly proved this.

So Prince Alexander chose a different path for himself - the path of refusing any cooperation with the West and at the same time the path of forced obedience to the Horde, accepting all its conditions. It was in this that he saw the only salvation both for his power over Russia - albeit limited by the recognition of the Horde's sovereignty - and for Russia itself.

The period of the short great reign of Andrei Yaroslavich is very poorly covered in Russian chronicles. However, it is clear that a conflict was brewing between the brothers. Andrei - unlike Alexander - showed himself to be an opponent of the Tatars. In the winter of 1250/51, he married the daughter of the Galician prince Daniel Romanovich, a supporter of resolute resistance to the Horde. The threat of unification of the forces of North-Eastern and South-Western Russia could not but alarm the Horde.

The denouement came in the summer of 1252. Again, we do not know exactly what happened then. According to the chronicles, Alexander again went to the Horde. During his stay there (and perhaps already after returning to Russia), a punitive expedition was sent from the Horde against Andrei under the command of Nevruy. In the battle near Pereyaslavl, the squad of Andrei and his brother Yaroslav, who supported him, was defeated. Andrei fled to Sweden. The northeastern lands of Russia were plundered and devastated, many people were killed or taken prisoner.

In the Horde

The sources at our disposal are silent about any connection between Alexander's trip to the Horde and the actions of the Tatars (4). However, one can guess that Alexander's trip to the Horde was associated with changes on the khan's throne in Karakorum, where in the summer of 1251 Mengu, an ally of Batu, was proclaimed great khan.

According to sources, “all the labels and seals that were indiscriminately issued to princes and nobles in the previous reign,” the new khan ordered to be taken away. So, those decisions, in accordance with which Alexander's brother Andrei received a label for the great reign of Vladimir, also lost their force.

Unlike his brother, Alexander was extremely interested in revising these decisions and getting into his own hands the great reign of Vladimir, to which he, as the eldest of the Yaroslavichs, had more rights than his younger brother.

One way or another, but in the last open military clash between the Russian princes and the Tatars in the history of the turning point of the 13th century, Prince Alexander found himself - perhaps through no fault of his own - in the camp of the Tatars. Since that time, one can definitely talk about the special "Tatar policy" of Alexander Nevsky - the policy of appeasement of the Tatars and unquestioning obedience to them.

His subsequent frequent trips to the Horde (1257, 1258, 1262) were aimed at preventing new invasions of Russia. The prince strove to regularly pay a huge tribute to the conquerors and not allow speeches against them in Russia itself. Historians assess the Horde policy of Alexander in different ways. Some see in it a simple servility to a ruthless and invincible enemy, the desire by any means to keep power over Russia in their hands; others, on the contrary, consider the most important merit of the prince.

“Two feats of Alexander Nevsky - the feat of war in the West and the feat of humility in the East,” wrote G.V. Vernadsky, the leading historian of the Russian Diaspora, “had one goal: the preservation of Orthodoxy as the moral and political strength of the Russian people. This goal was achieved: the growth of the Russian Orthodox kingdom took place on the soil prepared by Alexander.

The Soviet researcher of medieval Russia V. T. Pashuto also gave a close assessment of the policy of Alexander Nevsky: “With his cautious prudent policy, he saved Russia from final ruin by the armies of nomads. Armed with struggle, trade policy, selective diplomacy, he avoided new wars in the North and West, a possible, but disastrous for Russia, alliance with the papacy and the rapprochement of the curia and the crusaders with the Horde. He bought time, allowing Russia to get stronger and recover from the terrible devastation.

Be that as it may, it is indisputable that the policy of Alexander determined the relationship between Russia and the Horde for a long time, and largely determined the choice of Russia between East and West. Subsequently, this policy of appeasing the Horde (or, if you like, currying favor with the Horde) will be continued by the Moscow princes - the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Alexander Nevsky. But the historical paradox - or rather, the historical pattern - lies in the fact that it is they, the heirs of the Horde policy of Alexander Nevsky, who will be able to revive the power of Russia and eventually throw off the hated Horde yoke.

The prince erected churches, built cities

... In the same 1252, Alexander returned from the Horde to Vladimir with a label for a great reign and was solemnly placed on the grand throne. After the terrible ruin of Nevryuev, he first of all had to take care of the restoration of the destroyed Vladimir and other Russian cities. The prince “erected churches, rebuilt cities, gathered dispersed people into their houses,” testifies the author of the princely Life. The prince showed special care in relation to the Church, decorating churches with books and utensils, favoring them with rich gifts and land.

Novgorod unrest

Novgorod gave Alexander a lot of anxiety. In 1255, the Novgorodians expelled the son of Alexander Vasily and put Prince Yaroslav Yaroslavich, brother of Nevsky, to reign. Alexander approached the city with his squad. However, bloodshed was avoided: as a result of negotiations, a compromise was reached, and the Novgorodians submitted.

New unrest in Novgorod occurred in 1257. It was caused by the appearance in Russia of the Tatar "numerals" - census takers of the population, who were sent from the Horde to more accurately tax the population with tribute. Russian people of that time treated the census with mystical horror, seeing in it the sign of the Antichrist - a harbinger of the last times and the Last Judgment. In the winter of 1257, the Tatar "numerals" "counted the entire land of Suzdal, and Ryazan, and Murom, and appointed foremen, and thousands, and temniks," the chronicler wrote. From the "number", that is, from tribute, only the clergy - "church people" were exempted (the Mongols invariably exempted the servants of God in all the countries they conquered, regardless of religion, so that they could freely turn to various gods with words of prayer for their conquerors).

In Novgorod, which was not directly affected by either the Batu invasion or the Nevryuev army, the news of the census was met with particular bitterness. Unrest in the city continued for a whole year. Even the son of Alexander, Prince Vasily, turned out to be on the side of the townspeople. When his father appeared, who accompanied the Tatars, he fled to Pskov. This time, the Novgorodians avoided the census, limiting themselves to paying a rich tribute to the Tatars. But their refusal to fulfill the will of the Horde provoked the wrath of the Grand Duke.

Vasily was exiled to Suzdal, the instigators of the riots were severely punished: some, on the orders of Alexander, were executed, others had their noses cut off, and others were blinded. Only in the winter of 1259 did the Novgorodians finally agree to "give a number." Nevertheless, the appearance of Tatar officials caused a new rebellion in the city. Only with the personal participation of Alexander and under the protection of the princely squad, the census was carried out. “And the accursed ones began to ride through the streets, copying Christian houses,” reports the Novgorod chronicler. After the end of the census and the departure of the Tatars, Alexander left Novgorod, leaving his young son Dmitry as prince.

In 1262, Alexander made peace with the Lithuanian prince Mindovg. In the same year, he sent a large army under the nominal command of his son Dmitry against the Livonian Order. The squads of the younger brother of Alexander Nevsky Yaroslav (with whom he managed to reconcile), as well as his new ally, the Lithuanian prince Tovtivil, who settled in Polotsk, took part in this campaign. The campaign ended with a major victory - the city of Yuryev (Tartu) was taken.

At the end of the same 1262, Alexander went to the Horde for the fourth (and last) time. “There was great violence in those days from the infidels,” says the princely Life, “they persecuted Christians, forcing them to fight on their side. The great prince Alexander went to the king (Khan of the Horde Berke. - A.K.) to pray for his people from this misfortune. Probably, the prince also sought to rid Russia of a new punitive expedition of the Tatars: in the same 1262, a popular uprising broke out in a number of Russian cities (Rostov, Suzdal, Yaroslavl) against the excesses of the Tatar tribute collectors.

The Last Days of Alexander

Alexander apparently succeeded in achieving his goals. However, Khan Berke detained him for almost a year. Only in the autumn of 1263, already sick, Alexander returned to Russia. Having reached Nizhny Novgorod, the prince fell completely ill. In Gorodets on the Volga, already feeling the approach of death, Alexander took monastic vows (according to later sources, with the name of Alexei) and died on November 14. His body was transported to Vladimir and on November 23 he was buried in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Mother of God of the Vladimir Nativity Monastery with a huge gathering of people. The words with which Metropolitan Kirill announced to the people about the death of the Grand Duke are known: “My children, know that the sun of the land of Suzdal has already set!” In a different way - and perhaps more accurately - the Novgorod chronicler put it: Prince Alexander "worked for Novgorod and for the whole Russian land."

church veneration

Church veneration of the holy prince apparently began immediately after his death. The Life tells of a miracle that happened at the very burial: when the prince’s body was placed in the tomb and Metropolitan Kirill, as usual, wanted to put a spiritual letter in his hand, people saw how the prince, “as if alive, stretched out his hand and accepted the letter from the hand metropolitan... So God glorified his saint.”

A few decades after the death of the prince, his Life was compiled, which subsequently was repeatedly subjected to various alterations, revisions and additions (in total there are up to twenty editions of the Life dating from the 13th-19th centuries). The official canonization of the prince by the Russian Church took place in 1547, at a church council convened by Metropolitan Macarius and Tsar Ivan the Terrible, when many new Russian miracle workers, previously revered only locally, were canonized as saints. The Church equally glorifies the military prowess of the prince, “in no way is conquered in battles, always conquering,” and his feat of meekness, patience “more than courage” and “invincible humility” (according to the outwardly paradoxical expression of the Akathist).

If we turn to the subsequent centuries of Russian history, then we will see, as it were, a second, posthumous biography of the prince, whose invisible presence is clearly felt in many events - and above all in the turning, most dramatic moments in the life of the country. The first acquisition of his relics took place in the year of the great Kulikovo victory, won by the great-grandson of Alexander Nevsky, the great Moscow prince Dmitry Donskoy in 1380. In miraculous visions, Prince Alexander Yaroslavich appears as a direct participant in both the Battle of Kulikovo itself and the Battle of Molodi in 1572, when the troops of Prince Mikhail Ivanovich Vorotynsky defeated the Crimean Khan Devlet Giray just 45 kilometers from Moscow.

The image of Alexander Nevsky is seen over Vladimir in 1491, a year after the final overthrow of the Horde yoke. In 1552, during a campaign against Kazan, which led to the conquest of the Kazan Khanate, Tsar Ivan the Terrible performed a prayer service at the tomb of Alexander Nevsky, and during this prayer service a miracle occurred, regarded by everyone as a sign of the coming victory. The relics of the holy prince, which remained until 1723 in the Vladimir Nativity Monastery, exuded numerous miracles, information about which was carefully recorded by the monastery authorities.

A new page in the veneration of the holy and faithful Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky began in the 18th century, under the emperor Peter the Great. The winner of the Swedes and the founder of St. Petersburg, which became a “window to Europe” for Russia, Peter saw in Prince Alexander his immediate predecessor in the fight against Swedish dominance in the Baltic Sea and hastened to transfer the city he founded on the banks of the Neva under his heavenly patronage. Back in 1710, Peter ordered that the name of St. Alexander Nevsky be included in the holidays during divine services as a prayer representative for the “Neva Country”. In the same year, he personally chose a place to build a monastery in the name of the Holy Trinity and St. Alexander Nevsky - the future Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Peter wanted to transfer the relics of the holy prince here from Vladimir.

The wars with the Swedes and the Turks slowed down the fulfillment of this desire, and only in 1723 did they begin to fulfill it. On August 11, with all due solemnity, the holy relics were carried out of the Nativity Monastery; the procession went to Moscow, and then to St. Petersburg; everywhere she was accompanied by prayers and crowds of believers. According to Peter's plan, the holy relics were supposed to be brought to the new capital of Russia on August 30 - on the day of the conclusion of the Treaty of Nystadt with the Swedes (1721). However, the distance of the journey did not allow this plan to be carried out, and the relics arrived in Shlisselburg only on October 1. By order of the emperor, they were left in the Shlisselburg Church of the Annunciation, and their transfer to St. Petersburg was postponed until next year.

The meeting of the shrine in St. Petersburg on August 30, 1724 was distinguished by special solemnity. According to legend, on the last leg of the journey (from the mouth of the Izhora to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery), Peter personally ruled the galley with a precious cargo, and his closest associates, the first dignitaries of the state, were at the oars. At the same time, the annual celebration of the memory of the holy prince was established on the day of the transfer of relics on August 30.

Today the Church celebrates the memory of the holy and faithful Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky twice a year: on November 23 (December 6, New Style) and on August 30 (September 12).

Days of the celebration of St. Alexander Nevsky:

• May 23 (June 5, New Style) - Cathedral of the Rostov-Yaroslavl Saints
• August 30 (September 12 according to the New Style) - the day of the transfer of relics to St. Petersburg (1724) - the main
• November 14 (November 27, New Style) - death day in Gorodets (1263) - canceled
• November 23 (December 6, New Style) - the day of burial in Vladimir, in the schema of Alexy (1263)

Prayer to the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky

(to schema-monk Alexy)

A speedy helper to all those who zealously resort to you, and our warm intercessor before the Lord, holy noble Grand Duke Alexander! look graciously upon us, unworthy, who have created many iniquities unnecessarily for yourself, now flowing to your relics and crying out from the depths of your soul: you were a zealot and defender of the Orthodox faith in your life, and we are unshakably affirmed in it with your warm prayers to God. You carefully passed the great service entrusted to you, and with your help to stay every time, in what you are called to eat, instruct. You, having defeated the regiments of adversaries, drove you away from the limits of the Russian verse, and overthrow all the visible and invisible enemies who are taking up arms against us. You, having left the perishable crown of the kingdom of the earth, have chosen a silent life, and now, righteously crowned with an incorruptible crown, reigning in heaven, intercede for us, we humbly pray to you, a quiet and serene life, and to the eternal Kingdom of God, a steady march, build us. Standing with all the saints on the throne of God, praying for all Orthodox Zristians, may the Lord God save them with His grace in peace, health, long life and all prosperity in the coming years, may we praise and bless God, in the Trinity of the Holy Glory, the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion, Tone 4:
Recognize your brethren, Russian Joseph, not in Egypt, but reigning in heaven, faithful to Prince Alexandra, and accept their prayers, multiplying the life of people with the fruitfulness of your land, protecting the cities of your dominion with prayer, fighting with Orthodox people against resisting.

Ying troparion, Voice of the same:
Like a pious root, the most honorable branch was thou, blessed Alexandra, for Christ, as a kind of Divine treasure of the Russian land, the new miracle worker is glorious and God-pleasing. And today, having come down in your memory with faith and love, in psalms and singing, we rejoice in glorifying the Lord, who has given you the grace of healing. Pray him to save this city, and to our God-pleasing country, and to be saved by the sons of Russia.

Kontakion, Tone 8:
We honor you like a most bright star, which shone from the east, and came to the west, enriching this whole country with miracles and kindness, and enlighten those who honor your memory with faith, blessed Alexandra. For this reason, today we are celebrating your dormition, your people, pray to save your Fatherland, and all those who flow to the race of your relics, and rightly crying out to you: Rejoice, affirmation of our city.

In kontakion, Tone 4:
It’s like your relatives, Boris and Gleb, appearing to help you from Heaven, who is ascetic to Veilger Svejsky and howling him: so are you now, blessed Alexandra, come to the aid of your relatives, and overcome us who fight.

The symbol of Russia, the name of Russia, the great commander Prince Alexander Nevsky was one of the most significant figures of Ancient Russia in the 13th century.

He was famous both as a military figure and as a wise politician. His work was of unsurpassed importance for the construction of the Russian state. He will forever remain in people's memory. He was loved by his contemporaries, his descendants are proud of him. Immediately after his death, The Tale of the Life of Alexander Nevsky appeared, describing the life and victories of this great man. The death of the prince was a great blow to everyone. He is considered a saint, and in 1547 he was officially canonized.

What are the merits of Alexander Nevsky? This noble prince, like all people, was not ideal. He had his advantages and disadvantages. But in the centuries there was information about him as a wise ruler, a valiant military leader, a merciful and virtuous person.

The 13th century is a time in the history of our people when there was no centralized power, feudal princes ruled over their estates and waged internecine wars. All this made the Russian land helpless in the face of the impending danger in the face of the Tatar-Mongol. In this difficult time for Russia in 1231, Alexander became the Grand Duke of Novgorod. But his father, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, had real power, while Alexander took part in military campaigns with his father.

In 1236, when his father occupies the throne of Kyiv, Alexander becomes the full ruler of Novgorod. He was then 16 years old. Already in 1237-1238, the hordes of Batu destroyed many Russian cities: Vladimir, Ryazan, Suzdal. It was not difficult for the Tatar-Mongols to establish their power over the scattered Russian principalities. At the same time, Novgorod survived, and the main threat to it was the Lithuanian and German knights who attacked from the west, and the Swedes from the north. Already at the age of twenty, Alexander led the army in the battle with the Swedes on the Neva, which took place on July 15, 1240.

Before the battle, the prince prayed for a long time in the church of Hagia Sophia, then received a blessing and said to the soldiers these words: “God is not in power, but in truth. Some - with weapons, others - on horseback, but we will call on the Name of the Lord our God! So for the truth, for Russia, for God, the young prince went to battle and won a victory, which became the first in a long series of victories of the great commander. Since that time, Prince Alexander began to be called Nevsky. As a commander, he was rightfully considered great, since he did not lose a single battle.

But not only for military merits, he was loved by the people. His courage and military genius were combined with nobility: not once did Alexander raise his sword against his Russian brothers and did not participate in princely showdowns. Perhaps this provided him with popular veneration and glory through the ages. He knew how to say such a fiery word to his people, which united, instilled faith and uplifted the spirit.

This prayer-warrior showed himself to be a far-sighted and wise statesman. He defended the interests of not only the principality of Novgorod, but also of all the northeastern lands. Through his efforts, Russia and its originality have been preserved to this day. After all, it was Alexander who built his domestic and foreign policy in such a way as to protect Russian lands from destruction. For this, he repeatedly acted as an ambassador to Batu Khan from all Russian princes. He concluded appropriate peace treaties with both the Tatar-Mongols and the Norwegians. His clear mind, precise miscalculations, desire to create were extremely important for the future unification of the Russian lands around the Moscow principality.

The prince's campaigns in the Finnish land and trips to Saray were useful not only for strengthening the external authority of Russia. The bright word of the Gospel was conveyed to Pomorie itself, and the diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church was established in the capital of the Golden Horde. Thus, the prince was also a preacher who contributed to the spread of the Word of God on earth. The Christianization of the pagans of the East is now considered the historical mission of Russia.

Prince Alexander never returned from his last trip. His death was compared to the sunset for the entire Russian land. He died on November 14, 1263, and was buried on November 23 at the Vladimir Nativity Monastery. Taking into account the merits of the prince to the fatherland, Tsar Peter I in 1724 ordered his relics to be transferred to St. Petersburg, where they are stored in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery.

After the death of Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, he was canonized as a saint. But the glory of him, his military exploits and good deeds remained among the people forever.

Why is it considered a saint, you will learn from this article.

Why is Alexander Nevsky canonized as a saint?

Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky died on November 14, 1263 in Gorodets and was buried in Vladimir in the Nativity Monastery. Almost immediately, his veneration began in Vladimir-Suzdal Russia. And later the prince was canonized.

According to the "canonical" version, Prince Alexander Nevsky played an important role in Russian history. In the XIII century, great Russia was attacked from three sides - the Mongol-Tatars, the Catholic West and Lithuania. KnyazNevsky, who had never lost a single battle in his entire life, showed great talent as a diplomat and commander, made peace with a stronger enemy - the Golden Horde. Enlisting the support of the Horde, he repelled the German attack, while at the same time protecting Orthodoxy from Catholic expansion.

Already in the 1280s, the veneration of Prince Alexander Nevsky as a saint began in Vladimir, later he was officially canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. Alexander Nevsky was the only secular Orthodox ruler not only in Russia, but throughout Europe, who did not compromise with the Catholic Church in order to maintain power.

With the active participation of Dmitry Alexandrovich, his son, and Metropolitan Kirill, a life story was written. For the feat of endurance and patience, Alexander Nevsky was canonized in 1549, and the Alexander Nevsky Lavra was founded in his honor in 1710.

Veneration as Saint Alexander Nevsky began long before the prince was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1547. Where people sincerely and from the bottom of their hearts asked him for a miracle, it certainly happened. Legends say that the holy prince got up from the tomb and encouraged his compatriots to perform feats, for example, in 1380 on the eve of the Battle of Kulikovo.

In memory of the holy prince, a monastery was built in St. Petersburg, the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, where, by decree of Peter the Great, in 1724 the relics of Nevsky were transferred. Peter the Great also decided to celebrate on August 30 the day of memory of Alexander Nevsky, in honor of the conclusion of a victorious peace with Sweden.

His father, Yaroslav, was the youngest son of Vsevolod III the Big Nest, his mother was Feodosia Igorevna, a Ryazan princess. Alexander was their second son (the eldest son, Prince Theodore, died at the age of 15).

Alexander's childhood passed in Pereslavl-Zalessky, where his father reigned. In the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral of Pereslavl, young Alexander was tonsured a prince (a rite of initiation into soldiers).

From an early age, Alexander accompanied his father on campaigns. In 1235, he was a participant in the battle on the Emajõgi River (in present-day Estonia), where Yaroslav's troops utterly defeated the Germans. In the next 1236, Yaroslav leaves for Kyiv, "planting" his son, Alexander, to reign in Novgorod on his own.

In 1239, Alexander entered into marriage, taking as his wife the daughter of the Polotsk prince Bryachislav.

A difficult time began in the history of Russia: the Mongol hordes were coming from the east, the Swedes and Germans were advancing from the west. To repulse the enemy, Prince Alexander led the Russian troops. After the landing of the Swedish troops at the confluence of the Izhora River with the Neva, Prince Alexander with a small retinue on July 15, 1240, suddenly attacked the Swedes and completely defeated their large army, revealing exceptional courage in battle. The Battle of the Neva in 1240 averted the threat of an enemy invasion from the north. For this victory, the people called Prince Alexander Nevsky.

The victory strengthened the political influence of Alexander Nevsky, but at the same time contributed to the aggravation of his relations with the boyars, as a result of clashes with which he was forced to leave Novgorod. After the invasion of the Livonian knights into Russia, the Novgorodians sent representatives to Alexander Nevsky, in 1241 he returned and quickly gathered an army that expelled the invaders from Russian cities (assault on Koporye and Pskov).

In the winter of 1242, Alexander liberated Pskov, and on April 5 gave the Teutonic Order a decisive battle on the ice of Lake Peipsi. The Crusaders were completely defeated. The name of Prince Alexander became famous throughout Holy Russia.

He continued to strengthen the northwestern borders of Russia: he sent an embassy to Norway, which resulted in the first peace agreement between Russia and Norway (1251), made a successful campaign in Finland against the Swedes, who made a new attempt to close the Russian access to the Baltic Sea (1256).

In relations with the Golden Horde, Alexander Nevsky acted as a cautious and far-sighted politician. In 1249, he decisively rejected the proposal of Pope Innocent IV to convert to the "Latin faith" and conclude an alliance for a joint fight against the Tatar-Mongols. Having received in 1252 the khan's label for the great reign of Vladimir, Nevsky resolutely suppressed the rebellions against the "chimers" (against the Horde census) and tribute collectors, preventing new destructive campaigns against Russia from the East and simultaneously seeking important political benefits. Four times he went to the Horde, achieved the release of the Russians from the obligation to act as an army on the side of the Tatar khans in their wars with other peoples.

The Grand Duke died on November 27 (14 according to the old style), 1263 in Gorodets, not far from Vladimir, returning from another trip to the Golden Horde.

Before his death, he took the schema (monastic vows) under the name Alexy.

On December 6 (November 23, old style), 1263, Prince Alexander Nevsky was buried in the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery in Vladimir. In 1380, the imperishable relics of the prince were opened for local worship.

Prince Alexander Nevsky was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church as a faithful under Metropolitan Macarius at the Moscow Council of 1547.

On September 12, 1724, the relics of the holy noble Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, by order of Peter the Great, were transferred to St. Petersburg to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, where they still rest in the Lavrovsky Cathedral in a silver reliquary donated by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. From that moment on, Saint Alexander Yaroslavich, along with the holy apostles Peter and Paul, became the Russian heavenly patron of the northern capital of Russia. A piece of the relics of the holy noble prince Alexander Nevsky is located in the Alexander Nevsky Temple in the city of Sofia (Bulgaria). Also, part of the relics (little finger) is located in the Assumption Cathedral in the city of Vladimir.

In pre-revolutionary Russia, on May 21, 1725, the Order of Alexander Nevsky was established, on July 29, 1942, the Soviet military order of Alexander Nevsky was established in honor of the great commander.

Numerous churches are dedicated to St. Alexander Nevsky outside of Russia. The most famous of them are the Patriarchal Cathedral in Sofia, the Cathedral in Tallinn, the temple in Tbilisi.

The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources

The name "Alexander" comes from the ancient Greek words "aleks" - to protect and "andros" - husband, man, that is, "protector of people." Saint Alexanders of the early centuries of Christianity are mostly martyrs who suffered for the confession of Christ. About many of them, except for the name, history has preserved very scarce information. The first Russian saint with the name Alexander is considered to be Prince Alexander Nevsky. He was not only an outstanding politician and one of the largest statesmen of a turning point in the history of Russia, but also the "heavenly protector" of the Russian Land, as he was called in Russia. He became a national saint, the patron saint of St. Petersburg and the Russian Empire. The name of the holy noble prince Alexander Nevsky was borne by three pious Russian emperors and the Christian commander A.V. Suvorov. The assembly of saints of the Russian Orthodox Church included the Monks Alexander Svirsky, Alexander Vologda, Alexander Oshevensky, Alexander Vochsky. Through the prayers of these monks, according to the words of St. Demetrius of Rostov, the Lord sustains this world. About Orthodox people with the name Alexander, who left their glorious mark in the history of Russia, is described in this book.

Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky

Warrior Prince

Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky (monastic Alexy) was born on May 30, 1220 in the city of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. His father, Yaroslav, "prince meek, merciful and philanthropic", was the youngest son of Vsevolod III the Big Nest, the brother of the holy noble prince Yuri Vsevolodovich. Mother, Feodosia Igorevna, Ryazan princess, was the third wife of Yaroslav. The elder brother of Alexander was the holy noble prince Theodore, who reposed in the Lord at the age of 15.

The princely tonsure of the youth Alexander (the rite of initiation into the warriors) was performed in the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky by St. Simon, Bishop of Suzdal, one of the compilers of the Kiev Caves Patericon. From the grace-filled elder-hierarch, Saint Alexander received his first blessing for military service in the name of God, for the defense of the Russian Church and the Russian land.

In 1227, Prince Yaroslav, at the request of the people of Novgorod, was sent by his brother, the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yuri, to reign in Novgorod the Great. He took with him his sons Theodore and Alexander. The Novgorodians, dissatisfied with the princes of Vladimir, soon invited St. Michael of Chernigov to reign, and in February 1229 Yaroslav and his sons left for Pereyaslavl. The matter ended peacefully: in 1230, Yaroslav and his sons returned to Novgorod, and the daughter of St. Michael, Theodulia, became engaged to St. Theodore, the elder brother of St. Alexander. After the death of her fiancé in 1233, the young princess went to a monastery and became famous in her monastic deed as St. Euphrosyne of Suzdal.

From an early age, Alexander accompanied his father on campaigns. In 1235, he was a participant in the battle on the Emajõgi River (in present-day Estonia), where Yaroslav's troops utterly defeated the Germans. In 1236, Yaroslav left for Kyiv, "planting" his 16-year-old son Alexander to reign in Novgorod on his own. In 1239, Alexander entered into marriage, taking as his wife the daughter of the Polotsk prince Bryachislav. Some historians claim that the princess in Baptism was the namesake of her holy husband and bore the name of Alexander. Prince Yaroslav blessed them at the wedding with the holy miraculous icon of the Theodore Mother of God (in Baptism, Yaroslav received the name Theodore). This icon was then constantly with St. Alexander as his prayer image, and then in memory of him was taken from the Gorodetsky monastery, where he died, by his brother, Vasily Yaroslavich Kostroma, and transferred to Kostroma.

The most difficult time in the history of Russia began: the Mongol hordes marched from the east, destroying everything in their path, the German knightly hordes approached from the west, blasphemously calling themselves, with the blessing of the Pope, "crusaders", bearers of the Cross of the Lord. In this formidable hour, the Providence of God erected for the salvation of Russia the holy prince Alexander - the great warrior-prayer book, ascetic and builder of the Russian land. "Without God's command, there would be no reign of him." Taking advantage of the invasion of Batu, the defeat of Russian cities, the confusion and grief of the people, the death of his best sons and leaders, the hordes of crusaders invaded the borders of Russia. The first were the Swedes. “The king of the Roman faith from the Midnight country”, Sweden, gathered a great army in 1240 and sent it to the Neva on many ships under the command of his son-in-law, jarl (that is, prince) Birger. The proud Swede sent messengers to Novgorod to St. Alexander: "If you can, resist - I'm already here and captivating your land."

Saint Alexander, who was not yet 20 years old at that time, prayed for a long time in the church of St. Sophia, the Wisdom of God. And, remembering the psalm of David, he said: "Judge, Lord, those who offend me and rebuke those who fight with me, take up arms and a shield, stand to help me." Archbishop Spiridon blessed the holy prince and his army for battle. Leaving the temple, Alexander strengthened the squad with faith-filled words: “God is not in power, but in truth. Some with weapons, others on horseback, but we will call on the name of the Lord our God! They staggered and fell, but we rose up and stood firm.” With a small retinue, relying on the Holy Trinity, the prince hastened to the enemies - there was no time to wait for help from his father, who did not yet know about the attack of the enemies.

But there was a wonderful omen: the warrior Pelgusius (Philip in holy Baptism) who was standing in the marine patrol saw at dawn on July 15 a boat sailing on the sea, and on it the holy martyrs Boris and Gleb in scarlet robes. And Boris said: “Brother Gleb, let us row, let us help our relative Alexander.” When Pelgui told the prince about the vision, Saint Alexander commanded, out of piety, not to tell anyone about the miracle, and he himself, encouraged, courageously led the army against the Swedes with prayer. “And there was a great slaughter with the Latins, and he killed their countless multitude, and he put a seal on the leader’s face with his sharp spear.” The angel of God invisibly helped the Orthodox army: when morning came, on the other side of the Izhora River, where the Russian soldiers could not pass, many slain enemies were found. For this victory on the Neva River, won on July 15, 1240, the people named St. Alexander Nevsky.

The German knights remained a dangerous enemy. In 1241, with a lightning campaign, Prince Alexander returned the ancient Russian fortress of Koporye, expelling the knights. But in 1242 the Germans managed to capture Pskov. Enemies boasted of "subjugating the entire Slavic people." St. Alexander, having set out on a winter campaign, liberated Pskov, this ancient home of the Holy Trinity, and in the spring of 1242 gave the Teutonic Order a decisive battle. On April 5, 1242, both troops met on the ice of Lake Peipsi. Raising his hands to heaven, Saint Alexander prayed: “Judge me, God, and judge my feud with the eloquent people and help me, God, as of old Moses against Amalek and my great-grandfather, Yaroslav the Wise, against the accursed Svyatopolk.” Through his prayer, the help of God and the feat of arms, the crusaders were completely defeated. There was a terrible slaughter, such a crack was heard from breaking spears and swords that it seemed as if the frozen lake had moved, and no ice could be seen, for it was covered with blood. The soldiers of Alexandrov chased and flogged the enemies who were put to flight, “as if they were rushing through the air, and there was nowhere for the enemy to run.” Many captives were then led after the holy prince, and they went ashamed.

Contemporaries clearly understood the worldwide historical significance of the Battle of the Ice: the name of Prince Alexander became famous throughout Holy Russia, "in all countries, to the Sea of ​​Egypt and to the mountains of Ararat, on both sides of the Varangian Sea and to great Rome." The western limits of the Russian land were securely fenced, it was time to protect Russia from the east. In 1242, Alexander Nevsky with his father, Yaroslav, went to the Horde. Metropolitan Kirill blessed them for a new laborious service: it was necessary to turn the Tatars from enemies and robbers into respectful allies, they needed "the meekness of a dove and the wisdom of a snake."

The Lord crowned the sacred mission of the defenders of the Russian land with success, but it took years of labor and sacrifice. Prince Yaroslav gave his life for this. Having concluded an alliance with Khan Batu, he had, however, to go in 1246 to distant Mongolia, to the capital of the entire nomadic empire. The position of Batu himself was difficult, he sought support from the Russian princes, wanting to separate with his Golden Horde from distant Mongolia. And there, in turn, they did not trust either Batu or the Russians. Prince Yaroslav was poisoned. He died in torment, only 10 days outliving the holy martyr Michael of Chernigov, with whom he had once almost become related. The alliance bequeathed by the father with the Golden Horde - necessary then to prevent a new defeat of Russia - continued to strengthen St. Alexander Nevsky. The son of Batu, who converted to Christianity, Sartak, who was in charge of Russian affairs in the Horde, becomes his friend and brother. Promising his support, Saint Alexander gave Batu the opportunity to go on a campaign against Mongolia, to become the main force in the entire Great Steppe, and to enthrone in Mongolia the leader of the Christian Tatars, Khan Munke (most of the Christian Tatars professed Nestorianism).

Not all Russian princes had the foresight of Saint Alexander Nevsky. Many in the fight against the Tatar yoke hoped for help from Europe. Negotiations with the Pope were conducted by St. Michael of Chernigov, Prince Daniel of Galicia and even the brother of Alexander Nevsky, Andrei. But Saint Alexander knew well the fate of Constantinople, captured and destroyed in 1204 by the Crusaders. And his own experience taught him not to trust the West. Daniil of Galicia paid for the union with the pope, which did not give him anything, by treason to Orthodoxy - union with Rome. Saint Alexander did not want this for his native Church. When, in 1248, the ambassadors of the Pope came to seduce him too, he wrote in response about the fidelity of the Russians to the Church of Christ and the faith of the Seven Ecumenical Councils: “We know everything well, but we do not accept teachings from you.” Catholicism was unacceptable for the Russian Church, the union meant the rejection of Orthodoxy, the rejection of the source of spiritual life, the rejection of the historical future ordained by God, the doom of oneself to spiritual death. In 1252, many Russian cities rebelled against the Tatar yoke, supporting Andrei Yaroslavich. The situation was very dangerous. The very existence of Russia was threatened again. Saint Alexander had to go again to the Horde in order to ward off the punitive invasion of the Tatars from the Russian lands. Defeated, Andrei fled to Sweden to seek help from the very robbers whom, with the help of God, his great brother had smashed on the Neva. Saint Alexander became the sovereign Grand Duke of all Russia: Vladimir, Kiev and Novgorod. A great responsibility before God and history fell on his shoulders. In 1253, he repelled a new German raid on Pskov, in 1254 he concluded an agreement on peaceful borders with Norway, in 1256 he went on a campaign to the Finnish land, which the chronicler called the “dark campaign”: the Russian army went through the polar night, “going through impassable places as if to see neither day nor night. In the darkness of paganism, Saint Alexander brought the light of the gospel preaching and Orthodox culture. All Pomorye was enlightened and mastered by the Russians.

In 1256, Khan Batu died, and soon his son Sartak, brother of Alexander Nevsky, was poisoned. The holy prince went to Sarai for the third time to confirm the peaceful relations of Russia and the Horde with the new Khan Berke. Although Batu's successor converted to Islam, he needed an alliance with Orthodox Russia. In 1261, through the efforts of Saint Alexander and Metropolitan Kirill, a diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church was established in Sarai, the capital of the Golden Horde.

The era of the great Christianization of the pagan East has come, in this was the historical vocation of Russia, prophetically guessed by Alexander Nevsky. The holy prince used every opportunity to exalt his native land and facilitate its lot on the cross. In 1262, on his orders, Tatar tribute collectors and recruiters of warriors - Baskaks, were killed in many cities. They were waiting for Tatar revenge. But the great protector of the people again went to the Horde and wisely directed events in a completely different direction: referring to the Russian uprising, Khan Berke stopped sending tribute to Mongolia and proclaimed the Golden Horde an independent state, thus making it a barrier to Russia from the east. In this great union of Russian and Tatar lands and peoples, the future multinational Russian state matured and strengthened, which later included almost the entire legacy of Genghis Khan to the shores of the Pacific Ocean within the Russian Church.

This diplomatic trip of St. Alexander Nevsky to Sarai was the fourth and last. The future of Russia was saved, its duty to God was fulfilled. But all his strength was given, his life was devoted to the service of the Russian Church. On the way back from the Horde, Saint Alexander fell mortally ill. Before reaching Vladimir, in Gorodets, in the monastery, the ascetic prince surrendered his spirit to the Lord on November 14, 1263, completing his difficult life path by accepting the monastic schema with the name Alexy.

Metropolitan Kirill, spiritual father and companion in the ministry of the holy prince, said in his funeral sermon: “Know, my child, that the sun of the land of Suzdal has already set. There will be no more such a prince in the Russian land. His holy body was carried to Vladimir; the journey lasted nine days, and the body remained incorruptible. On November 23, at his burial in the Bogolyubsky Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery in Vladimir, God revealed "a marvelous miracle and worthy of memory." When the body of Saint Alexander was placed in a shrine, the steward Sebastian and Metropolitan Kirill wanted to open his hand in order to put a parting spiritual letter. The holy prince, as if alive, stretched out his hand and took the letter from the hands of the metropolitan. “And horror seized them, and they scarcely departed from his tomb. Who would not be surprised if he was dead and the body was brought from afar in the winter. So God glorified His saint - the holy warrior-prince Alexander Nevsky.

Shortly after the end of the Northern War, on July 4, 1723, Peter I ordered the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky to be transferred from Vladimir to St. Petersburg in order to consecrate the new capital, the new monastery (Alexander Nevsky Monastery) and the conclusion of the Peace of Nystadt. As far as Novgorod, the holy relics were solemnly carried in their arms, and from Novgorod they were carried on a richly decorated boat. The solemn meeting of the relics took place on August 30, 1724 in Ust-Izhora, near the site of the Neva battle. On the same day, the upper church of the Church of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos of the Alexander Nevsky Monastery was consecrated in the name of St. Alexander Nevsky, and a shrine with relics was installed here. In 1725, Archimandrite Gabriel (Buzhinsky) compiled a service for the day of the transfer of relics, the celebration of St. Alexander Nevsky in it was combined with thanksgiving to God on the day of the conclusion of peace with Sweden. The magnification of St. Alexander Nevsky in this service lost all elements of magnification to the reverend. Shortly before the transfer of the relics, by a decree of June 15, 1724, the Synod decided to paint the image of the saint not in monastic attire, “but in grand ducal robes.” The word "great" was added to the saint's title. Under Emperor Peter II, the celebration of August 30 was canceled, and under Empress Anna Ioannovna, it was restored. In 1790, the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky were transferred from the Church of the Annunciation to the new Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Lavra, where they remained until 1922. In May 1920, the shrine with holy relics was opened. The results of the autopsy showed that the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky were indeed in the shrine, burned during a fire in the Nativity Cathedral of Vladimir in 1491. The events of 1491 were evidenced by a record on paper of that time, found in a shrine along with the relics. After the examination of cancer was sealed. Since 1922, the relics have been in the collections of the Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism, and cancer - in the State Hermitage. In May 1988, the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky were transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church and on June 3, 1989 they were transferred to the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

Soon after the death of Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky, the Russian national consciousness comprehended his outstanding historical role in the hagiographically stylized biography of the prince - “The Tale of the Life of Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky”. The original version of the “Tale” was probably compiled in the 80s of the XIII century in the Vladimir Monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin by an unknown monk with the blessing of Metropolitan Kirill II of Kiev and at the behest of the Grand Duke of Vladimir Dimitry Alexandrovich, the son of Alexander Nevsky.

The compilation of the "Tale" testifies to the fact that already at that time in the Nativity Monastery there was a local veneration of St. Alexander Nevsky; in 1380 his relics were found. The general church glorification of St. Alexander Nevsky took place under Metropolitan Macarius at the Moscow Council of 1547. For conciliar glorification, with the blessing of Metropolitan Macarius of Moscow, a monk of the Vladimir Nativity Monastery, Mikhail, composed a service to the saint. At the same time, “A word of praise to the right-believing Grand Duke Alexander, aka Nevsky, was written, to the new miracle worker, in him and about his miracles confessed.”

As stated in the Lay, its author wrote down a story about the miracles of St. Alexander Nevsky from the words of the monks of the Nativity Monastery. In 1550, the "Word" became part of the Great Fourth Menaia of Metropolitan Macarius. The life of St. Alexander Nevsky is known in several editions.

The Tale of the Life and Courage of the Blessed and Grand Duke Alexander

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

I, pitiful and sinful, narrow-minded, dare to describe the life of the holy prince Alexander, son of Yaroslav, grandson of Vsevolodov. Since I heard from my fathers and myself was a witness to his mature age, I was glad to tell about his holy, and honest, and glorious life. But as the tributary said: “Wisdom will not enter into an evil soul: for it abides in lofty places, stands in the middle of the roads, and stops at the gates of noble people.” Although I am simple in mind, I will nevertheless begin by praying to the Holy Mother of God and trusting in the help of the holy Prince Alexander.

This prince Alexander was born from a merciful and philanthropic father, and most of all, meek, the great prince Yaroslav, and from mother Theodosia. As Isaiah the prophet said: So says the Lord: "I set the princes of Z, they are sacred, and I lead them." And verily, his reign was not without God's command.

And he was handsome like no other, and his voice was like a trumpet among the people, his face was like the face of Joseph, whom the Egyptian king appointed the second king in Egypt, his strength was part of the strength of Samson, and God gave him the wisdom of Solomon, his courage is like that of the Roman king Vespasian, who conquered the whole land of Judea. One day he prepared for the siege of the city of Joatapata, and the citizens came out and defeated his army. And Vespasian alone remained, and turned those who opposed him to the city, to the city gates, and laughed at his retinue, and reproached her, saying: "They left me alone." So did Prince Alexander - he won, but was invincible.

Once one of the eminent men of the western country, from those who call themselves servants of God, came, wanting to see the maturity of his strength, as in ancient times the Queen of Sheba came to Solomon, wanting to listen to his wise speeches. So this one, by the name of Andreash, having seen Prince Alexander, returned to his people and said: “I passed through countries, peoples and did not see such a king among kings, nor a prince among princes.”

Hearing about such valor of Prince Alexander, the king of the country of Rome from the northern land thought to himself: "I will go and conquer the land of Alexandrov." And he gathered a great force, and filled many ships with his regiments, moved with a huge army, flaming with the spirit of war. And he came to the Neva, intoxicated with madness, and sent his ambassadors, puffed up, to Novgorod to Prince Alexander, saying: "If you can, defend yourself, for I am already here and ruining your land."

Alexander, having heard such words, flared up in his heart and entered the church of Hagia Sophia and, falling on his knees before the altar, began to pray with tears: You ordered to live without transgressing other people's borders. And, remembering the words of the prophet, he said: "Judge, Lord, those who offended me and protect them from those who fight with me, take up arms and a shield and stand to help me."

And, having finished his prayer, he stood up and bowed to the archbishop. The archbishop was then Spiridon, he blessed him and released him. The prince, leaving the church, dried up his tears and began to encourage his squad, saying: “God is not in power, but in truth. Let us remember the Songwriter, who said: “Some with weapons, and others on horses, but we will call on the name of the Lord our God; they, defeated, fell, but we stood firm and stand upright. ” Having said this, he went to the enemies with a small squad, not waiting for his large army, but trusting in the Holy Trinity. It was sad to hear that his father, the great prince Yaroslav, did not know about the invasion of his son, dear Alexander, and he had no time to send a message to his father, for the enemies were already approaching. Therefore, many Novgorodians did not have time to join, as the prince hurried to speak. And he set out against the enemies on Sunday, the fifteenth of July, having great faith in the holy martyrs Boris and Gleb.

And there was one man, the elder of the land of Izhora, named Pelgusy, he was entrusted with night guards at sea. He was baptized and lived among his kind, the pagans, but his name was named Philip in holy Baptism, and he lived pleasingly, observing fasting on Wednesday and Friday, and therefore God honored him with seeing a wonderful vision on that day. Let's talk briefly.

Having learned about the strength of the enemy, he went out to meet Prince Alexander to tell him about the camps of the enemies. He stood by the sea, watching both ways, and spent the whole night without sleep. When the sun began to rise, he heard a strong noise on the sea and saw one pier floating on the sea, and the holy martyrs Boris and Gleb in red robes standing in the middle of the pier, holding their hands on each other's shoulders. The rowers sat as if clothed in darkness. Boris said: “Brother Gleb, they led us to row, let us help our relative, Prince Alexander.” Seeing such a vision and hearing these words of the martyrs, Pelgusius stood trembling until the nasad disappeared from his eyes.

Soon after this, Alexander came, and Pelgusius, joyfully meeting Prince Alexander, told him alone about the vision. The prince said to him: "Don't tell this to anyone."

After that, Alexander hurried to attack the enemies at the sixth hour of the day, and there was a great slaughter with the Romans, and the prince killed them innumerable, and left the mark of his sharp spear on the face of the king himself.

Six brave men, like him, from Alexander's regiment showed themselves here.

The first is by the name of Gavrilo Oleksich. He attacked the auger and, seeing the prince dragged by the arms, rode up to the ship along the gangway, along which they ran with the prince pursued by him. Then they seized Gavrila Oleksich and threw him off the gangway along with his horse. But by the grace of God, he emerged from the water unharmed, and again attacked them, and fought with the governor himself in the midst of their army.

The second, named Sbyslav Yakunovich, is a Novgorodian. This one attacked their troops many times and fought with one ax, having no fear in his soul; and many fell by his hand, and marveled at his strength and courage.

The third - Yakov, a native of Polotsk, was a hunter with the prince. This one attacked the regiment with a sword, and the prince praised him.

The fourth is a Novgorodian named Mesha. This footman with his retinue attacked the ships and sank three ships.

The fifth is from the younger squad, named Sava. This one burst into a large golden-domed royal tent and cut down a tent post. The regiments of Alexandrov, seeing the fall of the tent, rejoiced.

The sixth is from the servants of Alexander, named Ratmir. This one fought on foot, and many enemies surrounded him. He fell from many wounds and died like that.

I heard all this from my master, Grand Duke Alexander, and from others who participated in this battle at that time.

And at that time there was a marvelous miracle, as in the days of old under Hezekiah the king. When Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, came to Jerusalem, wanting to conquer the holy city of Jerusalem, the Angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and killed one hundred and eighty-five thousand of the Assyrian army, and, rising in the morning, they found only dead corpses. It was the same after Alexandrova's victory: when he defeated the king, on the opposite side of the Izhora River, where Alexandrov's regiments could not pass, a myriad of those killed by the Angel of the Lord were found here. Those who remained turned to flight, and the corpses of their dead soldiers were thrown into the ships and sunk them in the sea. Prince Alexander returned with victory, praising and glorifying the name of his Creator.

In the second year after the return of Prince Alexander with a victory, they again came from the Western country and built a city on the land of Alexandrov. Prince Alexander soon went and destroyed their city to the ground, and hanged some of them themselves, took others with him, and, having pardoned others, let him go, for he was immensely merciful.

After the victory of Alexandrov, when he defeated the king, in the third year, in winter, he went with great force to the land of Pskov, for the city of Pskov had already been taken by the Germans. And the Germans came to Lake Peipsi, and Alexander met them, and prepared for battle, and they went against each other, and Lake Peipus was covered with a multitude of those and other warriors. Alexander's father, Yaroslav, sent his younger brother Andrei with a large squad to help him. Yes, and Prince Alexander had many brave warriors, as in ancient times with King David, strong and steadfast. So the men of Alexander were filled with the spirit of war, because their hearts were like the hearts of lions, and exclaimed: “O our glorious prince! Now the time has come for us to lay down our heads for you.” Prince Alexander raised his hands to heaven and said: “Judge me, God, judge my feud with the unrighteous people and help me, Lord, as in ancient times Mine helped me to overcome Amalek, and our great-grandfather Yaroslav the accursed Svyatopolk.”

It was then Saturday, and when the sun rose, the opponents came together. And there was a fierce slaughter, and there was a crash from breaking spears and a ringing from the blows of swords, and it seemed that a frozen lake moved, and no ice was visible, for it was covered with blood.

And I heard this from an eyewitness who told me that he saw the army of God in the air, which came to the aid of Alexander. And so he defeated the enemies with the help of God, and they fled, while Alexander cut them down, driving them as if through the air, and there was nowhere for them to hide. Here God glorified Alexander before all the regiments, like Joshua at Jericho. And the one who said: “Let's capture Alexander,” God gave into the hands of Alexander. And there has never been an opponent worthy of him in battle. And Prince Alexander returned with a glorious victory, and there were many prisoners in his army, and those who call themselves "God's knights" were led barefoot near the horses.

And when the prince approached the city of Pskov, the abbots and priests, and all the people met him in front of the city with crosses, giving praise to God and glorifying the lord prince Alexander, singing a song to Him: “You, Lord, helped meek David defeat foreigners and our faithful prince liberate the city of Pskov from foreign pagans with the arms of faith by the hand of Alexandrova.

And Alexander said: “O ignorant people of Pskov! If you forget this before the great-grandchildren of Alexander, then you will be like the Jews, whom the Lord fed in the wilderness with manna from heaven and baked quails, but they forgot all this and their God, who delivered them from Egyptian captivity.

And his name became famous in all countries, from the sea of ​​Khonuzh and to the mountains of Ararat, and on the other side of the Varangian sea and to the great Rome.

At the same time, the Lithuanian people gained strength and began to plunder the possessions of Alexandrov. He went out and beat them. Once he happened to go out to the enemies, and he defeated seven regiments in one trip and killed many of the princes, and took others prisoner; his servants, mockingly, tied them to the tails of their horses. And from that time they began to fear his name.

At the same time, there was a strong king in the Eastern country, to whom God subdued many peoples from the east to the west. Then the king, having heard about such glory and courage of Alexander, sent ambassadors to him and said: “Alexander, do you know that God has subdued many nations to me? Well, are you the only one who doesn't want to submit to me? But if you want to save your land, then come quickly to me and you will see the glory of my kingdom.

After the death of his father, Prince Alexander came to Vladimir in great power. And his arrival was terrible, and the news of him rushed to the mouth of the Volga. And the wives of Moab began to frighten their children, saying, “Here comes Alexander!”

Prince Alexander decided to go to the tsar in the Horde, and Bishop Kirill blessed him. And King Batu saw him, and was amazed, and said to his nobles: “They told me the truth that there is no prince like him.” Honoring him with dignity, he released Alexander.

After that, Tsar Batu was angry with his younger brother Andrei and sent his governor Nevryuy to ruin the land of Suzdal. After the devastation of Nevryuy land of Suzdal, the great prince Alexander erected churches, rebuilt cities, gathered the dispersed people into their houses. Isaiah the prophet said about such people: “A good prince in the countries is quiet, affable, meek, humble – and in this way is like God.” Not seduced by wealth, not forgetting the blood of the righteous, orphans and widows, he judges in truth, is merciful, kind to his household and hospitable to those who come from foreign countries. God also helps such people, for God does not love angels, but people, in His generosity He generously bestows and shows His mercy in the world.

God filled the land of Alexander with wealth and glory, and God lengthened his days.

Once, ambassadors from the pope from great Rome came to him with the following words: “Our dad says this: “We heard that you are a worthy and glorious prince and your land is great. That is why they sent to you two of the most intelligent of the twelve cardinals - Agaldad and Gemont, so that you would listen to their speeches about the law of God.

Prince Alexander, having thought with his wise men, wrote him the following answer: “From Adam to the flood, from the flood to the division of peoples, from the mixing of peoples to the beginning of Abraham, from Abraham to the passage of the Israelites through the sea, from the exodus of the sons of Israel to the death of King David , from the beginning of the reign of Solomon to Augustus and until the Nativity of Christ, from the Nativity of Christ and to His crucifixion and Resurrection, from His Resurrection and ascension to heaven and to the reign of Konstantinov, from the beginning of the reign of Konstantinov to the First Council and the Seventh - we know all this well but we will not accept teachings from you.” They also returned home.

And the days of his life multiplied in great glory, for he loved priests, and monks, and the poor, and he honored metropolitans and bishops and listened to them as to Christ Himself.

In those days there was great violence from the infidels, they persecuted Christians, forcing them to fight on their side. The great prince Alexander went to the king to pray for his people from this misfortune.

And he sent his son Dmitry to the western countries, and sent all his regiments with him, and his relatives of the household, saying to them: "Serve my son, as myself, with your whole life." And Prince Dmitry went in great strength, and conquered the German land, and took the city of Yuryev, and returned to Novgorod with many prisoners and with great booty.

His father, Grand Duke Alexander, returned from the Horde from the tsar and reached Nizhny Novgorod, and there fell ill, and, having arrived in Gorodets, fell ill. Woe to you, poor man! How can you describe the death of your master! How will your apples not fall out along with tears! How will your heart not be torn out by the roots! For a man can leave a father, but a good master cannot be left; if it were possible, then I would go down into the coffin with him.

Having worked hard for God, he left the earthly kingdom and became a monk, for he had an immeasurable desire to take on an angelic form. God vouchsafed him and b about The next rank to accept is the schema. And so, in peace with God, he gave up his spirit on the fourteenth day of the month of November, in memory of the holy Apostle Philip.

Metropolitan Kirill said: "My children, know that the sun of the land of Suzdal has already set." Priests and deacons, Chernorizians, poor and rich, and all people exclaimed: “We are already perishing!”

The holy body of Alexander was carried to the city of Vladimir. The metropolitan, princes and boyars, and all the people, small and large, met him in Bogolyubovo with candles and censers. People crowded, trying to touch his holy body on an honest bed. There was a cry, and a groan, and a cry, which had never been, even the earth trembled. His body was laid in the Church of the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God, in the great archimandrite, on the 24th day of November, in memory of the holy father Amphilochius.

It was then a marvelous miracle and worthy of memory. When his holy body was laid in the tomb, then Sebastian the Economist and Cyril the Metropolitan wanted to open his hand in order to put in a spiritual letter. He, as if alive, stretched out his hand and accepted the letter from the Metropolitan's hand. And confusion seized them, and they scarcely departed from his tomb. This was announced to everyone by Metropolitan and Economist Sevastyan. Who would not be surprised at this miracle, because his body was dead, and they carried him from distant lands in the winter.

And so God glorified His saint.

Life of the Holy Right-Believing Grand Duke Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky

A thunderstorm rumbled, the storm subsided, the menacing peals of thunder fell silent, dawn broke in the sky, and over the area devastated by the elemental strife of nature, a clear sun slowly emerges ... And it shines on the valleys flooded with water, shines on blurry arable land, on buildings knocked down by the wind , pours warmth on trees with broken branches, on a lost harvest and all the disasters brought by a storm to people ... And the sun shines, shines, rising higher and higher. Hotter and hotter its rays warm the earth, and under their warmth the waters soak into the soil, the roads dry up, the nailed grass straightens, the curled leaves unroll, turning greener even more cheerfully than before, and people cheerfully set to work, and one after another the traces of outlived disaster disappear. .. And the sun keeps shining, everything shines and warms and illuminates sympathetically and joyfully human life.

Such is the effect of those people who appear after great historical misfortunes and, like a clear sun, warm the destitute people, maintain strength in them for a better future and, dying, leave behind the priceless and fruitful work of the moral sun.

Such a radiant luminary ascended over the Russian land in the most calamitous days, the blessed holy Grand Duke Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky.

Grand Duke Alexander was the son of Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and was born in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, where at that time his father was a specific prince, on May 30, 1219.

As can be seen from the activities of St. Alexander, he combined in himself the best qualities of his ancestors from the paternal and maternal sides with a wonderful combination.

On his father's side, he is a descendant of that tribe of Vladimir Monomakh, of whom Saint Andrei Bogolyubsky was a prominent representative. Distinctive family traits on this side: wise prudence, consistency, the ability to take advantage of circumstances and the desire for a steady gathering of the earth around one throne. The prince-owner, the prince-builder, with a touch of unbending severity - such is the character of Alexander's father, Yaroslav, and his grandfathers - his native Vsevolod and cousin Andrei Bogolyubsky.

From his mother’s side, Alexander is the grandson of St. Mstislav the Brave, he inherited the traits of a knight of the Kiev time: selfless courage, touching kindness, high trust in people, endless compassion for everything that suffers, dove meekness during an eagle’s flight, not knowing how to restrain the desire for the glory of his native land.

And the combination of these rarely coexisting qualities in one person constituted an extraordinary, extraordinary phenomenon, which made a strong beneficial impression on contemporaries and had a happy influence on the course of Russian history.

The hand of God guiding Russia is most clearly seen in this, that at the right times God sends His chosen ones, exactly created according to the circumstances and the demand of the time. Such was Alexander: now the formidable and victorious leader of the Russians against the northern enemies of the Germans, now he humbles his heroic soul and prays for Russia from the wrath of the Khan. And no matter how lofty military exploits for the glory of the fatherland, even higher is to humble and humiliate oneself for the good of the motherland.

Saint Alexander grew up among a pious family; and among the very first, lifelong impressions, the most important were the impressions of holy faith. What sincere piety he was surrounded from childhood, is evident from the fact that his mother was considered a saint by his contemporaries; maternal grandfather, Mstislav Udaloy, and ascending ancestors - Mstislav the Brave, Rostislav and Mstislav the Great - are surrounded by the radiance of holiness; uncles from the side of the father - Konstantin and George - also; elder brother Theodore is a saint. And in this fertile air, indispensable for the development of the child, Alexander grew up among such legends.

Details about his upbringing have not been preserved, but it is certain that Prince Alexander grew up as a serious, thoughtful youth. Avoiding empty amusements, he loved reading sacred books and singing church hymns. From the first to the last years of his life, he behaved with restraint, curbing his body with fasting and harsh labors: hunting, riding, shooting. All this hardened him and developed his natural heroic strength.

From that time on, Alexander's piety was expressed by the fact that he often liked to go to church and pray alone at night for a long, long time before the icons of the Savior and the Mother of God. Why is it so hot, depriving himself of nightly rest, he prayed, to whom from the cradle were given all earthly blessings? Or did he have desires that there was no one to tell except to God, or even in those years he already carried such great grief on himself, which he had to pour out in fervent prayer so that it would not dry his soul?

Let us recall that Prince Alexander was 14 years old at the time of Batu's invasion, that before that he knew about the first clash with the Tatars, and that these terrible events weighed heavily on his sensitive soul. And if we think about what a richly gifted, impressionable boy, appointed by birth to the work of government, had to experience, what he experienced during the captivity of his homeland, then this selfless image will become clear to us. In the sad but great school - the disasters of his people - the moral personality of Alexander was formed, and the misfortunes of Russia determined the direction of his life: to give her all the strength of the soul, every heartbeat, all thoughts. Speaking to serve his native land, he had to be ready not to spare his life for it. And not at once, not on the chopping block under the ax of the Tatar laments, not in the formidable section of the battle, he had to lay down his valiant head. Sorrow for his native land sucked drop by drop the blood from his heart; he put strength after strength on the labors for his native people, until deathly weakness fell on him; to the deep bottom he drank a full cup of humiliation for his native Russia, and then, crushed by adversity, but not defeated, the hero lay down and fell into an eternal sleep.

From a young age, the faithful Prince Alexander was appointed to reign in Novy Gorod. And he devoted the first half of his life to the victorious struggle against the northern enemies of Russia.

These enemies were, perhaps, even more dangerous for Russia than the Tatars. The Tatars encroached on the state, on external power, and those enemies wanted to steal our very faith from us. The popes of Rome, seeing the weakening of our land, raised campaigns against it, now from Sweden, now from Livonia through the Livonian knights, who tried to subordinate the new lands to the Pope of Rome. The goal of the Swedes or Livonians was to conquer us and turn us into the Latin heresy.

From the first days of his reign in Novgorod, Alexander tried to surround himself with brave people. He himself was definitely created for victories, in addition to great prudence, endowed with courage, majestic beauty and a sonorous powerful voice. The people admired him with pride and joy and listened with respect to his speeches, "thundering like a trumpet" , says the chronicler.

In 1240, instigated by the pope, the Swedish king equipped a large army, put him on boats and sent him to the Neva under the command of his son-in-law Birger. Birger thought to reach Novgorod by Lake Ladoga and along the Volkhov, and sent a message to Alexander: “Fight with me if you dare. I'm already standing on your land."

Alexander showed neither fear nor pride to the ambassadors. He hastily gathered an army, prayed with ardent faith in the church of Hagia Sophia, and accepted the blessing of the archbishop.

“God of praise, God of righteousness, God great and mighty,” Alexander prayed, “God eternal, who created heaven and earth and set limits with his tongue and live commanded, not transgressing in another’s part: judge, O God, those who offend me and rebuke those who fight with me. Take a weapon and a shield, stand in my help! Wiping away tears of tenderness on the threshold of the temple, he surrendered the outcome of the matter to the will of God and with a cheerful face went out to the squad. Then he said to her a short but great historical word, which was confirmed many times in the life of the Russian people:

“We are few, and the enemy is very strong. But God is not in power, but in truth. Go with your prince!

Having no time to wait for help from his father, Grand Duke Yaroslav, Alexander went on a campaign and on July 15, 1240 came to the banks of the Neva. Here Pelgus, one of his commanders, met him with reports and told him a wonderful phenomenon that he saw at night, waiting for the prince and immersed in prayer on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. It was already beginning to get light, as a noise swept through the expanse of the sea. A large boat appeared, the rowers sitting at the oars were, as it were, dressed in darkness. In the middle of the boat stood in great radiance in scarlet robes two knights, the first martyr princes Boris and Gleb. And the voice of Boris was heard: "Brother Gleb, we will help our relative, Grand Duke Alexander Yaroslavich, against the furious Germans."

When the vision ended, Pelgus went from the shore and met Alexander. The prince forbade Pelgus to divulge this vision. Like lightning, he struck at the Swedes and with a quick, sudden blow he threw them into confusion. He himself reached Birger and with his spear placed a seal on his face.

The Swedes were utterly defeated. The dark night saved their remnants. They loaded, without waiting for the morning, two boats with the bodies of the most distinguished persons, buried the rest in a pit and hurriedly left. The chief governor, also their bishop, were killed. Our decline was barely noticeable.

The news of this overcoming of the enemy swept through Russia with great joy. For the victory, Alexander received the nickname Nevsky. Both this and subsequent victorious battles, where Saint Alexander participated, were an inexpressible consolation for humiliated, impoverished Russia. In the very days of the yoke, he proved that Russian military glory had not perished, that the Russian sword defended the Russian land in the north just as menacingly as in the clear days of Mstislavs and Vsevolods.

The legend of contemporaries about the Neva battle has been preserved. The exploits of the Russian heroes in it were so amazing that even eyewitnesses could hardly believe them. Novgorodians directly said that the Angels of God fought with them, that the powers of heaven beat the Swedes.

Meanwhile, the Livonian knights broke into the borders of the Pskov land and occupied Pskov itself. Many Pskovites rushed to Novgorod, but Alexander was not there: dissatisfied with the Novgorodians, he left them for Pereyaslavl, and the Lithuanians, the Germans, began to disturb the Novgorod lands. Then the archbishop with many boyars went to Alexander and begged him to forgive Novgorod.

With his arrival, everything changed. An army immediately gathered and cheerfully with Alexander went to the Gulf of Finland and took the fortress of Koporye set by the Germans; then the Germans were driven out of Pskov. Then Alexander entered Livonia and found a place favorable for the battle on the ice of Lake Peipsi, still strong (April 5, 1242). The Germans crashed into our ranks, but Alexander, striking from the side, confused them, broke and exterminated the knights, and the Chud drove menacingly until the evening. The corpses of the Chud lay for 7 versts, 400 knights fell. The head of the order awaited with trepidation the appearance of Alexander under the walls of Riga and begged the Danish king for help.

However, Alexander, content with the fear of the Germans, sheathed his sword and returned to Pskov. The German prisoners walked with downcast eyes in their knightly clothes behind our horsemen. After the Battle of the Ice, the clergy greeted the winner with crosses and church singing, the people rushed to him in droves, calling him father and savior.

Then a favorable peace was concluded with the knights.

Soon the Lithuanians took possession of Toropets. Alexander came and exterminated them to the last. Returning with a small retinue, he saw new crowds of the enemy and scattered them. Within a few days, he scored seven victories over the Lithuanians.

But God was preparing for Alexander the highest glory - a spiritual victory over himself. This great soul was appointed to show the rarest and most difficult virtue: to humble himself with boundless humility, to forget the voice of his pride and at the cost of his humiliation to save his homeland.

Even before the throne of the grand duke passed to Alexander, he had to go to bow to Batu.

The fame of Alexander and his astonishment reached distant countries, a review of one stranger reached us: “I have traveled through many countries, I know the world, people and states, but I saw and listened to Alexander Novgorodsky with amazement.” Experienced people said that one could not meet the likes of Alexander with courage and appearance: neither in kings - a king, nor in princes - a prince. His dignity was exalted by the fact that he did not boast of either position, or external gifts, or intelligence, but was friendly with everyone, everyone had a refuge. And above all his virtues, as in the days of his youth, piety stood out.

The Russians were proud of Alexander, calling him an independent prince, and frightened the Tatars with him.

Hearing a lot about Alexander, Batu ordered to tell him: “Prince of Novgorod, do you know that God has conquered many peoples for me? Will you alone be independent? If you want to rule in peace, come to my tent.”

This call could be answered with a proud refusal and for that the whole of Russia could be subjected to the wrath of Batu and devastation. Alexander, on the other hand, loved Russia more than princely and heroic honor, and consciously embarked on that path of self-abasement to save his homeland, from which only death freed him.

He went to Batu, who kindly received him and said that the rumor did not increase his merits. He listened with surprise to his wise speeches, burning with love for the motherland.

From the Horde it was necessary to go further, to Tataria, to the great khan. It was a terrible journey. Saying goodbye to the fatherland for a long time, it was necessary to endure hunger and thirst, to rest on the snow or hot earth. All around is one bleak, gloomy steppe, littered with the bones of travelers. Instead of villages, there are only cemeteries of nomadic tribes. And in this bleak path, painful thoughts about his humiliation, the disaster of the fatherland, the memory of his father, who died on the same journey in the homeless steppe ... Khan treated Alexander with favor and placed him over all of southern Russia. The embassy of the pope to Alexander belongs to the same time.

The Pope sent Alexander a letter urging him to accept Catholicism, promising him help in return. Not arrogantly, but firmly, the prince answered the pope: "We know the true teaching of the Church, but we do not accept yours and do not want to know."

Shortly after the solemn return of Alexander to Novgorod, he dangerously (1251-1252) fell ill. The whole Russian land awaited with trepidation the outcome of the disease and prayed relentlessly for him. He was the hope of Russia. His former unforgettable victories, and the ability he now discovered to deal with the Tatars, and his compassion made him infinitely dear to the people. He in every way did good to the needy, sent gold to the Horde to ransom the prisoners. God heard the people's prayer, Alexander recovered. Soon he was recognized as the Grand Duke.

With general rejoicing, he entered Vladimir and began to continue the work of his father: the healing of former wounds. When in 1256 the Swedes, Finns and Germans appeared on the banks of the Narova River, alarmed Novgorodians sent for Alexander, and he led the army and devastated a large part of Finland. This was the last military exploit of Alexander.

Batu died, and Alexander had to go to his successor in the Horde, which forever remained nomadic in the vicinity of the Volga and Don. Here, in vain, he asked to free the northern principalities from the taxation of soul tribute, just as the southern principalities had been taxed even earlier. Soon Tatar officials were sent to the regions of Suzdal, Ryazan, Murom and censused the inhabitants.

A few months later, Alexander made a new trip to the Horde: now Novgorod was also subject to total tribute, and the Grand Duke had a task that was painful for his feelings. He, the illustrious champion of the Novgorodian freemen and honor, was now instructed to persuade the proud, ardent people, who were magnified by their independence, to slavery. What Alexander experienced during those days is known only to God.

In 1259, with Tatar officials, he arrived in Novgorod. The residents were horrified. No matter how some citizens persuaded to reconcile, the people answered with a formidable cry, killed the posadnik and chose another. The young prince Vasily Alexandrovich left Novgorod for Pskov, announcing that he did not want to obey his father, who was bringing with him fetters and shame for free people. Although the Novgorodians released the Tatar officials with gifts, they resolutely refused to pay tribute.

The Grand Duke had to take drastic measures or betray Russia to a new ruin. There was no choice.

He ordered to seize the disobedient son and take him under guard to the Suzdal land. Then he stayed in Novgorod, waiting for the course of events. The news spread that the Khan's army was already ready to go to Novgorod. The people then, in fear, agreed to the tribute, and Alexander hastened to notify the Tatars of the obedience of Novgorod. The Tatar census takers appeared and with their oppression so irritated the people that a rebellion broke out. The people again did not want to hear about the tribute and gathered around the St. Sophia Church, announcing that they wanted to die for honor and freedom. Finally, Alexander used the last resort. He left the palace with Tatar officials, announcing that he was betraying the rebellious citizens to the wrath of the khan and leaving Novgorod forever ... This embarrassed the people, and the nobles took advantage of this minute to persuade him.

Before the prince had time to come to his senses from these painful events, where his reason and the good of Russia forced him to act against the inclination of his heart, as in 1262 new terrible troubles arose in central Russia.

Until now, tribute was collected by Tatar collectors, whom the people tolerated. But then the Tatars began to pay tribute at the mercy of the Besermen merchants, Khivans, experienced in trade and profit. These tax-farmers invented a whole network of extortions to increase their profits. Under the guise of facilitating payers, they appointed different installments, but with enormous growth, and, in the end, poor people's accounts with besermen got confused to such an extent that there was no longer any way to pay. Then they took the debtors away, beat them mercilessly in the squares with sticks, asking if they had hidden their property somewhere. Having not achieved any sense, the Besermens took their sons, daughters or the debtors themselves into slavery and sold them in foreign countries with great profit.

For the most industrious people, this discouraged work. Everyone feared for the future - whether his children would be taken into slavery. In addition to all these horrors, the Besermens aroused hatred by the fact that they were accompanied by Tatar riders who robbed houses, insulted women and mocked the population in every possible way. The measure of patience was exhausted when the feeling of faith was touched.

Some monk Zosima in 1262 in Yaroslavl, in order to please the Besermenian and Mohammedan Tetyam, renounced Christ, entered into Mohammedanism and began to swear at his former faith ... The people could not overcome the indignation at the desecration of that last treasure, which in all its trials he kept intact, - over the holy faith. The people boiled up with stormy, uncontrollable anger at the sight of how the "accursed destitute" of faith blasphemes the holy cross and swears at the churches of God. He was seized, killed, and the dogs dragged his corpse through the city. And in response to this revenge of the people, who avenged the desecration of their cherished shrine, the people rose up in all the cities of Suzdal and Rostov lands. Calling bells buzzed, rumors spread that Alexander himself sent out an order to beat the Tatars, and a storm of popular indignation began to grow and grow.

Chroniclers note these events with sympathy. The people exterminated only the Besermen, the Khiva tax-farmers. Actually, none of the Tatars was hurt.

The Russians gave proof that there is a measure for everything and that, although defeated, the people have not become accustomed to slavery.

But a terrible retribution was to befall the land, still not reconciled to the loss of will. There were rumors that the Tatar hordes were ready to break into the Russian borders. One could expect a massacre, a worse thunderstorm than Batu's invasion.

What terrible moments the Russian land experienced, there are no words for that. And then the Grand Duke Alexander shone his homeland with his last feat.

He had previously prepared for a campaign against the Livonian Germans, but then he entrusted the regiments to his son and went to the Horde to pray for his people.

It was the crown of his life and his selflessness. Although he was not to blame for the events that had taken place, he went to the Horde to certain death, while the khan was already moving his army to Russia. Alexander went to that khan, before whom he, begging to leave some independence of Russia, vouched for her humility. He walked with the clear intention of taking upon himself all the annoyance of the khan and dying, if only to avert or soften the storm for Russia.

This decisive departure, in the midst of such terrible circumstances, even now, after more than six centuries, cannot be remembered without emotion. What did the people who saw off Alexander experience?

Seen off as if to death, he went to the Horde.

Shortly before the news of the beating of the collectors reached the Horde, Khan Berkay was furious at the unsuccessful campaign he had launched against Persia, and again collected 300 thousand; I also decided to send Russians there too ... The Russians had to fight for the Tatars! And it was then that he received news of the events in Suzdal, Yaroslavl and Rostov.

Khan's anger seemed to know no bounds ... He was ready to release 300 thousand on Russia and completely peck her. It was during these days that Alexander arrived.

How he prayed to the khan, what he said to him is unknown: but this time he also warded off the storm. Russia was saved. After that, a new khan assumed power, and Alexander had to wait a long time in the Horde before the new khan had time to listen to Alexander. The Russian prince was so able to stage the matter that the former was forgotten, and the Russians were relieved of the obligation to fight for the Mongols. Alexander spent more than a year in the Horde and here he drank the last drops of that cup of humiliation, suffering and bitterness, which was hardly ever so deep and so bitter for any of the other Russian princes. But when he left, he carried with him a message of deliverance, a ray of joyful sunshine to that destitute country, which he knew how to love so much and which believed so strongly in him. Exhausted, exhausted, he hurried with the good news to the people languishing without him and for him ... But the forces that he had strained for so many years without pity for himself were already changing: the hero was struck down by exorbitant work, his soul was exhausted by eternal suffering. Four trips to the Horde, twenty battles... The crown is so heavy, the crown of thorns, which killed the chosen one, barely 43 years old.

In Nizhny, Alexander fell ill and had to stop. Then they took him further. It was deep autumn. In Gorodets, he finally fell ill. Realizing that death was near, he asked for tonsure.

For a long time, those around him restrained themselves, about whom the chronicler says that it would be easier for them to lie with him in a coffin than to survive him. Finally, they sobbed. Then the prince meekly said to them: “Go away and do not crush your souls with my pity!”

A few minutes later, he again called his close associates to him and from everyone, boyars and ordinary people, began to touchingly ask for forgiveness ... Then he calmed down. A tear rolled down from his eyes. He opened his eyes and wished to join at the last minute. When this was done, he quietly surrendered his spirit to God.

Many amiable faces in a quiet, unfading radiance shine on the Russian people from the distance of their past. Many great events, dear, sublime, wonderful, took place in our land. But among all historical figures, giving way to one, given by the God of Russia, to the inexpressible abbot Sergius, the faithful Alexander shines in the first place. What could be purer and holier than this quiet death on the way after the greatest feat, never surpassed by any of the rulers? This death is far from the saved, when the whole people has just been delivered from death by the tension of the whole being, the opportunity for them to continue to exist is ensured, the hope for a distant will is saved.

Great is the perspicacious wisdom of Olga, the priceless inspiration of Equal-to-the-Apostles Vladimir, the ardent truth of Mstislav... But this is the free and uncomplaining martyrdom of the bogatyr, this heart that has bled with holy blood, containing and warming Russia in its most bleak days... This tireless work of a lifetime; this unquenchable faith in your people, in the sacred calling of that Russia, which once from slavery, ashes and blood will rise invincible and glorious! ..

There are feelings for which there are no words in the language. There are images of incomprehensible power, from which the soul trembles in delight, marveling at them. There are events, the memory of which definitely expands this soul with tenderness - that God helped a person to achieve such moral heights in life.

Such is this hero of the Russian people, and such is his death.

The death of the right-believing Prince Alexander was proclaimed in Vladimir miraculously.

In the cathedral, Metropolitan Kirill performed the service and stood at the altar, as if alive, but illuminated by an unearthly light, Prince Alexander appeared before him. As if carried by angel wings, a bright vision rose to the sky. The face of the saint expressed great excitement, noticed by those who were coming. He understood everything ... Tears appeared in his old eyes, and, lowering his head, he said: "The sun of the Russian land has set!"

People did not understand the terrible meaning of these words... Finally, the saint gathered his strength and, holding back his sobs, loudly proclaimed: “My dear child, know that now the faithful Grand Duke Alexander has passed away.”

In horror, the people responded with an equally strong cry of despair. From all the breasts escaped: "We are dying!"

Vladimir is gone. Everyone went to meet the long-awaited Grand Duke. The Metropolitan and the clergy stopped at Bogolyubovo... Candles were burning, incense was being smoked... People without number covered the neighborhood. And he kept getting closer.

The one who so often brought deliverance to his land, goes into it with new deliverance and never to leave ... He goes, released from the hardships of life, tortured by an exorbitant feat ... The grand ducal banner appeared.

And at the sight of this predecessor, the leader lying in the coffin, all the people sobbed... Behind the banner and the coffin - and the orphaned children rushed to the dead father, so that he would still warm and take care of them...

And then stood over the people, says the chronicler, great weeping and cries of grief and anguish, which had never happened, and the earth trembled from the cries of these.

On November 23, the funeral was performed. The weeping and groaning of the people drowned out the church singing. Finally, the singers fell silent from sobs. The prince was laid in the monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin.

At the funeral service, a miracle happened: when the prayer of permissiveness was put into the deceased, he stretched out his hand for her and again folded his arms on his chest.

This event assured the people that God would glorify the noble prince, and marked the beginning of his posthumous veneration.

It was justified under the Grand Duke Dimitry Donskoy in 1380. Then, before the battle with Mamai, at night, in the temple where the tomb of St. Alexander was, two candles lit up by themselves, two honest elders appeared from the altar and, approaching the coffin, said: “Oh, Mr. Alexander, get up and hasten to help to his great-grandson, Grand Duke Dimitri, overcome by foreigners. And at that hour, the noble prince rose from the grave and became invisible with both elders. This phenomenon was reported to the Metropolitan of Moscow, and then the acquisition of the holy relics took place. At the Moscow Cathedral of 1547, Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, in view of repeated miracles, was canonized as a saint.

In 1723, Emperor Peter the Great himself transferred the relics of the Right-Believing Prince Alexander from Vladimir to St. Petersburg to establish a new capital, founded on the banks of the very Neva, where the holy knight glorified Russia with his victories. The procession of relics lasted more than a year. In Novgorod, the reliquary was put on a boat, and near St. Petersburg, the tsar took her to a solemn galley and himself took the helm. The relics of the noble prince rest in the cathedral church of the Holy Trinity of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, in a precious silver reliquary. It is made from the first silver found in the reign of Empress Elizabeth. Near the shrine is the Vladimir icon of the Mother of God, which, according to legend, belonged to St. Alexander; in the sacristy is his grand ducal cap.

The poet Maikov in an excellent poem describes the dying thoughts and death of the right-believing Grand Duke Alexander. This heartfelt picture combined, it seems, all the sorrow of the soul of the faithful Alexander.

In Gorodets in 1263

Night outside and frost.

The moon is two iridescent light crowns around it...

There is a celebration in the sky;

In the Abbess's cell, there is a spectacle of sorrow and tears...

Quietly the lamp before the image of the Savior burns;

Quietly the abbot stands before him at prayer;

Quietly the boyars stand in the corners;

Quiet and motionless lies, head to the images,

Prince Alexander, covered with black schema...

Everyone is waiting for the terrible hour; no, there is no hope!

Heard in the cell sometimes only delirium that hurts.

Whether a dream passes before him, or visions of a mysterious chain

He sees - the steppe, boundless, brown steppe ...

The felt is spread out on the sun-scorched earth.

Sees: father! mortal sweat on the forehead,

He is all haggard and pale and weak...

He walked from the Horde, as a tributary, as a slave ...

In the heart, to know, there was not enough strength to endure the insult ...

And Alexander groaned: “So to me to die ...”

Quietly the lamp before the image of the Savior burns...

The prince is motionless in the darkness,

looking into infinity...

He sees an expensive tent, a golden-woven tent ...

A golden throne on a purple carpet is placed -

The Khan sits among a thousand murzas and princes...

Prince Mikhail stands at the door before the headquarters.

Raised spears over the princely bright head ...

The boyars are praying with a fervent prayer ...

“I will never worship idols,” he repeats...

A moment - and thrown into the dust he lies ...

They trample underfoot and stab him with spears...

The astonished Khan looks out of his tent...

Quietly the lamp before the image of the Savior burns...

The prince is motionless in the darkness,

looking into infinity...

He dreams of Yaroslavov in Novgorod yard ...

In a noisy crowd and rebellion, and discord ...

Everyone gathered ends and make noise ...

“We will all stand up for Hagia Sophia! - they yell. -

Tribute to her is carried from the Ugric land to the Hansa ...

For Germans and Swedes, there is no worse thunderstorm ...

You yourself led us, and - Birger is yours

He still remembers on his face, tea, a spear! ..

Knights - they remember the thawed ice! ..

The cavalry, as if flying in a sea of ​​blood! ..

Beat, stab, take alive

A deceitful, insidious, alien race! ..

Should we let the Basques

Rob the treasury, lead us right?

Mountains of gold and silver are in our cellars, -

Should we wallow at the feet of the Khan!

Beat them, cut them, Baskaks, filthy Tatars! .. "

And the river overflowed, the fire was agitated ...

The prince raised himself on his bed; eyes sparkled with fire

They flashed menacingly with all the anger of a high soul,

He shouted: “Hey you, traders!

God has sent evil rewards all over the earth.

Are you the only ones who do not want to submit to His judgment?

The Hordes are bursting in darkness into Russia - I do not spare myself,

I am the only one holding them on my shoulders! ..

The burden to bear - so carry the whole world!

Together, that the age-old forest, rise, grow,

Believing in the aspirations of better times, -

Everything is only endured to the end - saved! .. "

Quietly the lamp before the image of the Savior burns...

The prince looks motionless into the darkness, into infinity...

Darkness, like a veil, suddenly parted before him ...

He sees: doused, as if with a golden ray,

The bank of the Neva, where he smashed the enemy...

Suddenly a city appears there ... the shores are teeming with people ...

Colored ships fly flags around...

Thunder is heard; the ship appeared in the distance ...

They are ruled by a helmsman with an open tall man ...

Everyone calls the helmsman the king ...

They lift the coffin from the ship, carry it to the temple,

Ringing is heard, sacred hymns are sung...

The roof was opened... The tsar is saying something to the crowd...

Here - in front of the coffin he makes earthly bows ...

Next - all the people go to venerate the relics ...

In the coffin - the prince sees - he himself ...

Quietly the lamp before the image of the Savior burns...

The prince lies motionless...

As if a light shone above his head, -

A wonderful face lit up with beauty ...

Quietly the abbot approached him and with a trembling hand

His heart felt him and his forehead -

And, sobbing, he exclaimed: “Our sun has set!”

The defeat of the Swedish knightly troops in the battle on the Neva

The battle with the Swedes on the Neva, which took place in 1240, was one of the largest battles in the centuries-old history of our country. A rich literature has accumulated about this battle both in Russian and in other European languages.

In our historical literature, especially in general and educational writings on the history of feudal Russia, the Battle of the Neva was usually portrayed as an accidental event, as an unexpected attack from the sea, which had no roots in the previous history of North-Western Russia.

Only as a result of an in-depth study of all historical material over the previous and subsequent centuries, it was possible to clearly establish the significance of the Battle of the Neva in the course of the long struggle between Russia and Sweden. Difficulties that immediately got in the way of research were caused primarily by the extreme limitations of the source base. Sources that directly testify to the Battle of the Neva have survived only from the Russian side; in Russian - this is a brief news of the Novgorod I Chronicle and a more lengthy text of the Life of Alexander Nevsky. There is no record of this event in Swedish sources. And this should not be surprising. In medieval Sweden, until the beginning of the 14th century, no major narrative works on the history of the country were created, such as Russian chronicles and large Western European chronicles.

End of introductory segment.