The life of Saints Cyril and Mary of Radonezh, parents of Saint Sergius. Birth and childhood of St. Sergius
The biography of St. Sergius was compiled by Saint Epiphanius the Wise († c. 1418-1422), his student and contemporary, who knew about the life of his teacher from himself and from the Rev.’s elder brother, Stephen, and from St. Theodore († 1394), nephew of St. Sergius . And he didn’t need to ask anyone about the homeland of the Reverend - he himself lived in Rostov in his youth and took monastic vows in the Rostov monastery of St. Gregory the Theologian.
Venerable Epiphanius the Wise and the brethren writing the life of Sergius of Radonezh.
For several centuries, generation after generation has been rereading the lines about the beginning of the life of the future prayer book, trying to touch great secret his birth and spiritual development. In the Life of our Venerable and God-Bearing Father Sergius, Hegumen of Radonezh and Wonderworker of All Russia, the words that describe the events associated with his birth, childhood and adolescence, which took place here, on the blessed Rostov land, in the place where he stands, are especially valuable for our story. Holy Varnitsa monastery.
Epiphanius the Wise writes that the future great Hegumen of the Russian Land was born from noble and faithful parents: from a father whose name was Cyril, and a mother named Mary, who were God's Saints, truthful before God and before people, and full and adorned with all sorts of virtues that God loves. God did not allow such a baby, who was supposed to shine, to be born from unrighteous parents. But first God created and prepared such righteous parents for him and then from them he produced his saint.
About the parents of St. Sergius, the Life tells that they were The boyars, from the glorious and famous boyars, owned a large estate in the Rostov region and great wealth. At first, boyar Kirill was in the service of the Rostov prince Vasily Konstantinovich († 1307) and his son Prince Konstantin Vasilyevich († 1364), married to the daughter of the great Moscow prince Ivan Danilovich (Kalita). The Life of St. Sergius reports that more than once the boyar Kirill accompanied the Rostov prince to Golden Horde, which indicates the closeness of boyar Kirill to the court of the Rostov princes. Boyar Kirill, due to his position, owned a sufficient fortune. In the family, besides Bartholomew, the future Sergius, there were two more children - the eldest Stefan and the younger Peter.
Venerable Sergius of Radonezh in his life. Mid-16th century.
The icon was a temple icon in the church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the Rostov Boriso-Gleb Monastery, founded in 1363 with the blessing of the Reverend. Collection of the Rostov Museum.
Even before the birth of St. Sergius, a sign was given about his chosenness by God: during the Divine Liturgy, at which Mary prayed on Sunday, the child in her womb cried out loudly three times in the temple, so that many were horrified by this cry - the glorious miracle that happened to this baby.
- But it is more appropriate to be surprised that- writes Epiphanius the Wise, - that the baby in the womb did not cry out outside the church, without people, or in another place, secretly, alone, but precisely in front of the people, so that there would be many listeners and witnesses to this true event. And it is also surprising that he did not shout quietly, but to the whole church, so that rumors about him would spread throughout the whole earth; Surprisingly, he did not shout when his mother was either at a feast or sleeping at night, but when she was in church, during prayer - may the one born fervently pray to God. It is surprising that he shouted not in some house or some unclean and unknown place, but, on the contrary, in a church standing in a clean, holy place, where it is appropriate to celebrate the Liturgy of the Lord - this means that the child will be in fear God's perfect saint of the Lord.
From that day on Mary carried the child in her womb like some priceless treasure and like a precious stone, realizing that he would be the chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit. IN strict fasting and with frequent heartfelt prayer the mother kept the child in her womb.
Birth of St. Sergius.
Oh, parents, if you only knew how much good or, on the contrary, how much evil you can impart to your children even before they are born! You would be surprised at the accuracy of God’s judgment, which blesses children in parents and parents in children and transfers “the sins of the fathers onto the children” (Num. 14:18), and, thinking about this, you would reverently carry out the ministry entrusted to you from Him, from By Him is every Fatherland in heaven and on earth called,- St. Philaret wrote about this event.
The Monk Sergius was born on May 3 (May 16, New Age) 1314. May 3 is the day of remembrance of one of the founders of Russian monasticism, the founder of the Kiev Pechersk Monastery, St. Theodosius († May 3, 1074). In Rus', the “maternity” saint was especially revered, on whose memory a person was born. Attention to the saint, whose memory is celebrated on a person’s birthday, has reached modern times. Let us remember, for example, that Tsar Peter I was born on the day of memory of St. Isaac of Dalmatia, and this explains that main temple new capital St. Petersburg was consecrated in the name of St. Isaac.
On the fortieth day, the baby was baptized by Priest Michael, giving him the name of the Apostle Bartholomew, whose memory was celebrated on June 11. The name Bartholomew means son of joy: Rejoice, sanctified from your mother’s womb, Rejoice in your birth, named son of joy(from the akathist to St. Sergius).
When Kirill and Maria told Priest Michael about what happened in the church before his birth, he answered the embarrassed parents: Do not grieve for him, but, on the contrary, rejoice and be glad, for the child will be a vessel chosen by God, an abode and servant Holy Trinity, – which came true.
Baptism of Bartholomew. Personal Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh. XVI century.
The signs of God's chosenness of the baby continued. When his mother happened to eat meat, then the baby did not want to take the breast. And realizing this, his mother she abstained and fasted, and from then on the baby began to always feed as it should. On Wednesday and Friday, the child refused mother's milk, while remaining cheerful and calm: Rejoice, thou who showed us the wonderful fasting of infancy!(from the akathist to St. Sergius). Moreover, baby I didn’t want to feed from someone else’s mother, but only from my own parent. This, according to many, meant that from a good root, a good branch must be nourished with undefiled milk.
The child grew up in the following years,– continues the Life, – as it should be at this age, his soul, body, and spirit matured, he was filled with reason and the fear of God, and the mercy of God was with him.
Ancient Rus' had its own names different periods life of a man: a boy under seven years old is a baby; otrocha (youth) – up to 14 years, brainchild – up to 21 years; young man - up to 28 years old; husband – up to 35 years old; Middle Ages - from 42 to 49 years old; old man - from 49 to 56 years old.
At the age of seven, Bartholomew was sent to learn to read and write with his brothers! The brothers quickly mastered the teaching with success, but Bartholomew was not able to study, despite his great zeal. His parents, his teacher, and the youth Bartholomew himself were very sad and sad about this. But it was destined that he was given to understand the letter not from people, but from God.
Vision to the youth Bartholomew. Artist M.V. Nesterov. 1889-1890.
The painting was painted in the years preceding the significant date - the 500th anniversary (1892) of the repose of St. Sergius. During these years, artists V.M. Vasnetsov, E.D. Polenova, V.I. The Surikovs turned in their work to the image of the Reverend. The artist Mikhail Vasilyevich Nesterov was always convinced that this was his best work: “It’s not me who will live. “The Youth Bartholomew” will live. Now, if 30, 50 years after my death he is still alive, then I am also alive.”.
One day Bartholomew was sent by his father to look for lost horses. On the field he saw someone praying under an oak tree a monk, a holy elder, amazing and unknown, with the rank of presbyter, handsome and like an Angel... And when the elder finished praying and looked at the youth, he saw with his spiritual gaze that the youth would be a chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit. He turned to Bartholomew, called him to him, and blessed him, and kissed him in the name of Christ, and asked him: “What are you looking for and what do you want, child?” The youth said: “My soul desires most of all to learn to read and write, for which I am given to study. Now my soul grieves, because I am learning to read and write, but I cannot overcome it. You, holy father, pray to God for me, so that I can learn to read and write.” Having prayed, the elder gave him a piece of holy prosphora: “Open your lips, child, and open them. Take this and eat - this is given to you as a sign of God’s grace and understanding of Holy Scripture. Although what I give seems small, the sweetness of tasting it is great.” The youth begged the elder to come to their home.
The appearance of the Divine Elder to the youth Bartholomew and the receipt of the gift of understanding and literacy.
The mark of the icon of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the life. Mid-16th century.
Cyril and Maria greeted the unfamiliar guest with joy, because they loved and revered pilgrim pilgrims. In the house of boyar Kirill there was a special room for prayer, where before the meal the whole family and the elder went to say a holy prayer. The elder began to read “The Hours,” and ordered the youth to read a psalm. The boy said: “I don’t know how to do this, father.” The elder replied: “I told you that from this day on the Lord will grant you the knowledge of literacy. Speak the word of God without doubt.” And then something amazing happened: the boy, having received a blessing from the elder, began to read the psalms very well and harmoniously; and from that hour he began to read and write well. At parting, the elder predicted to the pious couple: “The boy will be glorious before God and people because of his virtuous life.”
Epiphanius the Wise adds: This good youth was worthy of spiritual gifts, who knew God from the very diapers, and loved God, and was saved by God. He lived, obeying his parents in everything: he tried to fulfill their commands and not disobey them in anything, just as Holy Scripture says: “Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long on earth.”
During his adolescence, the future St. Sergius lived in strict fasting, and on Wednesdays and Fridays he did not eat anything. at night he often stayed awake and prayed. This is how the grace of the Holy Spirit infused him.
Blessing of the elder Bartholomew and his parents Kirill and Mary.
The mark of the icon of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the life. Mid-16th century.
Epiphanius the Wise writes that the family of St. Sergius was pious and hospitable. Like every Russian pious family, Kirill and Maria, together with their sons, often visited the holy places of the city. And was brought up special guardian and assistant of our Russian kingdom at the shrines of Rostov.
Brief life of Saints Cyril and Mary, parents of Saint Sergius of Radonezh
The Most Reverend Kirill stood in the service of the Rostov Prince Kon-stan-ti-na II Bo-ri-so-vi -cha, and then at Kon-stan-ti-na III Va-si-lie-vi-cha, of whom he, as one of the people closest to them, more than once co-leader gave to the Golden Or-da. St. Cyril owned up to a hundred in his own way, but according to the simple morals, living in a village, I didn’t neglect the usual rural labor.
In the life of the Most Precious Sergia, he tells us that the Divine Li-tur-gi-she even before birth niya son of the righteous Marya and the prayer of the three-time cry of the baby: before reading not the Holy Evan-ge-liy, during the He-ru-vim-skaya song and when the priest said “Holy to the Holy” . The venerable Kirill and Maria felt the great mercy of God on themselves, their goodness is tr-bo-va-lo , so that feelings of goodness towards God would be the same in any external movement of goodness stia, in the good-go-vey-those. And the righteous Mary, like Saint Anne - ma-te-ri about-ro-ka Sa-mu-i-la, together with her husband gave both- To dedicate this time to the good of all - to God. The Lord gave them a son, whose name was Var-fo-lo-me-em. From the first days of his life, the baby surprised everyone by fasting: on Wednesdays and Fridays he did not drink milk -ri, on other days, if she used meat in her pee, the baby also s-saw from the milk -ka. Noticing this, the very kind Maria was completely enamored with meat food.
The righteousness of Ki-ril-la and Maria was known not only to God. Having strictly observed the rules of all churches, they helped the poor, but especially protected the holy not for the holy Apostle Paul: country-but-love is not for-for-you, especially since you don’t know the nation of countries -pri-ya-sha An-ge-ly (). That's what they taught their children, strictly instructing them not to miss the opportunity to invite a po-t-e-she-st to their house from a foreign country or from another tired country. We have not received detailed information about the good life of this blessed couple, but we can, together with Saint Pla-to say that the fruit itself that came from them seemed better than all the red-speaking ones. praise the goodness of the word of the tree. Happy are you born, whose names will be glorified forever in their children and offspring! Are you and your children happy, who are not only not disgraceful, but also have lived smartly and brought honor and bliss? -the city of its kin and glorious ancestors, for the true goodness of the city lies in goodness -li!
Around 1328, the elders Kirill and Maria moved from Rosto-va to Ra-do-nezh. About three versts from Ra-do-nezh there was the Khotkovsky Po-krovsky monastery, which at that time was once a man’s monastery, and female. According to the common custom in Russia, in old age, foreigners come with pro-ste-tsy, and princes, and bo- yare. The spirit of otherness communicated from the son to the parents: at the end of their many-sorrowful life, the righteous Kirill and Ma-riya will also accept the angelic image.
To this mo-na-stir and to-the-right-of-their-stops, so that there they can spend the rest of their days in the movement of-ka-ya-niya, th -then heading towards another life. But they didn’t work for long in their new rank. In 1337 they went in peace to the Lord.
April 3, 1992, in the year of celebration of the 600th anniversary of the repose of the Venerable Sergius, on Ar-hi -priestly So-bo-re of the Russian Right-glorious Church with-a-hundred-of the social-church-pro-glorification of the schema-mon -ha Ki-ril-la and shi-mo-na-hi-ni Maria. Ka-no-ni-za-tion do-stay-but uven-cha-la she-sti-ve-ko-voe po-chi-ta-nie ro-di-te-ley ve-li-ko-go -movement, which gave the world an idea of the holiness and Christian structure of the family.
The complete life of Saints Cyril and Mary, parents of Saint Sergius of Radonezh
“...The Servant of God Kirill formerly gave great wealth in the Rostov region, he was a boyar, one from the glorious and well-known boyars, owned great wealth, but by the end of his life in old age he became impoverished and fell into poverty. ness. Let's also talk about how and why he did not communicate: because of his frequent visits with the princes to Or-du, because of his frequent visits to -gov of the Ta-tars to Rus', because of the frequent embassies of the Ta-tars, because of many heavy and levies of the horde, because there is often a shortage of bread... Because of this misfortune, God's servant Kirill left that village in Rostov, about which that swarm has already spoken; he gathered with his whole house, and went with all his relatives, and moved from Rosto-va in Ra-do-nezh. And, having come there, he sat down near the church, named in honor of the Holy Birth of Christ...
The sons of Ki-ril-la, Stefan and Peter, got married; the third son, the blessed young man Var-fo-lo-mei, did not want to marry, but was very eager for a foreign life -no. He asked his father about this many times, saying: “Now, lord, give me your consent, so that for the benefit of “I started your life with it.” But give him a message: “Ch-do! Wait a little and be patient for us: we are old, poor, sick now, and there is no one to look after us. Well, your brothers Stefan and Peter got married and are thinking about how to please us; You, tender-hearted one, are thinking about how to please God - you have taken a more beautiful path from, which is not from heaven. met with you. Just follow us a little, and when you, the birth of yours, lead us to the grave, then you can You eat and we sat down to carry out our task. When you put us in a coffin and bury us in the earth, then you will have completely fulfilled your desire.”
The wonderful young man happily promised to look after them until the end of their lives, and from that day he grew old every day To please his family in every possible way, so that they pray for him and give him a blessing. So he lived for some time, serving and pleasing his family with all his soul and from a pure heart, according to until they gave him a haircut and each of them, at different times, retired to his own monastery. Having lived in the monastery for a few years, they left this life, went to God, and their son, to his blissful young man Var-fo-lo-meya, every day they blah-word-la-li many times until the next sigh. The blessed young man led his family to the grave, and sang funeral songs over them, and -returned their bodies, and kissed them, and laid them in a coffin with great abundance, and buried them in the earth. lie with your tears like some kind of priceless treasure. And with his tears, he honored the dead father and mother pa-ni-hi-da-mi and the saints-li-tur-gi-ya-mi, noted pa -knead your own and pray for yours, and once whose love is not wretched, and feed the beggars. So until the next day, he noted the memory of his births.”
After this, the future great Sergius returned to his house and began to part with the lives of the people. more of this world, so that we can begin our life as soon as possible.
It is necessary to add that the mo-na-she-image of Saints Cyril and Maria was received in the Kho-kovsky Po-krovsky mon-on-stay re, which was located three versts from Ra-do-ne-zha and was at that time simultaneously male and female .
The summer-writing of the Krov-pokrov-skoe mo-na-sta-rya provides evidence of how the prayer -sh-tion to the Most-precious Sergius and his relatives spa-sa-lo people from serious illnesses. The powers of skh-mo-na-ha Ki-ril-la and skh-mo-na-hi-ni Maria invariably came together in Pokrovsky so-bo- re, even after his many re-buildings. Already in the 14th century, in the personal life of the Pre-excellent Sergius, his images were depicted with him. According to tradition, the Most Reverend Sergius said: “before going to him, pray for the remembrance of his birth.” -di-te-ley over their coffin.” And so it was that the elk fell asleep, going to the prayer service in the Tro-its-kuyu Lav-ra, did they sleep? -Kov-skaya monastery. In the 19th century, the number of saints Ki-ril-la and Maria spread throughout Russia, as evidenced by -there are months-the-words-you-at-the-time. Unfortunately, after 1917, the Khotkovo mo-na-styr was liquidated. But, finally, in July 1981, the celebration of the So-bo-ra of Ra-do-Nezh saints was established in some -rum would-be pro-slav-le-ny skh-mo-na-hi Kirill and Ma-ria. In 1989, in the Church of the Intercession of the Monastery, returned to the Russian Orthodox Church, again served and the powers of the righteous ancestors of the great Sergius were transferred to it.
Kontakion to Saints Cyril and Mary of Radonezh
Today, believers, we have come together, / let us praise the blessed duo, the blessed Cyril and the good Mary, / for they pray together with their beloved son, the Reverend Sergius / to the One in the Holy To the Trinity God/ to establish our fatherland in orthodoxy,/ to protect the houses in peace,/ to protect the youth from deliver from misfortunes and temptations,/strengthen old age//and save our souls.
Translation: Today, believers, having gathered, let us glorify the blessed couple, the blessed Cyril and the well-behaved Mary, for they pray together with their beloved son the Reverend Sergius to the One God in the Holy Trinity, to establish our Fatherland in Orthodoxy, to preserve families in peace, to save the young from misfortunes and temptations , strengthen old age and save our souls.
Oh, servants of God, Schema-monk Kirill, Schema-nun Mary! Even though you have ended your natural temporary life in body, you do not depart from us in spirit, but you guide us to Christ God, you instruct us to walk according to the commandments of the Lord and to bear our cross and follow our Master, , reverend, together with our reverend and God-bearing father Sergius, your beloved son, have confidence in Christ our God and in His Holy Mother of God. Be the prayer makers and intercessors for us, the unworthy, who live in your holy monastery, including you and the rulers. Be the helpers and intercessors of God’s gathered squad, so that those who live in this place and come with faith, through your prayers, may remain unharmed from demons and from evil people, glorifyingly I have the Trinity, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and forever eyelids of centuries. Amen.
Canons and Akathists
Akathist to St. Cyril and Mary of Radonezh
Kontakion 1
Chosen miracle workers and great servants of the Lord, our monastery intercessor and dreamer of prayer for our souls, the venerable schema-monk Kirill and schema-nun Mary! Bringing praise to you, we earnestly pray: for those who have boldness in the Lord, through your intercession free us from all troubles and make us heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven, so we joyfully call to you:
Ikos 1
The angels of earth and the people of heaven truly appeared to the venerable Cyril and Mary, from your youth clear conscience having lived towards God, and having lived well together in piety and purity, and having left us as an example of imitation your life pleasing to God, who has marveled and illuminated your miracles, we call you voices of praise:
Rejoice, you who have loved Christ from your youth and worked for Him with all your heart;
Rejoice, guardians of chastity and guardians of mental and physical purity.
Rejoice, having prepared your souls and bodies on earth for the abode of the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, being filled with the wisdom and intelligence of the Divine.
Rejoice, for you have stood before the Trinity from earth to heaven and there from the Angels;
Rejoice, for with disembodied faces you sing the thrice-holy hymn to Her.
Rejoice, you have been glorified in heaven and on earth by the Lord;
Rejoice, having found an eternal, all-bright resting place.
Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.
Kontakion 2
Seeing all seeing eye Father of lights, great is your life pleasing to God, deign to choose you, blessed one, so that you may show the world’s bright lamp of the Venerable Sergius, so that about him your names will be glorified and all the faithful will sing to the Lord who glorified you: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
Filled with Divine reason, Cyril and Mary worked tirelessly for the Lord, instructing their children in obedience and meekness. Make us wise, reverent ones, to constantly follow the justification of the Lord without falsehood, so that together with you we may find eternal salvation and bring you the following blessings:
Rejoice, blessed ones, who have lived in love of God and preserved good faith;
Rejoice, you are filled with mercy and compassion.
Rejoice through alms and prayers Heavenly Kingdom acquisitive;
Rejoice, having improved eternal bliss through humility and fasting.
Rejoice, for your reward is abundant in Heaven;
Rejoice, for through your prayers we too are not deprived of the hope of the Kingdom of Christ.
Rejoice, for your joy is eternal in the light of the saints;
Rejoice, for for your Lordship’s sake we too are heirs.
Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.
Kontakion 3
By the power of God we protect St. Cyril to the Prince of Rostov with all zeal, serving and together with him in the Hagarian horde, for the sake of peace, walking, so that the Russian people weaken from their yoke and sing to God incessantly: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
The Venerables Cyril and Mary and the people had a thought about the threefold proclamation of fruit in Mary’s womb in the church and were amazed, realizing something glorious and wonderful was happening; and having now seen the joyful birth of her son, she rejoiced and made a joyful offering to you, saying:
Rejoice, most luminous two, united by God;
Rejoice, unpretentious stars, who faithfully point out the path of married life pleasing to God.
Rejoice, parents of good and chosen fruit;
Rejoice, having fulfilled all the grace of God.
Rejoice, Christian spouses, teachers of piety;
Rejoice, you who teach good, God-fearing children the upbringing of their children.
Rejoice, chastity and continence in conjugal life are the most excellent image;
Rejoice, teachers of those who want to live a life pleasing to God.
Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.
Kontakion 4
The storm of sorrows and misfortunes raised by the viceroy of the Grand Duke, do not weaken your strong love for God, Kirill and Blessed Mary, but moreover, teach you to better repel the kindled arrows of the evil one. Teach us, therefore, to bear all the sorrows of this world with meekness, crying out to God with joy: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Having heard, blessed Bartholomew, your wondrous child, who was once inexperienced in reading and writing, honoring God-inspired writings, you were greatly surprised, and the elder schema-monk, who bestowed wisdom on him, received into your home, keeping the commandment of the Apostle Paul: do not forget the love of strangers; Moreover, the Angels did not know how strange they were. Glorifying your virtue, we cry out to you:
Rejoice, faithful followers of Christ’s commandments;
Rejoice, followers of the truth of the teachings of the Gospel.
Rejoice, saints of God, as partakers of the lives of the great saints;
Rejoice, imitators of the hospitality of the ancient forefather Abraham.
Rejoice in the light of your pious life, like a divinely luminous luminary that shines forth;
Rejoice, you have shown love and mercy to the poor and orphaned.
Rejoice, a helper for the helpless;
Rejoice, for you always help us and guide us to the Heavenly Fatherland.
Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.
Kontakion 5
The godly stars are like the speedy, blessed Cyril and Mary, who came from the country of Rostov to the boundaries of the Principality of Moscow and settled in the city of Radonezh, where they amazed the people there with their piety, striving to sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Having seen, holy, the diligence of his son, the Venerable Sergius, towards monastic life, I pray to him that he will remain with you until your death. He, like a son of obedience, taught by you from childhood to fulfill the commandments of the Lord, submitted to your will, Cyril and Mary, like God, teaching everyone to cry out to you like this:
Rejoice, partakers of the beatitudes of Christ;
Rejoice, create an honest marriage and care for your good children.
Rejoice, angelic people;
Rejoice, venerable and righteous participants.
Rejoice, faithful saint of the Most Holy Trinity;
Rejoice, for you have taught your children to please Her.
Rejoice, for this is why your son has built a wondrous abode for the Trinitarian Deity;
Rejoice, for this reason your holy names are glorified throughout Rus'.
Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.
Kontakion 6
Preachers of the Orthodox faith and zealots of piety, not only in words, but also in your life, quickly in the city of Radonezh, praise to Cyril and Mary: in the same way, the Holy Church worthily honors you, incessantly singing to the Wonderful God in Her saints: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
The light of your virtuous life appears in the city of Radonezh, blessed Cyril and Mary; When she reached old age, she rushed to the Khotkovo monastery under the cover of Mother of God Having come there, we naturally perceived the great image of the Angel, showing us the same image of the highest humility, learning from it, with love we cry out to you like this:
Rejoice, for love for the sake of the Lord of this world has given up glory;
Rejoice, for you have diligently accepted the monastic life of equal angels.
Rejoice, having come to the ancient monastery and there finding peace for yourself;
Rejoice, having entrusted your souls to the Most Pure Virgin Mary.
Rejoice, having received the image of an angel and preserved it immaculately;
Rejoice, show goodness to all monks and nuns.
Rejoice, having mortified all passions through abstinence before your death;
Rejoice, having received the holy schema into the armor of salvation.
Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.
Kontakion 7
Although the Lord, the Lover of Mankind, showed in your life, Reverend Cyril and Mary, an image of edification, not only to the people of the world, but also to the monastic face, instill in you in old age to leave earthly glory and perceive the image of a monk, in which through fasting, vigil and prayer you strive for good, tirelessly chanting the Seraphim's hymn to the Triune God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
The Creator and Master showed new grace to all through you, reverend ones, when nature passed from the temporary sowing vale of deplorable vale to the eternal abode. Your holy relics, even if hidden in secret, produced many miracles and gave healing to many sick people; Moreover, I will heal the babies brought to you. For this sake, O blessed healers of ours, accept this praise from us:
Rejoice, having come through temporary death to eternal life;
Rejoice, from the Lord incorruptibility and glorified miracles.
Rejoice, for your memory is with praise and your dormition is with the saints;
Rejoice, for your names are honorable and blessed in your Fatherland.
Rejoice, you who give healing to sick babies;
Rejoice, you seriously ill girl, who came to you with love and saved you from her illness.
Rejoice, O heavenly representatives who love and honor you;
Rejoice, you who ever ask us from the Lord for the gifts of His goodness.
Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.
Kontakion 8
A terrible and terrible disaster came to the land of Moscow, when many people in cities and villages were wounded by the pestilence, and many of them died. Then the cathedral, consecrated with the nuns, offered prayers to you and through your intercession you received deliverance from trouble, crying out to God who benefits through you: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
All lovers of God were overcome by great sorrow, when in the days of hard times, those who came to the Russian land, the monastery of the Intercession of the Most Pure Virgin in Khotkovo, the atheists, were abandoned to ruin and desolation. But the memory of you, venerable one, is alive among people, and the children of Russia glorify your life and miracles of praise:
Rejoice, our wonderful wonderworkers;
Rejoice, you who do not abandon us in days of sorrow.
Rejoice, indestructible fence of the city of Khotkov and our monastery;
Rejoice, fortresses, visible and invisible, are our supporters against enemies.
Rejoice, you who shower us with many blessings;
Rejoice, the mercy of your compassion embraces everyone.
Rejoice, you have dreamed of the intercessors of salvation for all of us;
Rejoice, guardians of the persistent city of Khotkov and our monastery.
Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.
Kontakion 9
All the Angels and saints rejoiced with great joy, when your monastery, the Reverend Cyril and Mary, was returned to the Church and your honest relics, hidden by God from the ancient years, were placed in the cathedral church. And the lamp was lit by the prayer and all the people, seeing its light, were greatly amazed, they came running to you in times of misfortune and received help from you; and also make us worthy of veneration, who cry out to God for you: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
Human infamy does not suffice for the worthy glorification of the miracles from your relics that are still being performed, the blessed Cyril and Mary: the old woman, for the weak nun, who underwent bone refraction and was not consoled by the doctors, came to you, reverend, and with tears I pray to you. Soon after receiving the complete healing, I hurried to you with tenderness of heart:
Rejoice, vessels of election of the grace of the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, blessed intercessors of eternal joy to us.
Rejoice, you who quickly healed the old woman who was weak from her illness;
Rejoice, having surprised the skilled doctors with this healing.
Rejoice, imperishable fragrant flowers;
Rejoice, unflickering rays of immortality.
Rejoice, you who shine on earth with the greatness of miracles;
Rejoice, angels in heaven glorifying God.
Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.
Kontakion 10
Having inherited eternal salvation, blessed Cyril and Mary, your souls in the heavenly abodes abide inseparably in God, and with your holy relics in the monastery of the Immaculate Virgin you rest incorruptibly and exude abundant healing, leading us to the Heavenly Jerusalem, crying out to the Ruler of that City: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
You are a wall and a refuge for all those who come to you, reverend. For your monastery has been revived to the life of monasticism, a multitude of people seeking salvation have gathered together, you will save them from temptations and seductions, bliss, and teach them monastic work, so that, having improved what they want, they will bring you the following words of gratitude:
Rejoice, our child-loving representatives;
Rejoice, you who lead us to Christ God.
Rejoice, you who teach us to walk according to the commandments of the Lord;
Rejoice, you who teach us to patiently bear our cross and follow our Master.
Rejoice, for with our venerable father Sergius you have boldness towards Christ our God and towards His Holy Mother of God;
Rejoice, for you are intercessors for us, unworthy, who live in our holy monastery, and you are its rulers.
Rejoice, for you are helpers, intercessors and prayer books to this squad gathered by God;
Rejoice, for through your prayers we are preserved unharmed from demons and from evil people.
Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.
Kontakion 11
Prayer singing is brought to you, Most Blessed Kirill and Mary, not only in the Khotkovo monastery, but also in Vysotskaya, your son founded, the multi-healing relics of your part, glorify the miracles you perform: a baby has an incurable illness, receives healing from you, parents receive immeasurable joy fulfilling crying healings to the giver of God: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
Illuminated by the tri-radiant light, Cyril and Mary, the all-blessed, with all the saints, you now stand in Heaven at the Throne of the King of Kings, and from there, like the luminaries of light, you ever enlighten the souls of your relics flowing to the race and teach true repentance. For this reason, glorifying you, we say:
Rejoice, for you have ended your natural life in body, but do not depart from us in spirit;
Rejoice, you who come to the race of your relics with faith, sanctifying them with grace.
Rejoice, shining beads who enlighten people with grace;
Rejoice, shine upon your minds, illuminating with the dawn of the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, you who have known the propitiators of the Heavenly King;
Rejoice, you who call upon the prayerfully honest names of your speedy hearers.
Rejoice, because God has placed hope in you as a helper;
Rejoice, to all the faithful, you fulfill every request in their favor.
Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.
Kontakion 12
The grace from God given to you is knowing, we diligently pray now, the most praised schemamonas: pour out a warm prayer for us to the Lord, may he keep our monastery undamaged from misfortunes and disturbances, and may he have mercy and save us, crying out to Him: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing your God-pleasing life, reverend, and glorification from God in heaven, we bless your righteous repose, we magnify the countless miracles from your holy relics flowing, and trusting in your unceasing prayers, we cry out to you:
Rejoice, your earthly life is more pious than those you passed away;
Rejoice, you have received crowns of glory from the Heavenly King.
Rejoice, having been clothed in the robe of grace-filled incorruptibility;
Rejoice, you who rest incorruptibly in the fragrance of the holy thing.
Rejoice, girded with the power of many miracles;
Rejoice, for your honest physician has revealed cancer as a human disease.
Rejoice, for from her everyone who comes with faith receives healing gifts;
Rejoice, for the monastery of our relics for your sake is glorified throughout the Russian land.
Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.
Kontakion 13
Oh, glory to the wonderworkers and saints of the Lord Kirill and Mary! Accept this prayer of ours with all our souls, which is now offered to you, and make us worthy, through your intercession in the rank of angels, to reach the Kingdom of Heaven, where all saints, angels and men sing praise with unceasing voices Holy Trinity, to our God: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
This kontakion is read three times, and then ikos 1st and kontakion 1st
Prayer to Saints Cyril and Mary of Radonezh
Oh, servants of God, St. Cyril and Mary! Even though you have ended your natural temporary life in body, you do not depart from us in spirit; you guide us to Christ God, instructing us to walk according to the commandments of the Lord and to bear our cross and follow our Master. You, reverent ones, together with our reverend and God-bearing father Sergius, your beloved son, have boldness towards Christ our God and towards His Holy Mother of God. Be prayer books and intercessors for us, unworthy, living in your holy monastery, and you are its rulers. Be the helpers and intercessors of God's gathered squad, so that those who live in this place and come with faith, preserve by your prayers, remain unharmed from demons and from evil people, glorifying the Holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever forever and ever. Amen.
On October 8, the Orthodox Church remembers one of the most revered saints in Rus' - St. Sergius of Radonezh. A monument to this saint was even unveiled in Barnaul in September 2017. We tell you who he is and why he is so loved in Russia.
Who is Sergius of Radonezh?
Sergius of Radonezh is one of the favorite saints in Rus'. Known as a hermit and miracle worker, the founder of a number of monasteries, including the Trinity-Sergius Lavra near Moscow. He is also called the spiritual collector of the Russian people and Russian culture. He is considered the patron saint of students.
When was Sergius of Radonezh born and lived?
The exact date and year of his birth are unknown. Researchers say this could have happened in 1314 or 1319.
The parents of the future saint were named Cyril and Maria. The boy was given the name Bartholomew at birth. Besides him, there were two more children in the family. The eldest is Stefan and the youngest is Peter. The family lived in the village of Varnitsa near Rostov. When Bartholomew was a teenager, his family, fleeing hunger, moved to Radonezh.
How did he become a monk?
As it is said in the life of the saint, while still a child Bartholomew “began to fast strictly and abstained from everything, on Wednesday and Friday he ate nothing, and on other days he ate bread and water; at night he often stayed awake and prayed.” His parents did not like this behavior of their son, and they made him promise that he would become a monk only after their death. And so it happened. At the age of 23, Sergius invited his brother Stefan to live in the desert. But he did not stay with his brother for long: life in the desert turned out to be too difficult, and Stefan left. Bartholomew called a certain abbot Mitrofan and took tonsure from him, calling himself Sergius, since on that day (October 7) the memory of the martyrs Sergius and Bacchus was celebrated.
Soon students began to join him. Sergius forbade them to beg and introduced the rule that they all live by their own labor. During his life, Sergius founded five monasteries. The most famous is the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, as well as the Annunciation Monastery on Kirzhach, Staro-Golutvin near Kolomna, the Vysotsky Monastery, and the St. George Monastery on Klyazma.
Why is Sergius of Radonezh considered the patron saint of students?
Many miracles are associated with the name of this saint. One of the first is amazing literacy learning. Bartholomew was sent to study at the age of seven. His brothers quickly mastered reading, but Bartholomew still could not learn. The parents argued, the teacher punished, but the boy could not learn and “prayed to God with tears.”
One day, in a field, Bartholomew saw a Monk monk “an old man... handsome, like an angel” praying, told him about his misfortune and asked him to pray to God for him. After the prayer, the elder gave the boy a piece of holy prosphora and ordered him to eat it, predicting that now he would know literacy better than all his peers. And so it happened. Sergius was a very educated man. He spoke several languages, read a lot and knew a lot. He passed on his knowledge to his students. And today he is considered the patron saint of students.
Is it true that the saint reconciled the Russian princes and helped win the Battle of Kulikovo?
It is believed that Sergius actually reconciled the warring princes. The life says that the saint could act on the hardest and most hardened hearts with “quiet and meek words.” It was thanks to him that by the time of the Battle of Kulikovo, almost all Russian princes had stopped fighting.
Sergius of Radonezh had the gift of foresight. He blessed Prince Dmitry for the battle with the Tatar Khan Mamai on the Kulikovo Field. When Dmitry came to him for advice, Sergius predicted victory for the Russian army. To help the prince, he released two monks - Peresvet and Oslyabya, although in those days monks were forbidden to take part in battles. As a result, the Russian army won.
What miracles did Sergius of Radonezh perform?
He performed a lot of miracles. Let's list just a few:
Source. In one of the monasteries, the monks were forced to bring themselves water from afar, a murmur arose, and then the monk, “having found some rain water in one ditch, made a fervent prayer over it,” after which a source of water opened.
Resurrection of a child. One local resident brought Sergius his sick son. But the child died. The grief-stricken father went to pick up the coffin. “But while he was walking, the monk prayed over the dead man, and the child came to life.”
Punishment for greed. The rich neighbor took the poor hog from him and “didn’t want to pay money for it.” When Sergius appealed, the rich man promised to “pay for the pig he took from his poor neighbor, and also to correct his whole life.” He did not fulfill his promise, and the pork carcass, despite the fact that it was frozen, was eaten by worms.
Chosen miracle workers and wonderful servants of the Lord, St. Sergius the Great of the Church of Russia, who bestowed upon St. Kirill and Mary the monastery of Khotkovo intercessor! Bringing praise to you, we earnestly pray: for those who have boldness in the Lord, by your intercession free us from all troubles and make us heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven, so we joyfully call you: Rejoice, Venerable Cyril and Mary, blasphemous prayer books for us before God. (Kontakion 1 Akathist to St. Cyril and Mary)
Three kilometers from Rostov the Great, on the left bank of the Ishni River, there is an ancient monastery in the name of St. Life-Giving Trinity- Varnitsky Monastery. Our pious ancestors built it, wanting to perpetuate in the memory of future generations the place where the great ascetic of the Russian land, St. Sergius of Radonezh, was born.
At the beginning of the 14th century, here was the estate of his parents - noble and noble boyars Kirill and Maria. Boyar Kirill was in the service of the Rostov appanage princes and more than once, as a trusted and close person, accompanied them on dangerous journeys to the Horde. To the bustle of city life and the princely court, the couple preferred quiet rural solitude on their estate. Kirill owned a fortune sufficient for his position, but due to the simplicity of the customs of that time, living in the village, he did not neglect ordinary peasant labor.
The Venerable Epiphanius the Wise, compiler of the first Life of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, says that Cyril and Mary were noble and faithful people, “ God's saints“The righteous before God and men are full and adorned with all virtues.” Strict guardians of all church statutes, they loved the temple of God, prayer, and were especially concerned about works of mercy: they helped the poor, received strangers, and gave alms. This is what they taught their children.
Detailed information about the life of this blessed couple has not reached us, but we can follow Metropolitan Platon (Levshin) in saying that “the very fruit that came from them showed better than any eloquent praise the kindness of the blessed tree. Happy are the parents whose names are glorified forever in their children and offspring! Happy are the children who not only did not disgrace, but also increased and exalted the honor and nobility of their parents and glorious ancestors, for true nobility lies in virtue!”
The couple already had a son, Stephen, when the Lord gave them another son - Bartholomew, the future founder of the Trinity Lavra, the beauty of the Orthodox Church and an indestructible support native land. Long before his birth, the wondrous providence of God gave a sign of him as the great chosen one of the Lord and the holy branch of the blessed root.
One Sunday, when Mary was praying in church at the Divine Liturgy, the baby cried loudly three times in her womb. Everyone was amazed at such a miracle, and from then on the holy mother became especially attentive to her spiritual state. Often moving away from human gaze, she fervently prayed with tears for future fate your child. Before his birth, Mary remained in strict fasting and heartfelt prayer, and so the child was, as it were, purified and sanctified even before birth. The righteous spouses, seeing the great mercy of God upon themselves and wanting to be worthy of it, made a promise: if a boy is born, they will dedicate him to serving the Lord.
On May 3, 1314, there was great joy in the house of boyar Kirill: God gave Mary a son. On the fortieth day after birth, the parents brought the baby to church for baptism. The reverent priest Michael named him Bartholomew, which means “son of joy,” in honor of the holy Apostle Bartholomew. The priest, overshadowed by the Divine Spirit, uttered significant words that the child would be “the chosen vessel of God, the abode and servant of the Holy Trinity.”
The parents began to notice something unusual in the newborn: when the mother happened to be satisfied with meat food, the baby did not take her nipples. The same thing was repeated on Wednesdays and Fridays. At first they thought that the child was unwell, but they did not find any signs of illness in him - on the contrary, he was always cheerful and joyful. Maria soon realized that a child, taught abstinence in the womb, seemed to require fasting from the mother even at birth. Then she began to fast even more strictly and completely abandoned meat food.
When Bartholomew was seven years old, his parents sent their son to learn to read and write. His two brothers also studied with him: the eldest, Stefan, and the younger, Peter. The brothers studied successfully, but Bartholomew was far behind them. The teacher punished him, his parents admonished him, he himself prayed a lot with tears, asking the Lord for admonition, but the boy was not given a letter. “This happened,” notes Blessed Epiphanius, “by the providence of God, so that he would learn books from God, and not from people.”
One day his father sent Bartholomew to look for the missing foals. In the field, under the shade of a tall oak tree, he saw an angelic elder-monk, with the rank of presbyter, and told him his heartfelt grief. The elder said a diligent prayer, and then gave the youth part of the holy prosphora “as a sign of God’s grace and understanding of Holy Scripture.” Knowing with what joy and love the parents received the wanderers, the boy begged the mysterious monk to visit their home.
The righteous Cyril and Maria greeted the guest with honor and offered him a warm meal. The elder replied that first one should taste spiritual food, and ordered Bartholomew to read the psalms. He began to refuse, knowing his inability, but the monk gave him a book and ordered him to read the word of God without doubt. And an amazing thing happened: the boy, having received the blessing, began to harmoniously and clearly verse the Psalter!.. After this, the holy guest tasted the meal offered to him, blessed the hospitable hosts and prophetically announced that their son “will be the abode of the Holy Trinity and will lead many after him to understanding Divine commandments." The pious spouses escorted the elder to the gate, but suddenly he became invisible. Cyril and Maria, perplexed, decided that an Angel of God had visited them... They deeply treasured the words of the heavenly messenger in reverent hearts.
Meanwhile, the youth, growing in years, grew in piety. The desire for monastic achievement gradually grew in him. But it was not in the Rostov land that this wondrous lamp was destined to shine. By God's providence, boyar Kirill and his entire family moved to the Moscow principality, to the village of Radonezh, receiving an estate here. But he himself, due to old age, could no longer serve, and therefore his eldest son Stefan, who got married in Rostov, took on this responsibility. The youngest son Peter also chose married life for himself.
Bartholomew with all his soul strove for an ascetic life. Thinking about the vanity of all earthly things, he began to ask his father and mother for blessings on his monastic path. “Slow down, child,” his parents answered him, “after all, we are old and weak, and there is no one to take care of us. It is good that you are concerned about how to please God: this is a good intention. Just serve us a little, take us to the grave, then you will fulfill your desire.” And the blessed son obeyed. He made every effort to repose his holy parents in their old age and earn their blessings and prayers.
Which instructive example both parental prudence and filial obedience! Cyril and Maria did not try to extinguish his divine desire in their son, but only pointed out to him their needs, and secretly, they probably wanted to give him time to test himself and become confirmed in his holy intention. And the prudent young man, knowing the height and dignity of the monastic calling, looked with meekness at the commandment of God: “Honor your father and mother” (Matthew 15:4) and agreed to wait, subduing his heartfelt desire for the time being, in order to maintain obedience to his parents and inherit their blessing .
Over time, the spirit of monasticism was communicated from the son to the parents: at the end of their sorrowful life, Cyril and Maria themselves, according to the pious custom of antiquity, wished to take on the angelic image. Three miles from Radonezh was the Intercession Khotkov Monastery, which at that time consisted of two sections - for the elders and the elders. The righteous Cyril and Maria directed their steps to this monastery, so that here they could spend the rest of their days in the feat of repentance and preparation for eternal life.
Almost at the same time, the wife of their eldest son Stefan, Anna, died, leaving two young sons - Clement and John, who later became Theodore, Saint of Rostov. Having buried his wife in the Pokrovsky Monastery, Stefan did not want to return to the world. Entrusting his children to his brother Peter, he remained in Khotkovo to become a monk and serve his weak parents.
Being in advanced years, the schema-boyars did not work long in their new title: in 1337 they peacefully departed to the Lord. Before their death, the holy parents blessed Bartholomew for his monastic feat with the icons of the Mother of God “Hodegetria” and St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The children honored them with tears of filial love and buried them under the shadow of the same Khotkovo monastery, which from that time on became the tomb of the Sergius family. Over time, the youngest son of Saints Cyril and Mary, Peter, and his wife Catherine, were also buried here.
Paying his last debt to filial love, Bartholomew continually spent forty days in the Intercession Monastery while the commemoration of the newly departed, established by the Church, took place. He combined his prayer with acts of mercy: every day he fed strangers and distributed alms to the poor. By passing on the inheritance left behind by parents younger brother Peter, the venerable young man strived for spiritual achievements.
He had no intention of staying in Khotkovo - his soul longed for the silence of the desert. Together with their elder brother Stefan, they leave the hospitable monastery of Khotkovskaya and ten miles from it, in a dense primeval forest, on the Makovets hill, they set up a poor cell for themselves, and next to it a small church in the name of the Life-Giving Trinity. Here Bartholomew was tonsured a monk with the name Sergius, and on the site of a modest hermitage the great and glorious Lavra was subsequently destined by God to flourish.
The Holy Trinity Lavra has at all times been a favorite place of pilgrimage for numerous pilgrims who resorted to the prayerful intercession of the great Intercessor of the Russian land - Abba Sergius. There is a legend that St. Sergius commanded, before going to the Trinity Monastery, to go to the Intercession Monastery and pray for the repose of his parents. In the “Trinity Leaves” of the 19th century, this touching ancient custom is described as follows: “So that the saint of God hears the prayer, so that he graciously accepts the stranger under his blessed cover, this stranger first goes to bow at the grave of his righteous parents in order to appear to the blessed son from his dear grave as if with parting words from the righteous parents themselves.”
Veneration of Schemamonk Kirill and Schemanun Maria.
The veneration of schema-monk Kirill and schema-nun Maria began immediately after the repose of their great son. “The evidence of church tradition about their holiness is numerous, they go back to XVI century. Already in the Personal Life of St. Sergius, his parents are depicted with halos.” At their relics, which invariably rest in the Intercession Cathedral of the Khotkov Monastery, the Psalter was incessantly read and requiem services were served. The chronicle of the Intercession Monastery provides many evidence of healings from serious illnesses through the intercession of the parents of St. Sergius. Three times through their holy prayers the Khotkov Monastery was delivered from pestilence and cholera during the epidemics of 1771, 1848 and 1871. In 1771, during the deadly plague, a prayer was composed for Schema-monk Kirill and Schema-nun Maria to be read on the “Glories” of the indefatigable Psalter at their tomb; it was read for several months, and the monastery was not damaged.
In the 19th century, the veneration of the righteous Cyril and Mary spread throughout Russia. Their names were included in the lists of locally revered holy ascetics of piety in North-Eastern Rus', as indicated by the monthly calendars of that time. The veneration of the saints is also evidenced by the narrative from the chronicle of the Seraphim-Diveyevo Monastery (Chapter XII), which says that among the icons that St. Seraphim of Sarov in different times sent as a blessing to the Diveyevo monastery he founded, there was a medium-sized image of the Radonezh wonderworker Sergius and the image of his blessed parents - the Monks Cyril and Mary.
For believers, the spiritual communication of St. Sergius with his holy parents - humble schema-monks, whom he buried in the Khotkovo monastery - has always been tangible; According to popular legend, during his lifetime he often walked to their resting place from his forest desert. Both in the Lavra and in Khotkovo, pilgrims bought icons on which Saint Sergius is depicted praying at the tomb of his parents with a censer in his hand. This is a memory of his filial love for his father and mother, whom he humbly and devotedly served until their blessed death.
In 1922, the Khotkov Monastery was closed, and for many years desolation reigned there. But the people of God also came to the devastated monastery to ask for help and intercession from the saints. The veneration of the righteous Cyril and Mary, faith in the holiness and power of their prayers were deeply attested in the consciousness of our people. In the hearts of believers, hope for the revival of the shrine never faded.
In 1981, the celebration of the Council of Radonezh Saints was established, in the host of which Schemamonk Kirill and Schemanun Maria were glorified, and a prayer to them was placed in the July Menaion.
1992 became a significant year for the Intercession Khotkov Monastery. On April 3, 1992, in the year of celebrating the 600th anniversary of the repose of St. Sergius, the church-wide glorification of St. Cyril and Mary took place. Canonization worthily crowned six centuries of veneration of the parents of the great ascetic, who gave the world an example of holiness and Christian family structure.
Canopy over the relics of St. Cyril and Mary. Intercession Khotkov Monastery.
Also in 1992, the Holy Synod decided to restore monastic life in the Pokrovsky monastery. In the Cathedral of the Intercession Holy Mother of God The main shrine of the monastery rests - the relics of Saints Cyril and Mary, parents of the great Sergius.
In our time, the power of the intercession of the holy parents of St. Sergius has again become evident in many miracles that occur through prayer to them, as well as from their relics. According to the professor of the Moscow Theological Academy, Archimandrite Matthew (Mormyl),
“On the tomb of Saints Cyril and Mary, located in the Pokrovsky Monastery, numerous healings of infants are attested, whose parents turned to the saints with prayer.”
The feat of Saints Cyril and Mary was great. This holy couple was a pious root that gave the Russian land and the whole world many beautiful and pleasing to God fruits, but especially wondrous - Sergius the Great, the mourner and prayer book for our souls. Glorified by the Church for their godly life and for the feat of a good, honest marriage, upon their dormition they entered into heavenly service - to be patrons of family life, teaching us the Christian way of life. Many God-loving pilgrims go to the Khotkov Monastery to see the shrine. miraculous relics the worthy couple for a parental blessing, pouring out their sorrows and joys before the saints, asking for help, consolation, and healing. The restoration of a pious family, sanctified and imbued with spiritual traditions, is the path to the revival of our Fatherland.
Let us honor with grateful memory the righteous parents of the Hegumen of the Russian Land, resorting to their intercession with ardent faith, hope and warm petition: “Pray earnestly to the Lord to send us the spirit of love and humility, so that in peace and unanimity we will glorify the Trinity of the Consubstantial.”
The memory of the Monks Cyril and Mary is celebrated on January 18, September 28, and July 6 (as part of the Council of Radonezh Saints) according to the old style, as well as on the Fourth of the Week of the Publican and the Pharisee.
According to the publication: “Akathist to St. Cyril and Mary, Miracle Workers of Radonezh, with Life. – Pokrovsky Khotkov Monastery, 2014.- 56 p.”
Troparion, tone 3:
Communion of the beatitudes of Christ, honest marriage and care for the children of the good image, righteousness Cyril and Mary, the fruit of piety, St. Sergius, who appeared to us, with him pray earnestly God send us the spirit of love and humility, so that in peace and unanimity we glorify the Trinity of the Consubstantial
Kontakion, tone 4
Today, believers, having come together, let us praise the blessed duo, the blessed Cyril and the good Mary, for they pray together with their beloved son, the Venerable Sergius, to the One in the Holy Trinity To God, establish our Fatherland in orthodoxy, protect our homes in peace, young people from misfortunes and temptations deliver, strengthen old age and save our souls.
Prayer to St. Cyril and Mary, parents of St. Sergius of Radonezh.
O servants of God, Reverends Kirill and Mary! Even though you have ended your natural temporary life in body, you do not depart from us in spirit, but you guide us to Christ God, instructing us to walk according to the commandments of the Lord and to wear our cross and follow our Master. You, reverends, together with our reverend and God-bearing father Sergius, your beloved son, have boldness towards Christ our God and His Holy Mother of God. Be the prayer makers and intercessors for us, the unworthy, who live in your holy monastery, and you are its rulers. Be the helpers and intercessors of God’s gathered squad, so that those who live in this place and those who come with faith, through your prayers, may remain unharmed from demons and from evil people, The Holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and ever eyelids of centuries. Amen.
Sergius of Radonezh was born on May 3, 1314 in the village of Varnitsa near Rostov. At baptism, the future saint received the name Bartholomew. At the age of seven, his parents sent him to learn to read and write. At first, the boy's learning was very bad, but gradually he learned holy scripture, became interested in the church. From the age of twelve, Bartholomew began to strictly fast and pray a lot.
Founding of the monastery
Around 1328, the future hieromonk and his family moved to Radonezh. After the death of their parents, Bartholomew and his older brother Stefan went to desert places. In the forest on Makovets Hill they built a small temple to the Trinity.
In 1337, on the day of remembrance of the martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, Bartholomew was tonsured under the name Sergius. Soon disciples began to come to him, and a monastery was formed on the site of the church. Sergius becomes the second abbot and presbyter of the monastery.
Religious activities
A few years later, a thriving temple of St. Sergius of Radonezh - the Trinity-Sergius Monastery - was formed in this place. Having learned about the establishment of the monastery, Ecumenical Patriarch Philotheus sent the abbot a letter in which he paid tribute to his activities. St. Sergius was a highly respected person in princely circles: he blessed rulers before battles and tried them on among themselves.
In addition to the Trinity-Sergius, during his short biography, Radonezh founded several more monasteries - Borisoglebsky, Blagoveshchensky, Staro-Golutvinsky, Georgievsky, Andronnikova and Simonov, Vysotsky.
Honoring Memory
Sergius of Radonezh was canonized in 1452. In the work “The Life of Sergius,” the main primary source of the hieromonk’s biography, Epiphanius the Wise wrote that during his life the Saint of Radonezh performed many miracles and healings. Once he even resurrected a man.
In front of the icon of Sergius of Radonezh, people ask for recovery. On September 25, the day of the saint's death, believers celebrate his memory day.
Other biography options
- The Life of Sergius tells that Bartholomew learned to read and write thanks to the blessing of the holy elder.
- Among the students of Sergius of Radonezh were such famous religious figures as Abraham of Galitsky, Pavel Obnorsky, Sergius of Nuromsky, Venerable Andronik, Pachomius of Nerekhta and many others.
- The life of the saint inspired many writers (N. Zernov, N. Kostomarov, L. Charskaya, G. Fedotov, K. Sluchevsky, etc.) to create works of art about his fate and deeds, including a number of books for children. The biography of Sergius of Radonezh is studied by schoolchildren in grades 7-8.
Biography test
A small test on short biography Radonezhsky will help you better understand the material.
