home Secrets of medicine Read the story of Boris and Gleb. Hagiographic literature

Read the story of Boris and Gleb. Hagiographic literature

"The Life of Boris and Gleb" is an example of an ancient Russian book life. It was created at the end of the 11th and beginning of the 12th century and has come down to us in two versions: “Tale” and “Reading”. The author of the story is unknown, “Reading” belongs to Nestor. These works of ancient Russian literature are based on the plot of the martyrdom of princes Boris and Gleb, killed by their brother Svyatopolk in the struggle for the Kiev throne.

In 1015, Prince Vladimir died. His son Svyatopolk seized power in Kyiv. By order of the prince, his brother Boris was killed, and a month later - another brother Gleb. But the third brother Yaroslav went on a campaign against Svyatopolk, defeated him and established himself in Kyiv. Boris and Gleb were buried in Vyshgorod near the Church of St. Basil. Their graves became a place of pilgrimage 1. During the construction of a new church to replace the burned one, it was discovered that the bodies of Boris and Gleb were incorruptible. This circumstance was the reason for declaring them saints. The cult of Boris and Gleb had an important political meaning: it “sanctified” and approved the state idea, according to which all Russian princes are brothers, and at the same time emphasized the obligation of submission junior princes senior

The Life focuses on the death of the brothers. Boris and Gleb are portrayed as ideal Christian martyred heroes. They voluntarily accept the crown of martyrdom.

Boris is submissive to the elder princes in everything. At the behest of his father, Prince Vladimir, he goes on a campaign against the Pechenegs. On the way back, he learns that his father has died, and the Kiev throne was seized by Svyatopolk. Boris mourns the death of his father. The squad invites him to go to Kyiv, but, obeying the duty of a vassal, he refuses and prefers death to treason. “Walking along the road, Boris thought about his beauty and kindness and burst into tears, and wanted to restrain himself from them, but could not. And everyone who saw him in tears cried about the nobility and honest mind of his youth, and everyone in his soul grieved in grief heartfelt, and everyone was in sadness... Boris's appearance was sad, his gaze and contrite heart, like that of a saint. The blessed one was truthful, generous, quiet, meek, humble, had mercy on everyone and cared about everyone "2. Boris thought: “I know that for the sake of evil, people will push my brother to kill me and destroy me. If my blood is shed, then I will be a martyr before my Lord, and the Lord will accept my soul” 3 .

Boris's sorrow was replaced by God's consolations: “Whoever loses his soul for the sake of me and my teaching will find and preserve it in eternal life.” And joy filled Boris’s heart. He turned to God, saying: “Do not reject, O most merciful Lord, me who trusts in you, but save my soul” 4 .

Boris begins to prepare for death. At the thought that he is about to die, he experiences fear. The premonition of death turns into confidence. Anxiety grows, Boris is unable to contain his heartfelt excitement. The conspirators sent by Svyatopolk surround the tent where the prince is praying and hit him with spears. Mortally wounded Boris asks for time to pray. He is taken on a cart to the city, and two Varangians finish off the martyr with a blow of a sword to the heart.

Gleb is the same hero-martyr as Boris. When Svyatopolk calls him to Kyiv, he immediately sets off. Not far from Smolensk, he is overtaken by assassins sent by Svyatopolk, and Gleb meekly, without offering any resistance, allows himself to be killed. However, the image of Gleb does not repeat Boris in everything. Unlike Boris, tormented by a gloomy premonition, Gleb does not suspect anything, even when he learns about the death of his father and the death of his brother. He only expresses a desire to quickly meet his beloved brother in heaven, if not on earth.

Gleb is naively enthusiastic about the world around him; he does not believe that he can be killed. When he sees the killers approaching him in a boat, he, not noticing their gloomy faces, rejoices at the meeting. Gleb only realized that they were going to kill him when they began to “jump” into his boat, holding swords in their hands. Gleb, trembling all over, asks for mercy, as children ask: “Don’t touch me, don’t touch me!” He does not understand what and why he must die. Gleb's defenselessness is very touching. This is one of the brightest images of ancient Russian literature.

Internal monologues are also introduced into the Tale. They are pronounced, as the chronicler writes, by the heroes, “speaking in their hearts.”

The psychological state of the characters is also reproduced in the author's descriptions. The author even tries to convey to readers the contradictory feelings that gripped the heroes. So, in Boris’s soul one feeling gives way to another: grief in connection with the premonition of death and joy in anticipation of the martyrdom of the ideal Christian hero. This is a living spontaneity in the expression of feelings, characteristic of ancient literature; moreover, these are already clearly expressed features of psychologism.

The monologues of Boris and Gleb are not devoid of imagery and lyricism. So, for example, Boris’s cry for his dead father: “Woe is me, the light of my eyes, the radiance and dawn of my face, the bridle of my youth, the instruction of my foolishness! Woe is me, my father and master! To whom will I resort, to whom will I look? Where will I perceive such good teaching and instructions of your mind? Woe is me, woe is me! My sun set, and I was not with you! " 5 .

In this monologue, the author turned to oratorical prose and at the same time to the imagery of people's lament. Folk poetry gave the hero's speech a certain lyricism and made it possible to more clearly express the feelings of filial grief. Two feelings are mixed in Gleb’s soul - grief from the premonition of death and the joy that an ideal martyr hero should experience in anticipation of a martyr’s end.

In the image of Prince Svyatopolk, the world of light and goodness, as in Russian folklore, is sharply contrasted with the world of darkness and evil. Already at the beginning of the work, the author ascribes to him the epithet “cursed”; when depicting him, he does not spare black colors. Svyatopolk is the “damned one,” “the second Cain, whose thoughts are caught by the devil,” he has “very nasty lips,” “an evil voice.” For the crimes committed, Svyatopolk bears a worthy punishment. Defeated by Yaroslav, he flees from the battlefield in panic. The author writes: “The accursed Svyatopolk ran and a demon attacked him. And his body weakened so that he could not sit on a horse. And they carried him on a stretcher.” He constantly hears the tramp of horses of Yaroslav pursuing him: “We’re running! They’re chasing us!” And they sent to look, but there were neither those chasing nor pursuing him. And he, lying in weakness, exclaimed, saying: “We are running! They are pursuing again!” And he could not stay in one place. And he ran to the land of Lyash, driven by the wrath of God. And he ran to an uninhabited place between the Czechs and Poles and here he ended his life in torment. And he accepted retribution from God, who sent destructive ulcers and after death torment on him eternal." And, if the brothers he killed are considered saints, then from the grave of Svyatopolk “a stench emanates as a warning to people... And from that time on, sedition on Russian soil ceased.” This emphasizes the author’s desire for the unity of Rus'.

QUESTIONS AND TASKS

Using vocabulary and reference material, find out how the genre of hagiography is defined and how it is characterized, what its composition and style are.
Do the following artistic techniques belong to hagiography as a genre: three-part composition, a solemnly upbeat style combined with a factual narrative about life, a strictly defined image of the hero (“villain”, “saint”), as well as an image of the hero close to icon painting?
Show specific examples of the genre features of “The Life of Boris and Gleb.” Find out its connections with oral folk art.
Briefly retell the content of the work, preserving its style and conveying the author’s attitude to what is depicted.
How is the life connected with the idea of condemning the fratricidal feuds of princes and the patriotic idea of the “great Russian country”?
Compare its plot with the story of the blinding of Vasilko Terebovlsky. What general ideas are the authors concerned with? Why does the chronicle describe them in such detail?
What expression does “the world of light and goodness” find in the work?
How is the aura of Boris' holiness created? Why can we say about him that he is a saint?
What human traits are inherent in his appearance? Follow the text for examples of manifestations of the living human feelings Boris.
What place does the motif of tears occupy in Boris’ characterization? Support with words from the text.
What distinguishes Gleb from Boris? What features of his character does the author emphasize?
How is the dramatic situation developing around the young prince?
Retell the scene of Gleb's murder.
What means does the author use to reveal inner world heroes (monologues, laments, prayers and other artistic means)?
Read the praise for Boris and Gleb. What role do these saints play, according to the author, what did they do for the Russian land?
What place does the idea of unity and protection of the Russian land occupy in this glorification?
Why were historical figures canonized?
In what other monuments of ancient Russian literature and for what purpose was the hagiographic story about Boris and Gleb included?

SAYING AND PASSION AND PRAISE TO THE HOLY MARTYR BORIS AND GLIB

STORY AND SUFFERING AND PRAISE TO THE MARTYRS OF SAINTS BORIS AND GLEB

Lord, bless, father!

“The generation of the righteous will be blessed,” said the prophet, “and their seed will be blessed.”

“The family of the righteous will be blessed,” said the prophet, “and their descendants will be blessed.”

Sitsa would have been little earlier than these. I am the lord of the entire Russian land, Volodimir, the son of Svyatoslavl, and the grandson of Igor, who also enlightened this entire Russian land with the baptism of the saints. His other virtues, let’s say, now there is no time. And about these in a row there is: because Volodymyr had sons 12 not from one wife, but from different mothers. In them, Vysheslav was older, and then Izyaslav, 3 - Svyatopolk, who also invented this evil murder. This mother was formerly a chernitsa, a princess, and Yaroplk, brother Volodymyr, gave birth to her, and cut off the beauty of her face. And this Svyatoplok begot from her, and Volodymyr the filthy one, having killed Yaroplk and drunken his unidle wife. From her was born this window Svyatopolk, and from two father and to my brother. Volodymyr doesn’t love him even more, because he doesn’t belong to himself. And from Rognida he had 4 sons: Izyaslav, and Mstislav, and Yaroslav, and Vsevolod, and from another, Svyatoslav and Mstislav, and from a Bulgarian, Boris and Gleb. And having planted all the lands throughout the Russian lands in the reign, as we sometimes say, these are the same, and this is the story about them.

This is what happened shortly before our days under the autocrat of the entire Russian land, Vladimir, son of Svyatoslav, grandson of Igor, who enlightened the entire Russian land with holy baptism. We will tell about his other virtues in another place, but now is not the time. We will talk about what we started in order. Vladimir had 12 sons, and not from one wife: they had different mothers. The eldest son is Vysheslav, after him - Izyaslav, the third is Svyatopolk, who planned this evil murder. His mother is Greek and was formerly a nun. Vladimir's brother Yaropolk, seduced by the beauty of her face, undressed her, took her as his wife, and conceived the accursed Svyatopolk from her. Vladimir, at that time still a pagan, having killed Yaropolk, took possession of his pregnant wife. So she gave birth to this accursed Svyatopolk, the son of two fathers and brothers. That’s why Vladimir didn’t love him, because he didn’t come from him. And from Rogneda Vladimir had four sons: Izyaslav, Mstislav, Yaroslav, and Vsevolod. From another wife were Svyatoslav and Mstislav, and from a Bulgarian wife were Boris and Gleb. And Vladimir put them all in prison different lands to reign, which we will talk about elsewhere, here we will talk about those about whom this story is told.

Plant this great Svyatopolka in the reign of Pinsk, and Yaroslav in Novgorod, and Boris in Rostov, and Gleb in Murom. I’ll stop saying a lot, so that we don’t forget about too much writing, but let’s just start talking about this. Much has already passed, and as if Volodymyr’s days were ending, already in the summer of 28 after his holy baptism, he fell into a severe illness. At the same time, Boris came from Rostov, and the Pechenegs were about to march to Rus', Volodymyr was in great sorrow, unable to go against them, and grieving a lot. And calling Boris, whose name was given in holy baptism Roman, blessed and quick to obey, betraying many in his hand, sent and against the godless Pecheneg. He stood up with joy and said: “Behold, I am ready to do before your eyes as the will of your heart commands.” The Parable speaks about such people: “The son would be obedient to his father and loved before his mother.”

Vladimir put the accursed Svyatopolk to reign in Pinsk, and Yaroslav in Novgorod, and Boris in Rostov, and Gleb in Murom. However, I will not explain much, so as not to forget about the main thing in the verbosity, but about whom I started, let’s tell you this. A lot of time passed, and when 28 years had passed after holy baptism, Vladimir’s days came to an end - he fell into a serious illness. At the same time, Boris came from Rostov, and the Pechenegs again moved into the army against Rus', and great sorrow gripped Vladimir, since he could not oppose them, and this greatly saddened him. Then he called to himself Boris, who was named Roman in holy baptism, blessed and quick to obey, and, giving him many soldiers under his command, sent him against the godless Pechenegs. Boris went with joy, saying: “I am ready to do before your eyes what the will of your heart commands.” The Pritochnik said about such people: “There was a son obedient to his father and loved by his mother.”

I will go to him and will not find my adversary, turning back to him. And behold, a messenger came to him, telling him about his father’s death, how his father Vasily had passed away, for he was named after him in holy baptism, and how Svyatopolk hid his father’s death, and at night he stood on the platform on Berestov and on the carpet grown, hanging from the snakes The land, taken to the Sankh, was placed in the church by the Holy Mother of God. And as soon as Saint Boris heard, he began to swallow his body and his face was completely filled with tears, and he was overflowing with tears and could not speak. In my heart I began to say: “Woe is me, the light of my eyes, the radiance and dawn of my face, the mind of my despondency, the punishment of my misunderstanding! Alas for me, my father and lord! Who will I run to, who will I look to? Where will I get my fill of such good teaching and testimony your mind? Alas for me, alas for me! As soon as my light goes down, I won’t exist! Yes, I would have hidden your honorable body with my own hands and handed it over to the coffin. But I neither despised the beauty of the courage of your body, nor was I able to kiss your kind gray hair. Well, O blessed one, remember me in your chambers! Are my hearts on fire, my souls confused, and I don’t know whom to turn to and to whom to extend this bitter sadness? Should I go to my brother, who would have taken the place of my father? Well, I remember, I study about the vanities of the world and about the beating of my think. Even if my blood is shed and my murder is sought, I will be a martyr to my Lord. Because I do not resist, it is written: “The Lord resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” The Apostle: “Whatever says, “I love God,” but to hate my brother is a lie.” And again: “There is no fear in love, perfect love can replace fear.” Why should I create a river or something? Behold, I go to my brother and the river: “Be my father, you are my brother and grow old. What do you tell me, my Lord?

And thinking about this in my mind, I went to my brother and said in my heart: “Then will I see the face of my little brother Gleb, like Joseph Benjamin?” And she put it all in her heart: “Thy will be done, my Lord.” I thought in my mind: “If I go to my father’s house, I will turn my heart into pagans, to drive away my brother, just as my father did before with holy baptism, for the glory and dominion of this world, and who all pass by and are worse than a spider. So when will the imam come and wash from here? How will I end up then? What answer will we have? Where can I hide the multitude of my sin? What did my father’s brothers or my father gain first? Where are their lives and the glory of this world, and scarlet and britches, silver and gold, wine and honey, rich goods, and swift horses, and beautiful houses and greatness, and many possessions, and tribute, and sterile goods, and pride, even about your patients? That's it se to them, as if there was no one else: everything was with him, and there was no help from anyone - neither from the property, nor from the multitude of slaves, nor from the glory of this world. Darkness and Solomon, having gone through everything, having seen everything, having acquired and purchased everything, having examined everything: “Vanity and vanity, be vanity,” so help comes from good deeds, and from orthodoxy, and from unfeigned love.”

And, thinking this way in his mind, he went to his brother and said in his heart: “Will I at least see my younger brother Gleb, like Joseph Veniamin?” And he decided in his heart: “Thy will be done, Lord!” I thought to myself: “If I go to my father’s house, then many people will persuade me to drive away my brother, as my father did for the sake of glory and reign in this world before holy baptism. But all this is transient and fragile, like a spider’s web. Where will I go after I leave this world? Where will I end up then? What answer will I get? Where can I hide my many sins? What did my father's brothers or my father acquire? Where is their life and the glory of this world, and scarlet clothes, and feasts, silver and gold, wine and honey, abundant dishes, and fast horses, and decorated and great mansions, and many riches, and countless tributes and honors, and the boasting of their boyars? It was as if all this never happened: everything disappeared with him, and there was no help from anything - neither from wealth, nor from the multitude of slaves, nor from the glory of this world. So Solomon, having experienced everything, seen everything, mastered everything and collected everything, said about everything: “Vanity of vanities - all is vanity!” Salvation is only in good deeds, in true faith and unfeigned love."

As you walked along the way, you thought about the beauty and kindness of your body, and burst into tears. And although it’s impossible to resist. And everyone looked at him like that, crying for his noble body and his honorable mind. And every time in your soul you groan with heartfelt sorrow, and everyone is embarrassed about the sadness.

Who wouldn’t cry at the death of that destructive thing, bringing his heart before his eyes?

Who would not weep when he imagines this disastrous death before the eyes of his heart?

The image of him was saddened, the look and contrition of his holy heart, so the blessed one is truthful and generous, quiet, meek, humble, having mercy on everyone and providing all.

His whole appearance was sad, and his holy heart was contrite, for the blessed one was truthful and generous, quiet, meek, humble, he pitied everyone and helped everyone.

To think In his heart, God-blessed Boris said: “You see, the evil spirits forced my brother to kill me and destroy me. Yes, if my blood is shed, then I will be a martyr to my Lord, and the Lord will receive my spirit.” So, forgetting the sorrow of death, now your heart about the word The weight of God, “Whoever loses his soul for me and my words will find it in his life to keep forever.” And go with joy in your heart, “do not despise me,” the river said, “Lord, most merciful, who trusts in you, save my soul.”

This is what God-blessed Boris thought in his heart and said: “I knew that evil people were inciting my brother to kill me, and he would destroy me. And when my blood is shed, I will be a martyr before my Lord, and the Master will accept my soul.” Then, forgetting mortal sorrow, he began to console his heart by God's word: “He who sacrifices his soul for me and my teaching will find and keep it in eternal life.” And he went with a joyful heart, saying: “Most merciful Lord, do not reject me, who trusts in you, but save my soul!”

Svyatopolk, sitting in Kiev on his father’s side, called upon the Kiyans, gave them many gifts, and let them go. She sent to Boris, saying: “Brother, I want to have love with you and give it to you.” It is flattering, and not the truth of the verb. When night came to Vyshegorod, call upon Putsha and the Vyshegorod men and say to them: “Tell me the truth, do you have any kindness towards me?” Putsha said: “We can all lay down our heads for you.”

Svyatopolk, having reigned in Kyiv after the death of his father, called the people of Kiev to him and, having generously presented them with gifts, released them. He sent the following message to Boris: “Brother, I want to live with you in love and I will add more to the property I received from my father.” But there was no truth in his words. Svyatopolk, having come to Vyshgorod at night, secretly called Putsha and the Vyshgorod men to him and said to them: “Confess to me without concealment - are you devoted to me?” Putsha replied: “We are all ready to lay down our heads for you.”

Seeing the devil and hating the good of man from time immemorial, as Saint Boris put all his hope in the Lord, he began to become more active, and found, as before Cain was burning for fratricide, the same Svyatopolka. According to the truth of the second Cain, catch his thought that he would kill all the heirs of his father, and he himself would take all power alone.

When the devil, the primordial enemy of all that is good in people, saw that Saint Boris had placed all his hope in God, he began to plot intrigues and, like in ancient times, Cain, who was plotting fratricide, caught Svyatopolk. He guessed the thoughts of Svyatopolk, truly the second Cain: after all, he wanted to kill all the heirs of his father in order to seize all power alone.

Then call to yourself the godly, damned Svyatopolk, the leader of all evil and the leaders of all untruth, and open your holy mouth to speak, and let out an evil voice to the child of Putin: “If you promise to lay down your head for me, then, as you go, my brethren, go away, to where you will find my brother Boris , hurry up and kill time.” And promising him to do this.

Then the damned damned Svyatopolk called to himself the accomplices of the crime and the instigators of all untruths, opened his vile lips and cried out in an evil voice to Putsha’s squad: “Since you promised to lay down your heads for me, then go secretly, my brothers, and where you will meet my brother Boris, having seduced the time is right, kill him.” And they promised him to do this.

The prophet spoke about such things: “Soon, the blood of the demon of righteousness will be shed. For this reason they promise blood and collect evil for themselves. These paths are to gather iniquity, to fill your soul with uncleanness.”

The prophet said about such people: “They are quick to commit vile murder. Desecrated by bloodshed, they bring misfortune upon themselves. Such are the ways of all who commit iniquity; they destroy their souls through wickedness.”

Blessed Boris turned back and took up his tent on the river. And the squad decided to go to him: “Go and sit on the table in Kiev, for all howls in your hand the essence." He But you answered them: “Do not let me lay hands on my brother and also on my eldest, whom I had as a father.” Hearing the howls, she left him, and he himself remained with his youths. And it was on Saturday. In grief and sadness, my heart was dejected and I climbed into my tent, weeping with a broken heart, and with a joyful soul, I pitifully let out a voice: “Do not despise my tears, Master, but as I trust in you, so may my servants be with you.” mu part and lot with to all your saints, for you are a merciful God, and we send glory to you forever. Amen".

Blessed Boris returned and set up his camp on Alta. And the squad said to him: “Go, sit in Kyiv on your father’s princely table - after all, all the warriors are in your hands.” He answered them: “I cannot raise my hand against my brother, and besides, the elder one, whom I honor as a father.” Hearing this, the soldiers dispersed, and he remained only with his youths. And it was the Sabbath day. In anguish and sadness, with a dejected heart, he entered his tent and cried in contrition of heart, but with an enlightened soul, plaintively exclaiming: “Do not reject my tears, Master, for I trust in you! May I be worthy of the fate of your servants and share the lot with all your saints, you are a merciful God, and we give glory to you forever! Amen".

Let us think about the torment and passion of the holy martyr Nikita and holy Vyacheslav, similar to this former murder, and how Saint Barbara became his father’s murderer. And you thought about the words of the wise Solomon: “The righteous will live forever, and their reward is from the Lord, and their building is from the Most High.” And about the seven words I was comforted and rejoiced.

He remembered the torment and suffering of the holy martyr Nikita and Saint Vyacheslav, who were killed in the same way, and how the murderer of Saint Barbara was her own father. And I remembered the words of the wise Solomon: “The righteous live forever, and their reward is from the Lord and their adornment is from the Most High.” And only with these words did he console himself and rejoice.

Then it was evening and he commanded the evening chant, and he climbed into his tent and began to say the evening prayer with bitter tears and frequent sighs and many groans. For now, he lay asleep, and by now he was sleeping in the confusion of thoughts and in sadness, strong and heavy and terrible: how to give in to passion, how to suffer and end the course and maintain faith, as well as to receive a spare crown from the hand of the Lord. And seeing, beating early, as if the year is morning. On Holy Week. Speech to your speaker: “Get up, start the morning meal.” He himself, having put on his shoes and washed his face, began to pray to the Lord God.

Meanwhile, evening came, and Boris ordered the singing of Vespers, and he himself entered his tent and began to say the evening prayer with bitter tears, frequent sighing and continuous lamentations. Then he went to bed, and his sleep was disturbed by melancholy thoughts and sadness, bitter, heavy, and terrible: how to endure torment and suffering, and end his life, and preserve the faith, and accept the prepared crown from the hands of the Almighty. And, waking up early, I saw that it was already morning. And it was Sunday. He said to his priest: “Get up, begin matins.” He himself, having put on his shoes and washed his face, began to pray to the Lord God.

The message came from Svyatopolka on Lto night and came close, and heard the voice of the blessed passion-martyr singing the Psalter of the morning. Then he got the news about his murder. And start singing: “Lord! Why have you multiplied the distress! Mnozi got up on me,” and so on psalm, to the end. And the Psalter began to be sung: “Offended me psi mnozi and untsi tuchni opodrzhasha me.” And again: “Oh my God! I trust in you, save me.” There are also seven canons. And when he finished his morning prayer, he began to pray, in vain to the icon of the Lord the speech: “Lord Jesus Christ! If this image appeared on earth with the will to be nailed to the cross and accept the passion of sin for our sake, grant me the passion to accept the passion too!”

Those sent by Svyatopolk came to Alta at night, and came close, and heard the voice of the blessed passion-bearer singing the Psalter at Matins. And he had already received news of his impending murder. And he began to sing: “Lord! How my enemies have multiplied! Many rise up against me” - and the rest of the psalm, to the end. And, having begun to sing according to the Psalter: “Groups of dogs surrounded me and fat calves surrounded me,” he continued: “Lord my God! I trust in you, save me!” And after that the canon sang. And when he finished Matins, he began to pray, looking at the icon of the Lord and saying: “Lord Jesus Christ! How do you, who appeared on earth in this image and by your own will allowed yourself to be nailed to the cross and accept suffering for our sins, grant me the ability to accept suffering in this way!”

And when he heard the sound around the tent, he was shaking and began to shed tears from his eyes and said: “Glory to you, Lord, oh seven, for you have made me like envy for the sake of accepting this bitter death and suffering everything for the sake of love for the sake of your word. Don’t rush yourself out of desperation; I deigned nothing for myself according to the apostle: “To endure all things, to have faith in all things, and not to seek our own.” And packs: “Fears in There is no love - perfect for love to take away fear.” Darkness, Master, my soul is in thy hand, for I have not forgotten thy law. For the Lord's year will come - wake up tacos" And when he saw him, the boy who served him, and seeing his master become decrepit and overcome with sorrow, burst into tears and said: “My dear and dear master! I was so filled with goodness that I couldn’t resist to his brother love for Christ’s sake, and hold the colic in your hand!” And this remark was touched.

And when he heard an ominous whisper near the tent, he trembled, and tears flowed from his eyes, and said: “Glory to you, Lord, for everything, for you have made me worthy of envy for the sake of accepting this bitter death and enduring everything for the love of your commandments. We ourselves did not want to avoid torment, we did not wish anything for ourselves, following the commandments of the Apostle: “Love is patient, believes everything, does not envy and does not boast.” And again: “There is no fear in love, for true love casts out fear.” Therefore, Lord, my soul is always in your hands, for I have not forgotten your commandment. As the Lord wills, so it will be.” And when they saw the priest Borisov and the youth serving the prince, their master, overwhelmed with grief and sadness, they wept bitterly and said: “Our merciful and dear master! What kindness are you filled with, that you did not want to resist your brother for the love of Christ, and yet how many warriors you held under your hand!” And having said this, they became sad.

And you will see them flowing towards the tent, the flash of weapons and the mark of swords. And without mercy, the holy and merciful body of the holy and blessed passion-bearer Boris of Christ was pierced. I put on copies of the names Putsha, Talts, Elovich, Lyashko.

And suddenly I saw those rushing towards the tent, the flash of weapons, naked swords. And without pity, the honest and merciful body of the holy and blessed passion-bearer Boris of Christ was pierced. The cursed Putsha, Talets, Elovich, Lyashko struck him with spears.

Seeing his youth, he fell upon the body of the blessed one and said: “Let me not stay with you, my dear lord, so that even as the beauty of your body fades, I will be likened to you.” with you finish your belly!

Seeing this, his youth covered the body of the blessed one with himself, exclaiming: “Let me not leave you, my beloved lord, where the beauty of your body fades, here I too will be honored to end my life!”

By the way, my name is Ugrin, my name is George. And he invested a hryvnia of gold on her, and we loved Boris more than anything. And the same one pierced.

He was a Hungarian by birth, named George, and the prince awarded him a golden hryvnia, and was loved immensely by Boris. Here he too was pierced.

And as if he was quickly wounded and destroyed his tent in a daze. And he began to say standing around him: “Why are you standing there looking at us! We have come to the end of what is commanded to us!” Hearing this, the blessed one began to pray and was kind to them, saying: “My dear and beloved brothers! Give me a little time, so that I can pray to my God.” And looking up at the sky with tears and mountaineer Sighing, he began to pray with simple verbs: “Lord my God, most merciful and merciful and most merciful! Glory to you, for you have enabled me to escape from the seduction of this flattering life! Glory to you, most generous life-giver, for making me worthy of the labor of the holy martyr! Glory to you, Lord who loves humanity, who has made me worthy to put an end to the desire of my heart! Glory to you, Christ, to your many mercy, who directed peaceful people to the right path legs my mother-in-law is unkind to you! Look down from on high at your shrine, see the illness of my heart, which I have received from my relative, as if for your sake we are killing this whole day, treating me like a sheep for food. Believe me, my Lord, for I do not resist in spite of what I say, but I hold in my hand all the war of my father and all my father’s loved ones, and I have not plotted anything against my brother. He's the same as much, as much as possible, move towards me. Yes, “if the enemy had reviled me, he would have suffered, and if he had spoken loudly, hating me, he would have hidden himself.” But you, Lord, see and judge between me and between my brothers. And do not put this sin on them, O Lord, but accept my soul into the world. Amen".

And, wounded, he jumped out of the tent in shock. And those standing near the tent spoke: “Why are you standing and looking! Having begun, let us complete what we have been commanded.” Hearing this, the blessed one began to pray and ask them, saying: “My dear and beloved brothers! Wait a little, let me pray to God.” And looking up to heaven with tears and sighing bitterly, he began to pray in these words: “O Lord my God, most merciful and merciful and most merciful! Glory to you for making me worthy to escape the seduction of this deceptive life! Glory to you, generous giver of life, for making me worthy of a feat worthy of the holy martyrs! Glory to you, Lord, lover of mankind, for making me worthy to fulfill the innermost desire of my heart! Glory to you, Christ, glory to your immeasurable mercy, for you have directed my feet to the right path! Look from the height of your holiness and see the pain of my heart that I suffered from my relative - after all, for your sake they are killing me on this day. I was compared to a ram prepared for slaughter. After all, you know, Lord, I do not resist, I will not contradict, and, having under my hand all the soldiers of my father and everyone whom my father loved, I did not plot anything against my brother. He raised up against me as much as he could. “If an enemy reviled me, I would endure it; if my hater were to slander me, I would hide from him.” But you, Lord, be a witness and bring judgment between me and my brother. And do not condemn them, Lord, for this sin, but accept my soul in peace. Amen".

And he looked up at them with tender eyes and his face fell, and was filled with tears and said: “Brothers, having come, end your service. And wake up the world brother to mine and to you, brothers."

And looking at his killers with a sad look, with a haggard face, shedding tears, he said: “Brothers, having begun, finish what has been entrusted to you. And may there be peace to my brother and to you, brothers!”

Yes, I hear his words so much, because of the tears I can’t say a word, because of fear and sadness there are bitterness and many tears. But with a bitter sigh, I pityingly said ahu and weeping and groaned in my soul: “Alas for us, our dear and dear and blessed prince, the driver of the blind, naked in clothes, old age, unpunished! Who has already fixed everything? What is not the desire for the glory of this world, what is not the desire to have fun with the nobles of honor, what is not the desire for greatness, there are seven in life. Who wouldn’t be struck by great humility, who wouldn’t be humbled by seeing and hearing his humility?”

And everyone who heard his words could not utter a word from fear and bitter sadness and abundant tears. With bitter sighs they lamented and wept, and each one groaned in his soul: “Alas for us, our merciful and blessed prince, guide to the blind, clothing to the naked, staff to the elders, mentor to the foolish! Who will guide them all now? I didn’t want the glory of this world, I didn’t want to have fun with honest nobles, I didn’t want greatness in this life. Who will not be amazed at such great humility, who will not humble himself, seeing and hearing his humility?

And abye succeeded, having betrayed his soul into the hands of God alive, on the 24th day of July, formerly the 9th calendar of August.

And so Boris rested, surrendering his soul into the hands of the living God on the 24th day of the month of July, 9 days before the Kalends of August.

And many youths were beaten. It is impossible to take away the hryvnia from George and cut off the head, otvergosh and besides. And even then I was unable to know his body.

They also killed many youths. They could not remove the hryvnia from George and, having cut off his head, they threw it away. That's why they couldn't identify his body.

Blessed Boris was wrapped in a tent, placed on a stake, and carried away. And as if they were in the forest, they began to worship their holy head. And having seen Svyatoplak, he sent two Varangians and a perforation and a sword to the heart. And so they will end and receive the unfading crown. And he laid his body and brought it to Vyshegorod near the Church of St. Basil in the burial grounds.

Blessed Boris, wrapped in a tent, was placed on a cart and taken away. And as they rode through the forest, he began to lift his holy head. Having learned about this, Svyatopolk sent two Varangians, and they pierced Boris with a sword in the heart. And so he died, having received the unfading crown. And, having brought his body, they laid it in Vyshgorod and buried it in the ground near the church of St. Basil.

And the holy Svyatopolk did not leave the murder until now, but began to stretch out into a great frenzy. And as if I had already fulfilled the desire of my heart, I would not remember the evil of my murder and my many blessings, and I would never bow down to repentance. And then, in the heart of his son, they began and began to commit great and bitter deeds and the greatest number of murders. You say in your soul: “What will I do? If I leave the matter of my murder until now, then the imam expects two things: because if my brethren hear me, here you are preparing to repay me and this is bitter. If not, then let me be destroyed and I will be a stranger to the throne of my father, and the pity of my land will overwhelm me, and the reproaches of those who reproach them will attack me, and I will accept my reign and there will be no one living in my courtyards. The Lord loved him because I drove him away and added the plague to the disease, I will add it to the iniquity for the sake of lawlessness. Either way, it’s my mother’s sin that I won’t be cleansed, and I won’t write with the righteous, but I’ll be consumed from the books of the living.” As it will be, we’ll say it later. Now there is no time, but let us return to what is before us.

And he didn't stop at this murder. accursed Svyatopolk, but in his fury he began to prepare for a greater crime. And seeing the realization cherished desire his own, did not think about his villainous murder and the gravity of his sin, and did not at all repent of what he had done. And then Satan entered his heart, beginning to incite even greater atrocities and new murders. This is what he said in his damned soul: “What will I do? If I dwell on this murder, then two fates await me: when my brothers find out about what happened, they will lie in wait for me and repay me worse than what I have done. And if not, then they will expel me and lose the throne of my father, and regret for my lost land will consume me, and the reproaches of those who reproach will fall on me, and my reign will be seized by another, and there will be no living soul left in my dwellings. For I have destroyed the beloved of the Lord and added a new plague to the disease, and I will add lawlessness to iniquity. After all, my mother’s sin will not be forgiven and I will not be included with the righteous, but my name will be taken out of the books of life.” And so it happened, which we will tell you about later. Now is not the time yet, but let’s return to our story.

And having put it in your mind, the evil preacher the devil, the ambassador to the blessed Gleb of the rivers: “Come to the Barze. Father call you and displease you great.”

And, having planned this, the devil’s evil accomplice sent for blessed Gleb, saying: “Come without delay. Father is calling you, he is seriously ill.”

He went up the mountain, in a small squad, and rode off on horseback. And having come to the Volga, a horse galloped into the field under him in the ditch, and broke his leg. And when he came to Smolinsk and departed from Smolinsk, we saw one hundred on Smyadina in a boat. And at that time news came from Peredslava to Yaroslav about the end of death. And Yaroslav sent the river to Gleb: “Don’t go, brother! Your father died and your brother was killed from Svyatopolka".

Gleb quickly got ready, mounted his horse and set off with a small squad. And when they came to the Volga, his horse stumbled in a hole in the field under him, and slightly injured his leg. And when Gleb came to Smolensk, he went not far from Smolensk and stood on Smyadyn, in a boat. And at this time news came from Predslava to Yaroslav about the death of his father. And Yaroslav sent to Gleb, saying: “Don’t go, brother! Your father died, and your brother was killed by Svyatopolk.”

And when the blessed one heard the bitter cry and the sadness of his heart and his face, he said: “Oh, alas for me, my lord, for two things I weep and lament, for two things I lament and lament. Alas for me, alas for me! I cry hard for my father, but even more so I cry and despair for you, brother and master Boris. Why were you pierced, why did you give yourself over to death without mercy, how did you suffer harm not from the enemy, but from your brother? Alas for me! I wouldn’t die with you, if I had been secluded and separated from you in seven lives. I can see your angelic face, and now you are too close to me, and wouldn't we I will die with you, my lord! Now what will I do, touched, alienated from your kindness and from the father of my many minds? O my dear brother and lord! If you have received encouragement from the Lord, pray for my despondency, so that I may be able to accept the same passion and live with you, other than the seven deceits in the world.”

And hearing this, the blessed one cried out with bitter weeping and heartfelt sadness, and said thus: “Oh, alas for me, Lord! I cry and moan twice, I lament and grieve twice. Alas for me, alas for me! I cry bitterly for my father, and I cry and grieve even more bitterly for you, my brother and master, Boris. How was he pierced, how was he killed without pity, how did he suffer death not from an enemy, but from his brother? Alas for me! It would be better for me to die with you than to live alone and orphaned in this world without you. I thought that I would soon see your angelic face, but what misfortune befell me, it would be better for me to die with you, my lord! What will I do now, unfortunate, deprived of your kindness and the wisdom of my father? O my dear brother and lord! If your prayers reach the Lord, pray for my sadness, so that I too may be worthy to endure the same torment and be with you, and not in this vain world.”

And his mother groans and weeps and wets the earth with her tears, calling on God with frequent sighs, hastening suddenly with a message from Svyatopolk, his evil servant, an unmerciful blood-drinker, a brother-hater who is fiercely cruel, who savages the soul of beasts property.

And when he groaned and cried so much, watering the earth with tears and calling on God with frequent sighs, his evil servants sent by Svyatopolk suddenly appeared, ruthless bloodsuckers, fierce brother-haters with the soul of ferocious beasts.

The saint went to the boat and Sretosh and the mouth of Smyadina. And when I saw the saint, my soul rejoiced, and they saw it and darkened and rowed towards him, and hoped to receive kisses from them. And as if swimming equally, they began to gallop into his body, with swords drawn in their hands, shining like water. And all the oars fell from his hand, and all died from fear. Seeing the blessed one, realizing that they wanted to kill him, looking up to them with tender eyes and washing his face with tears, crushing his heart, with a humble mind and frequent sighs, all spilled with tears, and his body wasted away, You let out a pitiful voice: “Don’t kid me, my dear brothers and dragging! Don't harm me, you have done nothing evil! Do not neglect, brothers and Lord, do not neglect! What offense have I done to my brother and to you, my brothers and Lord? If there is any offense, take me to your prince, but to my brother and master. Have mercy on my suffering, have mercy, my Lord! You will be my lord, A I am your slave. You will not reap me from a life that is not ripe, you will not reap class, not from a life that is ripe, but carrying the milk of innocence! You will not cut the vines until they are fully grown, but you will have the fruit! I pray to you and you are dear. Beware of the words of the apostolic mouth: “Don’t have children’s minds, be childish with malice, but have mature minds.” I, brethren, have malice and cheer up when I am still a child. Behold murder, behold cheese cutting! Witness to us what evil we have done, and I do not regret it. If you want to be satisfied with my blood, you are already in the hand, brothers, both my brother and your prince.”

The saint was sailing in a boat at that time, and they met him at the mouth of Smyadyn. And when the saint saw them, his soul rejoiced, but when they saw him, they became gloomy and began to row towards him, and he thought - they wanted to greet him. And when they swam nearby, the villains began to jump into his boat with naked swords shining like water in their hands. And immediately everyone’s oars fell out of their hands, and everyone died with fear. Seeing this, the blessed one realized that they wanted to kill him. And, looking at the murderers with a meek gaze, washing his face with tears, resigned himself, in heartfelt contrition, tremblingly sighing, bursting into tears and weakening in body, he began to pitifully beg: “Don’t touch me, my dear and dear brothers! Don't touch me, I haven't caused you any harm! Have mercy, my brothers and lords, have mercy! What offense have I caused to my brother and to you, my brothers and lords? If there is any offense, then take me to your prince and to my brother and master. Have pity on my youth, have mercy, my lords! Be my masters, and I will be your slave. Do not destroy me, in my young life, do not reap the ear, not yet ripe, filled with the juice of goodness! Do not cut a vine that has not yet grown, but has fruit! I beg you and surrender to your mercy. Be afraid of the one who said through the mouth of the apostle: “Do not be children in your mind: be like babies in evil deeds, but be mature in mind.” I, brothers, am still young in both deed and age. This is not murder, but murder! Tell me what evil I have done, and then I will not complain. If you want to be satisfied with my blood, then I, brothers, am in the hands of you and my brother, and your prince.”

And I was ashamed of not even a single word, but as if I had savaged the beast, I devoured it. He, seeing that they would not heed his words, began to say to his mother: “Save yourself, my dear father and Mr. Vasily, save yourself, my mother and mistress, save yourself, brother Boris, the eldest of my wisdom, save you, brother and ally Yaroslav , save yourself, brother and enemy Holy Father, you will be saved, brothers and friends, you will all be saved! It’s no longer possible for the imam to see you in life; we are now separating you from you in need.” And she cried: “Vasily, Vasily, my father and lord! Incline your ear and hear my voice, and look and see what happens to your child, how we kill you without guilt. Alas for me, alas for me! Hear the sky and inspire the earth. And you, brother Boris, hear my voice. You called my father Vasily and did not listen to me, then you don’t want to listen to me? See the sorrow of my heart and the ulcer of my soul, see the flow of my tears, like a river! And no one will listen to us, but remember me about me to the common Master, as if I had confidence and prestige at his throne.”

And not a single word shamed them, but like fierce beasts they attacked him. He, seeing that they did not heed his words, began to say: “May my beloved father and Mr. Vasily, and my mother, my lady, and you, brother Boris, the mentor of my youth, and you, brother and accomplice, be delivered from eternal torment. Yaroslav, and you, brother and enemy Svyatopolk, and all of you, brothers and squad, may you all be saved! I will no longer see you in this life, for they are forcibly separating me from you.” And he said, crying: “Vasily, Vasily, my father and master! Bow your ears and hear my voice, look and see what happened to your son, how they are killing me for no reason. Alas for me, alas for me! Hear, heaven, and listen, earth! And you, Boris brother, hear my voice. I called my father Vasily, but he did not listen to me, do you really not want to hear me? Look at the sorrow of my heart and the pain of my soul, look at the streams of my tears flowing like a river! And no one listens to me, but remember me and pray for me before the Lord of all, for you are pleasing to him and will stand before his throne.”

And began, kneel down, to pray to the lady: “Generous and most merciful Lord! Do not suppress my tears, but be touched by my despondency. See the contrition of my heart: for I am slain, I do not know for what sake, or for what offense I bear. You weigh, Lord, my Lord! You spoke to your apostles like: “For my name, for my sake, you will lay your hands on you, and you will be betrayed by your family and friends, and you will betray brother and brother to death and you will die for my name.” And again: “By your perseverance your soul may be obtained.” See, Lord, and judge: for my soul is ready to eat before you, Lord! And we send glory to you, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen".

And, kneeling down, he began to pray: “Most generous and merciful Lord! Do not despise my tears, have mercy on my sadness. Look at the contrition of my heart: they are killing me for no one knows why, no one knows for what guilt. You know, Lord my God! I remember the words you said to your apostles: “For my name, for my sake, they will raise their hands against you, and you will be betrayed by relatives and friends, and brother will betray brother to death, and you will be put to death for my name’s sake.” And again: “Strengthen your souls with patience.” Look, Lord, and judge: my soul is ready to appear before you, Lord! And we give glory to you, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen".

Then, looking up at them with a tender voice and uttering a grunting speech: “Then you have already done this, you are not sent!”

Then he looked at the killers and said in a plaintive and intermittent voice: “Since you have already begun, once you have started, do what you were sent to do!”

Then the Okonny Goryaser ordered to slaughter and go out. The cook Glebov, named Tarchin, took the knife and, blessed be he, and slaughtered it like a lamb, blameless and foreheadless, on the 5th day of September, on Monday.

Then the accursed Goryaser ordered to kill him without delay. The cook Glebov, named Torchin, took a knife and, grabbing the blessed one, slaughtered him like a blameless and innocent lamb on the 5th day of September, Monday.

And the sacrifice was offered, pure and fragrant to the Lord, and we saw the heavenly abodes to the Lord, and we saw the desired brother And the crowns of heaven embraced him and began to swell, and rejoiced with great ineffable joy, even lusting.

And a pure and fragrant sacrifice was brought to the Lord, and he ascended to the heavenly abodes to the Lord, and met with his beloved brother, and both accepted the heavenly crown, which they had strived for, and rejoiced with the great and inexpressible joy that they received.

In the end, they killed the killer and returned to the message I sent, as David said: “Sinners will return to hell and all who forget God.” And packs: “Weapons extracted sinners, straining their bows, lay down their right hearts and thrust their weapons into their hearts their, and their hearts will be crushed, as if they were sinners to perish.” And as she told Svyatopolka that “I have created what you commanded,” and hearing this, I was lifted up in my heart, and what was said by the psalmist Davyd came true: “Why do you praise this mighty one about malice? Iniquity is the day of unrighteousness in your tongue. You loved malice more than goodness, untruth rather than truth. You have loved all the verbs of the flood and the tongue of flattery. For this reason, God will completely destroy you, uproot you and drive you away from your village, and your root from the land of the living.”

The accursed murderers returned to the one who sent them, as David said: “The wicked will return to hell and all who forget God.” And again: “The wicked draw their sword and draw their bow to smite those who walk the straight path, but their sword will enter their own heart, and their bow will be broken, and the wicked will perish.” And when they told Svyatopolk that “they have fulfilled your command,” then, having heard this, his heart was lifted up, and what the psalmist David said came true: “Why do you boast about your villainy, mighty one? This is iniquity this day; your tongue has devised iniquity. You loved evil more than good, lying more than telling the truth. You have loved all destructive speech, and your tongue is flattering. Therefore God will crush you completely, destroy you and uproot you from your dwelling and your family from the land of the living.”

I was killed by Glebovi and defeated in an empty place between two decks. And the Lord do not forsake your servants, as David said: “The Lord will keep all their bones, and not a single one of them will be broken.”

When they killed Gleb, they threw him in a deserted place between two decks. But the Lord, who does not abandon his servants, as David said, “keeps all their bones, and not one of them will be broken.”

And for this reason, the holy one who has been lying for a long time, do not leave in ignorance and neglect to remain unharmed from now on, for the sake of showing: when you see a pillar of fire, when you see a burning candle and then again the singing of angels, you hear the guests passing by, or else, catch We are active and shepherd.

And this saint who lay for a long time, God did not leave it in ignorance and neglect, but preserved it unharmed and marked it with apparitions: merchants, hunters and shepherds passing by this place sometimes saw a pillar of fire, sometimes burning candles, or heard angelic singing.

Seeing and hearing, there was not a single memory of the search for the body of the saint, until Yaroslav, not suffering this evil murder, moving towards his fratricide, killed Svyatoplok and fought much war with him. And always with the help of God and the haste of the saint, having defeated much of the battle, he was put to shame and defeated and returned.

And not a single one who saw and heard this came to mind to look for the body of the saint, until Yaroslav, unable to endure this evil murder, moved against the fratricide of the accursed Svyatopolk and began to brutally fight with him. And always, with the permission of God and the help of the saints, Yaroslav won battles, and the accursed one was put to shame and returned defeated.

The rest, the damned one came with many cookies, and Yaroslav, having bought the howl, went against him to Leto and stood on the spot where Saint Boris was killed. And he raised his hand to heaven and said: “Behold, let the blood of my brother drink to you, Master, just as Aveleva before. And you take revenge on him, just as you put groaning and shaking on him at the fratricide of Cain. Yes, I pray you, Lord, yes perceive against it." And pray and river: « Oh my brother“Even if the body has died, it lives by grace and stands before the Lord and helps us with prayer!”

And then one day this damned one came with many Pechenegs, and Yaroslav, having gathered an army, went out to meet him on Alta and stood in the place where Saint Boris was killed. And, raising his hands to heaven, he said: “The blood of my brother, like Abel’s before, cries out to you, Master. And you, avenge him and, like the fratricide of Cain, plunge Svyatopolk into horror and awe. I pray to you, Lord, that he may be rewarded for this.” And he prayed and said: “Oh, my brothers, although you have left here in body, you are alive by grace and stand before the Lord and will help me with your prayer!”

And it flowed, and went against itself, and covered the field of Ltskoye with multitudes of howls. And he stepped down to the rising sun, and quickly slaughtered evil from there, and retreated three times, and fought all day long, and by the evening he defeated Yaroslav, and the other Svyatopolk ran away. And the demon attacked her, and weakened his bones, as if he had no strength to mount a horse, and carried him to death on a saddle. And Berestia came running with him. He said: “If you run away, you will marry us!” And send blasphemy against him, and do not pursue him or the wife after him. And, lying in weakness, he sobbed up the verb: “Let’s run again, get married!” Oh me!” And we cannot endure in one place, and we run through the land of Lyadsk and drive away the wrath of God.

And he ran into the desert between Czechs and Lyakhs, and his belly was destroyed. And he accepted retribution from the Lord, as if a destructive wound had been sent to her and, after death, eternal torment. And so both bellies were filled with joy: and here there is no reign, no life of persecution, and no longer the kingdom of heaven, and even the angels of life have sinned, and they will give themselves over to torment and fire. And his grave exists to this day, and an evil stench emanates from it, as evidenced by a person. Yes, even if someone does something and hears something like this, he will also receive it. Like Cain, who did not know how to accept revenge, and Lamech, who knew nothing about Cain, took revenge on him for seventy years. This is the essence of revenge against evil deeds. Just like Julian the Caesar, who shed so much blood from the holy martyr, received bitter and inhuman death: we don’t know from whom perforated Be a spear in your heart. So, running around, not knowing from whom, I will die with malice.

And he ran to a deserted place between the Czech Republic and Poland and died dishonorably. And he accepted vengeance from the Lord: the illness that gripped him brought Svyatopolk to death, and upon death - eternal torment. And so he lost both lives: here he lost not only his reign, but also his life, and there he not only did not receive the kingdom of heaven and stay with the angels, but was betrayed to torment and fire. And his grave has survived to this day, and a terrible stench emanates from it as a warning to all people. If anyone does the same, knowing this, he will pay even more bitterly. Cain, not knowing about revenge, accepted a single punishment, and Lamech, who knew about Cain’s fate, was punished seventy times more severely. Such is revenge on those who do evil. Here is Julian the Caesar - he shed a lot of the blood of the holy martyrs, and suffered a terrible and inhuman death: by someone unknown, he was pierced with a spear in the heart. Likewise, this one - it is unknown from whom, while running, died a shameful death.

And from here sedition of the throne in the Russian land, and Yaroslav took over the entire Russian volost. And they began to ask about the saints, how or where food should be. And I told him about Saint Boris, how Vyshegorod is supposed to eat. And not everyone knows about Saint Gleb, that Smolinsk was killed. And then I told him, even having heard from those coming from there, how I saw light and lamps in an empty place. And hearing that, she sent Smolinsk’s presbytera to ask her, saying, “That is, my brother.” And you found it and where you saw it, and you went from the cross and with the holy candles, and from the n dili, and with a lot of money, he put it into the ship, and when he came, he laid it in Vyshegorod, where the body of the blessed Boris lay, and dug up the ground, and also laid it, and, in bewilderment, as if it were white.

And since then, strife in the Russian land stopped, and Yaroslav took over the entire Russian land. And he began to ask about the bodies of the saints - how and where were they buried? And they told him about Saint Boris that he was buried in Vyshgorod. But not everyone knew about Saint Gleb that he was killed near Smolensk. And then they told Yaroslav what they heard from those coming from there: how they saw light and candles in a deserted place. And, hearing this, Yaroslav sent priests to Smolensk to find out what was the matter, saying: “This is my brother.” And they found him where the visions were, and, coming there with crosses, and many candles, and with censers, they solemnly put Gleb in the boat and, returning, buried him in Vyshgorod, where the body of the blessed Boris lies; Having dug up the ground, Gleb was laid there with due honor.

This was wonderful and wondrous and worthy of memory; no matter how many years the saint’s body has lain, it has not been damaged by any carnivore or any blackening, as is the custom of having the bodies of the dead, which are light and red and intact and have a good smell. Thus God preserved the body of his passion-bearer.

And this is what is wonderful and wondrous and worthy of memory: for so many years the body of Saint Gleb lay unharmed, untouched by any predatory beast or worms, it did not even turn black, as usually happens with the bodies of the dead, but remained light and beautiful, whole and fragrant. This is how God preserved the body of his passion-bearer.

And I did not see much of that holy, passion-bearing body lying there. As the Lord said: “A city cannot hide itself in the top of a mountain, nor can it cover a light with fire, nor place it on a lamp to give light to the dark.” Thus, let this saint shine in the world, with many miracles to shine in greatness in the Russian side, where there are many guardians of salvation: the blind see, the lame are quicker than the chaff, the prostration is received.

And many did not know about the relics of the holy passion-bearers lying here. But, as the Lord said: “A city standing on the top of a mountain cannot be hidden, and having lit a candle, they do not put it under a bushel, but put it on a candlestick so that it can give light to everyone.” So God appointed these saints to shine in the world, to shine with numerous miracles in the great Russian land, where many suffering people are healed: the blind receive their sight, the lame run faster than a chamois, the hunchbacked are straightened.

But either I can confess or tell you about the miracles that have been done, in truth, the whole world cannot bear even the wonderful miracles that happen, and even more so than the sand of the sea. And not that one, but on all sides and across all lands, passing away, it will drive away all illnesses and ailments, visiting those in darkness and in chains. And on mѣstikh where the martyrs had become stuck, a church was quickly founded in her name. Yes, and she sees just as many miracles.

It is impossible to describe or talk about the miracles being performed; truly, the whole world cannot contain them, for there are more wondrous miracles than the sand of the sea. And not only here, but also in other countries, and throughout all lands, they travel, driving away diseases and illnesses, visiting those imprisoned and shackled. And in those places where they were crowned with martyrdom, churches were created in their name. And many miracles happen to those who come here.

Moreover, I wonder how to praise something I don’t know or say I’m perplexed and can’t. Shall I name you an angel? others like it she soon found herself near those who mourned, and lived in humanity on earth. Whether I call you a man, then most of all the human mind is overcome by many miracles and visits to the weak. Whether it is a Tsar or a Prince, I will say, but more than a man, the simple and humble humility has acquired a nature where high places and dwellings have been settled.

Therefore, I don’t know what praise to give you, and I’m perplexed, and I can’t decide what to say? I would call you angels, for without delay you appear to all who mourn, but you lived on earth among people in human flesh. If I call you people, then with your countless miracles and help to the weak you surpass the human mind. Whether I proclaim you crowns or princes, you surpassed the simplest and most humble people with your humility, and this led you to mountainous places and dwellings.

In truth, you are the Tsar's Tsar and the Prince's Prince, for I give aid and protection to our princes who rise up and flee in a rusty manner, and I let them boast of their help. Because you are a weapon for us, the Russian land has taken away both the strengthening and the sharp sword of both, and we are putting down the filthy insolence and trampling the devil’s vacillation into the lands. In truth, I can say the most unreasonable thing: you are a heavenly person, an earthly angel, a pillar and strength of our earth. The same one fights according to his fatherhood and benefits, just like the great Demetrius did according to his fatherhood. Rek: “Even if he who rejoices with them will die, so will he who perishes with them die.” But otherwise, this great, merciful Demetrius informed the city about one city, but you are not giving care and prayer about one city, not about the city, not about the whole city, but about the whole Russian land!

Truly you are princes to princes and princes to princes, for with your help and protection our princes defeat all opponents and are proud of your help. You are our weapon, the Russian land’s protection and support, double-edged swords, with them we overthrow the insolence of the filthy and trample the devil’s machinations on earth. Truly and without a doubt I can say: you are heavenly people and earthly angels, the pillars and support of our land! You defend your fatherland and help in the same way as the great Demetrius did for his fatherland. He said: “As I was with them in joy, so in their destruction I will die with them.” But if the great and merciful Demetrius said this about only one city, then you are not caring and praying about one city, not about two, not about some village, but about the entire Russian land!

Oh, blessed one, having received from the grave my honorable body as a treasure of great value! Blessed Church, in this situation I quickly worship the saints, having blessed bodies, O saint of Christ! Blessed in truth and lofty above all is the Russian city and the highest city that has such a treasure within itself. He doesn’t care about the whole world. Truly Vyshegorod was called - the highest and superior city of all; The second Selun appeared in the Russian land, having in itself a merciless medicine, not only our single language was given salvation, but the salvation of the whole earth. From all those countries, healing comes to Tuna, just as in the Holy Gospels the Lord spoke to the holy Apostle: “Tuna will eat, and Tuna will give.” About these things the Lord himself said: “Believe in me, the works that I do, you will do and greater things.”

Oh, blessed are the graves that received your honest bodies as a valuable treasure! Blessed is the church in which your holy tombs are erected, containing your blessed bodies, O saints of Christ! Truly blessed and greater than all Russian cities is the highest city that has such a treasure. There is no equal to him in the whole world. Vyshgorod is rightly named - above and beyond all cities: the second Thessaloniki appeared in the Russian land, healing free of charge, with God's help, not only our united people, but bringing salvation to the whole earth. Those who come from all lands receive healing freely, as in the holy Gospels the Lord said to the holy apostles: “Freely you have received, freely give.” The Lord himself said about such people: “He who believes in me, in the works that I do, will do them himself, and will do greater things than these.”

But oh blessed passion-bearer of Christ, she does not forget her fatherhood, where she lived in the body, and she never leaves it behind. In the same way, in prayers she always prays for us, so that evil and injury may not come to us. start k telesi I'm a slave. You have been given grace to pray for us, God has given you to pray for us and intercede to God for us. In the meantime, we come running to you, and with falling tears, we pray, that the foot of pride and the hand of the sinner may not come upon us and destroy us, and that all destruction may not come upon us; He will create the infighting of the stranger and will protect us from all sins and attacks who put our trust in you. And we will earnestly bring our prayer to the Lord God, for we have sinned greatly and lawlessly, and committed wickedness beyond measure and in excess. Let us say this prayer hoping to the Savior, saying: “Master, the only one without sin! Look down from heaven upon us, your holy ones, who have sinned, but you have judged us, and the lawless one, weakened, who has stumbled upon the change, judge us as a harlot, and set us right as a publican! May your mercy come upon us! May your love of humanity come upon us! And do not let us give up on being our sins, neither sleep nor die slide death, and redeem us from present evil and give us time to repent, for our iniquity is great before you, Lord! Do with us by your mercy, Lord, as your name is called upon us, and have mercy on us and be merciful and intercede with your prayers for your exceeding passion. And do not turn us into diarrhea, but pour out your mercy on the sheep of your pasture, for you are our God and we send glory to you to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen"."

But, O blessed passion-bearers of Christ, do not forget the fatherland where you lived your earthly life, never leave it. In the same way, in your prayers, always pray for us, so that trouble and illness do not befall us, and do not touch the body of your servants. You have been given grace, pray for us, because God has placed you before Himself as intercessors and intercessors for us. That is why we come running to you, and, falling down with tears, we pray, may we not find ourselves under the heel of the enemy, and may the hand of the wicked not destroy us, may no harm touch us, remove hunger and troubles from us, and deliver us from the enemy’s sword and internecine strife, and from all misfortune and attack, protect us who trust in you. And bring our prayer to the Lord God with zeal, for we sin greatly, and there is much iniquity in us, and we commit outrages in excess and without measure. But, hoping for your prayers, we cry out to the Savior, saying: “Master, the only one without sin! Look from your holy heavens at us, the poor, and although we have sinned, forgive us, and although we commit lawlessness, have mercy, and those who have fallen into error, like a harlot, forgive us and, like a publican, justify us! May your mercy descend upon us! May your love for humanity flow upon us! And do not let us perish because of our sins, do not let us fall asleep and die a bitter death, but deliver us from the evil reigning in the world and give us time to repent, for our iniquities are many before you, Lord! Judge us according to your mercy, Lord, for your name is named in us, have mercy on us and save and protect us through the prayers of your glorious passion-bearers. And do not give us over to reproach, but pour out your mercy on the sheep of your flock, for you are our God and we send up glory to you, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen!"

About Boris, as if in sight. Because the faithful Boris of the good root is obedient to his father, repenting in front of his father. The body is beautiful, tall, the face is round, the shoulders are great, the waist is high, the eyes are kind, the face is cheerful, beard small and mustache - still young. Glowing like a king, strong body, decorated in every possible way like a flower, flowery in its glory, in the army hrubar, in the world he is wise and reasonable, and the grace of God is upon him.

About Boris, what a sight he was. This blessed Boris was of good origin, obedient to his father, and submitted to his father in everything. He was handsome in body, tall, had a round face, broad shoulders, a thin waist, kind eyes, a cheerful face, a small beard and mustache - for he was still young, he shone like a king, he was strong, he was adorned with everything - like a flower he had bloomed in his youth his own, brave in battle, wise in advice and reasonable in everything, and the grace of God bloomed in him.

“Their righteous generation... will be blessed.”- Ps. 111, 2.

...Volodymyr, son Svyatoslavl...- The reign of Vladimir I Svyatoslavich is described in the Tale of Bygone Years from 980 to 1015.

This mother was formerly a chernitsa, a grynnitsa, and she gave birth to Yaroplk...- The reign of Yaropolk, his marriage and death in the “Tale of Bygone Years” is described under the years 973-980.

And from Rognida...- Rogneda Rogvolodovna, the Polotsk princess, is mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years under the years 980 and 1000. Article 980 also talks about Vladimir’s wives and his children from them.

And calling Boris, whose name was called Roman in holy baptism...- In ancient times, there was a widespread custom of giving two names - one “Russian”, “secular”, “princely”, and the second Christian, “godmother”. Boris' godname is Roman, Gleb's is Davyd.

The Parable is talking about such things...- The tributary - the compiler of the book of parables - the king of the Kingdom of Israel and Judah (X century BC) Solomon. The Book of Solomon's Proverbs is part of the Bible.

...and the night passed the platform to Berestov... we were transported to the Sankh...- Removing the body through a dismantled roof and transporting the deceased on a sleigh (at any time of the year) are elements of the ancient Russian funeral rite.

... "The Lord resists those who are proud... to give grace."- Jacob. 4, 6; 1 Peter 5, 5.

... “The same speech - “I love God” ... there is a lie.”- 1 John. 4, 20.

... “There is no fear in love... replace fear.”- 1 John. 4, 18.

“Then I’ll see my brother’s face... what is Joseph Benjamin like?”- Joseph and Benjamin are biblical characters: the youngest children of the Old Testament patriarch Jacob from Rachel, his beloved wife. Joseph meets with his younger brother Benjamin after a long separation, the culprits of which were their older brothers from Jacob’s other wives, who sold Joseph into slavery.

Boris recalls the names of those saints who died for loyalty to Christianity at the hands of their closest relatives: Nikita, the royal son, was tortured and executed by his father, who did not recognize Christianity; Vyacheslav (Vaclav) - Czech prince (921-929), declared a saint by the church, was killed by his brother Boleslav I; Varvara for confession Christian faith was executed by her pagan father.

"God! Why have you multiplied the distress! Mnozi got up on me.”- Ps. 3, 2.

“Offend me psi mnozi... odrzhasha me.”- Ps. 21, 17.

"Oh my God! I trust in you, save me.”- Ps. 7, 2.

Canon- church hymn.

“You love to endure everything... don’t look for your own.”- 1 Cor. 13, 4.

“There is no fear in love... take away fear.”- 1 John. 4, 18.

...invested a hryvnia in gold...- Here the hryvnia is a neck hoop, a necklace as a badge of honor, an award.

Yes, “if only the enemy had reviled us... he would have hidden.”- Ps. 54, 13.

...the month of July on the 24th day, formerly the 9th calendar of August.- In the ancient Roman calendar, the first day of each month was called kalends, the 5th or 7th day of the month (day of the first quarter of the moon) - nones, the 13th or 15th day (day of the full moon) - ides. From these three points, days were counted backward (the original date was included in the count of days). Therefore, in calendar counting, July 24 corresponded to the ninth day before the August calendar. Calendar counting with the mention of calendars is found rarely in ancient Russian texts and in parallel with the indication of dates and days of the week according to the Julian calendar, adopted in Rus' along with Christianity.

Here we either mean a log - the trunk of a fallen tree, or a log - a coffin hollowed out from two halves of a solid tree trunk. ...Like Iulian the Caesar...- Julian the Apostate (Flavius Claudius Julian), Roman emperor (361-363), restored paganism as an official religion in the Roman Empire and opposed Christianity. The name of Julian in Christian literature became a common name for the persecutor of Orthodoxy. He died either from an enemy arrow or from a spear strike in the back during a campaign against the Persians in 363. The unclear circumstances of his death gave rise to many legends.

...and put it in the ship...- In ancient funeral customs, the deceased was either carried on a sleigh (regardless of the time of year) or carried in a boat.

... “The city cannot hide itself... let the dark ones shine.”- Matt. 5. 14-15.

...like the great Demetrius...- Demetrius of Thessaloniki, son of the Thessalonian governor, proconsul of Thessaloniki (modern Thessaloniki), was killed in 306 and recognized as a saint by the Christian Church. He was revered as the patron and protector of Thessaloniki. He was especially popular as a warrior saint not only in Thessaloniki, but on Mount Athos, in the Balkan countries and in Ancient Rus'.

..."Tuna...give it". - Matt. 10, 8.

...“Believe in me... and more those"- John. 14, 12.

Old Russian literature

THE TALE OF BORIS AND GLEB

STORY AND SUFFERING AND PRAISE

TO THE HOLY MARTYRS BORIS AND GLEB

Lord, bless, father!

“The family of the righteous will be blessed,” says the prophet, “and their descendants will be blessed.”

This is what happened shortly before our days under the autocrat of the entire Russian land, Vladimir, son of Svyatoslav, grandson of Igor, who enlightened the entire Russian land with holy baptism. We will tell about his other virtues in another place, but now is not the time. We will talk about what we started in order. Vladimir had 12 sons, and not from one wife: they had different mothers. The eldest son is Vysheslav, after Izyaslav, the third is Svyatopolk, who planned this evil murder. His mother is Greek and was formerly a nun. Vladimir's brother Yaropolk, seduced by the beauty of her face, undressed her, took her as his wife, and conceived the accursed Svyatopolk from her. Vladimir, at that time still a pagan, having killed Yaropolk, took possession of his pregnant wife. So she gave birth to this accursed Svyatopolk, the son of two fathers and brothers. That’s why Vladimir didn’t love him, because he didn’t come from him. And from Rogneda Vladimir had four sons: Izyaslav, Mstislav, Yaroslav, and Vsevolod. From another wife were Svyatoslav and Mstislav, and from a Bulgarian wife were Boris and Gleb. And Vladimir put them all in different lands to rule, which we will talk about in another place, but here we will talk about those about whom this story is told.

Vladimir put the accursed Svyatopolk to reign in Pinsk, and Yaroslav in Novgorod, and Boris in Rostov, and Gleb in Murom. However, I will not explain much, so as not to forget about the main thing in the verbosity, but about whom I started, let’s tell you this. A lot of time passed, and when 28 years had passed after holy baptism, Vladimir’s days came to an end - he fell into a serious illness. At the same time, Boris came from Rostov, and the Pechenegs again moved into the army against Rus', and great sorrow gripped Vladimir, since he could not oppose them, and this greatly saddened him. He then called to himself Boris, who was named Roman in holy baptism, blessed and quick to obey, and, giving him many soldiers under his command, sent him against the godless Pechenegs. Boris went with joy, saying: “I am ready to do before your eyes what the will of your heart commands.” The Pritochnik said about such people: “There was a son obedient to his father and loved by his mother.”

And thinking this in his mind, he went to his brother and said in his heart: “Will I at least see my younger brother Gleb, like Joseph Veniamin?” And he decided in his heart: “Thy will be done, Lord!” I thought to myself: “If I go to my father’s house, then many people will persuade me to drive away my brother, as my father did for the sake of glory and reign in this world before holy baptism. And all this is transitory and fragile, like a spider’s web. Where will I go after I leave this world? Where will I end up then? What answer will I get? Where can I hide my many sins? What did my father's brothers or my father acquire? Where is their life and the glory of this world, and scarlet clothes, and feasts, silver and gold, wine and honey, abundant dishes, and fast horses, and decorated mansions, and great, and many riches, and countless tributes and honors, and the boasting of their boyars . It’s as if all this never happened: everything has disappeared with them, and there is no help from anything - neither from wealth, nor from the multitude of slaves, nor from the glory of this world. So Solomon, having experienced everything, seen everything, mastered everything and collected everything, said about everything: “Vanity of vanities - all is vanity!” Salvation lies only in good deeds, true faith and unfeigned love.”

Who would not weep when he imagines this disastrous death before the eyes of his heart?

His whole appearance was sad, and his holy heart was contrite, for the blessed one was truthful and generous, quiet, meek, humble, he pitied everyone and helped everyone.

This is how blessed Boris thought in his heart and said: “I knew that evil people were inciting my brother to kill me and he would destroy me, and when he sheds my blood, I will be a martyr before my Lord, and the Lord will accept my soul.” Then, forgetting mortal sorrow, he began to console his heart with God’s word: “He who sacrifices his soul for me and my teaching will find and preserve it in eternal life.” And he went with a joyful heart, saying: “Most merciful Lord, do not reject me, who trusts in you, but save my soul!”

Blessed Boris returned and set up his camp on Alta. And the squad said to him: “Go, sit in Kyiv on your father’s princely table - after all, all the warriors are in your hands.” He answered them: “I cannot raise my hand against my brother, who is also the eldest, whom I honor as a father.” Hearing this, the soldiers dispersed, and he remained only with his youths. And it was the Sabbath day. In anguish and sadness, with a dejected heart, he entered his tent and cried in contrition of heart, but with an enlightened soul, plaintively exclaiming: “Do not reject my tears, lord, for I trust in you! May I be worthy of the fate of your servants and share the lot with all your saints, you are a merciful God, and we give glory to you forever! Amen".

Those sent by Svyatopolk came to Alta at night, and came close, and heard the voice of the blessed passion-bearer singing the Psalter at Matins. And he had already received news of his impending murder. And he began to sing: “Lord! How my enemies have multiplied! Many rise up against me” - and the rest of the psalms to the end. And, having begun to sing according to the Psalter: “Groups of dogs surrounded me and fat calves surrounded me,” he continued: “Lord my God! I trust in you, save me!” And after that the canon sang. And when he finished Matins, he began to pray, looking at the icon of the Lord and saying: “Lord Jesus Christ! How do you, who appeared on earth in this image and by your own will allowed yourself to be nailed to the cross and accept suffering for our sins, grant me the ability to accept suffering in this way!”

And when he heard an ominous whisper near the tent, he trembled, and tears flowed from his eyes, and said: “Glory to you, Lord, for everything, for you have made me worthy of envy for the sake of accepting this bitter death and enduring everything for the love of your commandments. You yourself did not want to avoid torment, you did not wish anything for yourself, follow the commandments of the Apostle: “Love is patient, believes everything, does not envy and does not boast.” And again: “There is no fear in love, for true love casts out fear.” Therefore, lord, my soul is always in your hands, for I have not forgotten your commandment. As the Lord wishes, so it will be.” And when they saw the priest Borisov and the youth serving the prince, their master, overwhelmed with grief and sadness, they wept bitterly and said: “Our merciful and dear master! What kindness are you filled with, that you did not want to resist your brother for the love of Christ, and yet how many warriors you kept at your fingertips!” And having said this, she became sad.

And suddenly I saw those rushing towards the tent, the flash of weapons, naked swords. And without pity the honest and merciful body of the holy and blessed one was pierced. Christ's passion-bearer Boris. The cursed ones struck him with spears: Putsha, Talets, Elovich, Lyashko. Seeing this, his youth covered the body of the blessed one with himself, exclaiming: “Let me not leave you, my beloved lord, where the beauty of your body fades, here I too will be honored to end my life!”

He was a Hungarian by birth, named George, and the prince awarded him a golden hryvnia, and was loved immensely by Boris. Here he too was pierced, and, wounded, he jumped out of the tent in shock. And those standing near the tent spoke: “Why are you standing and looking! Having begun, let us complete what we have been given.” Hearing this, the blessed one began to pray and ask them, saying: “My dear and beloved brothers! Wait a little, let me pray to God.” And looking up to heaven with tears, and lifting up sighs to grief, he began to pray in these words: “O Lord my God, most merciful and merciful and most merciful! Glory to you for making me worthy to escape the seductions of this deceptive life! Glory to you, generous giver of life, for making me worthy of a feat worthy of the holy martyrs! Glory to you, Lord-lover of mankind, who has vouchsafed me to fulfill the innermost desire of my heart! Glory to you, Christ, glory to your immeasurable mercy, for you directed my groans to the right path! Look from the height of your holiness and see the pain of my heart that I endured

1. Features of the genre of life.
2. Historical context of the lives of Boris and Gleb.
3. Features of the narration in “The Legend...”.

A life is a literary work of a biographical nature, created in accordance with certain rules(canons), glorifying the power of faith and worthy actions of a person recognized as a saint by the church. The genre of hagiography arose quite a long time ago. Perhaps we can say that the Gospel is the life of Christ, and the Acts of the Apostles tells about the first Christian martyr Stephen. In the first centuries of Christianity, lives were mainly stories about the fate of martyrs who suffered for their faith in Christ. However, gradually, with the spread of the new faith in Europe, other lives appeared, which tell about the lives of righteous people, both monks and laity, who were recognized as saints thanks to their virtues and the miracles they performed by the will of God.

The purpose of any life is to instruct readers, to awaken in them reverent awe and humility before the greatness of God. This goal is achieved through the story of the life of the saint. Lives often contain lengthy discussions, which should also set the reader up for lofty thoughts about God. An almost integral element of the life is the story of miracles performed by a saint during his lifetime or occurring at his grave after death. Also, miracles can happen to a saint even before his birth, as, for example, with St. Sergius of Radonezh. As for the personal, individual traits of the saint, they are often omitted. In life, the most important thing is to show the power of faith and trust in God, and not specific human characteristics.

The canonical life includes a number of mandatory elements. First, it must begin with the glorification of God and end with the same, for this is what the main objective all similar literary works. Secondly, the life must contain praise for the saint whose life is being discussed. After all, he became a saint because he pleased God and should be considered a role model. Thirdly, the glorification of the saint is contrasted with the self-accusation of the author of the life, who recognizes himself as a sinner and unworthy to undertake a description of the life of a righteous person. Fourthly, the life necessarily tells about the miracles of the saint, often starting from his birth. As a rule, the parents of a saint are also highly moral people and sincere believers. Fifthly, the life tells about the death of the saint, which is especially important if we are talking about a martyr. After all, death in this case acts as evidence of faith, that is, at the same time the glorification of God and a kind of miracle. But even in those cases where the saint died a natural death, the meaning of the description of this moment also plays a big role. The authors of the lives show that the high virtues and faith that accompanied the saint in life do not leave him even in the last moments before the transition to another world.

Now let’s see how the “Tale of Boris and Gleb”, written by an unknown author who, according to researchers, lived at the turn of the 11th-12th centuries, corresponds to the above scheme. However, first let us remember what historical events are discussed in this work. In 1015, Prince of Kiev Vladimir Svyatoslavich died. Svyatopolk Yaroslavich, Vladimir's nephew, seized power in Kyiv. Shortly before his death, Vladimir ordered his beloved son Boris to go on a campaign against the Pechenegs, rumors of whose approach reached the prince. However, Boris did not find any enemies and turned back. Soon messengers from Svyatopolk arrived to him, informing him of the death of Vladimir, and also assuring him of his friendly disposition. Boris knew that Svyatopolk intended to kill him, but Boris refused the offer of his squad to oppose Svyatopolk. The disappointed squad left Boris, and he was soon killed by supporters of Svyatopolk. After some time, his brother Gleb was also killed, who, having learned about the death of his father and the death of his brother, went to Svyatopolk, despite the warning of his brother Yaroslav. Boris and Gleb were buried in Vyshgorod and soon became the object of veneration of the people, and in 1071 they were canonized by the church.

“The Tale of Boris and Gleb,” while not being a canonical hagiography, nevertheless possesses a number of features characteristic of this genre. Thus, in the “Tale...” we find praise for the high virtues of the saints - their humility, reverence for elders, and gentleness. Knowing what Svyatopolk is planning, the brothers do not try to stop him. Of course, from an ordinary, everyday point of view, this seems strange, but from the point of view of a Christian author, such meekness in the face of death, forgiveness of one’s murderers is regarded as a manifestation of the highest virtues of a Christian. The author of the life also admires such character traits of Boris as his piety and love for his father and brother Gleb. The author describes Gleb in a similar way: he bitterly laments the death of his father and the death of his brother, does not resist his killers, but meekly begs them for mercy, forgives them.

In “The Legend...” every now and then there are quotations from Holy Scripture. True, they are characteristic not only of hagiographies, but also of other genres of ancient Russian literature; for example, there are quite a lot of similar quotes in “The Teachings of Vladimir Monomakh.”

There is also a mention of miracles in the “Tale...”. At Gleb’s grave, people sometimes saw light and heard angelic voices. It was thanks to these miracles that the remains of Gleb were found, whose burial place was initially unknown. About Boris, who was buried in Vyshgorod, it is said that when they dug up his grave to lay his brother’s body next to it, it turned out that Boris’s body had not suffered at all from time. Regarding Gleb, a similar thing is apparently implied, since the incorruptibility of the relics is one of the significant evidence of a person’s holiness. “So God preserved the body of his passion-bearer!” - this is praise both to God and to the saint, obligatory in life. However, the inconsistency of the “Tale...” with the canon of life is obvious. Despite the presence of some mandatory elements of the latter. Thus, the author of the “Tale...” begins his narrative with a small quotation from the Holy Scriptures, which sounds like praise to the saints; The glorification of God, which is obligatory for life, is omitted. The story about the family ties of Svyatopolk with Boris and Gleb, the mention of the parents of these characters is just historical reference. There is no praise for the parents of the saints; on the contrary, it is said about Vladimir that he killed his brother and made his widow his mistress, had many wives, and nothing is said about the mother of Boris and Gleb, except that she was a “Bulgarian.” There is no story about the brothers’ childhood, illuminated by the unearthly light of faith. This is partly understandable - we are not talking about future monks, but about the sons of the prince, that is, future warriors. But “The Tale...” is similar to life in that it tells the story of the martyrdom of the brothers - their death at the hands of murderers formed the basis of the plot of “The Tale...”.

According to n. Art. (July 24, Old Art.) The church honors the memory of Sts. passion-bearer of the Russian princes, both brothers according to the flesh, Boris and Gleb, named St. baptism of Roman and David.

Boris and Gleb (baptized Roman and Davyd; killed in 1015) are Russian princes, sons of the Kyiv Grand Duke Vladimir Svyatoslavich. In the internecine struggle that broke out in 1015 after the death of their father, they were killed by their elder brother Svyatopolk, who later received the nickname Damned from official historiographers. Boris and Gleb became the first Russian saints officially recognized by Byzantium; they were canonized as martyrs. Many temples and monasteries were built in honor of the brothers.

The image of Boris and Gleb had important state and political significance. The behavior of Boris and Gleb, who did not raise their hands against their elder brother even in defense of their lives, sanctified the idea of clan seniority in the system of princely hierarchy: princes who did not violate this commandment became saints. The political tendency to venerate the first Russian saints was to condemn princely feuds, in an effort to strengthen state unity Rus' on the basis of strict observance of feudal relationships between princes: all princes are brothers, but the elders are obliged to protect the younger ones and patronize them, and the younger ones selflessly submit to the elders.

The state, church and political significance of the image of Boris and Gleb contributed to the creation and wide dissemination of numerous works about them in ancient Russian literature. The chronicle story (under 1015) about the murder of Boris (see The Tale of Bygone Years), “The Legend and Passion and Praise of the Holy Martyr Boris and Gleb”, written by an unknown author, “Reading about the life and destruction of the blessed passion-bearer Boris and Gleb” is dedicated to them ", the author of which was Nestor, prose tales ( short stories in Prologues - a special type of Old Russian literary collections), paremic reading (text included in liturgical books - Paremiyniki and Service Menaions).

In “The Tale,” compared to “Reading,” the events described are depicted much more dramatically and dynamically, and the emotional experiences of the characters are more clearly shown. The combination in “The Legend” of pathos with lyricism, rhetoric with laconicism, close to the chronicle style of narration, makes this monument of the earliest period of ancient Russian literature one of the most striking works of Ancient Rus'. Among Old Russian readers, “The Tale” was much more popular than “Reading”: there are much more lists of the first work than of the second.

The image of Boris and Gleb, as warrior saints, patrons and defenders of the Russian land and Russian princes, was repeatedly used in ancient Russian literature, especially in works devoted to military themes. For several centuries, ancient Russian writers turned to literary monuments about Boris and Gleb, mainly to the “Tale,” borrowing from these sources plot situations, poetic formulas, individual phrases and entire passages of text. Boris and Gleb, as holy warrior princes, were just as popular in ancient Russian fine art.

We offer our readers a translation into modern Russian of “The Tale of Boris and Gleb,” which can also be read on the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church Old Believer Church In chapter "Library".

Legend and suffering and praise to the martyrs Saints Boris and Gleb

Lord bless, father

“The family of the righteous will be blessed,” said the prophet, “and their descendants will be blessed.”

This is what happened shortly before our days under the autocrat of the entire Russian land, Vladimir, son of Svyatoslav, grandson of Igor, who enlightened the entire Russian land with holy baptism. About his other virtues in another place, but now is not the time. We will talk about what we started in order. Vladimir had 12 sons, and not from one wife: they had different mothers. The eldest son is Vysheslav, after him - Izyaslav, the third is Svyatopolk, who planned this evil murder. His mother is Greek and was formerly a nun. Vladimir's brother Yaropolk, seduced by the beauty of her face, undressed her, took her as his wife, and conceived the accursed Svyatopolk from her. Vladimir, at that time still a pagan, having killed Yaropolk, took possession of his pregnant wife. So she gave birth to this accursed Svyatopolk, the son of two fathers and brothers. That’s why Vladimir didn’t love him, because he didn’t come from him. And from Rogneda Vladimir had four sons: Izyaslav, Mstislav, Yaroslav, and Vsevolod. From another wife were Svyatoslav and Mstislav, and from a Bulgarian wife were Boris and Gleb. And Vladimir put them all in different lands to rule, which we will talk about in another place; here we will talk about those about whom this story is told.

Vladimir put the accursed Svyatopolk to reign in Pinsk, Yaroslav - in Novgorod, Boris - in Rostov, Gleb - in Murom. A lot of time passed, and when 28 years had passed after holy baptism, Vladimir’s days came to an end - he fell into a serious illness. At the same time, Boris came from Rostov, and the Pechenegs again moved into the army against Rus', and great sorrow gripped Vladimir, since he could not oppose them, and this greatly saddened him. And then he called to himself Boris, who was named Roman in holy baptism, blessed and quick to obey, and, giving him many soldiers under his command, sent him against the godless Pechenegs. Boris went with joy, saying: “I am ready before your eyes to do whatever the will of your heart commands.”. The Pritochnik spoke about such things: “The son was obedient to his father and loved by his mother.”

When Boris, having set out on a campaign and not meeting the enemy, was returning back, a messenger arrived to him and told him about the death of his father. He told how his father Vasily passed away (Vladimir was named by this name in holy baptism) and how Svyatopolk, having concealed the death of his father, at night dismantled the platform in Berestovo and, wrapping the body in a carpet, lowered it on ropes to the ground, took it on a sleigh and placed in the Church of the Holy Mother of God. Hearing this, Saint Boris began to weaken in body, his whole face became wet with tears, shedding tears, he was unable to speak. Only in my heart did I think this way: “Woe is me, the light of my eyes, the radiance and dawn of my face, the rein of my youth, the teacher of my inexperience! Alas for me, my father and lord! To whom shall I resort, to whom shall I turn my gaze? Where else will I find such wisdom and how will I manage without the instructions of your mind? Alas for me, alas for me! How did you set, my sun, and I wasn’t there! If I had been there, I would have removed your honest body with my own hands and given it to the grave. But I did not carry your valiant body, I was not honored to kiss your beautiful gray hair. O blessed one, remember me in the place of your rest! My heart is burning, my soul is confused, my mind is confused and I don’t know who to turn to, who to tell this bitter sadness? To the brother whom I revered as a father? But he, I feel, cares about the vanity of the world and is plotting my murder. If he sheds my blood and decides to kill me, I will be a martyr before my Lord. I will not resist, for it is written: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble”. And the Apostle's letter says: “Whoever says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother is a liar.”. And further: “There is no fear in love; perfect love casts out fear.”. So what will I say, what will I do? So I’ll go to my brother and say: “Be my father, because you are my elder brother.” And thinking this in his mind, he went to his brother and said in his heart: “Will I at least see my younger brother Gleb, like Joseph Veniamin?” And he decided in his heart: “Thy will be done, Lord!” I thought to myself: “If I go to my father’s house, then many people will persuade me to drive away my brother, as my father did for the sake of glory and reign in this world before holy baptism. But all this is transient and fragile, like a spider’s web. Where will I go after I leave this world? Where will I end up then? What answer will I get? Where can I hide my many sins? What did my father's brothers or my father acquire? Where is their life and the glory of this world, and the scarlet robe, and feasts, silver and gold, wine and honey, abundant dishes, and fast horses, and decorated and great mansions, and many riches, and countless tributes and honors, and the boasting of their boyars? It was as if all this never happened: everything disappeared with him, and there was no help from anything - neither from wealth, nor from the multitude of slaves, nor from the glory of this world. So Solomon, having experienced everything, seen everything, possessed everything and gathered everything, spoke about everything: “Vanity of vanities - all is vanity!“Salvation is only in good deeds, in true faith and in unfeigned love.”

As he walked his way, Boris thought about his beauty and youth and burst into tears. And I wanted to restrain myself, but I couldn’t. And everyone who saw him also mourned his youth and his physical and spiritual beauty. And everyone groaned in their souls from heartbreak, and everyone was overcome with sadness. Who would not weep when he imagines this disastrous death before the eyes of his heart? His whole appearance was sad, and his holy heart was contrite, for the blessed one was truthful and generous, quiet, meek, humble, he pitied everyone and helped everyone.

This is what God-blessed Boris thought in his heart and said: “ I knew that evil people were inciting my brother to kill me, and he would destroy me. And when my blood is shed, then I will be a martyr before my Lord, and the Master will accept my soul.”. Then, forgetting his mortal sorrow, he began to console his heart with God’s word: “He who sacrifices his soul for Me and My teaching will find and keep it in eternal life.”. And he went with a joyful heart, saying: “Merciful Lord, do not reject me, who trusts in You, but save my soul!”

Svyatopolk, having reigned in Kyiv after the death of his father, called the people of Kiev to him and, having generously presented them with gifts, released them. I sent the following message to Boris: “Brother, I want to live with you in love and I will add more to the possessions received from my father.”. But there was no truth in his words. Svyatopolk, having come to Vyshgorod at night, secretly called Putsha and the Vyshgorod men to him and said to them: “Admit to me without concealment - are you devoted to me?"Putsha replied: “We are all ready to lay down our heads for you”.

Then the accursed damned Svyatopolk called on the accomplices of the crime and the instigators of all untruths, opened his vile lips and cried out in an evil voice to Putsha’s squad: “Since you promised to lay down your heads for me, then go secretly, my brothers, and where you meet my brother Boris, when the time is right, kill him!” And they promised him to do this. The prophet spoke about such people: “They are quick to commit vile murder. Desecrated by bloodshed, they bring misfortune upon themselves. Such are the ways of all who commit iniquity; they destroy their souls through wickedness.”

Blessed Boris returned and set up his camp on Alta. And the squad said to him: “Go and sit in Kyiv on your father’s princely table - after all, all the warriors are in your hands”. He answered them: “I cannot raise my hand against my brother, and also my elder one, whom I honor as a father.”. Hearing this, the soldiers dispersed, and he remained only with his youths. And it was the Sabbath day. In anguish and sadness, with a dejected heart, he entered his tent and wept in contrition of heart, but with an enlightened soul, plaintively exclaiming: “Do not reject my tears, Lord, for I trust in You! May I be worthy of the fate of Your servants and share the lot with all Your saints, You are a merciful God, and we give glory to You forever! Amen".

He remembered the torment and suffering of the holy martyr Nikita and Saint Vyacheslav, who were killed in the same way, and how the murderer of Saint Barbara was her own father. And I remembered the words of the wise Solomon: “The righteous live forever, and their reward is from the Lord and their adornment from the Most High”. And only with these words did he console himself and rejoice.

Meanwhile, evening came, and Boris ordered the singing of Vespers, and he himself went into his tent and began to say the evening prayer with bitter tears, frequent sighing and continuous lamentations. Then he went to bed, and his sleep was disturbed by melancholy thoughts and sadness, bitter, heavy, and terrible: how to endure torment and suffering, and end his life, and preserve the faith, and accept the prepared crown from the hands of the Almighty. And, waking up early, I saw that it was already morning. And it was Sunday. He said to his priest: “Get up, start matins”. He himself, having put on his shoes and washed his face, began to pray to the Lord God.

Those sent by Svyatopolk came to Alta at night, and came close, and heard the voice of the blessed passion-bearer singing the Psalter at matins. He had already received news of his impending murder. And he began to sing: "God! How my enemies have multiplied! Many are rebelling against me"- and the rest of the psalm, to the end. And, starting to sing from the Psalter: “A crowd of dogs surrounded me, and fat bulls surrounded me,” he continued: “O Lord my God! I trust in You, save me!” And after that the canon sang. And when he finished Matins, he began to pray, looking at the icon of the Lord and saying: “Lord Jesus Christ! As You, who appeared on earth in this image and, by Your own will, allowed Yourself to be nailed to the cross and accept suffering for our sins, grant me the ability to accept suffering in the same way!”

And when he heard an ominous whisper near the tent, he trembled, tears flowed from his eyes, and said: “Glory to You, Lord, for everything, for You have made me worthy of envy for the sake of accepting this bitter death and enduring everything for the sake of love for Your commandments. We ourselves did not want to avoid torment, we did not wish anything for ourselves, following the commandments of the Apostle: “Love is patient, believes everything, does not envy and is not conceited.” . And further: “There is no fear in love, for true love casts out fear.”. Therefore, Master, my soul is always in Your hands, for I have not forgotten Your commandment. As the Lord wills, so it will be.” And when they saw the priest Borisov and the youth serving the prince, their master, overwhelmed with grief and sadness, they wept bitterly and said: “Our gracious and dear sir! What kindness are you filled with, that you did not want to resist your brother for the love of Christ, and yet how many warriors you held under your hand!” And having said this, they were sad.

And suddenly I saw warriors rushing towards the tent, the shine of their weapons and naked swords. Without pity, the honest and merciful body of the holy and blessed passion-bearer Boris of Christ was pierced. The cursed Putsha, Talets, Elovich, Lyashko struck him with spears.

Seeing this, his youth covered the body of the blessed one, exclaiming: “Let me not leave you, my beloved lord, - where the beauty of your body fades, here I too will be honored to end my life!” He was a Hungarian by birth, named George, and the prince awarded him a golden hryvnia, and was loved immensely by Boris. And it was the boy sent by Svyatopolk who pierced him.

The wounded prince jumped out of the tent in shock. Those standing near the tent shouted: “Why are you standing and looking! Let's finish the job we started.". Hearing this, the blessed one began to pray and ask them, saying: “My dear and beloved brothers! Wait a little, let me pray to God". And looking up to heaven with tears and sighing bitterly, he began to pray in these words: “O Lord my God, most merciful and merciful and merciful! Glory to You for making me worthy to escape the seduction of this deceptive life! Glory to Thee, generous giver of life, who has made me worthy of a feat worthy of the holy martyrs! Glory to Thee, O Lord, Lover of Mankind, for having made me worthy to fulfill the innermost desire of my heart! Glory to You, Christ, glory to Your immeasurable mercy, for You have directed my feet to the right path! Look from the height of Your holiness and see the pain of my heart that I suffered from my relative - after all “For Your sake they are putting me to death this day; they consider me a ram doomed to be slaughtered.”. After all, You know, Lord, I do not resist, I will not contradict, and, having under my hand all the soldiers of my father and everyone whom my father loved, I did not plot anything against my brother. He raised up against me as much as he could. “If an enemy reviled me, I would endure it; If my hater were to slander me, I would hide from him.”. But You, Lord, be a witness and bring judgment between me and my brother. And do not condemn them, Lord, for this sin, but accept my soul in peace. Amen". And looking at his killers with a sad look, with a haggard face, shedding tears, he said: “Brothers, having begun, finish what has been assigned to you. And may there be peace to my brother and to you, brothers!”

And everyone who heard his words could not utter a word from fear and bitter sadness and abundant tears. With bitter sighs they lamented and cried, and each one groaned in his soul: “Alas for us, our merciful and blessed prince, guide to the blind, clothing to the naked, staff to the elders, mentor to the foolish! Who will guide them all now? I didn’t want the glory of this world, I didn’t want to have fun with honest nobles, I didn’t want greatness in this life. Who will not be amazed at such great humility, who will not humble himself, seeing and hearing his humility? Thus Boris rested, surrendering his soul into the hands of the living God on the 24th day of the month of July, 9 days before the Kalends of August.

They also killed many who were with the prince. They could not remove the hryvnia from the youth George and, having cut off his head, they threw it away. That's why they couldn't identify his body. Blessed Boris, wrapped in a tent, was placed on a cart and taken away. And as they rode through the forest, he began to lift his holy head. Having learned about this, Svyatopolk sent two Varangians, and they pierced Boris with a sword in the heart. And so he died, having received the unfading crown. And, having brought his body, they laid it in Vyshgorod and buried it in the ground near the church of St. Basil.

But the accursed Svyatopolk did not stop at this murder. In his fury he began to prepare for a greater crime. Having seen the fulfillment of his cherished desire, he did not think about his villainous murder and the gravity of his sin, and did not at all repent of what he had done. And then Satan entered his heart, beginning to incite even greater atrocities and new murders. This is what he said in his damned soul: “What will I do? If I dwell on this murder, then two fates await me: when my brothers find out about what happened, they will lie in wait for me and repay me worse than what I have done. And if not so, then they will expel me and lose the throne of my father, and regret for my lost land will consume me, and the reproaches of those who reproach will fall on me, and my reign will be seized by another, and there will be no living soul left in my dwellings. For I have destroyed the beloved of the Lord and added a new plague to the disease, and I will add lawlessness to iniquity. After all, my mother’s sin will not be forgiven and I will not be included with the righteous, but my name will be taken out of the books of life.” And so it happened, which we will tell you about later. Now is not the time yet, but let’s return to our story.

Having conceived this, the devil's evil accomplice sent for blessed Gleb, saying: “Come without delay. Father is calling you, he is seriously ill.". Gleb quickly got ready, mounted his horse and set off with a small squad. And when they came to the Volga, his horse stumbled in a hole in the field under him, and slightly injured his leg. And when Gleb came to Smolensk, he went not far from Smolensk and stood on Smyadyn, in a boat. And at this time news came from Predslava to Yaroslav about the death of his father. And Yaroslav sent to Gleb, saying: “Don't go, brother! Your father died, and your brother was killed by Svyatopolk.”

Hearing this, the blessed one cried out with bitter weeping and heartfelt sadness, and said thus: “Oh, alas for me, Lord! I cry and moan twice, I lament and grieve twice. Alas for me, alas for me! I cry bitterly for my father, and I cry and grieve even more bitterly for you, my brother and master, Boris. How was he pierced, how was he killed without pity, how did he suffer death not from an enemy, but from his brother? Alas for me! It would be better for me to die with you than to live alone and orphaned in this world without you. I thought that I would soon see your angelic face, but what misfortune befell me, it would be better for me to die with you, my lord! What will I do now, unfortunate, deprived of your kindness and the wisdom of my father? O my dear brother and lord! If your prayers reach the Lord, pray for my sadness, so that I too may be worthy to endure the same torment and be with you, and not in this vain world.”

When he was groaning and crying like this, watering the earth with tears and calling on God with frequent sighs, his evil servants sent by Svyatopolk suddenly appeared, ruthless bloodsuckers, fierce brother-haters with the soul of ferocious beasts. The saint was sailing in a boat at that time, and they met him at the mouth of Smyadyn. The saint saw them and rejoiced in his soul, but when they saw him, they became gloomy and began to row towards him, and he thought - they want to greet him. And when they swam nearby, the villains began to jump into his boat with naked swords shining like water in their hands. Immediately all of Glebov’s servants’ oars fell out of their hands, and they died of fear. Seeing this, the blessed one realized that they wanted to kill him. And, looking at the murderers with a meek gaze, washing his face with tears, resigned himself, in heartfelt contrition, tremblingly sighing, bursting into tears and weakening his body, he began to pitifully beg: “Don’t touch me, my dear and dear brothers! Don't touch me, I haven't caused you any harm! Have mercy, my brothers and lords, have mercy! What offense have I caused to my brother and to you, my brothers and lords? If there is any offense, then take me to your prince and to my brother and master. Have pity on my youth, have mercy, my lords! Be my masters, and I will be your slave. Do not destroy me, young in life, not yet ripe, filled with the juice of goodness! Do not cut a vine that has not yet grown and does not bear fruit! I beg you and surrender to your mercy. Fear the one who said through the mouth of the Apostle: “Do not be children in your mind: in evil deeds, be like babies, but in your mind be mature.” I, brothers, am still young in both deed and age. This is not murder, but cheese cutting! Tell me what evil I have done, and then I will not complain. If you want to be satisfied with my blood, then I, brothers, am in the hands of you and my brother, and your prince.”

And not a single word shamed them, but like fierce beasts they attacked him. He, seeing that they did not heed his words, began to say: “May my beloved father and Mr. Vasily, and my mother, my lady, and you, brother Boris, the mentor of my youth, and you, brother and accomplice Yaroslav, and you, brother and enemy Svyatopolk, and all of you, be delivered from eternal torment. brothers and squad, may everyone be saved! I will no longer see you in this life, for they are forcibly separating me from you.”. And he said crying: “Vasily, Vasily, my father and master! Bow your ears and hear my voice, look and see what happened to your son, how they are killing me for no reason. Alas for me, alas for me! “Hear, heaven, and listen, earth!” And you, Boris brother, hear my voice. I called my father Vasily, but he did not listen to me, do you really not want to hear me? Look at the sorrow of my heart and the pain of my soul, look at the streams of my tears flowing like a river! And no one listens to me, but remember me and pray for me before the Lord of all, for you are pleasing to Him and stand before His throne.”

Kneeling down, he began to pray: “Most generous and merciful Lord! Do not despise my tears, have mercy on my sadness. Look at the contrition of my heart: they are killing me for no one knows why, no one knows for what guilt. You know, Lord my God! I remember the words You spoke to Your Apostles: “For My name, for My sake, they will raise their hands against you, and you will be betrayed by relatives and friends, and brother will betray brother to death, and you will be put to death for My name’s sake.” And further: “Strengthen your souls with patience”. Look, Lord, and judge: my soul is ready to appear before You, Lord! And we give glory to You, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen".

Then he looked at the killers and said in a plaintive and intermittent voice: “Once you have started, once you have started, do what you were sent to do!” Then the accursed Goryaser ordered to kill him without delay. The cook Glebov, named Torchin, took a knife and, grabbing the blessed one, slaughtered him like a blameless and innocent lamb on the 5th day of September, Monday. And a pure and fragrant sacrifice was brought to the Lord, and he ascended to the heavenly abodes to the Lord, and met with his beloved brother, and both accepted the heavenly crown, which they had strived for, and rejoiced with the great and inexpressible joy that they received.

The accursed murderers returned to the one who sent them, as David said: “The wicked will return to hell and all who forget God”. And further: “The wicked draw their sword and bend their bow to smite those who walk the straight path, but their sword will enter their own heart, and their bow will be broken, and the wicked will perish.”. And when they told Svyatopolk that “they have fulfilled your command,” then, having heard this, his heart was lifted up, and what the psalmist David said came true: “Why do you boast of villainy, O strong one? This is iniquity this day; your tongue has devised iniquity. You loved evil more than good, lying more than telling the truth. You have loved all destructive speech, and your tongue is flattering. Therefore God will crush you completely, destroy you and uproot you from your dwelling and your family from the land of the living.”.

When they killed Gleb, they threw him in a deserted place between two decks. But the Lord, who does not abandon his servants, as David said, “He keeps all their bones, and not one of them will be broken.”

And God did not leave this saint, who lay for a long time in ignorance and neglect, but preserved him unharmed and marked him with apparitions: merchants, hunters and shepherds passing by this place sometimes saw a pillar of fire, sometimes burning candles or heard angelic singing.

And not a single one who saw and heard this thought of looking for the body of the saint, until Yaroslav, unable to endure this evil murder, moved against the fratricide, the accursed Svyatopolk, and began to cruelly fight with him. And always, with the permission of God and the help of the saints, Yaroslav won battles, and the accursed one was put to shame and returned defeated.

And then one day this damned one came with many Pechenegs, and Yaroslav, having gathered an army, went out to meet him on Alta and stood in the place where Saint Boris was killed. And, raising his hands to the sky, he said: “The blood of my brother, like Abel’s before, cries out to You, Master. And you will avenge him and, like the fratricide of Cain, plunge Svyatopolk into horror and awe. I pray to You, Lord, that he may be rewarded for this.”. And he prayed and said: “Oh, my brothers, although you have left here in body, you are alive by grace and stand before the Lord and help me with your prayer!”

After these words, the opponents came together, and the Alta field was covered with many warriors. And at sunrise they entered into battle, and there was a slaughter of evil, they entered into battle three times and fought like this all day, and only in the evening Yaroslav prevailed, and the accursed Svyatopolk fled. And madness seized him, and his joints became so weak that he could not sit on a horse, and they carried him on a stretcher. They ran with him to Berest. He also says: “We’re running, because they’re chasing us!” And they sent to reconnoiter, and there were no pursuers or those following in his footsteps. And he, lying helpless and rising, exclaimed: “Let’s keep running, they’re chasing! Woe is me!" It was unbearable for him to remain in one place, and he ran across the Polish land, driven by the wrath of God. And he ran to a deserted place between the Czech Republic and Poland and was slaughtered here by his neighbors and his minions. Thus he accepted vengeance from the Lord, as “the destructive illness sent to him showed,” and upon death, eternal torment. And so he lost both lives: here he lost not only his reign, but also his life, and there he not only did not receive the kingdom of heaven and stay with the angels, but was betrayed to torment and fire. And his grave has survived to this day, and a terrible stench emanates from it as a warning to all people. If anyone does the same, knowing this, he will pay even more bitterly. Cain, not knowing about revenge, accepted a single punishment, and Lamech, who knew about Cain’s fate, was punished seventy times more severely. Such is revenge on those who do evil. Here is Julian the Caesar - he shed a lot of the blood of the holy martyrs, and a terrible and inhuman death befell him: by someone unknown, he was pierced with a spear in the heart. So is this one - running, unknown from whom painful death accepted.

From that time on, Yaroslav took over the entire Russian land. And he began to ask about the bodies of the brothers - how and where were they buried? And they told him about Saint Boris that he was buried in Vyshgorod. But not everyone knew about Saint Gleb that he was killed near Smolensk. Many then began to tell Yaroslav what they heard from those coming from there: how they saw the light, heard angelic singing and other signs in those deserted places. Hearing about this, Yaroslav sent priests to Smolensk to find out what was the matter, saying: "This is my brother". And they found him where the visions were, and, coming there with crosses, and many candles, and with censers, they solemnly put Gleb in the boat and, returning, buried him in Vyshgorod, where the body of the blessed Boris lies; Having dug up the ground, Gleb was laid there with due honor.

Not many knew about the relics of the holy passion-bearers lying in Vyshgorod. But, as the Lord said: “A city that stands on the top of a mountain cannot hide, and having lit a candle, they do not put it under a bushel, but put it on a candlestick so that it can give light to everyone.”. So God appointed these saints to shine in the world, to shine with numerous miracles in the great Russian land, where many suffering people are healed: the blind receive their sight, the lame run faster than a chamois, the hunchbacked are straightened.

One day the Varangians came to the place where the saints lay in the ground. And when one of them entered this place, fire immediately burst out of the grave and scorched his feet. And, jumping off, he began to tell the squad about what had happened and showed his burnt legs. And from then on they did not dare to come close, but worshiped with fear. And after that, a few days later, the Church of St. Basil, near which the saints were lying, caught fire. The sexton of that church, after the morning singing by the all-evil Satan, was darkened by sleep and, without carefully inspecting the church, he hurriedly went home, and forgot the candles burning in a high place. And little by little, that church caught fire. But the faithful people soon saw this and carried out everything that was in it, so that nothing was left to perish except the temple itself. And all this happened by God's providence. After all, the church was poor, made of already dilapidated wood, and this happened in order to erect another church in that place in the name of the holy passion-bearers Boris and Gleb, and their bodies would be lovingly removed from the bowels of the earth, as it was. Then the elder, who was the ruler of this city, went to the Christ-lover Yaroslav and told him everything about the saints and about the fire in the church. Having heard about this, he ordered to call Archbishop John, who was then tending the intelligent sheep - the flock of Christ. When he arrived, the Christ-loving prince told him everything about the holy blessed passion-bearers, Boris and Gleb. When the venerable archbishop heard this from the lover of Christ, he trembled and soon ordered the entire church clergy to gather, and in the morning they went out with crosses and singing to the above-mentioned city, where the bodies of the holy passion-bearers of Christ Boris and Gleb lay. Then, having dug up, they brought out two arks from the bowels of the earth and placed them on the surface. The faithful people, who knew that these were the arks of the saints, approached them with trepidation and worshiped. Then the archbishop and the priests approached and opened the shrines of the saints, and they saw the bodies of the blessed, and not a single scab from the wounds was on them. They were like white snow, their faces shone like angels, so that the archbishop and all the people were surprised for a long time. And not only that place, but the whole city was filled with fragrance.

The elder of that city had a lame youth, his leg was crooked and dry, like a cane, and he did not feel it at all, it was as if it were dead. And he could not walk without supporting his wooden leg. He went to prayer at the shrine of the saints, day and night he remained in prayer. And one night the holy passion-bearers of Christ Boris and Gleb appeared before him and said to him: “Why are you calling to us like that?“He stretched out his leg and asked for healing. The immediate doctors and healers, taking the dry leg and crossing it three times, made it whole. He saw with them a youth who covered Saint Boris, who was carrying a candle in front of the saints. In order to get up, he did not need a wooden leg; he jumped up and ran. Arriving at the place where the shrines of the saints stood, he fell to them, praying with tears. And he told everyone what holy mercy had done to him.

A certain man came and prayed, falling to the shrines of the saints, asking for insight. And when he kissed the holy shrines, placing his eyes on them, he immediately received his sight. And he began to praise God and His holy passion-bearers with a loud voice in front of everyone.

In that place, God showed many miracles through the power of His holy passion-bearers. The blind received their sight, the lame walked, the demon-possessed were cleansed, and others who suffered from various ailments received healing through the prayers of the holy passion-bearers Boris and Gleb. They did this by appearing to some, while others immediately received healing only by coming to the Church of the Saints and praying with all their hearts to God and His holy passion-bearers. And many were freed from prison bonds not only in this city, but also in many other cities and villages.

The Christ-loving Yaroslav reigned for many years in the Orthodox faith, and placed his sons in different lands. And he built a great church - Hagia Sophia and many other churches that still stand today. After a short illness, he betrayed his soul into the hands of God, entrusting his throne to his eldest son Izyaslav. And he, having dressed his father’s body, placed it in a marble shrine and placed it in the vestibule of the Church of Hagia Sophia. And under Izyaslav, the holy passion-bearers Boris and Gleb performed many miracles. And Izyaslav went to the saints on their holiday. In memory of the saints, he organized a big feast for the poor and all the poor, giving alms to all of them from his property.

Izyaslav, coming one day, saw that the church of the saints had fallen into disrepair. Calling the elder carpenters, he ordered him to erect a church in the name of the saints, and designated a place near the former one, next to the dilapidated church. He also begged the Venerable Metropolitan George, then shepherding Christ’s flock, to pray in that place, and gave enough for the construction of the church, and after that he returned to the capital city. The elder immediately gathered all the carpenters under his command, fulfilling the order of the noble prince, and within a few days he erected the church in the appointed place. And he reported to the prince that the church was finished. Hearing this, Izyaslav sent to the ruler of that city, saying: “I give part of the prince’s tribute to decorate the church”. And the ruler soon carried out the order. Hearing that the church was completely completed, the God-lover Izyaslav asked Archbishop George to go and transfer the relics of the saints to the church that had been built. The archbishop gathered all the church clergy, and so they went out with crosses to the above-mentioned city, where the bodies of the saints were. And when they arrived, they carried out the usual renovation of the new church and celebrated the Holy Liturgy in it.

And the next day the Metropolitan gathered all the bishops and all the churchmen to where the saints’ shrines were, wanting to perform the transfer. The noble princes came from their lands, and many others from their lands, the younger ones. Many Montenegrins from their monasteries also gathered, and among them was our Reverend Father Theodosius, abbot of the Pechersk Monastery, who shone among them like the sun, adorned with good morals. But the Metropolitan did not believe that the Russian passion-bearers were glorified by the Lord because they were Greek. And having approached, they opened the shrines of the saints and saw them lying whole, and the church was filled with incense. Seeing this, the Metropolitan trembled mentally and, turning to the east, raising his hands to the sky, exclaimed, saying: “Forgive me, Lord, because I did not believe in Your saints, I sinned, and have mercy on my unbelief. Behold, I truly believe that Thy passion-bearers are holy.”

Then, taking the crayfish, they carried them to the new church and placed them on the right side in the year 6580 (1072) of the month of May on the 20th day. They celebrated a great holiday on that day and, glorifying God, went home. And God performed many miracles with His holy passion-bearers in that place, as in the previous one. It is impossible to describe or talk about the miracles being performed; truly, the whole world cannot contain them, for there are more wondrous miracles than the sand of the sea. And not only here, but also in other countries, and throughout all lands, they travel, driving away diseases and illnesses, visiting those imprisoned and shackled. And in those places where they were crowned with martyrdom, churches were created in their name. And many miracles happen to those who come here.

"The Tale of Boris and Gleb"
(facial miniatures from the Sylvester collection of the 14th century)
1. Boris and Gleb are awarded martyr's crowns by Jesus Christ
2. Boris goes against the Pechenegs

The holy passion-bearers also helped the Orthodox soldiers who fought against all untruths. The holy brothers helped their relative, the blessed prince Alexander Nevsky, who defeated the Swedish and German infidels who were planning to seize Russian lands and instill a heretical faith. On the night before the Battle of the Neva, July 15, 1240, one of the prince’s servants saw a plow floating along the river, in which stood the holy passion-bearers. And Prince Boris said: “Brother Gleb! Let’s row, let’s help our relative Alexander.”. And there was a great slaughter with the Latins, and they killed countless numbers of them.

Boris and Gleb appeared to Russian soldiers in battles with the wicked Hagaryans. Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich, encamped on the Kulikovo field in the night, had a vision of a fair amount of clouds appearing in the east. From the worthless place came two bright young men, holding sharp swords in their hands and saying to the Tatar commanders: “Who commanded you to treasure our Fatherland? The Lord has given us a gift". And the young men began to flog the wicked.

Boris and Gleb (fresco of the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Ferapontov Monastery, Dionysius 1502-1502)

In 1642, the Turks besieged the Azov fortress. All the warriors who were in it were already preparing to accept death from the fierce infidels, when a dark cloud appeared over the city. The evil infidels saw ahead of the clouds two great and formidable young men in military clothing and holding naked swords. After this phenomenon the wicked said: “In the heavens above our Busurman regiments there was a great and terrible cloud from Rus', from your Kingdom of Moscow. And she stood opposite our camp itself, and in front of her, like a cloud, two terrible young men were walking through the air, holding naked swords in their hands, and threatening our Busurman regiments. That night the terrible governors of Azov, in military clothing, went out to battle in our attacks from the city of Azov - they cut us in two in our fences" The infidels retreated from the fortress in horror.

Therefore, I don’t know what praise to give you, and I’m perplexed, and I can’t decide: what to say? I would call you angels, for without delay you appear to all who mourn, but you lived on earth among people in human flesh. If I call you people, then with your countless miracles and help to the weak you surpass the human mind. Whether I proclaim you Caesars or princes, you surpassed the simplest and humblest people with your humility, and this led you to mountainous places and dwellings.

Truly you are Caesars to Caesars and princes to princes, for with your help and protection our princes defeat all opponents and are proud of your help. You are our weapon, the Russian land’s protection and support, double-edged swords, with them we overthrow the insolence of the filthy and trample the devil’s machinations on earth. Truly and without a doubt I can say: You are heavenly people and earthly angels, the pillars and support of our land!

Boris and Gleb on horseback
(14th century icon, Tretyakov Gallery)

You defend your fatherland and help in the same way as the great Demetrius did for his fatherland. He said: “As I was with them in joy, so in their destruction I will die with them.”. But if the great and merciful Demetrius said this about only one city, then you are not caring and praying about one city, not about two, not about some village, but about the entire Russian land!

Oh, blessed are the graves that received your honest bodies as a valuable treasure! Blessed is the church in which your holy tombs are erected, containing your blessed bodies, oh, saints of Christ! Truly blessed and greater than all Russian cities is the Highest City, which has such a treasure. There is no equal to him in the whole world. Vyshgorod is rightly named - higher and higher than all cities: the second Thessaloniki appeared in the Russian land, healing free of charge, with God's help, not only our united people, but bringing salvation to the whole earth. Those who come from all lands receive healing freely, as in the holy Gospels the Lord said to the holy Apostles: “Freely you have received, freely give”. The Lord Himself spoke about such people: “He who believes in Me, the works that I do will do them himself, and greater works than these will he do.”

But, O blessed passion-bearers of Christ, do not forget the fatherland where you lived your earthly life, never leave it. In the same way, always pray for us in your prayers, so that no misfortune befalls us and no illness touches the body of your servants. You have been given grace, pray for us, because God has placed you before Him as intercessors and intercessors for us. That is why we come running to you, and, falling down with tears, we pray, may we not find ourselves under the heel of the enemy, and may the hand of the wicked not destroy us, may no harm touch us, remove hunger and troubles from us, and deliver us from the enemy’s sword and internecine strife, and from every misfortune and attack, protect us who trust in you. And bring our prayer to the Lord God with zeal, for we sin greatly, and there is much iniquity in us, and we commit outrages in excess and without measure. But, hoping for your prayers, we cry out to the Savior, saying:

“Master, the only one without sin! Look from Your holy heavens at us, the poor, and although we have sinned, You forgive us, and although we commit iniquity, have mercy, and, having fallen into error, like a harlot, forgive us and, like a publican, justify us! May Your mercy descend upon us! May Your love for mankind be poured upon us! And do not let us perish because of our sins, do not let us fall asleep and die a bitter death, but deliver us from the evil reigning in the world and give us time to repent, for our iniquities are many before You, Lord! Judge us according to Thy mercy, Lord, for Thy name is called in us, have mercy on us and save and protect us through the prayers of Thy glorious passion-bearers. And do not give us over to reproach, but pour out Your mercy on the sheep of Your flock, for You are our God and we send up glory to You, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen!"

Diagnostics and diseases. Medicines from A to Z

Read the story of Boris and Gleb. Hagiographic literature

Legend and suffering and praise to the martyrs Saints Boris and Gleb