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Holy Martyrs Thalalea, Alexander and Asterius Falaley, an eighteen-year-old youth who studied the art of medicine and was a free doctor, was captured during the reign of Numerian and presented to the ruler of the city of Aig (Aigi, now Ayaskala, by the sea) in Cilicia. As a Christian who was firm in his faith, he was subjected to torture, but the warriors Alexander and Asterius, who were to torture him, themselves believed in Christ and were condemned to death by the sword. After that, Falalei was thrown to the beasts, but when the beasts did not touch him, he was beheaded (284 years). Blessed Thalassius, Abba and Abbot of the Libyan monastery, who lived in the middle of the 7th century Entirely devoted to pious asceticism, Blessed Thalassius was also remarkable for his love for spiritual enlightenment; diligently studied the Holy Scriptures and left behind many precious works (which were later used by John of Damascus), - for example: the doctrine of the Persons of the Divine; This teaching was repeated and explained by I. Damascene in his presentation of faith. St. Maximus the Confessor, a contemporary of the Monk Thalassius, also highly respected him, wrote letters to him, dedicated his essay on difficult passages of Holy Scripture to him, and in one essay calls him his mentor. “If you want to free yourself from all evil in its entirety,” taught the Monk Thalassius in one of his writings, “then renounce the mother of evils - self-love. All passions are preceded by pride, and all will be followed finally by pride”... 294. † Repose of St. Simon, Bishop of Vladimir Blessed Simon, writer of the lives of the ascetics of Pechersk and Bishop of Vladimir, laid the foundation for the monastic life in the Pechersk monastery of St. Anthony and Theodosius, and here he spent a long time in monastic exploits. In 1206 we see him as abbot of the Vladimir Nativity Monastery and confessor to the pious Princess Maria, founder of the convent 295. When the blessed Prince Georgy Vsevolodovich wished to have a special bishop for Vladimir Klyazmensky, who had hitherto depended on the Bishop of Rostov, Blessed Simon was installed as bishop of Vladimir and Suzdal. This was in 1214 296. In 1217, Prince Constantine ousted Prince Yuri from Vladimir and sat on the table of the Grand Duke. Blessed Simon shared with his beloved prince the removal from Vladimir to the poor town of Radilov. Although the good-natured Konstantin soon made peace with his brother and, declaring him his heir, gave him Suzdal, although during this reconciliation Konstantin lovingly accepted Simon and presented him with gifts, but Simon, even after that, did not separate from Prince George, and remained with him in Suzdal; Only after the death of Constantine did he “reenter his bishopric of Vladimir” 297. In September 1218, Blessed Simon, in the presence of Grand Duke George, consecrated a new church in the monastery where he was abbot. Prince George loved the blessed one. Simon, who showed so much love to him in a bitter time: he announced his readiness to open a special bishopric in Suzdal for his friend Polycarp, but Blessed. Simon, not finding it useful for Polycarp, rejected the prince from his intention. The daughter of Grand Duke Vsevolod Verkhuslav, from 1189 the wife of Prince Rostislav Rurikovich, was the spiritual daughter of Blessed. Simone was also ready to make all sorts of sacrifices out of respect for the blessed bishop. But Simon firmly followed the path of spiritual life, not getting carried away by happiness and not indulging his pride 298. In 1225, he consecrated the cathedral church in Suzdal, which he and the prince built on the site of an ancient collapsed cathedral. In May 1226, feeling the proximity of his death, he put on the schema and on May 22, the “blessed, merciful and teaching bishop” died. He was buried in the Vladimir Cathedral 299, but subsequently his relics were transferred to the Kiev caves, where they now rest 300. The chronicle rightly calls Blessed. Simon is a teacher. His excellent message to Polycarp, the Pechersk monk and spiritual friend, fully justifies this name. It also shows how full of sincere piety the blessed soul was. Simone. The monk Polycarp was troubled by thoughts of ambition, which drove him from the Pechersk monastery to one place or another. To heal his friend, Simon depicts the importance of the Pechersk monastery in spiritual life and does not spare Polycarp in his accusations. "Brother!" This is how the saint writes: “Sit in silence, gather your mind and say: man, have you not abandoned the world and your carnal parents? If you came here for salvation, but you are not doing spiritual things, then why did you put on monasticism? Black robes will not save you from torment. You see, the princes, boyars and all your friends praise you here; they say: he is happy that he has hated the world and its glory - he no longer cares about anything earthly, desiring heavenly things. And you don’t live like a monk. I'm ashamed of you. What if those who please us precede us into the Kingdom of Heaven? They will be at peace, and we, cruelly tormented, will scream. Who will have mercy on you when you destroy yourself? Wake up, brother, wake up and take care of your soul; work for the Lord with fear and with all humility; Don’t be meek today and angry and angry tomorrow; silent for a while, and then again ready to murmur against the abbot and his servants. Do not be deceitful, do not leave the church meeting under the pretext of illness. Just as rain grows a seed, so the Church fertilizes the spiritual soil for the growth of good deeds. Whatever you do in your cell does not have the same power as what you do in church. Whether you read the psalter or sing 12 psalms, it cannot be compared with one cathedral singing: Lord, have mercy. Remember, brother, that the Supreme Apostle Peter, himself being the church of the living God, was taken by Herod and put in prison, and through church prayer was delivered from the hands of Herod. David in prayer says: one thing I ask of the Lord and this I seek: to live in the house of the Lord, to see the beauties of the Lord and to visit His holy church (Ps. 27:4). The Lord Himself says: where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). If more than a hundred of them gather, believe all the more that God is there with them. Their dinner is also prepared from the church fire; I want one grain of this dinner more than everything I have. I testify to the Lord that I would not want to touch any other food than a piece of bread and peas prepared in the presence of that holy brethren. And you, brother, don’t do it in such a way that now you share this meal with pleasure, and tomorrow you grumble against the cook and the serving brother and thereby, insulting the boss, are subjected to the same punishment as the dissatisfied person about whom the patericon speaks. Do not scold the cellarer: whoever grumbles harms himself. Whether you watch or drink, do everything for the glory of God. Be patient, brother, even with insult: he who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13). If you happen to be offended and someone tells you: so-and-so spoke very poorly about you, tell the messenger: although he reproached me, he is my brother, and I am worth it, and it is not he who is doing this, but the enemy who wants to quarrel us; May the Lord punish the evil one and have mercy on his brother. You will say that he insulted me to my face in front of everyone. Do not be embarrassed, son, and do not indulge in anger, but bow to your brother and say: forgive me. By correcting your sins, you will defeat the enemy’s power. If you respond to abuse with rudeness, you will doubly insult yourself. Are you greater than King David, whom Shimei scolded to his face? He said to the servant who wanted to take revenge for him: do not do this; May the Lord see my humility and reward him with good for his abuse! Remember, son, and more than that, how the Lord humbled Himself, being obedient to His Father unto death. While suffering, he did not threaten (1 Peter 2:23), listened to blasphemy, endured slaps and spitting, but did not get angry; He prayed for His crucifiers and taught you to pray for your enemies. Love, he said, your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who harm you (Matthew 5:44). Enough, brother, is what I did out of my pride. You should mourn the fact that, having left the holy monastery and St. Fathers Anthony and Theodosius and St. the Monnorisians, who were with them, took upon themselves to be the abbot of St. unmercenary. You did well when you quickly left it and did not expose your back to your enemy, who wanted to destroy you. Don't you know that a tree that is not watered and replanted often soon dries up? And you, having refused to obey your father and brothers, would soon have died. A sheep is safe in a herd, but when it moves away from the herd, it soon becomes prey for wolves. You should have first thought about why you wanted to leave the holy, blessed and honest monastery of Pechersk, where it is so convenient for anyone seeking salvation to be saved? I think, brother, that God Himself allowed this as a punishment for pride, for the fact that you did not want to serve a holy man, your master, but our brother, Archimandrite Akindinus, Abbot of Pechersk. Have you written about your frustration? Woe to you! You will destroy your soul. I ask you: how do you hope to be saved? If you were truly always sober and poor, spend your nights without sleep, but if you cannot bear insults, you will not be saved. The abbot and the brethren rejoiced over you, and we were comforted by the thought of your finding. But you also allowed it to be your will, and not the will of the abbot, - you wanted to once again be the abbot of St. Demetrius, although no one forced you: neither the abbot, nor the prince, nor me. And now I’ve already experienced it. Understand, brother, that God does not like your leadership, and therefore He sent you weakness of vision. But even so you did not understand to say: it is good for me, for you have humbled me, so that I may learn through your justification. I see that you are proud and seek glory from people, and not from God. Am I not worthy of such a dignity? Why am I worse, for example, as an economist? That's what you said. And the wife of Prince Rostislav Verkhuslava writes to me, wanting to see you as a bishop in Novgorod, in the place of Anthony, or in Smolensk in the place of Lazar, or in Yuryev in the place of Alexy. She says: for you and Polycarp, I am ready to spend at least a thousand silver. But I answered: my daughter, Anastasia! It is not a godly work you want to do; if Polycarp had remained in the monastery with a clear conscience, in obedience to the abbot and the brethren, and lived in strict abstinence, he would have been awarded not only the priesthood, but also the Heavenly Kingdom. Have you, brother, wished for the episcopal rank? Of course, you wish well. But listen to what the Apostle Paul says to Timothy and think, do you have the qualities that a bishop should have? If you were worthy of such a rank, I would not have let you go, with my own hands I would have installed you as governor of both bishoprics - in Vladimir and Suzdal, as Prince George wanted, and I did not want. Brother! The perfection of the soul is not about being honored by people, but about improving in life and being pure. Many from the Pechersky Monastery were appointed bishops. Just as the Apostles were sent by Christ Himself throughout the entire universe, so by His Mother, our Lady, the Mother of God, many from her monastery were appointed bishops throughout the Russian land. The first was the Rostov Bishop Leonty the Hieromartyr, whom God glorified with incorruption. This was the first throne; the infidels tortured and killed him, and he became the third citizen of the Russian land, receiving, together with the two Varangians, a crown from Christ, for whom he suffered. You yourself read about Metropolitan Clarion in the life of St. Anthony, that by him he was tonsured and awarded the priesthood. After them, bishops Nicholas and Ephraim were installed in Pereyaslavl, Isaiah in Rostov, German in Novgorod, Stefan in Vyshgorod, Nifont in Novgorod, Lavrentiy in Turov, Marin in Yuryev, Mina in Polotsk, Nikolai in Tmutorakan, Feoktist in Chernigov, Luka in Belgorod, Ephraim in Suzdal. If you want to know everyone, read the old Rostov Chronicle; there you will find that there were more than 30 of them all, and if you read further, before us sinners, then I think there will be about 50. Understand, brother, what the glory of that monastery is and, having established yourself, repent. Love the quiet and serene life to which the Lord has led you. I am glad to leave the bishopric and serve the abbot at the Pechersky Monastery. But you know what's holding me back. Who doesn’t know that I, the sinful Bishop Simon, have a cathedral church in Vladimir, the beauty of the city, and another in Suzdal, which I myself built? How many cities and villages they have! And tithes are collected from all that land. And all this is owned by our thinness. But before God I tell you: I would consider all this glory and power to be nothing if I had to stick out with a stake outside the gates of the Pechersk Monastery and be trampled upon by people. One day in the house of the Mother of God is better than a thousand years of temporary honor. I would like to live in it better than in the villages of sinners” 301. This is what blessed Simon taught! † Repose of Saint Dovmont-Timothy, Prince of Pskov Litvin by birth and Prince of Nalshansky, Dovmont remained a pagan for a long time and was brought to the holy faith by the circumstances of his life. Mindovg, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, lured Dovmont's wife to him and forced her to share his bed. Dovmont, according to his pagan conscience, decided to kill Mindaugas for this. Having gone to war with Mindaugas’s army beyond the Dnieper, he suddenly declared: “magic does not allow me to go with you,” and when he returned, he attacked the defenseless Mindaugas, killing him and his two sons. This was in the autumn of 1263. Then a massacre began in Lithuania - one prince killed another, wanting to be in charge; and Mindovg’s son Voishelg, having taken over his father’s throne, began (from 1264) to terribly take revenge for his father’s death 302. Dovmont was forced to flee Lithuania. In 1265, he and with him 300 Lithuanian families, saving their lives, came to Pskov. Now “the grace of God breathed upon him,” says the ancient biography writer, “303.” Dovmont's soul was shocked by the vicissitudes of life and, having regained his sight, began to see the meaning of his former pagan life. In Pskov at that time there was no shortage of capable teachers of the faith for the newcomers of Lithuania: Pskov priests, as they were familiar with the language of Lithuania, in its neighborhood, were then called to Lithuania to serve the holy faith 304. Dovmont was baptized and everyone who arrived with him in Pskov was baptized with him; Dovmont is named Timofey. The Pskovites were delighted with the triumph of the holy faith 305. The people of Pskov now had so much hope in Dovmont that the very next year they elected him as their prince, in place of Svyatoslav Yaroslavich. A hitherto unprecedented example is that the Russian city receives Prince Litvin, instead of Vladimirov’s descendant. The Novgorod prince Yaroslav was offended by this - he wanted to go with an army against Pskov and drive out Dovmont, but the Novgorodians held him 306. The Pskovites begged for Dovmont the hand of the granddaughter of Saint Prince Alexander Nevsky, Maria Dimitrievna. In the same year, Dovmont justified the Pskovites’ trust in him. Wild Lithuania very often then invaded Russia from its sacred forests, devastated homes and took many Christians with it into captivity; Prince Gerden had previously given Letgallia to the Hermeister 307, while the Pskov priests had long before implanted Orthodox Christianity in Letgallia 308. As a result of such affairs of Lithuania, Dovmont took with him 270 of the best warriors, went to Lithuania and, in the absence of Gerden, marched through his possessions with fire and sword, captured his wife and children and a crowd of Litvins. It was necessary to wait for pursuit from Gerden. Dovmont, having crossed the Dvina, sent 180 of his soldiers with booty to Pskov, and he himself stopped five miles from the Dvina. Soon the guards let Dovmont know that Gerden was coming with an army. “Brothers Pskovich! Dovmont said, whoever is old among you is my father; whoever is young, I am his brother. I have heard about your courage; life and death are before you. My brothers! let us stand for the Holy Trinity,” and since it was then St. Martyr Leonty (18th), Prince Timothy added: “Holy Trinity and holy great leader Leonty! Help us against our enemies!” Dovmont’s words inspired the people of Pskov. Dovmont with 70 soldiers defeated 700 Lithuanians, Prince Gedroits (Gotrop) was killed and many others fell with him, others drowned in the Dvina, and among the Pskovians only one was killed 309. This victory of Christian hope remained in the memory of the Pskovites for a long time 310. The following year, Dovmont again went with the Pskovites to Lithuania, the country was devastated, and Prince Gerden was killed 311. The most important services were rendered to the holy faith and Russia by the courage of Dovmont in affairs with Livonia. The Germans, having taken Livonia from Russia, were ready to extend their greedy power further, and in relation to the holy faith they were more malicious than pagan Lithuania: they were content with robbery without touching their conscience; The Germans plundered everything and forced them to accept papism, declaring the Russians pagans. In 1268, the forces of almost all the Russian princes gathered in Novgorod to drive the Danes out of Estland. Dovmont and the Pskovites joined the squads of his father-in-law, Grand Duke Dimitri. At the very beginning of the campaign, the “nobles of God,” as the Livonian knights called themselves, sent their proxies with oaths that they would not help the Danes, as long as they were not touched. But when the Russian troops, having ravaged several villages, approached Rakovor (Wesenberg), the Master of the Order Otto von Redenstein and the Dorpat Bishop Alexander came with a large army to defend the Danes. A terrible battle began. To the right wing of the allied army, where Dovmont and Dimitri stood, the Russians were given a triumph over the flanks of the Germans. Biskup was killed and, according to the testimony of the Germans themselves, up to 1,350 people fell with him. Taking advantage of the darkness of the night, the brave knights ran away from the Russians. The Novgorodians, feeling a great loss in the army, returned back, and Dovmont and the Pskovites marched through the Wesenberg district all the way to the sea, ravaging the churches of Estov, and returned with many prisoners 312. A few days after the Battle of Rakovor, the Germans secretly entered the Pskov region and robbed several villages. Dovmont with a detachment of 60 people caught up with them on the Mironov River and defeated 800; some fled to the island; Dovmont ordered the grass to be set on fire, and the vile criminals of the oath died. The master, tormented by anger, gathered formidable forces in 1269, brought 18,000 troops by land and on ships and, having battering machines, threatened to raze Pskov to the ground. Dovmont, having examined the enemy’s forces, gathered an army, came to the Trinity Cathedral, laid his sword in front of the altar, fell on his face and prayed with tears: “Lord God, look upon your meek and humble servants and humble the lofty thoughts of the proud.” Hegumen Isidore girded the prince with a sword and blessed him to fight for the holy faith. The prince, inspired by faith, without waiting for the Novgorodians who were rushing to help, attacked the Germans with the Pskov squads, wounded the master in the face, and exterminated more than one thousand Latins. Meanwhile, on the tenth day of the siege, the Novgorod regiments arrived. The Germans fled for their lives, loading entire ships with the corpses of their commanders, and then concluded the peace that Dovmont wanted 313. The Germans and Lithuania left the Russian borders alone for a long time. In memory of the last victory (June 8th), the noble prince built the Church of St. Theodore Stratelates, and in memory of the Mironov affair, a church was built to the Great Martyr George. In addition, he built a church in honor of his angel, St. Timothy 314. Defending Pskov with his sword, Dovmont fortified it with a stone wall. At the same time, he vigilantly ensured that the truth was observed in the courts; very merciful to all those in need, he helped the poor in their poverty, visited the unfortunate in prison, gave rest to wanderers, and loved priests. Affectionate with everyone, he was strict with himself: he spent his life in fasting and prayer and reverently honored holidays. He built the women's monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, which was also called Dovmontova; endowed the monastery of the Forerunner, founded by blessed Eupraxia 315, with land. In the last year of his life, the blessed prince had to teach the Germans a lesson again. At the beginning of 1299, the Livonian knights, unexpectedly attacking Pskov, robbed and burned monasteries, killed defenseless monks and women. The old prince, ardent to death, led his squad, fought with the Germans on the banks of the Velikaya River, drove them into the water, took as booty many weapons abandoned by the fugitives, and captured many prisoners. This was on March 5th, and on May 20th, after a serious illness, the noble prince died. Pskovites, young and old, mourned his death. His body was laid in the cathedral church of the Holy Trinity, for which he struggled so much 316. A year later, his holy wife Mary, in monasticism Martha 317, also reposed peacefully. The people of Pskov, after the death of Dovmont, believed that their courageous, pious prince was a saint of God and remembered them in prayer. With prayer to St. to the prince they entered into battle with the enemies and were happy. This happened in 1341 and 1343. In 1374, a church was built in his name 318. In 1480, the Master of Livonia approached Pskov with 100,000 troops. The Pskovites were horrified and the faint-hearted fled. The noble Prince Dovmont, appearing to one of the Pskovites, said: “Take the robe of my coffin and walk around the city three times with crosses, pray and do not be afraid.” Will of St. The prince was fulfilled - they walked around the fortress at night with his clothes and crosses. The master, approaching with 13 ships, tried to set the city on fire. The Russians, inspired by the heavenly leader, rushed into battle and crushed the Germans into the water. The Germans attacked the ships and sank, and at night they lifted the siege and left 319. The chronicle also recorded the sight of a blind woman, which took place at the tomb of St. Prince on Trinity Day 1530 320. On the miraculous Mirozhskaya icon of the Mother of God, glorified in 1567, the blessings of the Mother of God are presented on the right hand. Prince Dovmont, and on the left - Blagov. Maria 321. Service of blessings. to the prince was compiled after the rescue from Batory. Nowadays in the outer church of the Pskov Cathedral there is a shrine with the image of blessings. prince There is also an ancient icon of him. On the bell of 1560 there is an inscription with the name of “the blessed Prince Dovmont” 322. See “Historical. uch. about the Fathers of the Church" by Philaret Chern. Part III, § 252. Pereslav. letop. p. 107. 108. The printed patericon says that Simon from the Pechersk monastery was taken to the bishop of Vladimir. - This is an inaccuracy. Collection l. VII, 119. Transl. years. p. 112. Others stubbornly want to follow the opinion of the Suzdal keymaster Anania and Simon, the writer of lives is separated from Simon, the bishop of 1214–1226 (Reader. Obshch. ist. 1860, 4, 116–126). But: a) it is not clear why the Suzdal keymaster of 1770 received such authority when resolving issues about the events of the 12th century? Ananias, as obviously, did not have any evidence about his first Bishop Simon when he said: “in the year 6600.” – On the contrary, the chronicles say something else. The confusion in Ananias’s head is due to the fact that he mistook Polnkarp, the writer of lives, for the same person as St. Archimandrite Polycarp; b) Simon, the writer of biographies, says: “the wife of the prince. Rostislava Verkhuslava writes to me, wanting to see you (Polycarp) as a bishop in Novgorod in the place of Anthony.” – Anthony was ordained in Novgorod in 1211 in place of the expelled Mitrofan, and at the end of 1218 the Novgorodians accepted Mitrofan again, and the next year Anthony and Mitrofan were at the Metropolitan’s court. Matthew (see Feb. 10 a.m.). It is this confusion at the Novgorod See that the blessed one means. Simon. So, the writer of the lives of Simon was Bishop of Vladimir in 1218, and not before that. According to the chronicle “in l. 6697 (1189) prince v. Vsevolod gave his daughter to Verkhuslav Belugorod for Rurikovich Rostislav M. July 30th.” (Collected l.1:171). It is clear that the writer of the lives took the throne after 1189, and it was in vain that they invented the first Bishop Simon, who supposedly preceded Luke, who was consecrated in 1186 (Collected l. 1:166). Otherwise, Simon would have received a letter from Verkhuslava while he was already lying in the ground. Nikon. l. II, 333, 336, 340. Description of the Lavra 109, part of the Menaion on May 10. Probably May 10, when the Lavra celebrates St. Simon, was the day of transferring his relics to Kyiv. According to the RCP. Saints of St. Simon is shown both among those resting in the K. cave, and among the saints of the city of Vladimir. Monuments of the 12th century Buslaev with Christ. 763–767. Collection l. II, 201, 202. Nikon. l. III, 43, 49. Late story about St. Dovmonte (named Tolstoy, - shrines of Pskov, M. 1861) calls Dovmont Voishelg’s younger brother. Modern Volyn. The chronicle and Polish chronicles call Dovmont the son of Prince Gude. There are many other errors in that story, for example. about Voishelg's journey to Sinai. Collection l. IV, 180. V, 192. VI, 199. VII, 166. Narbut about Voishelga IV, 160. Collection l. IV, 180. V, 6. II, 201. III, 58. VII, 166. Collection l. I, 192. 193. Nikon. l. III, 46. Gerden's agreement with the hermeister Dec. 22, 1264 in charters. on relations between Russia and Riga, No. 2. St. Petersburg. 1857 See in Moskvityanin 1843 No. 7, where did the inhabitants of Livonia receive Christianity from? Collection l. I, 58, 59. IV, 180, 181. V, 6, 7, 192, 193. Nik. l. III, 45. Karamz. 4. pr. 194. 336, 338. Collection l. IV, 40. V, 193. Nikon. l. III, 46. The later story about Dovmont confuses this campaign with the first. Collection l. I, 59. 60. IV, 182. 193. 194. Nikon. l. III, 47. 48. Arnroth Lifländ. chronicle Step. book I, 387. 388. Collection l. I, 61. IV, 42, 182. V, 195. Nikon. l. III, 48, 49, 55, 56. Hiärn Lifländ. Chronik s. 134. Arndt Lifländ. chronicle Step. book I, 388. 389. Here June 18th is an error: memory of St. Theodora June 8. Collection l. IV, 183. About Pskov. Prince 3, 22. 114. 117. Collection l. V, 7. 8. IV, 182. 183. I, 67. Step. book I, 389. 390. According to the RCP. According to the description of the saints, she is among the saints and her memory was honored on November 8. Collection l. IV, 134. 188. 193. Collection l. IV, 264. V. 39. 40. Glory to the Mother of God, part 3, sec. 1, p. 74. 75. Service to the Mirozh Icon printed. in the September minea, M. 1666 Book service Timofey on May 20 - at Tolstoy 2, No. 279. About the rest in Knyazev’s description. Pskov. personal M. 1858 p. 20. 25. 62. 75. 31. Letop.: “Dasha the sword in the hand of his (new prince) Prince Damant.” Collection l. VIII. 148.