Житие святого отца нашего Алексия, митрополита Московского и всея России чудотворца

The Holy Wonderworker Alexy, Metropolitan of Russia, came from a boyar family. His parents Theodore and Maria were boyars of the Chernigov principality. Saint Alexy was born in Moscow 1346 under the Moscow prince Daniil Alexandrovich 1347, whose son and heir Prince John Daniilovich 1348, who was then still a youth, was Alexy's successor in holy baptism, and the baby was named Eleutherius. When he grew up, he was given to teachers for book teaching. One day, when Eleutherius was twelve years old, he was setting up nets in a field to catch birds. At this time, the boy accidentally fell asleep and heard a voice: “Why, Alexy, are you working in vain? I will make you a fisher of men." Having awakened from sleep, the youth saw no one around and was greatly amazed at what he heard. From that time on, he began to think and reflect a lot on what this voice should mean. Having loved God from a young age, he left his parents, refused to marry and, wanting to serve the One Lord Christ, came to the Epiphany Monastery in Moscow and here he took monastic vows, and in the monastic vow he was given the name that he heard in a dream vision - Alexy 1349. Then the abbot of the Epiphany Monastery was Stefan, brother of the great wonderworker Sergius of Radonezh; he himself tonsured Saint Alexis, who was then in his twentieth year of birth. From that time until the age of forty, Saint Alexy worked tirelessly; He fasted, prayed every night and practiced other monastic feats, so that many marveled at his zeal. For his godly life, everyone revered and respected Saint Alexis; even the Grand Duke of Moscow Simeon Ioannovich 1350 and Metropolitan Theognost 1351 loved him very much. For many virtues he was made bishop of the city of Vladimir in 1352. When Metropolitan Theognostus reposed, the Grand Duke of Moscow Ioann Ioannovich 1353, who took the reins of government after his brother Grand Duke Simeon, according to a conciliar decree, elected Saint Alexis as metropolitan and sent him for consecration in Constantinople to His Holiness Patriarch Philotheus 1354. Philotheus appointed Saint Alexis Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Russia. Upon his return from Constantinople, Saint Alexy took over the management of the Russian Church 1355 and began to strive even more, adding to one deed another, and was a lamp for everyone, setting an example in word, deed and life, faith and purity, spirit and love. The fame of Saint Alexis spread not only among Christian believers, but even among infidel Mohammedans who did not know Christ. The wife of Tatar Khan Janibek Taidul lost her sight three years ago. Hearing that God works many miracles through the prayers of Saint Alexy, Janibek sent to the Grand Duke of Moscow Dimitri Ioannovich 1356 with a request that he send this man of God to him, so that by praying for his queen to God, he would give her insight. At the same time, Janibek added: “If the queen receives healing through the prayers of that man, you will have peace with me. If you do not send him to me, then I will destroy your land with fire and sword.” When this petition from Janibek came to Moscow, Saint Alexy was grieved, considering this a matter beyond his strength. But, at the request of Grand Duke Dimitri, he nevertheless went to Khan Janibek. Before his departure from Moscow, he performed prayer singing with the clergy in the cathedral church in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. During this prayer service, the candle at the tomb of the holy wonderworker Peter lit itself, and everyone saw this miracle. From this Saint Alexy understood that the Lord was pleased to announce to him that his journey would be successful. Taking some of the wax from that candle and making a small candle from it, the saint, together with his clergy, began to prepare for the journey, firmly trusting in the mercy of God. Even before the arrival of the blessed one in the capital of the Mongols, the queen, in a sleepy vision, saw Saint Alexis of God in bishop's clothing, accompanied by priests. Having awakened, she immediately ordered that precious vestments be made for the bishop and priests according to the model she had seen in her dream vision. When Saint Alexy approached the capital of the Tatars, Janibek came out to meet him with great honor and led him into his chambers. The saint, having begun the prayer singing, ordered the lighting of the small candle that he took with him. After a long prayer, he sprinkled blessed water on the queen, and she immediately received her sight. The Khan with his nobles and everyone who was there were greatly amazed at this wondrous and glorious miracle and sent praises to God. Having honored Alexy 1357 and those with him and generously rewarded them, Janibek sent them away in peace. Returning from the Horde, Saint Alexy, after some time, was forced to go to the Horde again. Khan Janibek died, and his cruel and bloodthirsty son Berdibek ascended his throne. Having killed his twelve brothers, he wanted to go with his army to Russian soil. Then, at the request of Grand Duke John, Saint Alexy went to the Horde to see Berdibek and with his meek, reasonable conversation tamed the rage of the cruel khan. Having petitioned the formidable ruler for peace for Christians, Saint Alexy returned to Moscow, for the throne of the Kyiv Metropolis was transferred here by Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Kyiv, as a result of frequent wars and invasions of barbarian peoples. When Grand Duke John died, the guardianship of the minor Prince of Moscow Dimitri Ioannovich fell on the saint's shoulders. The power of the Grand Duke was begged for himself in the Horde by the Suzdal prince Dimitri Konstantinovich in 1358. The saint was supposed to bless the Suzdal prince for a great reign, but he resolutely refused to fulfill the request of the Grand Duke to live in Vladimir, remaining a protective father for the young prince Dimitri Ioannovich. Meanwhile, there was unrest in the Horde; every year several khans appeared and exterminated one another; in 1362 two rival khans appeared. Young Dimitri begged from one of them the title of Grand Duke of Russia and forced Dimitri Konstantinovich to leave Vladimir. Saint Alexy joyfully blessed his pet for his great reign with the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God. He was the soul of Prince Dimitri's advice and affairs; Through the labors of the saint, the power of the Grand Duke of Moscow grew and strengthened. Meanwhile, Saint Alexy was engaged in the construction of monastic monasteries. So, he built on the banks of the river. Yauza church in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, in honor of His Image Not Made by Hands, built a monastery at this church and introduced a cenobitic charter in it in 1359. He awarded the eldership in the new monastery to Andronik 1360, a disciple of the holy wonderworker Sergius. In addition to this monastery, Saint Alexy built other churches and monasteries in Moscow and other Russian cities. So, he built a stone church in Moscow in the name of St. Michael the Archangel, in honor of his glorious miracle that happened in Khoneh 1361, and built a monastery, which is still called Chudov 1362; at the same time, the saint commanded to lay his body here. Saint Alexy did many other deeds worthy of memory, glorious and wondrous, for the glory of God, and he kindly shepherded his verbal flock until his very death. Having foreknowledge of his departure to the Lord, the saint performed the Divine Service and received Holy Communion. Wishing everyone to be in peace, he gave everyone his last kiss and calmly surrendered his soul to the Lord on February 12, 1378 1363. This great servant occupied the Holy See for 24 years, but the total number of years of his life was 85. With due honor, his body was buried in the church he created in the name of the Archangel Michael in the chapel of the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin. Many years later, his holy and multi-healing relics were found completely incorruptible 1364. Even the vestments on the deceased saint were completely intact, as if they had been put on the day before. After which these holy relics were transferred to a church built in the name of this saint of God. From them, to this day, many healings flow, as if from an inexhaustible source, and his holy prayers provide help to all who come to them in faith through the ineffable mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to Him be glory forever. Amen. As an apostle with the throne, and a good physician, and a favored minister, flowing more honestly to your race, Saint Alexis the God-wise, wonderworker, who came together, we brightly celebrate with love in your memory, rejoicing in songs and singing, and glorifying Christ in such grace, who granted you healings and great affirmation to your city. The guardian of the apostolic dogmas is dangerous, the Church of the Russian shepherd and teacher, the blessed Alexis the Saint, celebrating the memory, we glorify Christ our God with worthy hymns, who has given us His saint, like a rich source of healing, and praise and affirmation for the city of Moscow. Let us please the divine and most honorable saint of Christ, the new wonderworker Alexy, faithfully, all singing people, with love, as a great shepherd, a servant and teacher of the wisdom of the Russian land. Today, having flowed to his memory, let us joyfully cry out a hymn to the God-bearing One: for having boldness towards God, deliver us from manifold circumstances, so that we call to you: Rejoice, strengthening of our city. Father St. Metropolitan Alexy, boyar Theodore Byakont, moved to Moscow because the Chernigov region, devastated by Batu, did not cease to suffer attacks from predatory raids. Under the protection of the strong and pious Prince Daniil Alexandrovich, he found a peaceful and calm life. Saint Alexy was born in 1300. Prince Daniil Alexandrovich, the youngest son of St. Alexander Nevsky, founder of the independent Moscow principality and ancestor of the princes of Moscow (1261–1303) - He was subsequently canonized by the Russian Church, and his relics, found incorrupt in 1652, still rest openly in the church of the Danilov Monastery he created on the banks of the Moscow River. Subsequently, the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan Daniilovich Kalita from 1328 to 1340. This was in 1320. The Epiphany (1st class) monastery in Moscow was founded in 1296 under the Prince of Moscow Daniil Alexandrovich. Grand Duke of Moscow Simeon Ioannovich the Proud reigned from 1340 to 1353. St. Theognostus ruled the Russian Church from 1328 to 1353. He finally approved the stay of Russian metropolitans, instead of Vladimir, in Moscow. Vladimir on Klyazma, the metropolitan throne, to Saints Peter and Theognostus. St. Alexy was consecrated Bishop of Vladimir at the end of 1352. Even 12 years before, Metropolitan Theognostus ordered Alexy to live in his saint’s courtyard and manage the judicial affairs of the Church, and for St. Alexy, through constant direct relations with the Greek saint, both the needs and means of becoming perfectly acquainted with the Greek language were revealed. The Grand Duke of Moscow John II Ioannovich reigned from 1353 to 1359. Patriarch Philotheus ruled the Church of Constantinople from 1354 to 1355, and then again from 1362 to 1376. St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow, ruled the Russian Church from 1354 to 1378. Dimitri VV Ioannovich, Grand Duke of Donskoy, born October 12, 1350; from 1362 he received a great reign; built a stone Kremlin in Moscow; reigned for 27 years, lived for 40 years. He defeated Khan Mamai on the Don on September 8, 1380; died May 19, 1389 The grateful khan gave the saint a ring as a sign of honor, which is still kept in the patriarchal sacristy. Dimitri Konstantinovich was Grand Duke from 1359 to 1363. This monastery was a votive one. When Saint Alexy set out for Constantinople to be ordained Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Russia, on the way back from there he was subject to disaster, so that his very life was in danger: a terrible storm arose at sea, and the ship was ready to disappear in the waves every minute. All those who were with the Metropolitan despaired of salvation. Meanwhile, the saint fervently prayed to God, and made a vow to build a church in the name of the saint who would be celebrated on the day the swimmers landed on the shores. The Lord heard the saint’s prayer. There was silence, and the ship landed on August 16th. In fulfillment of this vow, St. Metropolitan Alexy and the above-mentioned monastery was founded around 1360 in honor of the All-Merciful Savior, His Image Not Made by Hands. In the matter of building the monastery, the saint was greatly helped by the Venerable. Andronik, student of Rev. Sergius, which is why it received the name of the Spaso-Andronikov (Androniev) Monastery; now it is a second-class monastery. The monastery still houses the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands, brought by St. Alexy from Constantinople, decorated with a rich robe. Memory of Rev. Andronika takes place on June 13th. His relics rest in the monastery he created together with Saint Alexy of the Spaso-Andronikov Monastery. The remembrance of the miracle that happened in Khoneh is celebrated on September 6. The Miracle Monastery (cathedral) was founded in 1365 in memory of the miraculous healing of the Tatar queen Taidula. In spiritual literature, St. Metropolitan Alexy left behind letters, teachings and translations. The Moscow Miracle Monastery houses the Gospel translated by him from Greek and written in his own hand. You might be interested in: