Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus'. Name Peter Brief life of St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Rus'

Metropolitan Peter is the first of a series of great Moscow saints and wonderworkers.

Saint Peter was born in Volyn. At the age of 12 he entered a monastery and was a good icon painter. Peter retired to a hermit's life on the Rata River. Soon followers gathered around him and a monastery arose, called Novodvorsky. Prince Yuri Lvovich of Galicia greatly revered the future saint and sent him to the Patriarch of Constantinople so that he would make Peter Metropolitan of Galicia. But Peter returned from the trip with the louder title of Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Rus'. At that time, Metropolitan Maxim of Kiev died, and the Patriarch of Constantinople considered Peter worthy to occupy the main Russian see.

Saint Peter lived in a difficult era for Rus' of the Tatar-Mongol yoke and internecine hostility. At the invitation of the Moscow prince Ivan Kalita, in 1325 he moved his see to Moscow, and since then Russian metropolitans have been in this city. This marked the rise of Moscow as the center of Russian lands. Saint Peter was canonized just 13 years after his death, and many miracles took place at his tomb. It was also customary to take state oaths and oaths at his relics.

Interesting facts about Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow

On the advice of Saint Peter, Prince Ivan Kalita built . The saint made himself a tomb in the wall of the temple with his own hands.

The life of Saint Peter says that Peter’s mother, the pious Eupraxia, was notified in a vision of God’s chosenness of her son even before his birth.

Kirillin V. M.

In the 14th century, for the first time in ancient Russian literary practice, a saint’s life was created. This is a hagiobiography of Metropolitan Peter, an outstanding church figure who contributed to the rise of Moscow among other Russian cities.

Peter became Metropolitan in 1305. And despite the fact that his candidacy was proposed by the Galician Grand Duke Yuri Lvovich, almost immediately after his initiation in Constantinople he went to North-Eastern Rus'. Here he, being involved in the struggle between princes Mikhail Yaroslavich Tverskoy and Yuri Danilovich Moskovsky for the great reign, took the side of Moscow. Probably for this reason, and also due to the fact that the protege of the Tver prince George did not receive the metropolis, Peter was accused by the Tver bishop Andrei of the sin of bribery. On this occasion, in 1310 or 1311, a Council was held in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, at which most of the clergy spoke out against Peter, but with the support of the Moscow prince Ivan Danilovich Kalita, he was acquitted. In 1313, Peter was honorably received into the Golden Horde, where he received confirmation of the old benefits for the clergy, as well as a new one, namely the right of metropolitan court over all church people in all cases, not excluding criminal ones. Throughout his entire primacy, Peter consistently took the side of the Moscow princes in their struggle with the Tver princes. Moreover, in the 20s of the 14th century he gradually moved to Moscow, and not long before his death he announced that he wanted to be buried in Moscow. With his blessing, in August 1325, Prince Ivan Danilovich founded the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin, similar to the Vladimir Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. However, Peter was not destined to consecrate this cathedral. On December 21, 1326 he died. Very soon, miracles of healing began to take place at his tomb, so that already at the beginning of 1327, on the initiative of Ivan Danilovich of Moscow, Metropolitan Peter was locally glorified as a saint.

Undoubtedly, it was in connection with this act that the first biography of St. Peter was compiled. According to V.O. Klyuchevsky, this happened no later than August 1, 1327 - the day of the consecration of the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin. The life was written by the Rostov Bishop Prokhor, a protege of the Metropolitan. His name is indicated in the title of some copies of the work: “The Repose of Peter, Metropolitan of All Rus'; and this is his reading, the work of Prokhor, Bishop of Rostov.” At the end of the text, it is said about the participation of Ivan Kalita in this matter: “Prince Ivan, having written those miracles, sent an ambassador to the city of Volodymyr to the holy cathedral...”. Subsequently, on the occasion of the all-Russian canonization of St. Peter in 1339, it was partly revised. So, on the basis of Prokhor’s work, the initial edition of the Life was compiled, known from copies starting from the 15th century.

This work is written in a new, comparatively literary manner: very simple, concise, without any verbal intricacies. At first, Prokhor says that Peter was born to “a peasant parent.” At the same time, he notes that before Peter’s birth, his mother had a wonderful dream about him. Then Prokhor briefly talks about Peter's childhood, youth and monastic life. Prokhor dwells in more detail on the metropolitan installation of Peter, while he also notes the miraculous facts. So, the Holy Mother of God herself helped him, and Patriarch Athanasius foresaw by the fragrance in the church that it was Peter who was overshadowed by the grace of God. Prokhor also writes in detail about the trial of Peter in Pereyaslavl, and places the blame for this trial on the Bishop of Tver Andrei, in whom the devil put it in his heart to send blasphemy against Peter to the Patriarch of Constantinople. Prokhor attributes Peter's transfer of the metropolis from the city of Vladimir to Moscow to the initiative of Peter himself: having visited many cities, he saw that this particular city was “pure in meekness in humility, called Moscow.” The Life tells in detail about the death and burial of Peter and his posthumous miracles, in particular, about the appearance to a certain Gentile that Peter, during the funeral procession, sitting on his bed, blessed the whole people. “So God glorified the land of Suzhdal with such a saint, and the city called Moscow, and the blessed prince John, and his princess, and his children...”

Artistically, this initial biography of Metropolitan Peter is undoubtedly inferior to many literary works of the 11th-12th centuries. However, from an ideological point of view, it is remarkable that it reflected the fact of the actual transformation of Moscow from the capital of a small principality into an all-Russian national center: while telling about the first Moscow saint, the Life at the same time tells about the Moscow prince Ivan Kalita.

This ideological beginning of the Life was subsequently highly developed by Metropolitan Cyprian, who twice turned to its plot and created two new literary works on the theme of the life of St. Peter.

Metropolitan Cyprian lived in a completely different era, when Moscow, especially after the victory over the Horde on the Kulikovo Field, had already firmly established its role as the political and spiritual center of Rus'. Probably, then an urgent need arose among the people to express feelings of gratitude to the patron saint of Moscow. One must also think that Cyprian, when starting to revise the original edition of the Life of Peter, was guided by personal motives, for, undoubtedly, he saw in the life of his predecessor many parallels to his own destiny.

Originally from Bulgaria, Cyprian, before his arrival in Rus', was first a resident of the Studite monastery, and then labored on Mount Athos. In December 1375, Patriarch Philotheus Kokkin of Constantinople ordained him Metropolitan of Lithuania and Little Rus', and under the still living Russian Metropolitan Alexy. This caused dissatisfaction with the Moscow Prince Dmitry Ivanovich, who had his own protege - Archimandrite Mikhail-Mitya of the Spassky Monastery. In the summer of 1378, after the death of Alexy, Cyprian tried to take the high priestly throne in Moscow, but the prince did not allow this. Then, in 1380 in Constantinople, after the unexpected death of Mityai, the little-known Pimen was elected Metropolitan of All Rus', so Cyprian had to be content with his previous title. However, in Lithuania, he diplomatically contributed to the victory of Dimitri Ivanovich over Mamai in the summer of 1380, and also found support in Moscow from the most authoritative church figures - the spiritual inspirers of the struggle for the unification of Rus' and its liberation from Horde dependence, Sergius of Radonezh and Theodore Simonovsky. Therefore, in May 1381, he was nevertheless called to Moscow, but not for long: after the invasion of Tokhtamysh, during which Cyprian showed cowardice, the prince removed him and sent his new protege, Suzdal Bishop Dionysius, to Constantinople. The latter was ordained as the primate of the Russian Church. But he never returned home: in the spring of 1384 he was captured in Kyiv, where the disgraced Cyprian was, and died in captivity. Pimen remained in Moscow as metropolitan. Only after the death of Dmitry Donskoy, under his son Prince Vasily, in March 1390, Cyprian finally firmly established himself in Moscow as Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus'. In this capacity he lived his last sixteen years.

So, Cyprian’s appeal to the life of St. Peter was not accidental. He recognized himself as his successor and considered him his patron. By revising the original edition of the hagiobiography, Cyprian significantly enriched it with new facts and gave it a completely new sound. Most likely, Cyprian undertook this work during his first stay in Moscow. As a result, a new text appeared: “The month of December on the 21st day. Life and life and small confession from miracles like the saints of our father Peter, Archbishop of Kiev and All Rus'. Copied by Cyprian, the humble Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus'.” A large number of copies of this monument have been preserved, with the earliest dating back to the end of the 14th century.

He prefaced the biography of Peter with his own introduction, in which, reflecting on the righteous, he recalls the words of the Psalmist: “The righteous live forever, and their reward is from the Lord, and their building is from the Most High.” When a righteous man is praised, people will rejoice. It is proper to praise the righteous. Realizing his weakness, Cyprian, however, begins a difficult task for him - the story of one of these righteous people. Complementing the information about Peter's childhood, he provides details about his studies: it turns out that at first the boy studied without desire and success, which greatly saddened his parents. But one day a certain man in holy robes appeared to him in a dream. He touched his tongue with his hand and blessed the boy. After this, Peter quickly excelled in his studies.

Cyprian paid great attention to the monastic works of Peter, emphasizing his virtue: “in the monastery he was always a mentor in all obedience and to the brethren without laziness, serving not as a man, but as God himself. And your image was good to all for virtuous living with humility and meekness, and silence." Therefore, by reasoning of the mentor, he was ordained first to the rank of deacon, and then to the rank of priest. Cyprian prefaces the story of Peter’s founding of the Ratskaya monastery with the remark: “It is not worthy for such a person to even go through all the degrees and then sit on the teacher’s seat.”

In the story about the icon-painting activity of Peter, Cyprian introduced a description of this creative process: “It is a custom in many: as soon as he remembers a beloved face, he turns to tears from love. The divine saint creates from these spherical images to the prototypes of the mind.” . It is possible that Cyprian personally saw, knew and highly appreciated the original works of Peter, and among them, perhaps, the image of the Virgin Mary, presented to Metropolitan Maxim. In any case, he talks in detail about how the icon was created, how Abbot Peter gave it to Metropolitan Maxim when he met him, and how the saint rejoiced at this gift.

In contrast to the Initial Edition of the Life, Cyprian talks in detail about the appointment of Abbot Peter to metropolitan. At the same time, he emphasizes that during the time of the ascetic, the land of Volyn was glorious and rich. Not only the Volyn prince, but the whole country knew about Peter’s virtue. Cyprian also reports about the desire of the Volyn prince to create an independent Galician-Volyn metropolis and about his conversations about this with Peter: “And this is done for many days, when the prince himself spoke to Petrov, and when the boyar and his advisor sent to him." In secret from the ascetic, he wrote to Constantinople about his desire to see the Ratsky abbot on the holy throne.

On September 6 (August 24, Old Art.), the Church celebrates the transfer of the holy relics of our father Peter, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Rus', Moscow Wonderworker. Saint Peter is the first of the metropolitans of Kyiv and all Rus' who had Moscow as his permanent residence; It was his authorship that belonged to the first Moscow miraculous icon of the Mother of God, called Petrovskaya. They pray to Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, for the granting of health and peace.

Life of Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow

The future Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus' Peter was born in Volyn in the second half of the 13th century. His parents, Theodore and Eupraxia, had a pious life. “Even before the birth of Peter, in a dream vision, the Lord revealed to Eupraxia the gracious pre-election of her son.” The life tells that from an early age Peter was tongue-tied and very incomprehensible, it was difficult for him to communicate with his peers, but thanks to the miraculous appearance of a certain holy man, “Petrov’s lips were opened and his thoughts were illuminated with light.” Being very young, at the age of 12 Peter went to a monastery. By this time, he had successfully studied book sciences and could easily and with particular zeal fulfill monastic obediences. The future metropolitan devoted a lot of time to studying the Holy Scriptures. Before reaching adulthood, he learned icon painting. Icons painted by the monk Peter were distributed to the brethren and pilgrims visiting the monastery. For his virtuous, ascetic, ascetic life, the abbot of the monastery ordained the monk Peter to the rank of holy monk. After many years of exploits in the monastery of holy nuns, Peter, having asked for the blessing of the abbot, left the monastery in search of a secluded place. He set up a cell on the Rata River and began to labor in silence. Subsequently, a monastery was formed on the site of the exploits, which received the name Novodvorsky. For the visiting monks, a temple was built in the Name of the Savior. Peter was elected abbot, he meekly instructed his spiritual children, “he was never angry with a guilty monk, he taught the brethren by word and example.” The virtuous ascetic became known far beyond the monastery. Prince Yuri Lvovich of Galicia often came to the monastery to hear the spiritual instructions of the ascetic abbot. It is known that in the Transfiguration Monastery he painted the first Moscow miraculous icon of the Mother of God.

Once the monastery was visited by Metropolitan Maxim, “who went around the Russian land with words of teaching and edification.” Accepting the bishop’s blessing, Abbot Peter brought as a gift the image of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos he had painted, before which Metropolitan Maxim prayed until the end of his life for the salvation of the Russian land entrusted to him by God. In 1299, Metropolitan Maxim finally left Kyiv and settled in the city of Vladimir on the Klyazma. Prince Galitsky, Yuri Lvovich, was dissatisfied with this turn of events. He wanted to have his own metropolitan. For this purpose he chose Peter. In 1305, Metropolitan Maxim reposed, and therefore Peter became Metropolitan not of Galicia, but of All Rus'. At the same time, Prince Mikhail Yaroslavich of Tver sent his associate and like-minded person, Abbot Gerontius, to the Patriarch of Constantinople with a request to appoint him to the Russian Metropolis. “The Mother of God appeared to Gerontius, who was sailing the Black Sea at night, during a storm, and said: “You are working in vain, you will not receive the rank of hierarch.” The one who wrote Me, Abbot Peter of Ratsk, will be elevated to the throne of the Russian Metropolis.” The words of the Mother of God were fulfilled.

Patriarch Athanasius I of Constantinople and the Synod established the metropolis of Peter in Kyiv and All Rus', giving him the holy vestments, staff and icon brought by Abbot Gerontius. Upon his return to Rus' in 1308, Metropolitan Peter stayed in Kyiv for a year, but the unrest that threatened this city forced him, following the example of his predecessor, Metropolitan Maxim, to live in Vladimir on the Klyazma, where he moved in 1309. “At this time there was a struggle for grand-ducal dignity between Mikhail Tverskoy and Yuri of Moscow. Metropolitan Peter took the side of the latter, as a result of which an accusation was brought against him before the patriarch by Bishop Andrei of Tver. For the trial of Metropolitan Peter, a council was convened in Pereyaslavl in 1311, which recognized Andrei’s accusation as slander.” Metropolitan Peter experienced many difficulties in the first years of ruling the Russian Metropolis. Since Rus' was under the Tatar-Mongol yoke, there was no firm order, and Metropolitan Peter had to often change his place of residence. During this period, the works and concerns of Bishop Peter were especially strong for the establishment of true faith and morality in the state. “During constant tours of dioceses, he tirelessly taught the people and clergy about the strict preservation of Christian piety. He called on the warring princes for reconciliation and unity.”

In 1313, Uzbek became khan, the first of the khans to convert to Islam. Metropolitan Peter went to the Horde. He was received there with honor and released with a new label. “All the previous benefits of the clergy were confirmed and a new one was added: all church people in all cases, not excluding criminal ones, were subject to the metropolitan court.” In 1325, Saint Peter, at the request of Grand Duke Ivan Danilovich Kalita (1328–1340), transferred the metropolitan see from Vladimir to Moscow. This event was of utmost importance for the entire Russian land. With the blessing of Metropolitan Peter, Grand Duke Ivan Danilovich Kalita laid the first stone church in the name of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the square in Moscow on August 4, 1326. “If you,” said Metropolitan Peter to the Grand Duke, “calm my old age and build a temple of the Mother of God here, then you will be more glorious than all other princes and your family will be magnified, my bones will remain in this city, the saints will want to live in it and his hands will rise on his shoulders our enemies." The Metropolitan, with his own hands, built himself a stone coffin in the wall of this temple and wanted to see the construction completed, but the Church of the Assumption was consecrated after his death, on August 4, 1327. On December 21 (Old Art.), 1326, Saint Peter departed to the Lord. His body was buried in the Assumption Cathedral in a stone coffin made by himself. Saint Peter is commemorated on September 6 (the transfer of his venerable relics), January 3 (the day of his repose) and June 2 (the Council of Moscow Saints Peter, Alexy and Jonah).

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Veneration of Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow

The veneration of Peter, Metropolitan of Kyiv and All Rus', from the day of his repose was established and spread throughout the Russian land. Thirteen years later, in 1339, under Metropolitan Theognostus of Kiev and All Rus', he was canonized. At the tomb of St. Peter, the princes kissed the cross as a sign of fidelity to the Grand Duke of Moscow. As a particularly revered patron of Moscow, Saint Peter was called as a witness when drawing up state treaties. The Novgorodians, who had the right to elect their rulers at St. Sophia, after joining Moscow under Ivan III, promised to install their archbishops only at the tomb of St. Peter. It is known that at the tomb of the saint the Moscow High Hierarchs were named and elected. On August 17 (NS), 1472, the manifestation of the relics of St. Peter took place. The transfer of the relics of St. Peter took place after the consecration of the newly built Assumption Cathedral, on September 6 (New Art), 1479. The venerable relics of the Moscow saint were solemnly transferred to the cathedral by Metropolitan Gerontius of Moscow and All Rus' (1473–1489) with the bishops, Grand Duke John Vasilyevich (1440–1505) and his son John (1458–1490). Presumably, the author of the first life of St. Peter, written immediately after his death, was the Rostov bishop Prokhor. In 1381, a new edition of the life was created by Metropolitan Cyprian, and Pachomius the Serb at the end of the 15th century composed a Eulogy for the discovery of the relics.

In the city of Rzhev, in the Old Believer Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a particle of the relics of St. Peter is kept.

Miracles of St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow

In 1351, in Moscow, in the Church of the Most Pure Mother of God, by the grace and prayers of the wonderworker Peter, a certain woman was healed, who had a great illness and had been lying without legs and arms for two years. When they brought her to the tomb of Metropolitan Peter, she was healed. In 1372, a youth was healed who could not move his arms and was mute. In 1395, a certain woman received healing through the prayers of St. Peter. The doctors did not understand what kind of disease was tormenting her. And after she prayed at the shrine of Metropolitan Peter, she was immediately healed. In 1408, a certain man, afflicted by a great illness, was healed. In 1470, a blind girl was healed at the tomb of St. Peter. Through the prayers of the saint, she regained her sight. Subsequently, miracles continued to be performed with the relics. According to chroniclers, records were kept of information about miraculous events that took place through prayers addressed to St. Peter.

Legacy of St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow

Three letters of St. Peter, the Moscow wonderworker, have been preserved. The first is to the priests, which is an instruction to the shepherds of the Church of Christ, so that they serve with dignity and diligently care for their spiritual children. Interestingly, this message ends with a statement of the church law on widowed priests: in order to avoid temptations and condemnations, they were invited to settle in monasteries, and their children were to be educated and educated in monastery schools.

In his second letter, St. Peter calls on priests to be true shepherds and not mercenaries. First of all, take care of decorating yourself with Christian virtues in order to serve as a good example for your spiritual children. In the third letter, the Moscow saint again instructs the priests to remember their pastoral duties, and exhorts the laity to fulfill Christ’s commandments. Six letters attributed to St. Peter have survived.

Troparion, Kontakion and Canon to Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow

Troparion, tone 4

Today is the all-honorable holiday of the presentation of your honorable relics to Saint Peter, greatly cheering your flock, and the faithful Russian country and people. For them, do not be destitute, praying to Christ God, who from Him bestowed upon these flocks may be preserved from enemies and not cursed, and our souls may be saved.

Kontakion, tone 8

As the doctor is in abundance, and the source of miracles is abundant, today the spiritual children who have come together in love, in the offering of your honorable relics, we pray to you to Bishop Peter. Pray to Christ God to grant you an honest sacrifice, victorious to our faithful country against its enemies, and through your prayers to God, those who have found relief from their evils, with a joyful soul, and with gladness of heart, grateful to you, let us sing the words, Hail to Father Peter, bishop, and the entire Russian Earth will be fertilized.

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Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow. Icons

Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow is depicted on icons both from the waist down and to his full height. The most famous icon of the saint dates from the 15th century. The figure of St. Peter is waist-length, large, facing to the right. There is a closed book in your hands. The face with a thick beard and a long, hooked nose is painted in light transparent ocher with soft highlights over olive sankir. The hand curls are poorly preserved. On the head is a white doll with seraphim depicted in gold and an ornament in the form of lines intersecting with cells. The phelonion is green with gold crosses in two-tone pink circles. The background and fields are golden.

Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow. Icon from the Deesis rank. First half of the 15th century Moscow, State Tretyakov Gallery

Another icon comes from the Old Believer Cheremshansky monastery near Khvalynsk. Initially, it was life-size and was part of the Deesis row of the iconostasis of an unknown, apparently Pskov temple. At a later time, the image ended up with the Old Believers and took on its current appearance. The lower part of the icon, which by that time had apparently been badly damaged, was sawed off so that the image became half-length, and the board was slightly added above and below.

Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow. Pskov (?). Second half of the 16th century. The icon comes from the Assumption Cathedral of the Cheremshansky Monastery. Moscow, museum named after. Andrey Rublev Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow. The icon comes from the Deesis rite of the Assumption Cathedral of the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. Kirillov, Kirillo-Belozersky Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow. Menaea December (fragment). Icon, early 17th century. Church-Archaeological Cabinet of the Moscow Theological Academy St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow. Detail of the Small Sakkos of Metropolitan Photius. Armory, XIV–XV centuries. Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow. Workshops of the Novodevichy Convent. Sewn cover. Moscow, 1574. From the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin

The earliest hagiographic icon of St. Peter known to us dates back to the 15th century. The time of arrival of the icon to the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin remains unknown. The icon is in good condition. There are minor washouts of the top paint layer. All inscriptions have been updated. The stamp backgrounds and fields are gold.

Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow with his life. Moscow, Icons of the Assumption Cathedral, Dionysius and his workshop. 1480s
Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow with his life. Vologda. 3rd quarter of the 16th century Comes from the Church of the Archangel Gabriel in Vologda. Vologda Regional Museum of Local Lore
Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow with his life. Comes from the tomb of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich in the Chudov Monastery. Savin Istoma. Beginning of the 17th century Moscow, State Tretyakov Gallery
Bogolyubskaya icon of the Most Holy Theotokos with selected saints (including St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow). Istoma Savin. Icon - Tricuspid folding. Moscow, end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th century. Moscow, State Tretyakov Gallery

In Russian icon painting, both individual images of the saint and as part of the Council of Moscow Metropolitans have become widespread.

Saints Leonty of Rostov, Peter and Alexy, metropolitans. Double-sided icon-tablet, reverse - Saints Basil the Great, John Chrysostom, Gregory the Theologian. Second quarter of the 15th century. Sergiev Posad State Historical and Art Museum-Reserve
Saints Peter, Leonty of Rostov, Theodosius of Pechersk. Double-sided tablet icon, reverse - Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. Novgorod, late XV - early XVI centuries. Moscow, State Tretyakov Gallery
Saints Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow and Leonty, Bishop of Rostov and Venerable Theodosius of Pechersk. Double-sided tablet icon, reverse - Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. Second half of the 16th century. Vladimir, Vladimir-Suzdal Historical, Artistic and Architectural Museum-Reserve

Monasteries and churches in the name of St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow

In Moscow, on the corner of Petrovka Street and Petrovsky Boulevard, the Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery is located. The first mention of the monastery is found in the Rogozh chronicler of the 15th century, which states that in 1379 Archimandrite John of the Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery accompanied Archimandrite Mityai to Constantinople for confirmation as Metropolitan of All Rus'. There are two main versions of the founding of the monastery. According to the first, the monastery was founded by Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, who built a wooden church in the name of the apostles Peter and Paul on the high wooded bank of the Neglinnaya River near the Kremlin. This happened either in 1315-1317. And only at the beginning of the 16th century the temple was reconsecrated in honor of St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow. From the original ancient dedication of the monastery to the holy apostles Peter and Paul, perhaps only the name of its gateway Peter and Paul Church, built in the 18th century, remains. Another, more well-known version says that the Petrovsky Monastery was founded by Ivan Kalita and that its first, oldest church was consecrated in the name of the holy apostles Peter and Paul. According to the legend set out in the Degree Book, Ivan Kalita had a vision in 1326, shortly before the death of St. Peter. While hunting near the place where the Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery is now located, the prince saw a high mountain covered with snow. Before his eyes, the snow melted, and then the mountain itself disappeared. Having told Metropolitan Peter about this, he received the following interpretation: “The high mountain is you, prince, and the snow is me, the humble one. I must leave this life before you.” In memory of the miraculous vision, according to supporters of this version, Ivan Kalita built the Peter and Paul Church in its place, around which a monastery soon grew.

Initially, the monastery was wooden, and in 1514 the Italian architect Aleviz the New built the first stone church in the name of St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, and a wooden church in honor of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, which was dismantled later. At the beginning of the 17th century, the territory of the monastery was surrounded by a stone wall. In 1671, the area of ​​the monastery was doubled due to the Naryshkin estate, and from 1690 to 1694 the Bogolyubsky Church was built, on the site of the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Sergievskaya Church with a refectory and connected to it by a gallery-porch, the Brotherhood Building with the Naryshkin Chambers; the gateway Church of the Intercession with a two-tier bell tower and the abbot's chambers connected to it by a passage; as well as a service building. The temple territory also included two wooden almshouses located on the corner of Petrovka and Petrovsky Boulevard. The layout of the monastery in the 80-90s of the 17th century included a northern (front) courtyard and a southern (utility) courtyard. In the center of the northern courtyard was the Cathedral of St. Peter, on the northern side of it the Bogolyubsky Church was located symmetrically, and on the south - the St. Sergius Church. In 1744-1750, the Church of the Tolga Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built between the bell tower and the Brotherhood building. In 1753-1755, in the southwestern corner of the southern courtyard, a church was built in the name of St. Pachomius the Great, later reconsecrated into the Church of Peter and Paul. In 1808, the gallery-porch and the passage connecting the porch of the St. Sergius Church with the galleries of the Fraternal Corps were dismantled. In 1890, the Cell Corps was added to the Brotherhood Corps. In 1952, restoration of the monastery ensemble began. Now the monastery is active.

Cathedral of Metropolitan Peter

In the name of St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, a church was consecrated in the city of Pereslavl-Zalessky, Yaroslavl region. In the patriarchal salary books, the Petro-Metropolitan Church is mentioned for the first time in 1654. The church was restored in the 1880s under the leadership of V.V. Suslov. By 1885, the outer walls were plastered smooth and painted a gloomy, deep purple color.

Church in the name of St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, in Pereslavl-Zalessky

In 1988, the church was in disrepair. In 1991, the church was returned to the Russian Orthodox Church. Currently, the restoration of the church has been stopped. Sometimes services are held in the church.

Peter: a male name of ancient Greek origin.

Translated as “rock”, “stone” (Πέτρος - stone)

Peter's name day:

6 September - transfer of the relics of St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, Wonderworker

October 18 - memory of Saints Peter, Alexy, Jonah, Philip and Hermogenes, wonderworkers of Moscow and all Russia.

January 3 - Day of Remembrance of St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, Wonderworker.

Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, Wonderworker (second half of the 13th century - 1326)

Saint Peter is the first Moscow metropolitan, with whose name many historians associate the beginning of the unification of the Russian principalities around Moscow and their consolidation into a single state. He was born into a pious Christian family in the Galicia-Volyn region.

At the age of seven he went to study at a monastery school, but at first he was not given a letter. The boy took it very hard and prayed a lot to God. According to the life, after some time a man in the robes of a bishop appeared to him in a dream. He touched his tongue, after which the boy felt an incredible sweetness in his mouth. After a wonderful dream, Peter quickly caught up with his peers - reading and writing began to come so easily to him.

After finishing school, he decided to retire to a monastery. Having passed all the tests required of a monk, he was ordained to the rank of hieromonk. It is known that at the monastery the saint especially fell in love with the art of icon painting - he achieved a lot in this path. Feeling the need for solitude, Peter spent many years Later he took the blessing of the abbot and left the monastery. He began to lead a hermit's life. On the banks of the Rata River he built himself a small cell. Gradually, a monastery was formed around it, where Peter was elected abbot.

After the death of Metropolitan Maxim of Kyiv, the Russian Church was led by Saint Peter.

At that time, Kyiv, once considered the first among all Russian cities, became increasingly empty. The city ceased to be perceived as the main political center. It was immediately replaced by two principalities competing with each other, Tver and Moscow. In addition, after Batu’s invasion of Rus' (1237–1240), almost all the princes found themselves in the position of vassals of the Golden Horde. The feudal lord who had the greatest economic and political power also had to “like” the Mongol ruler in order to receive from him a special document, a “golden label” confirming his dominant status. This often provoked serious clashes between princes: on the way to power, any means were used - from corruption and slander to direct military aggression. And the Golden Horde took advantage of this - they deftly pitted the Russian princes against each other.

Only the Church acted as a reconciliator. Saint Peter, having become a metropolitan, constantly traveled throughout Rus', calling on the princes for unity, acting as a diplomat in difficult negotiations.

The Principality of Moscow at that time was the safest place. The saint himself, needing a place for solitary prayer, built a monastery in honor of the apostles Peter and Paul in the village of Vysokoye, on the banks of the Neglinnaya River. Thus began the centuries-old history of the Vysoko-Petrovsky Monastery.

In 1326, Saint Peter decided to transfer the metropolitan see to Moscow. From that moment on, the Moscow principality not only gained political superiority over Tver, but also became the main spiritual center of the Russian lands.

By the will of the saint, Ivan Kalita began the construction of a stone church in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Later the temple became the tomb of the Primates of the Russian Church. The first among them was St. Peter himself who was buried there. Already 13 years after his death, he was canonized. Subsequently, Saint Peter was so revered that the Moscow First Hierarchs were elected at his tomb, and he was called as a witness when drawing up the most important state treaties.

Famous people and saints named Peter

Saints named Peter:

Apostle Peter (1st century)

Before his calling, he bore the name Simon and was engaged in fishing. He was the first to confess the Lord as the Messiah (whom the Old Testament righteous expected), for which the Savior called him Cephas (in Aramaic this means “stone”, and in Greek “stone” - “petros”): on the “stone” of his faith Christ promised to create Your Church. After the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, he traveled widely throughout the Roman Empire, preaching the Gospel everywhere, creating the first Christian communities. was executed in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero.

Hieromartyr Peter (Polyansky), Metropolitan of Krutitsky (1862–1937) -

faithful companion. He was confirmed as Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne after the death of the saint. continued his uncompromising opposition to the Renovationist split, for which he was arrested. Constant interrogations, prisons, and exile began. The harsh conditions of exile soon provoked asthma in the saint, and later partial paralysis. In 1937 he was sentenced to death and executed.

Famous people named Peter:

Pierre Abelard (1079–1142) -

medieval scholastic philosopher and poet. He wrote one of the main scholastic treatises “Sic et Non” (“Yes and No”), and was engaged in literary and musical creativity. A tragic love story for a beautiful girl, Heloise, ruined his scientific career. As a simple monk, he was forced to retire to one of the monasteries, where he spent the rest of his life editing his works.

Pyotr Mamonov (born in 1951) -

Photo by Pavel Smertin

actor, poet and musician, founder of the Sounds of Mu group, worked for a long time as a typesetter in a printing house, proofreader and head of the letters department at the Pioneer magazine. In the 1990s, he began to get involved in acting. He received his first important role in Pavel Lungin’s film “Taxi Blues”. In the early 2000s he converted to Orthodoxy, and in 2006 he played the main role in the famous film “The Island”.

Interesting Facts:

1. Petrovka is one of the main and oldest streets in Moscow. It runs from Teatralnaya Square to Sredny Karetny Lane. Your name Petrovka received the direction to which it led.

2. - one of four special periods in the Orthodox Church, when believers abstain from eating dairy and meat products. The fast was appointed in honor of the people who, according to legend, imposed a similar restriction on food on themselves when they were preparing to preach the Gospel.

3. The name Peter is one of the most common in the world. The English equivalent of this name is Peter, German - Peter, French - Pierre, Spanish - Pedro, Italian - Pietro, Pierrot.

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Among the large number of saints, there are those whom Russians especially reverence. These include Peter of Moscow. It is believed that he is the patron saint of the capital of Russia and the entire territory of the country. Many interesting facts are connected with the years of the saint’s life, as well as after it.

The life of St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, is based on the information that has come to us from all sorts of handwritten sources. His birth dates back to 1260 in the family of the boyar Theodore and Eupraxia in Volyn. Just before the birth of his mother, there was a vision about his belonging to the Lord. Her dream was that in her arms there was a lamb, which between its horns had a tree with flowers and leaves. Candles were burning between them and a fragrance was emanating.

When the boy was 7 years old, he was sent to learn to read and write. But it was very difficult for him. From birth he was speechless and tongue-tied. Father and mother constantly asked the Lord to help solve the problem and their requests were heard. After being given the gift of knowledge, he significantly surpassed all his peers in the study of Scripture.

From the age of 12, he began to actively show interest in the life of a monk, so he entered a monastery in Volyn. He considers John Climacus his mentor and leader, whose sacred texts and recommendations he follows. He was always the first to arrive at work and the last to leave. I never stood leaning against the wall during it. Due to his zealous attitude towards religion, he was initially awarded the rank of deacon, and then the priesthood.

Icon painting was considered one of his talents. Some Orthodox images of his hand have survived to this day. After some time, Peter asked for a blessing and retired to a deserted place near a tributary of the Bug, where he later founded a temple in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord. A little later, he founded the Novodvorskaya monastery. After the death of the then Metropolitan, Peter was given the rank not only of Galicia, but of all Rus'.

At the beginning of the 14th century, a petition was sent to him from John Kalita. He advised moving the metropolitan see to Moscow from Vladimir. He died in the 20s while conducting an evening service. Many miracles occurred even after he passed into another world.

What do they pray to the Metropolitan of Moscow for?

There is a lot of information that when asking before the icon of St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, even the most daring requests can be accomplished. Those who expressed their requests noted special assistance in solving health problems. But besides this, you can ask him about:

• getting rid of troubles and illnesses;
• solving everyday problem situations;
• finding a way out in difficult situations and choices, etc.

Saying prayers in front of his holy face can relieve not only physical discomfort from an illness, but also improve your mental state in many ways and gain balance.

Holy relics

During the transfer of the relics of St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, there were many nobility and other clergy in the church. At that moment, one of the non-believers began to say that it was inappropriate to give such honors to the deceased. But before he finished thinking about it, he was able to see Peter sitting on his bed, blessing the people on both sides. He himself bore witness to this incident. In 1339 he was canonized.

There are many references to the fact that a large number of sovereign affairs could not be accomplished without prayer to him. At his grave the naming and election of Russian High Hierarchs took place.

The relics are still kept in the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin to this day. There are also some of them in the Veliko-Petrovsky Monastery in Moscow. It is also important that the spirit of the saint appeared to the wife of Ivan the Terrible and forbade her to open her coffin. After that, it was sealed and forbidden to anyone to open it. There are also certain days of remembrance. They fall on:

• January 3;
• 6 September;
• October 18;
• October 23.

Temple in honor of the saint

Among the most famous buildings of this saint is the Church of Peter the Metropolitan of Moscow in St. Petersburg. It’s not difficult to find it at the intersection of Romenskaya and Dnepropetrovskaya streets. It belongs to the St. Petersburg Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. It was built in 1911-1912 on the territory of the Holy Trinity Tvorozhkovsky Convent.

For a long time after the revolutions, the monastery was buried, and all valuables were removed from it. Then the buildings were transferred to the plant, and the structures were dismantled, the buildings were rebuilt, and the interior was destroyed. And only in 1994 it was returned to the complex of the diocese's courtyard. Since then, reconstruction work has been underway there to return it to its previous condition. Thanks to the donations of caring people and parishioners, the goal is gradually being achieved. You can find more information about it online on the parish website.

Prayers to the holy metropolitan

Remember that regardless of whether you turn with prayer to Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, or simply in your own words, it is important that they come from a pure heart. Only sincere requests from the bottom of your heart can work miracles.

“O great saint, glorious miracle worker, First Throne of the Russian Church, guardian of the city of Moscow and zealous prayer book for all of us, Our Father Peter! We humbly fall to you and pray: stretch out your hands to the Lord God and pray for us, sinners and unworthy servants of His, that He may add to us His mercy and send down to us all that is useful for our temporary life and eternal salvation, the gifts of His goodness, and especially may He protect us with peace, brotherly love, piety from all the temptations of the enemy the devil and grants us to be your faithful child, not only by name, but also by all our life. We pray to you, Saint of Christ, to preserve through your heavenly intercession the city of Moscow and its people. Hey, servant of God! Hear us kindly and be a helper and intercessor to all of us in all troubles and misfortunes, do not forget us even at the hour of our death, when we most especially require your intercession, so that with the help of the prayers of your saints, we, sinners, will be honored to receive a good death and the Kingdom of Heaven to inherit, gloriously wondrous in His saints, our God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen."

If it’s difficult for you to remember, then write it on a piece of paper and read it. If you follow all the recommendations, it will help cure a large number of all kinds of ailments.

Troparion

Another strong text is the troparion to St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow.

Troparion, tone 4:
The formerly barren earth, now rejoice: behold, Christ is a lamp in you, shining in the world, and healing our ailments and illnesses. For his sake, rejoice and rejoice with boldness: for the saint is the work of this Most High.

Another troparion, tone 8:
Rejoice in the brightest city of Moscow, having within you Bishop Peter like the dawn of the sun, illuminating all Russia with miracles: for he heals that infirmity, and drives away ailments like darkness from those who cry out to him: Rejoice, hierarch of the Most High God, through you he does good for your flock.

Kontakion, tone 8:
To the chosen and wondrous wonderworker of our land, today we flow to you with love, weaving a god-bearing song: for having boldness in the Lord, deliver us from manifold circumstances, so that we call to you: Rejoice in the establishment of our city.

But we should not forget that the gift of God’s grace will descend upon us if we do not forget that it is worth not only constantly asking for something, but also thanking higher powers for what we already have.

God bless you!

You will also be interested in watching a video story about Holy Metropolitan Peter of Moscow: