Heavenly patrons
Since the first regular troops appeared in our country, a good tradition has arisen for the Orthodox soldiers to have their heavenly patrons. In pre-revolutionary Russia, everyone who wore a military uniform was, of course, considered to be his patron Archangel Michael. But the air fleet, for example, still especially honored Elijah the Prophet. The patrons of the cavalry were the saints Flor and Laurus. And St. George the Victorious patron of the Cossacks. In all military units built temples in the name of the beloved saints. In today's Russian army, this bright tradition has not been forgotten either. Almost every kind or type of force has its own heavenly protector. Here are some of them.
The main patron of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Ground Forces is the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious
He was born in the middle of 270 in Cappadocia (a region in Asia Minor), into a very rich and noble Christian family. His father was killed when George was still a baby. Mother, who owned the estates in Palestine, moved with her son to their homeland, where she raised him. When the boy grew up, he entered the service in the Roman army. The young man excelled everyone with intelligence, courage, physical strength and quickly became the most visible warrior in his cohort (legion division, about 1000 people). Already in 24, he was appointed commander of the elite cohort of invictors (which means invincible in Latin). In the war with Persia 296 – 297, George repeatedly showed courage and was included in the number of komitov - close to the emperor. In modern times, he is a member of the military council of the armed forces, a representative of the supreme headquarters.
In 303, the emperor Dilektian began to persecute Christians, and his first blow was directed at the army, where there were a large number of them. He thought it would be easy to break the rest if the resistance of the military overcomes. His plan did not work in full force. Many warriors decided to leave the service and become ordinary citizens, just to not renounce their faith in Christ. But there were those who openly objected. George distributed the property to the poor and publicly declared before the emperor himself a Christian. He was arrested and tortured.
For eight days, George was subjected to the most sophisticated torture. But it was all in vain. Every morning there was no trace of a wound. In perplexity and horror, the guards peered at him and made sure that a miracle actually occurred.
George suffered all the torment and did not deny Christ. The night before the death penalty, the Savior appeared to him in a dream and said that he was awaited by paradise. The next morning, calmly and courageously, the former warrior bowed his head under the sword. It was April 23 303.
St. George could become a talented commander and surprise the world with military exploits. He passed away when he was not 30 years old.
Many may wonder why in the iconography St. George is depicted on horseback, killing a snake? This is one of the most famous posthumous miracles performed by the saints. According to legend, a monster appeared in the lake, on the bank of which the city stood — not a serpent, not a dragon. Attempts to beat him with weapons In the hands of no result. Then the inhabitants, being pagans, decided to sacrifice the royal daughter to the beast. At the moment when the girl was to be eaten, George came to the earth from the heavens on a horse and pierced the serpent with a spear, having saved the princess from death. The phenomenon of the saint contributed to the conversion of local residents to Christianity.
This legend is often interpreted allegorically: the princess is a church, the serpent is paganism. It is also seen as a victory over the devil - the "ancient serpent."
Patron of the Airborne Forces - the prophet Elijah
2 August marks the birthday of the Russian Airborne Forces. The same day is the day of the prophet Elijah, liturgies are held in his honor and a procession is held.
The holy prophet Elijah - one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament - was born in Fesviya Gilead in 900 BC. The name given to the baby Elijah (the fortress of the Lord) defined his whole life.
From an early age he dedicated himself to God. He lived in the desert, observing a strict fasting and prayers. At that time, the people of Israel worshiped pagan idols, which led to complete moral decay. Seeing the death of his people, the prophet Elijah began to convict King Ahab of iniquity, urging him to repent and turn to faith in one God. The king did not listen to him. Then the prophet Elijah declared to him that, in the punishment of three years, there would be neither rain nor dew on the earth and the drought would end only through his prayer. And indeed, drought and famine came throughout the land.
After three years, the prophet Elijah ordered all the people of Israel to gather on Mount Carmel. When the people gathered, he proposed to build two altars: one from the priests, the other from the prophet Elijah to serve the true God. “To which of them the fire falls from heaven will be an indication of whose God is true,” said the prophet Elijah, “and everyone will have to worship Him.”
Through the prayer of the prophet fire came down from heaven and burned the sacrifice, firewood, stones and even water, and then the sky opened up and heavy rain fell, which filled the thirsty land. Seeing what happened, millions of people have drawn conclusions.
Later, for his fiery jealousy about the glory of God, the prophet Elijah was taken to heaven alive in a fiery chariot, as the icon-painting tradition portrays him. According to legend, the prophet Elijah will be the forerunner of the terrible second coming of Christ to earth and during the sermon will take bodily death.
Saint Nicholas the Miracle Worker - patron of the Navy fleet
Saint Nicholas was born in Patara, in the Lycian region (now Turkey). As a young man, he was elevated to the priesthood. Serving the Lord, the young man burned with spirit, and with experience in matters of faith was like an old man, which aroused surprise and deep respect for believers. Constantly working and awake, being in constant prayer, Priest Nicholas showed great mercy, coming to the aid of the suffering, and distributed all his wealth to the poor.
The miraculous gift of Nicholas opened when he sailed on a ship pilgrim to the Holy Land. He warned the crew of the impending storm and revived the sailor who fell from the mast.
Going to worship the holy places in Jerusalem, on the way Nicholas predicted the approaching storm, threatening the ship with drowning, for he saw the devil himself entering the ship.
He performed many other miracles. Through the prayers of the saint, the city of Mira was saved from severe hunger. Not once did the saint save those drowning in the sea, taking them out of captivity and imprisonment in prison.
Having reached old age, St. Nicholas died peacefully in 345.
He is particularly revered in Russia as a quick assistant in the most seemingly hopeless and intractable problems - and spiritual, and everyday. It is difficult to imagine a ship under the Russian flag, on which there would be no icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Patroness of the Strategic Missile Forces - Holy Great Martyr Barbara
The memory of the Great Martyr Barbara, a saint who died for Christ in the 4th century, is celebrated on December 17. On this day in 1995, the President of Russia signed a decree establishing the Strategic Missile Forces Day. In the same year, having visited the General Staff of the Strategic Missile Forces in Vlasiha, His Holiness the Patriarch handed over to the rocket men the icon of St. Great Martyr Barbara. Her image is now on every command center of all Russian missile divisions.
The Holy Great Martyr Barbara lived with her father in the city of Iliopole, Phoenician, in the reign of Emperor Maximilian. She lost her mother early. Widowed, the father focused all his attention on the education of his only daughter. In every way protecting her from communicating with unwanted people, he placed her in the tower. Only teachers and servants had access to it.
Once, when her father was not at home, Barbara left the tower and met Christian girls, who told her about Jesus Christ and his teachings. The desire to be a Christian burned in the girl's heart. She was baptized.
When he returned and found out about his daughter’s actions, her father severely beat her, and then betrayed the persecutors of Christians into the hands of the authorities. They scoffed at her for a long time, forcing her to renounce her faith, but she did not yield. According to legend, at night in prison, the unspeakable light shone, and the Lord himself came to the suffering great martyr, healed her wounds and comforted her with the hope of bliss in the kingdom of heaven.
The next day, the execution of Barbara committed her father. This happened around 306 of the year. In the deathbed prayer, the Holy Great Martyr Barbara asked the Lord to deliver all those who resorted to her help; from unintended misfortunes, from sudden death without repentance, and would pour out my grace on them. In response, she heard a voice from heaven, promising to fulfill what she asked. Immediately after the burial, miraculous healings began at her relics.
The patron saint of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia is Prince Vladimir, Equal to the Apostles.
Prince Vladimir was born in 963 year. In 972, he began to rule Novgorod. In the 980 year, having won the brother of Yaropolk in the war, he conquered Kiev. Later he conquered Galicia, humbled Vyatichi, fought with the Pechenegs, spread the limits of his power from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Bug River in the south. He had five wives and numerous concubines. On the Kiev mountains, he installed the idols, which began to make human sacrifices. Then the Vikings Theodore and John died for Christ. The circumstances of their death made Vladimir doubt the truth of the pagan faith.
At the invitation of the prince, preachers from different countries came to Kiev: ambassadors from Bulgarian Bulgarians living beyond the Volga, Germans-Latins, Jews and Greeks. The prince asked about their faith, and each offered him his own. But the most powerful impression was made by the Orthodox Byzantine preacher, who in conclusion of his conversation showed him a picture of a terrible trial.
Vladimir was baptized himself, and later offered to do this to his twelve sons. They were baptized in one source known in Kiev under the name of Khreshchatyk. Many nobles followed them, a little later, and all the inhabitants.
After Kiev and its environs, the Orthodox faith was implanted in Novgorod, Suzdal, Rostov and further everywhere. Under her influence, Slavic tribes began to unite into a single state.
The era of St. Vladimir was a key period for the state formation of Orthodox Russia. The unification of the Slavic lands and the formulation of the state borders of the powers of Rurikovich took place in a tense spiritual and political struggle with the neighboring tribes and states. The baptism of Russia from Orthodox Byzantium was the most important step of its state self-determination.
Prince Vladimir firmly restrained enemies at the frontiers, built cities, fortresses. They built the first in Russian stories “Barred line” is a line of defensive points against nomads.
Prince Vladimir, who the people called the Red Sun, died on July 15 1015 of the year. He ruled the Russian state for thirty-seven years.
The patron of the border service of the FSB of Russia is the Monk Ilya of Murom
Reliable information about the life of the Monk Ilia of Murom of Pechersk has been preserved to our time very little.
It is believed that he was born about 1143 year in the village of Karacharovo near Murom in the Vladimir region in the family of a peasant. Folk tradition identified him with the famous warrior Ilya Muromets, about whom there were numerous epics.
From childhood to 30 years, Ilya was paralyzed, and then miraculously healed him from three prophetic elders - poor pilgrims, who predicted that "his death in battle was not written." Taking the parental blessing, Ilya for many years was in the squad of the Kiev Prince Vladimir Monomakh. There was "the first bogatyr in Kiev", who did not know defeat.
Ilya Muromets became famous for his numerous military exploits and unprecedented power, which he used only to fight the enemies of the Fatherland, protect the Russian people and restore justice. But offense was then to endure from anyone: in the steppes there was a scourge of paganism (the Pechenegs were called this way), nightingales and robbers chose the forests, from the Khazar side they were threatened with the “bloody Jew”.
All the legends testify to the truly Christian humility and meekness of Ilya Muromets, stately peace and peace of the soul: “I am a simple Russian hero, a peasant son. ... My wealth is the heroic power, my business is to serve Russia, to defend it from its enemies. ”
Having received an incurable wound in the chest in one of the battles with the Polovtsi and obeying his heart’s call, Ilya took monastic vows at the Kiev-Pechersk Uspensky Monastery. At that time many warriors did this, replacing the sword with an iron sword with a spiritual one.
Elijah Muromets died near 1188, about 45, the year of his life.
The main patron of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Ground Forces is the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious
He was born in the middle of 270 in Cappadocia (a region in Asia Minor), into a very rich and noble Christian family. His father was killed when George was still a baby. Mother, who owned the estates in Palestine, moved with her son to their homeland, where she raised him. When the boy grew up, he entered the service in the Roman army. The young man excelled everyone with intelligence, courage, physical strength and quickly became the most visible warrior in his cohort (legion division, about 1000 people). Already in 24, he was appointed commander of the elite cohort of invictors (which means invincible in Latin). In the war with Persia 296 – 297, George repeatedly showed courage and was included in the number of komitov - close to the emperor. In modern times, he is a member of the military council of the armed forces, a representative of the supreme headquarters.
In 303, the emperor Dilektian began to persecute Christians, and his first blow was directed at the army, where there were a large number of them. He thought it would be easy to break the rest if the resistance of the military overcomes. His plan did not work in full force. Many warriors decided to leave the service and become ordinary citizens, just to not renounce their faith in Christ. But there were those who openly objected. George distributed the property to the poor and publicly declared before the emperor himself a Christian. He was arrested and tortured.
For eight days, George was subjected to the most sophisticated torture. But it was all in vain. Every morning there was no trace of a wound. In perplexity and horror, the guards peered at him and made sure that a miracle actually occurred.
George suffered all the torment and did not deny Christ. The night before the death penalty, the Savior appeared to him in a dream and said that he was awaited by paradise. The next morning, calmly and courageously, the former warrior bowed his head under the sword. It was April 23 303.
St. George could become a talented commander and surprise the world with military exploits. He passed away when he was not 30 years old.
Many may wonder why in the iconography St. George is depicted on horseback, killing a snake? This is one of the most famous posthumous miracles performed by the saints. According to legend, a monster appeared in the lake, on the bank of which the city stood — not a serpent, not a dragon. Attempts to beat him with weapons In the hands of no result. Then the inhabitants, being pagans, decided to sacrifice the royal daughter to the beast. At the moment when the girl was to be eaten, George came to the earth from the heavens on a horse and pierced the serpent with a spear, having saved the princess from death. The phenomenon of the saint contributed to the conversion of local residents to Christianity.
This legend is often interpreted allegorically: the princess is a church, the serpent is paganism. It is also seen as a victory over the devil - the "ancient serpent."
Patron of the Airborne Forces - the prophet Elijah
2 August marks the birthday of the Russian Airborne Forces. The same day is the day of the prophet Elijah, liturgies are held in his honor and a procession is held.
The holy prophet Elijah - one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament - was born in Fesviya Gilead in 900 BC. The name given to the baby Elijah (the fortress of the Lord) defined his whole life.
From an early age he dedicated himself to God. He lived in the desert, observing a strict fasting and prayers. At that time, the people of Israel worshiped pagan idols, which led to complete moral decay. Seeing the death of his people, the prophet Elijah began to convict King Ahab of iniquity, urging him to repent and turn to faith in one God. The king did not listen to him. Then the prophet Elijah declared to him that, in the punishment of three years, there would be neither rain nor dew on the earth and the drought would end only through his prayer. And indeed, drought and famine came throughout the land.
After three years, the prophet Elijah ordered all the people of Israel to gather on Mount Carmel. When the people gathered, he proposed to build two altars: one from the priests, the other from the prophet Elijah to serve the true God. “To which of them the fire falls from heaven will be an indication of whose God is true,” said the prophet Elijah, “and everyone will have to worship Him.”
Through the prayer of the prophet fire came down from heaven and burned the sacrifice, firewood, stones and even water, and then the sky opened up and heavy rain fell, which filled the thirsty land. Seeing what happened, millions of people have drawn conclusions.
Later, for his fiery jealousy about the glory of God, the prophet Elijah was taken to heaven alive in a fiery chariot, as the icon-painting tradition portrays him. According to legend, the prophet Elijah will be the forerunner of the terrible second coming of Christ to earth and during the sermon will take bodily death.
Saint Nicholas the Miracle Worker - patron of the Navy fleet
Saint Nicholas was born in Patara, in the Lycian region (now Turkey). As a young man, he was elevated to the priesthood. Serving the Lord, the young man burned with spirit, and with experience in matters of faith was like an old man, which aroused surprise and deep respect for believers. Constantly working and awake, being in constant prayer, Priest Nicholas showed great mercy, coming to the aid of the suffering, and distributed all his wealth to the poor.
The miraculous gift of Nicholas opened when he sailed on a ship pilgrim to the Holy Land. He warned the crew of the impending storm and revived the sailor who fell from the mast.
Going to worship the holy places in Jerusalem, on the way Nicholas predicted the approaching storm, threatening the ship with drowning, for he saw the devil himself entering the ship.
He performed many other miracles. Through the prayers of the saint, the city of Mira was saved from severe hunger. Not once did the saint save those drowning in the sea, taking them out of captivity and imprisonment in prison.
Having reached old age, St. Nicholas died peacefully in 345.
He is particularly revered in Russia as a quick assistant in the most seemingly hopeless and intractable problems - and spiritual, and everyday. It is difficult to imagine a ship under the Russian flag, on which there would be no icon of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Patroness of the Strategic Missile Forces - Holy Great Martyr Barbara
The memory of the Great Martyr Barbara, a saint who died for Christ in the 4th century, is celebrated on December 17. On this day in 1995, the President of Russia signed a decree establishing the Strategic Missile Forces Day. In the same year, having visited the General Staff of the Strategic Missile Forces in Vlasiha, His Holiness the Patriarch handed over to the rocket men the icon of St. Great Martyr Barbara. Her image is now on every command center of all Russian missile divisions.
The Holy Great Martyr Barbara lived with her father in the city of Iliopole, Phoenician, in the reign of Emperor Maximilian. She lost her mother early. Widowed, the father focused all his attention on the education of his only daughter. In every way protecting her from communicating with unwanted people, he placed her in the tower. Only teachers and servants had access to it.
Once, when her father was not at home, Barbara left the tower and met Christian girls, who told her about Jesus Christ and his teachings. The desire to be a Christian burned in the girl's heart. She was baptized.
When he returned and found out about his daughter’s actions, her father severely beat her, and then betrayed the persecutors of Christians into the hands of the authorities. They scoffed at her for a long time, forcing her to renounce her faith, but she did not yield. According to legend, at night in prison, the unspeakable light shone, and the Lord himself came to the suffering great martyr, healed her wounds and comforted her with the hope of bliss in the kingdom of heaven.
The next day, the execution of Barbara committed her father. This happened around 306 of the year. In the deathbed prayer, the Holy Great Martyr Barbara asked the Lord to deliver all those who resorted to her help; from unintended misfortunes, from sudden death without repentance, and would pour out my grace on them. In response, she heard a voice from heaven, promising to fulfill what she asked. Immediately after the burial, miraculous healings began at her relics.
The patron saint of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia is Prince Vladimir, Equal to the Apostles.
Prince Vladimir was born in 963 year. In 972, he began to rule Novgorod. In the 980 year, having won the brother of Yaropolk in the war, he conquered Kiev. Later he conquered Galicia, humbled Vyatichi, fought with the Pechenegs, spread the limits of his power from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Bug River in the south. He had five wives and numerous concubines. On the Kiev mountains, he installed the idols, which began to make human sacrifices. Then the Vikings Theodore and John died for Christ. The circumstances of their death made Vladimir doubt the truth of the pagan faith.
At the invitation of the prince, preachers from different countries came to Kiev: ambassadors from Bulgarian Bulgarians living beyond the Volga, Germans-Latins, Jews and Greeks. The prince asked about their faith, and each offered him his own. But the most powerful impression was made by the Orthodox Byzantine preacher, who in conclusion of his conversation showed him a picture of a terrible trial.
Vladimir was baptized himself, and later offered to do this to his twelve sons. They were baptized in one source known in Kiev under the name of Khreshchatyk. Many nobles followed them, a little later, and all the inhabitants.
After Kiev and its environs, the Orthodox faith was implanted in Novgorod, Suzdal, Rostov and further everywhere. Under her influence, Slavic tribes began to unite into a single state.
The era of St. Vladimir was a key period for the state formation of Orthodox Russia. The unification of the Slavic lands and the formulation of the state borders of the powers of Rurikovich took place in a tense spiritual and political struggle with the neighboring tribes and states. The baptism of Russia from Orthodox Byzantium was the most important step of its state self-determination.
Prince Vladimir firmly restrained enemies at the frontiers, built cities, fortresses. They built the first in Russian stories “Barred line” is a line of defensive points against nomads.
Prince Vladimir, who the people called the Red Sun, died on July 15 1015 of the year. He ruled the Russian state for thirty-seven years.
The patron of the border service of the FSB of Russia is the Monk Ilya of Murom
Reliable information about the life of the Monk Ilia of Murom of Pechersk has been preserved to our time very little.
It is believed that he was born about 1143 year in the village of Karacharovo near Murom in the Vladimir region in the family of a peasant. Folk tradition identified him with the famous warrior Ilya Muromets, about whom there were numerous epics.
From childhood to 30 years, Ilya was paralyzed, and then miraculously healed him from three prophetic elders - poor pilgrims, who predicted that "his death in battle was not written." Taking the parental blessing, Ilya for many years was in the squad of the Kiev Prince Vladimir Monomakh. There was "the first bogatyr in Kiev", who did not know defeat.
Ilya Muromets became famous for his numerous military exploits and unprecedented power, which he used only to fight the enemies of the Fatherland, protect the Russian people and restore justice. But offense was then to endure from anyone: in the steppes there was a scourge of paganism (the Pechenegs were called this way), nightingales and robbers chose the forests, from the Khazar side they were threatened with the “bloody Jew”.
All the legends testify to the truly Christian humility and meekness of Ilya Muromets, stately peace and peace of the soul: “I am a simple Russian hero, a peasant son. ... My wealth is the heroic power, my business is to serve Russia, to defend it from its enemies. ”
Having received an incurable wound in the chest in one of the battles with the Polovtsi and obeying his heart’s call, Ilya took monastic vows at the Kiev-Pechersk Uspensky Monastery. At that time many warriors did this, replacing the sword with an iron sword with a spiritual one.
Elijah Muromets died near 1188, about 45, the year of his life.
Information