Dionysius, Archbishop of Suzdal, Saint (1385)

Dionysius of Suzdal
(+ 1385), Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia, Saint Memory of June 26, October 15, in the Cathedrals of Vladimir, Kiev, Kostroma, Nizhny Novgorod and Radonezh saints

In the world, David was born in the Kiev region at the beginning of the 14th century. From an early age he devoted himself to the exploits of monastic life in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

Out of love for solitude, with the blessing of the abbot, Dionysius retired to the north of Russia. On the banks of the Volga, below Nizhny Novgorod, the saint dug himself a cave and settled in it. At first he lived here alone as a hermit, and then, when seekers of silence gathered to him, around 1335, he founded a monastery. With his extensive knowledge of the rules of faith and strict ascetic life, he gained universal respect. Contemporaries saw in him “ a meek, prudent man, knowledgeable of the Holy Scriptures, a teacher, glorious in fasting and filled with love for everyone.”

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The Monk Euthymius of Suzdal and the Monk Macarius of Zheltovodsk were brought up under his leadership.

In 1352, he sent 12 people from his brethren to the “ upper cities and countries where God will bless whom”

"for the spiritual enlightenment of the people and the founding of new monasteries.

The monastery of St. Dionysius had a high beneficial influence on the residents of Nizhny Novgorod. In 1371, the saint tonsured the forty-year-old widow of Prince Andrei Konstantinovich into monasticism, following whose example many “ Bolyars” took monasticism: wives, widows, and girls

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The princes of Nizhny Novgorod valued his wise advice and instructions, and the Monk Dionysius was personally known to the All-Russian metropolitans.

On February 11, 1374, on the first Sunday of Great Lent (“on Zbor”), he was ordained bishop of Judgment, and Novugorod Nizhny, and Gorodets by Metropolitan Alexy, who personally knew him.

[1].

The years of his priestly service fall at a significant time - Rus' was rising to throw off the Tatar yoke. On March 31, 1375, the Tatar military leader, captured by the residents of Nizhny Novgorod, found himself in the bishop's courtyard and fired an arrow at Saint Dionysius. But the Lord protected His chosen one - the arrow only hit the bishop’s robe. In 1377, with the blessing and, possibly, under the editorship of St. Dionysius, the monk Lavrentiy compiled the famous Laurentian Chronicle, which inspired Rus' in the liberation struggle.

The saint was a zealous fighter for the purity of Orthodoxy. He did a lot in the fight against the Strigolnik heresy.

After the death of St. Alexy, the Venerable Sergius of Radonezh instructed Grand Duke Dimitri Ivanovich Donskoy to elect St. Dionysius to the metropolis. But the Grand Duke wanted to see his favorite, the court priest Mityai (Mikhail), as the metropolitan in Moscow.

In 1379, protecting the honor of the primate see, Saint Dionysius, one of all the bishops gathered in Moscow at the order of the prince, opposed the election of the prince’s protege, the notorious Archimandrite Mitya, as metropolitan. St. Dionysius threatened to tear the tablets from his mantle with his own hands, that is, to deprive him of his rank.

Regarding this discord and for the sake of other church affairs, St. Dionysius planned a trip to Constantinople, to the patriarch. The Grand Duke, at the request of his favorite, decided to prevent this trip and put Dionysius in captivity. Released at the request of St. Sergius of Radonezh and given his bail, St. Dionysius nevertheless fled to Constantinople in the same 1379, despite his promise not to do so. By this, as the chronicler puts it, he caused himself “reproach and indignation,” and his holy guarantor - a lot of troubles and troubles.

The saint made a strong impression on the Greeks with his high spiritual disposition and deep knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. Patriarch Neil, calling the saint “ truly God and a spiritual man”

“, he wrote that he himself saw his “
fasting and almsgiving, and vigil, and prayers, and tears, and all other good things
.” Patriarch Nil honored Saint Dionysius with the rank of archbishop. From Constantinople, Saint Dionysius sent two copies of the Hodegetria icon of the Mother of God and many relics of saints for the cathedrals of Suzdal and Nizhny Novgorod. From the patriarch he brought a letter against the Novgorod Strigolniks and was in Novgorod on the case of these heretics. In 1382 he was already in Suzdal and Nizhny.

Since Dimitry Donskoy was dissatisfied with Metropolitan Pimen, who acquired the rank from the patriarch by deception, after the sudden death of Mityai, now he wanted to see Saint Dionysius as metropolitan in Moscow and for this purpose sent him to Constantinople.

There is reason to believe that Dionysius’s trip was connected with the conclusion of the Moscow-Lithuanian agreement in 1383, according to which the Lithuanian Grand Duke Vladislav (Yagailo) pledged to convert to Orthodoxy and marry the daughter of the Grand Duke Dimitri Donskoy. Obviously, in connection with this agreement, a decision was made to eliminate the division of the Kyiv Metropolis established in 1375 into the Moscow part, which was ruled by Metropolitan Pimen, and the Lithuanian part, headed by Metropolitan Cyprian. It was assumed that Dionysius was to head the reunited all-Russian metropolis.

In 1384, Saint Dionysius was installed by Patriarch Nile as “Metropolitan of Rus'.” But, upon returning to Kyiv, the saint was captured by order of the Kyiv prince Vladimir (Vasily) Olgerdovich, since by this time Jagiello had broken the agreement with Demetrius Donskoy, and the agreement on the occupation of the metropolitan see by Dionysius had also lost force. The Lithuanian princes were dissatisfied that the Prince of Moscow expelled Cyprian from Moscow, who, at the insistence of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Olgerd, was appointed metropolitan of all Rus'. Dionysius was accused of going to Constantinople “without the orders” of the Lithuanian princes [2] and was imprisoned, in which he died on October 15, 1385.

The saint was buried in the Anthony Caves of the Kiev Pechersk Monastery. On June 26, the memory of Saint Dionysius is celebrated for the sake of his namesake with the Monk David of Thessalonica, whose name he bore in the world. In the Synodikon of 1552 of the Nizhny Novgorod Pechersk Monastery, Saint Dionysius is called the “venerable wonderworker.” Mentioned in song 9 of the canon of the Kiev-Pechersk venerable hieromonk Meletius Sirig from 1643.

Troparion

To the zealot of Orthodoxy, to the teacher of piety, / to those seeking salvation, good pilot, / to the monastics, God-inspired adornment, / to the God-bearing Euthymius, interlocutor, to Saint Dionysius, / you have enlightened your fatherland with your teachings and virtues, / do not forget us, who honor you, / but rule our life in peace.

Saint Dionysius, Archbishop of Suzdal

Kontakion 1

Chosen by the miracle-working and wonderful hierarch, the great saint of Christ, Father Dionysius, our city and country, exuding generosity and mercy, we praise you with love, your child, but you, who have boldness towards the Lord, are free from all our troubles, and we call to you:

Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Father Dionysius, bright adornment of the Russian land.

Ikos 1

The Creator of angels and all creation, the Creator of the manifestation of His Church, the saint, and teacher, and intercessor of the Holy Rus', who has the boldness to pray to Him for deliverance from all evils, troubles and sorrows. We, believers, having learned, sing to you:

Rejoice, having filled your heart with filial love for the Lord; Rejoice, you who have shown perfect love for Christ.

Rejoice, talent given by God, not hidden in the earth; Rejoice, you who poured it out for the salvation of human souls.

Rejoice, in heaven with spiritual eyes I will contemplate the Lord; Rejoice, you who took up the cross and followed Christ.

Rejoice, having received rewards in heaven from God; Rejoice, you do not despise the prayers and songs of those who call upon you.

Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Father Dionysius, bright adornment of the Russian land.

Kontakion 2

Seeing that you have been given speed from the Lord, Reverend Father Dionysius, the grace to give quick help and consolation to all who flow to you with faith, imams for such a merciful and quick helper, we glorify the Almighty God, singing to Him: Alleluia!

Ikos 2

Having acquired the godly mind and having seen the vanity of this world, Reverend Father Dionysius, thinking about heavenly things and seeking a fasting life, you tried to complete the course of this life in a cramped and sorrowful way. We, conquering through love, cry out to you:

Rejoice, unfading vine of Christ; Rejoice, beautiful village of flowers of humility.

Rejoice, wonderful praise of the monastics; Rejoice, guiding star of fasting people.

Rejoice, most radiant beauty of monks; Rejoice, rule of pious faith.

Rejoice, glorious height of saints; Rejoice, unquenchable lamp of the oil of wisdom.

Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Father Dionysius, bright adornment of the Russian land.

Kontakion 3

By humility and fasting and unceasing prayer, having firmly taken up arms against the passions of the flesh, you have enslaved your flesh and spirit to Saint Dionysius, and for this reason you now stand with the faces of the Angels at the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity, singing: Alleluia!

Ikos 3

In the desert, in the desert, you settled, Reverend Father Dionysius, a monastery was established by God's will, and in it you worked day and night in reverence and truth for God. We, glorifying the Lord God, cry out to you:

Rejoice, you founded a wonderful monastery on the banks of the Volga; Rejoice, you have gathered many monks in it.

Rejoice, spiritually growing Saints Euthymius and Macarius; Rejoice, you showed them the image of monastic life.

Rejoice, you who sent twelve monks to preach the Gospel; Rejoice, you sent them to the countries and cities above.

Rejoice, having dedicated Princess Vasilisa into an angelic image; Rejoice, you who taught me the rules of the monastic community.

Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Father Dionysius, bright adornment of the Russian land.

Kontakion 4

Thou hast appeared, the God-bearing star of the whole country, O Reverend Father Dionysius, being an image to all in word, life, love, quietness, meekness and humility; In the same way, we, seeing your virtues, sing to God: Alleluia!

Ikos 4

The grace of God arose in you abundantly, O holy hierarch Father Dionysius, revealing you as a lamp of the Russian land: while you were abbot of the Pechersk monastery, you took care of your verbal sheep, entrusted to you by God, day and night. We, looking at your venerable labors, cry out to you:

Rejoice, non-lazy imitator father of the ancients; Rejoice, humble comforter of those overwhelmed by sorrows.

Rejoice, quick to hear those who mourn; Rejoice, merciful healer of heart wounds.

Rejoice, wise organizer of the monastic deanery; Rejoice, brothers, compassionate and patient teacher.

Rejoice, strict accuser of the obstinate and careless; Rejoice, good representative of those who repent before God.

Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Father Dionysius, bright adornment of the Russian land.

Kontakion 5

Seeing you truly, Father Dionysius, a strong ascetic and indefatigable prayer book, Saint Alexy almost became the episcopal rank, and installed an archpastor for the city of Suzdal and Nizhny Novugrad; We, mentally looking at your wonderful deeds and labors, cry out to God who chose you: Alleluia!

Ikos 5

Seeing the Lover of Mankind, the Lord of your virtuous life, may the lamp not be hidden under a bushel, but may it shine for everyone on the top of the mountain, may all people glorify the Heavenly Father, bringing you out of the desert monastery and installing you as the bishop of Nizhny Novgorod and Suzdal. We, who honor your works, cry out to you with emotion:

Rejoice, zealous confessor of the truths of Christ; Rejoice, courageous defender from the heresy of the Strigolniks.

Rejoice, teacher of the monastic community; Rejoice, wise ruler of the sheep.

Rejoice, zealous preacher of the word of God; Rejoice, irresistible champion of church rules.

Rejoice, companion and interlocutor of St. Sergius; Rejoice, you who cry before God for a reliable intercessor.

Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Father Dionysius, bright adornment of the Russian land.

Kontakion 6

Inflamed by another zeal, you stood up to those who walk unjustly, even though you would deign to place an unworthy person on the metropolitan throne and dishonestly give a wolf as a shepherd to the sheep, who piously glorify Christ, singing to Him: Alleluia!

Ikos 6

In the city of the first throne, you were called to a council and there, alone from all the bishops, you resisted the prince’s command, protecting the honor of the Moscow Metropolis, rebelling against the prince’s protege and forbidding him to ascend to the high priest’s see. We, seeing your jealousy, cry out to you:

Rejoice, for you were a zealous executor of the ancient canon; Rejoice, for you jealously guarded the honor of the Metropolis.

Rejoice, you have convicted the prince with the wisdom of your words; Rejoice, for you did not allow the wisdom of man into the Church.

Rejoice, for you remained not afraid of the prince’s wrath; Rejoice, for you were the only one who fearlessly stood up to everyone.

Rejoice, you have shown zeal in your obedience to the Church; Rejoice, for thou art a disgrace to the evil intentions of the devil.

Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Father Dionysius, bright adornment of the Russian land.

Kontakion 7

Today let us all praise the great Saint Dionysius and honor the intercessor and establishment of the Russian land, the guardian of the Suzdal region, Pskov and Novugrad from the false teachings of the protector, the heresy of the Strigolniks, the zealous eradicator, and thus we cry out to God: Alleluia!

Ikos 7

Hearing your great virtue, seeing your skillful knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and your diligent performer by Tradition, Patriarch Nil prepared you to be the heresy of the Strigolnik eradicator. We, marveling at the power of God revealed in you, cry out with gratitude:

Rejoice, guardian of Pskov and Novagrad from false teaching; Rejoice, undaunted exterminator of the Strigolnik heresy.

Rejoice, in the unceasing labors of the saint's zealot; Rejoice, good guardian of the flock of Christ from heresy.

Rejoice, impartial zealot of truth; Rejoice, tireless servant in the labors of teaching.

Rejoice, defender of godless and wicked lips; Rejoice, mentor and teacher who repent of false wisdom.

Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Father Dionysius, bright adornment of the Russian land.

Kontakion 8

Seeing the Lord your virtuous life, love for Scripture and Sacred Tradition, apostolic zeal for Christ, many prayers, unhypocritical fasting and all-generous alms, all-perfect love for your neighbors, exalt you like the cedar of Lebanon; We, seeing your glory, sing to God: Alleluia!

Ikos 8

Seeing you, the Patriarch of the city of Constantine in the Holy Scriptures diligently learned the work of fasting, prayer and alms performer, laid baptismal vestments on you and elevated you to the rank of archbishop. We, marveling at your life, cry out to you with emotion:

Rejoice, the law of God inscribed on the tablets of the heart; Rejoice, you who have adorned your life with tears.

Rejoice, thou who has pleased God with alms; Rejoice, unhypocritical acquisitive fast.

Rejoice, thou who hast been worthy of unceasing prayer from God; Rejoice, thou art skilled in the Holy Scriptures.

Rejoice, having become like an Angel by your vigil; Rejoice, and you have been honored with other good things from God.

Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Father Dionysius, bright adornment of the Russian land.

Kontakion 9

The preacher, not just in word, but also in deed, appeared to the teachings of Christ, to the holy hierarch Father Dionysius, as a good shepherd, you laid down your soul for the sheep of Christ and taught you all with love for salvation, giving everyone a way of life according to God and teaching everyone to cry out to God: Alleluia !

Ikos 9

When you labored pastorally, Saint Dionysius, to enlighten the people of Suzdal and Nizhny Novgorod with the faith of Christ, the grace of the Lord was poured out in many of your deeds, leading the lost sheep to the knowledge of Christ. We, remembering your labors and exploits, call to you:

Rejoice, thou who was well-willed to write off the times and years of memorable deeds; Rejoice, you who blessed the monk Lawrence for writing the chronicle.

Rejoice, thou hast written off the punished icon of Mother of God Matera Hodegetria; Rejoice, you will deliver them to Suzdal and Nizhny Novgrad as commanded.

Rejoice, you were willing to bring the ark with the Passion of Christ from Constantinople; Rejoice, thou who art spiritually adorning the land of Nizhny Novgorod.

Rejoice, you who sent Malachi the Philosopher to Rus' for enlightenment; Rejoice, exposing the darkness of the superstitious wisdom of Strigolnik.

Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Father Dionysius, bright adornment of the Russian land.

Kontakion 10

Having confirmed the Orthodox canons, you came to Constantinople with Saint Theodore and there you surprised you with all your virtues. You were installed as Patriarch Nil, Metropolitan of the Russian land, and in Kyiv you endured many sorrows and imprisonments; We, glorifying God, sing to Him: Alleluia!

Ikos 10

In Constantine, the city you were appointed to the Russian Metropolis, you soon reached the great city of Kyiv and, having been humbly received from the prince of imprisonment there, in prison you honestly betrayed your holy soul to the Lord. We, looking at you and enlightening you, dare to say:

Rejoice, for you were appointed Metropolitan of Rus' by Patriarch Nile; Rejoice, as you have been honored with the rank of high priest.

Rejoice, for you suffered imprisonment from the prince; Rejoice, you have accepted all sorrow as if from God.

Rejoice, for you met the hour of death peacefully and joyfully; Rejoice, for you gave up your soul in humility.

Rejoice, as you were buried in the cave of the great Anthony; Rejoice, even after your death you did not leave us.

Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Father Dionysius, bright adornment of the Russian land.

Kontakion 11

We honor Dionysius with grace from God, wondrous in the saints with our hearts and lips: who will count your works, prayers and fasts, O saint? We strive to imitate you in every possible way and cry out favorably to God: Alleluia!

Ikos 11

Your life shines with light-giving rays, Holy Hierarch Father Dionysius; Fulfilling the gospel covenants, you bore the cross on your shoulders behind Christ without a murmur. In the same way we say:

Rejoice, faithful servant of the Most Holy Trinity; Rejoice, zealous admirer of the Mother of God.

Rejoice, fellow servant of the Angels of God; Rejoice, jealous of the holy prophets.

Rejoice, imitator of the apostles of the Lord; Rejoice, competitor of the martyrs of Christ.

Rejoice, zealous saints and equals; Rejoice, co-representative father of the venerables.

Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Father Dionysius, bright adornment of the Russian land.

Kontakion 12

The grace given to you from God, knowingly, we flow to your intercession, Holy Hierarch Father Dionysius, earnestly praying to you. Do not leave us, your children, in your holy prayers, so that at the end of our earthly life with you we will sing to God: Alleluia!

Ikos 12

Saint Dionysius, the light-receiving lamp of the true light who exists on earth, enlightens the hearts of the faithful and instructs everything in the Divine mind, teaching us to joyfully cry out to you:

Rejoice, most luminous, illuminating Church; Rejoice, star, enlightening the Russian land.

Rejoice, dawn, dispelling the darkness of passions and sins; Rejoice, lightning, terrifying of heretics.

Rejoice, ray that strengthens those who struggle in monasticism; Rejoice, O light, who instructs in the labors of piety.

Rejoice, lamp, enlightening inheritance of Nizhny Novgorod; Rejoice, shining light, illuminating the Suzdal region.

Rejoice, Holy Hierarch Father Dionysius, bright adornment of the Russian land.

Kontakion 13

O most wonderful and glorious saint, Father Dionysius, accept from us, the unworthy, this song of praise, pour out your warm prayers for us and beg the Lord, who loves mankind, not to destroy us with our iniquities, but to turn us to repentance and correction, and for the rest of our earthly life not in working against sin and passion, but in doing His holy commandments and in piety; You and I cry out to Him: Alleluia!

(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)

Prayer

O Saint Father Dionysius, you weigh the weakness of our nature and the sorrow of these times, pour out your warm prayers for us and beg the Lord, the Lover of Mankind, not to destroy us with our iniquities, but to turn us to repentance and correction, so that the rest of our earthly life is not in work sin and passions, but we accompany Him in doing His holy commandments and in piety. Do not despise or disgrace our hope, but be a steadfast intercessor to God for us, may he preserve us from worldly temptations, from the devil’s snares and from carnal lusts, may he grant us unflagging patience in battle. At the hour of death, appear to us, Father, an invincible intercessor, then hasten us to prayer for us, helpless, and help us to achieve a peaceful and good end, the terrible ordeal of the air without a moment’s obstacle and to enter into the Heavenly Heavenly Jerusalem. O all-blessed our father Dionysius, grant us to follow, according to our strength, your holy life! For through the all-merciful intercession of our Most Blessed Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary and your holy prayers, the Most Blessed Christ our God will grant us heirs of the existence of His Heavenly Kingdom, glorifying and magnifying Him together with His Beginning Father and the Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and forever centuries. Amen.

Excerpt characterizing Dionysius (Metropolitan of Kiev)

The main action of the Battle of Borodino took place in the space of a thousand fathoms between Borodin and Bagration’s flushes. (Outside this space, on the one hand, the Russians made a demonstration by Uvarov's cavalry in mid-day; on the other hand, behind Utitsa, there was a clash between Poniatowski and Tuchkov; but these were two separate and weak actions in comparison with what happened in the middle of the battlefield. ) On the field between Borodin and the flushes, near the forest, in an area open and visible from both sides, the main action of the battle took place, in the most simple, ingenuous way. The battle began with a cannonade from both sides from several hundred guns. Then, when the smoke covered the entire field, in this smoke two divisions moved (from the French side) on the right, Dessay and Compana, on fléches, and on the left the regiments of the Viceroy to Borodino. From the Shevardinsky redoubt, on which Napoleon stood, the flashes were at a distance of a mile, and Borodino was more than two miles away in a straight line, and therefore Napoleon could not see what was happening there, especially since the smoke, merging with the fog, hid all terrain. The soldiers of Dessay's division, aimed at the flushes, were visible only until they descended under the ravine that separated them from the flushes. As soon as they descended into the ravine, the smoke of cannon and rifle shots on the flashes became so thick that it covered the entire rise of that side of the ravine. Something black flashed through the smoke - probably people, and sometimes the shine of bayonets. But whether they were moving or standing, whether they were French or Russian, could not be seen from the Shevardinsky redoubt. The sun rose brightly and slanted its rays straight into the face of Napoleon, who was looking from under his hand at the flushes. Smoke lay in front of the flushes, and sometimes it seemed that the smoke was moving, sometimes it seemed that the troops were moving. People's screams could sometimes be heard behind the shots, but it was impossible to know what they were doing there. Napoleon, standing on the mound, looked into the chimney, and through the small circle of the chimney he saw smoke and people, sometimes his own, sometimes Russians; but where what he saw was, he did not know when he looked again with his simple eye. He stepped off the mound and began to walk back and forth in front of him. From time to time he stopped, listened to the shots and peered into the battlefield. Not only from the place below where he stood, not only from the mound on which some of his generals now stood, but also from the very flashes on which were now together and alternately the Russians, the French, the dead, the wounded and the living, frightened or distraught soldiers, it was impossible to understand what was happening in this place. For several hours at this place, amid incessant shooting, rifle and cannon fire, first Russians, sometimes French, sometimes infantry, sometimes cavalry soldiers appeared; appeared, fell, shot, collided, not knowing what to do with each other, screamed and ran back. From the battlefield, his sent adjutants and orderlies of his marshals constantly jumped to Napoleon with reports on the progress of the case; but all these reports were false: both because in the heat of battle it is impossible to say what is happening at a given moment, and because many adjutants did not reach the real place of the battle, but conveyed what they heard from others; and also because while the adjutant was driving through the two or three miles that separated him from Napoleon, circumstances changed and the news he was carrying was already becoming incorrect. So an adjutant galloped up from the Viceroy with the news that Borodino had been occupied and the bridge to Kolocha was in the hands of the French. The adjutant asked Napoleon if he would order the troops to move? Napoleon ordered to line up on the other side and wait; but not only while Napoleon was giving this order, but even when the adjutant had just left Borodino, the bridge had already been recaptured and burned by the Russians, in the very battle in which Pierre took part at the very beginning of the battle. An adjutant who rode up from a flush with a pale, frightened face reported to Napoleon that the attack had been repulsed and that Compan was wounded and Davout was killed, and meanwhile the flushes were occupied by another part of the troops, while the adjutant was told that the French had been repulsed and Davout was alive and only slightly shell-shocked. Taking into account such necessarily false reports, Napoleon made his orders, which either had already been carried out before he made them, or could not and were not carried out. Marshals and generals, who were at a closer distance from the battlefield, but just like Napoleon, did not participate in the battle itself and only occasionally drove into the fire of bullets, without asking Napoleon, made their orders and gave their orders about where and where to shoot, and where to gallop on horseback, and where to run to foot soldiers. But even their orders, just like Napoleon’s orders, were also carried out to the smallest extent and were rarely carried out. For the most part, what came out was the opposite of what they ordered. The soldiers, who were ordered to go forward, were hit by grapeshot and ran back; the soldiers, who were ordered to stand still, suddenly, seeing the Russians suddenly appearing opposite them, sometimes ran back, sometimes rushed forward, and the cavalry galloped without orders to catch up with the fleeing Russians. So, two regiments of cavalry galloped through the Semenovsky ravine and just drove up the mountain, turned around and galloped back at full speed. The infantry soldiers moved in the same way, sometimes running completely different from where they were told. All the orders about where and when to move the guns, when to send foot soldiers to shoot, when to send horse soldiers to trample Russian foot soldiers - all these orders were made by the closest unit commanders who were in the ranks, without even asking Ney, Davout and Murat, not only Napoleon. They were not afraid of punishment for failure to fulfill an order or for an unauthorized order, because in battle it concerns what is most dear to a person - his own life, and sometimes it seems that salvation lies in running back, sometimes in running forward, and these people acted in accordance with the mood of the moment who were in the heat of battle. In essence, all these movements back and forth did not facilitate or change the position of the troops. All their attacks and attacks on each other caused them almost no harm, but harm, death and injury were caused by cannonballs and bullets flying everywhere throughout the space through which these people rushed. As soon as these people left the space through which cannonballs and bullets were flying, their superiors standing behind them immediately formed them, subjected them to discipline and, under the influence of this discipline, brought them back into the area of ​​​​fire, in which they again (under the influence of the fear of death) lost discipline and rushed about according to the random mood of the crowd. Napoleon's generals - Davout, Ney and Murat, who were in the vicinity of this area of ​​​​fire and even sometimes drove into it, several times brought slender and huge masses of troops into this area of ​​​​fire. But contrary to what had invariably happened in all previous battles, instead of the expected news of the enemy’s flight, orderly masses of troops returned from there in upset, frightened crowds. They arranged them again, but there were fewer and fewer people. At midday, Murat sent his adjutant to Napoleon demanding reinforcements.