Blessed Demetrius of Uglich and Moscow, Tsarevich

Dimitri Ioannovich of Uglich, Moscow
(1582 - 1591), prince, saint, passion-bearer Memory May 15 on the day of death, June 3 on the day of transfer of relics, October 19 on the birthday, in the Cathedrals of Moscow and Rostov-Yaroslavl saints

Born on October 19, 1582, the son of Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich the Terrible and his seventh (fifth married) wife Maria Feodorovna Nagaya.

After the death of his father and the accession of Theodore Ioannovich to the throne, Demetrius, together with his mother and her relatives, Nagimi, by the decision of “all the most important people,” that is, the closest advisers and guardians of the young king, was sent to live in Uglich. As one might guess, this was done out of fear that Demetrius’s relatives would not take advantage of his name and presence in Moscow to create unrest aimed at overthrowing the feeble-minded Fyodor and proclaiming Demetrius king. But even living in Uglich, Dimitri seemed dangerous, if not for Theodore, then for Boris Godunov, a power-hungry boyar who had great influence on Tsar Theodore. There were rumors that young Dimitri had inherited his father’s cruel temper, that the Nagiye were raising him to hate Godunov; Boris could seriously fear for the future.

The chronicle legend [1] tells that Godunov planned to eliminate a dangerous rival from his path; first he tried to poison Demetrius; when this failed, he sent assassins to Uglich - Mikhail Bityagovsky with his son Danila and nephew Nikita Kachalov. On May 15, 1591, the last two, together with the son of Dimitri’s mother, Osip Volokhov, stabbed the prince to death in the courtyard of the royal palace and were subsequently torn to pieces by the people who had come running.

Tsarevich Dimitri was buried in Uglich, in the palace church in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
Many miracles and healings began to take place at his tomb, especially those with eyes that were sick were often healed. The investigation, which was appointed to be carried out by the okolnichy Andrei Kleshnin and the boyar Prince. Vasily Shuisky, presented the fact of Dmitry’s death in a different light: as if he, while playing “poke,” was captured by an epileptic fit and during it he accidentally stumbled upon a knife. This result of the investigation led to severe punishment of Nagikh and the Uglich people as guilty of rebellion and arbitrariness; the first were sent into captivity in distant cities, many of the second were executed, and most were exiled to Siberia, where the city of Pelym was populated with them.

Numerous contradictions and the obvious bias of the investigative case [2] make us treat his testimony with great distrust. Among historians to this day there are different views on the death of Demetrius. Miller [3], Shcherbatov [4], Karamzin [5], Rev. Filaret [6], Soloviev [7] and Kostomarov [8] recognize the authenticity of the chronicle story about the murder of the prince and consider Godunov to be the culprit. On the contrary, Pogodin [9], Artsybashev [10] and E. Belov [11] deny Godunov’s guilt and accept the testimony of the investigative case.

With the end of the Moscow Danilovich dynasty through the childless death of Tsar Feodor, the name of Demetrius, assumed by impostors, served as the reason for the beginning of the Time of Troubles (see False Dmitry). Vasily Shuisky, having ascended the throne and wanting to solemnly prove the impostor of the first False Dmitry, ordered the transfer of Dmitry’s body from Uglich to Moscow in order to “stop the lips of the liar and blind the eyes of the unbeliever to those who say that the living one will escape (the prince) from the murderous hands.”

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On July 3, 1606, the holy relics of the passion-bearer Tsarevich Dimitri were found incorrupt. The holy relics were solemnly transferred and placed in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, “in the chapel of John the Baptist, where his father and brothers were.”

. After numerous miraculous healings from holy relics, in the same year 1606, “I organized a celebration for Tsarevich Demetrius three times a year - birth (October 19), murder (May 15), transfer of the relics to Moscow (June 3).”

In 1997, the Moscow Patriarchate, together with the Russian Children's Fund, established the Order of the Holy Blessed Tsarevich Demetrius. It is awarded to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the care and protection of suffering children: the disabled, orphans and street children.

To holy places. Saint Demetrius of Uglich

We will go to the place of the martyrdom of Tsarevich Demetrius, learn about the history of the veneration of the saint in Uglich, and also visit the church where his venerable relics now reside.
In addition, we will see a temple associated with the memory of St. Demetrius, as well as with one of the outstanding hierarchs of the Church of the twentieth century - Metropolitan Nicodemus (Rotov). Sunset over the river - like coals

Someone dropped it from the sky onto the water.

And ancient Uglich looks into the water

With a dark red toy church.

...But the game was not on the pipe:

The boyars stood in a crowd at the porch.

“Show me, prince, the necklace...”

And across the throat - with a swoop - with sharp steel...

The poet Vladislav Krapivin dedicated this poem to all the innocent boys killed. The main character of the work is the last of the reigning Rurik dynasty, Saint Demetrius of Uglich, who was stabbed to death in 1591. This Church of Demetrius on Blood was built on the site of a brutal murder in 1692, a hundred years after the terrible crime. The temple is located on the banks of the Volga in the northeastern part of the Uglich Kremlin. Here, in the Kremlin, the boy lived with his mother Maria Naga, the wife of Tsar Ivan the Terrible.

Antonina (Zlotnikova), abbess of the Epiphany Monastery:

“She was exiled to the city of Uglich with her child and was tonsured a monk in our monastery. It was not, I think, of her own free will that she was tonsured, but precisely on the 40th day of the martyrdom of her child.

On Saturday, when Dimitri was walking with his nurse in the yard, assassins were sent and brutally stabbed the prince to death. An eight-year-old child became a victim of a struggle for the throne. In the Russian Church, the day of his memory is celebrated as the day of the heavenly intercessor of all suffering children. Every year on May 28, a crowded procession of the cross takes place in Uglich, in which cadets, students of Orthodox gymnasiums and Sunday schools take part. Tsarevich Dimitri was buried in Uglich in the palace church in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord, and on July 3, 1606, the holy relics of the passion-bearer prince were found, and then it was decided to transfer them to Moscow.

In front of us is the temple of Demetrius “on the field”; This is an old Uglich church. There is a legend that when the relics of Tsarevich Dimitri were transferred from Uglich to Moscow, the procession set off first along the Moscow road, but at the exit from the city the carriers with the relics suddenly stopped, and they could not be moved from their place. Because of this, they decided that the Tsarevich’s killers were walking along the Moscow road to the city to commit their terrible crime, and then the procession began to walk along another road, Rostov. At the exit from the city, the procession stopped again so that the townspeople could say goodbye to the prince, and at this place, during the Divine Liturgy, a trickle of blood spilled onto the ground from the coffin where the relics of Demetrius were located. The shrine was carefully collected by the clergy; it was placed along with the earth in a silver shrine. Soon a chapel was built on the holy place, and in 1693 a stone temple appeared here. Another hundred years later they began to build this church, which was popularly called: the Church of Demetrius “on the field.” Inside, paintings from 1836 have been preserved. And, most importantly, since its consecration the temple has never been closed, remaining the only operating temple in Uglich during the Soviet period.

Word from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus':

“The temple did not close; services were held in it during the most difficult years of our church history, when visiting the temple was dangerous, when many were afraid and found themselves unable to cross the threshold of the temple. But those who walked filled this place with their fervent prayer, and this prayer radiates from the walls; you feel that it was here that a special feat of faith was accomplished in the most difficult years of our lives.

And in 1950, the future Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod Nikodim (Rotov), ​​an outstanding theologian and hierarch of the Church, who revived Russian monasticism on Holy Mount Athos, became the rector of this temple.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus':

“It is a great joy and great excitement for me to come into contact with the walls in which my spiritual mentor, Metropolitan Nikodim, served. He served here, as far as my memory serves, from 1950 to 1952, but, communicating with us, then very young people, he said that the years of his stay in Uglich were the best years of his life. I now understand why he said that. Having seen Uglich, looking at this beauty, which conveys to us the greatness of the past and the beauty of the Heavenly Church, you really realize that this place can never be erased from the heart and forgotten.

And Vladyka never forgot Uglich, he came here even when he was already Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod, a permanent member of the Synod; contact with the shrines of Uglich always gave him great spiritual strength. As Bishop Nikodim said, we must make the most of the opportunities that exist for church activity. After all, even at that time it was possible not to squeeze, you could treat your service casually, treat your parishioners formally, come to church, leave, receive a salary... Vladyka Nikodim did not serve like that. Wherever he was, he gave his all and made the most of the opportunities that existed for strengthening church life. These were very slim possibilities. And all the more magnificent is the feat of people like the late Bishop Metropolitan Nikodim.

The monument to Tsarevich Dimitri was erected three years ago near the walls of the palace of the appanage princes on the territory of the Uglich Kremlin. The basis for the monument to the prince was the image that Mikhail Nesterov created in his painting in 1899; this work is called “Tsarevich Dmitry the Murdered”. The saint is the heavenly patron of the city, and Uglich is imbued with the memory of him: even on the coat of arms there is an image of a boy. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' proposed making Uglich an All-Russian center for children's Orthodoxy.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus':

– This is one of the most ancient cities of Rus', which was marked by many glorious pages of its history, including a tragic page - the death of the last Rurikovich, Tsarevich Dimitri. And everything here has been preserved. And this visible image of the city testifies not only to the unsinkability of the Russian Church and the faith of Christ, but also to the fact that even when faith is destroyed, hope for its resurrection always remains. And present-day Uglich is an example of this resurrection. One can imagine the state of the city in those difficult 30s–60s and even subsequent years, and today we see this spiritual beauty expressed in wonderful works of human art. All these pictures have a lot to teach us. First, they must teach us that the words of God are indisputable truth; let us remember that faith will always live. The winner is not the one who is a coward and abandons the faith of his fathers and betrays the values ​​of his people. And the winner will be the one who, together with his fathers, grandfathers and ancestors, will stand in a single formation, preserving the faith and spiritual strength of himself and his own people.

During the Patriotic War of 1812, the holy relics of the blessed Tsarevich Dimitri were saved from desecration by the priest of the Moscow Ascension Convent. Father took them out of the Archangel Cathedral under his clothes and hid them in the Ascension Monastery. After the expulsion of the French, the holy relics were solemnly transferred to their original place in the Archangel Cathedral. And now the holy relics of Tsarevich Dimitri reside in the Archangel Cathedral of the Kremlin; they were transferred from Uglich to Moscow more than 400 years ago and installed next to the tomb of the great princes and Russian tsars. As it was said in an ancient charter of the 17th century, “in the chapel of John the Baptist, where his father and brothers are.”

Author and presenter of the program Nadezhda Kalinina

Recorded by Elena Churina

Blessed Demetrius of Uglich and Moscow, Tsarevich

Kontakion 1.

To the chosen passion-bearer and wonderful miracle worker, the heavenly patron of the city of Uglich, the glorious and faithful prince Tsarevich Dimitri, let us praise, for the sake of truth, like Abel, who suffered from the enemy, wonderful fertilization of the Russian land.
But you, who have boldness in the Lord, free us from all troubles, and let us call to you: Rejoice, holy passion-bearer to Prince Tsarevich Dimitri.

Ikos 1.

Of angels and men, the Creator and Lord reveal your immaculate soul and angelic disposition from the holy font of your Baptism, passion-bearing prince Tsarevich Dimitri; You escaped the usual vanities and temptations of this world, you were a stranger to stumblings and falls, praying with a pure heart to the One All-Good God, who looks mercifully on the meek and with peaceful. For this reason, we honor you, as a prayer-book of warmth and a miracle worker, and falling to your most honest icon, we tenderly call to you:

Rejoice, holy vegetation of the city of Moscow. Rejoice, kindred of the royal branch. Rejoice, born of your father, the namesake's grace, and your betrothed mother's mother. Rejoice, unceasing amusement of your Guardian Angel. Rejoice, unbreakable affirmation of the city of Uglich. Rejoice, praise and glory to the youth. Rejoice, thou whitened in innocence and purity. Rejoice, stained with your honest blood. Rejoice, radiant lamp of the Church of Christ. Rejoice, meek teacher of all those who are saved.

Rejoice, holy passion-bearer to Prince Tsarevich Dimitri.

Kontakion 2.

Seeing the Lord God that your soul is pure, He desires that you should be a sanctified vessel of the Holy Spirit, dwelling in your immaculate heart and with unutterable groans, who taught you favorably sing to the Most Holy Trinity: Alleluia.

Ikos 2.

Having a mind darkened by malice, I am your enemy, Tsarevich Dimitri, who cannot bear to see you in the city of Moscow, sending you away with your mother to the city of Uglich. We celebrate you by singing this:

Rejoice, innocent exile. Rejoice, heir to the Kingdom of Heaven. Rejoice, in your youth you were a zealous bearer of your cross. Rejoice, thou who graciously lifted the yoke of Christ and His burden. Rejoice, in your suffering wonderful valor was revealed. Rejoice, you bear the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ on your body. Rejoice, the city of Uglich and the whole country are under strong protection. Rejoice, bright praise and affirmation to the Holy Orthodox Church.

Rejoice, holy passion-bearer to Prince Tsarevich Dimitri.

Kontakion 3.

The power of the Most High truly guards you, Saint Demetrius, when your enemies attack you with poison and want to kill you; But you, even if you drank mortal things, you remained without harm, O all-honoured one, with your pure lips you sang to God who saved you: Alleluia.

Ikos 3.

Having purity of heart from your youth, you were alien to the worldly joys of youths; For this reason, Provider God, look with your all-seeing eye on all creation, fill your soul with grace. Glorifying His good providence for you, we earnestly appeal to you:

Rejoice, imitator of the humble and grace-filled adolescence of Christ. Rejoice, worthy repository of God’s grace. Rejoice, your peer is an example of good behavior. Rejoice, you who do not accept the temptation of worldly pleasures. Rejoice, O child of grace, who has acquired the spirit of the fear of God. Rejoice, you who are not involved in the evils of life. Rejoice, you who have been consoled by heavenly pleasure for your earthly deprivation. Rejoice, for the needs of time you have been granted the abundance of eternal, endless joy.

Rejoice, holy passion-bearer to Prince Tsarevich Dimitri.

Kontakion 4.

Looking for relief from the storms of everyday sorrows, blessed Mary, your mother, Tsarevich Dimitri, praying with a strong cry and crying out to the Lord: “Remove us, Lord, from wicked men and from Deliver us from unrighteous men." Moreover, in the sorrow of her heart, she cried out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 4.

Hearing and seeing the people of the city of Uglich your equal angelic life, blessed Tsarevich Demetrius, I greatly honor you as God’s chosen one, and continually honor you with such singing :

Rejoice, our beloved prince. Rejoice, there is affirmation in our good faith. Rejoice, for you have infused Christ into your innocent soul. Rejoice, illuminated by the rays of the Holy Spirit. Rejoice, imitator of the mercy of Christ. Rejoice, refuge and nourisher for widows and orphans. Rejoice, our heavenly patron child and youth. Rejoice, and to all who honor you, zealous in prayer to God.

Rejoice, holy passion-bearer to Prince Tsarevich Dimitri.

Kontakion 5.

We dare to liken you, the passion-bearing Prince Demetrius, to the godly star that adorns the church sky, who are wandering in the darkness of wickedness and lawlessness, the path of salvation pointing both to the paths of truth and instructing the people of God in piety, diligently to the Lord, the Creator of all, who incessantly cry: Alleluia.

Ikos 5.

We see you, most faithful to Tsarevich Demetrius, similar to your namesake, Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessalonica: just as he was gored by spears, so you are from your servants, like a lamb without ripening You were slain with a knife. We, with fear remembering your martyrdom, cry out to you:

Rejoice, innocent sufferer. Rejoice, victim of lawless lust for power. Rejoice, thou stained with the blood of the royal diadem. Rejoice, for you have received the cross in your hand instead of a scepter. Rejoice, for instead of the earthly kingdom, you have received the Heavenly Kingdom. Rejoice, as the age of the tarnished, as the class was immature, you repented. Rejoice, you who sanctified the land of Uglich with your blood. Rejoice, as you always triumph with the martyrs and with all the saints. Rejoice, holy passion-bearer to Prince Tsarevich Dimitri.

Kontakion 6.

The preacher of your innocent murder has appeared at your grave, passion-bearing Prince Demetrius, who has kept your body incorruptible for fifty years; Moreover, to this day, pious people, falling before the body of your multi-healing relics, gratefully sing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 6.

Your memory shines like the sun, more passionate than Tsarevich Dimitri, and glory flows like a river in the Russian land, telling how not after many times the present life has been seen and tarred With age you accepted the cruel, innocent death; Like a lamb that is not wicked, you have nothing against your servant and murderer. For this reason, we cry out to you with tenderness:

Rejoice, you who endured the innocent slaughter. Rejoice, for your blood, like Abel’s, cries out from the earth to Christ God. Rejoice, precious bead, preserved in the heavenly treasury of Christ. Rejoice, you who combined the diadem of earthly reign with the crown of martyrdom. Rejoice, source of grace-filled healings. Rejoice, reservoir of great gifts. Rejoice, for God is marvelous to you in His Saints. Rejoice, for through you the name of Christ is piously glorified.

Rejoice, holy passion-bearer to Prince Tsarevich Dimitri.

Kontakion 7.

Although the Lord is saving the Russian, there is a good hesitation in the earth to the earth, the well -being of Tsarovich Dimytri, from the evil and the ill -sided human, lying and thy and your own and your own and your own and the imminent; By your intercession and prayers God will destroy them and subdue their fierce hesitation. We cry out to the Lord in praise of this: Alleluia.

Ikos 7.

A new enemy has appeared in the Russian land after your death, the passion-bearing Tsarevich Dimitri, who first bore the monastic image on himself, after which he removed it from himself, and put on this name your life, and there will be a king; God, for the sake of your prayers, destroy this to the end. The people of Russia, having got rid of the evil ones, are grateful to your cry:

Rejoice, vigilant intercessor of the Russian lands. Rejoice, warm prayer book for her salvation. Rejoice, our consolation and consolation in sorrows. Rejoice, correction of those who sin and healing of those who are ill. Rejoice, our timely help in adversity. Rejoice, anticipate the requests of those who call on you in trouble. Rejoice, citizens of Heavenly Jerusalem. Rejoice, heir to the kingdom of Christ.

Rejoice, holy passion-bearer to Prince Tsarevich Dimitri.

Kontakion 8.

Having seen your strange worldly life, let us also withdraw from this vanity, and turn our minds to heaven, we cry out to you: O, more passion-bearing Tsarevich Dimitri! Assuage illnesses and exude grace-filled healing to everyone, be diligent for your help to those who flow and cry out to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 8.

Lord rule over all above and below, show the passion-bearing Tsarevich Demetrius, our ever-present helper and strong defender from enemies, visible and invisible, who teaches us Imitate you in purity and gentleness, so that you may direct our hearts to humility, repentance and unflagging fulfillment of the commandments of Christ. We cry out to you:

Rejoice, you have brought sinners to correction. Rejoice, healing world of many different ailments. Rejoice, our strong and vigilant guardian. Rejoice, you are a great healer not only of physical illnesses, but also of mental illnesses. Rejoice, in your honorable icons and relics abide with us. Rejoice, having fulfilled the word of God on yourself: the Lord guards all their bones. Rejoice, resident of Heavenly Zion. Rejoice, inhabitant of the tabernacles of paradise not made by hands.

Rejoice, holy passion-bearer to Prince Tsarevich Dimitri.

Kontakion 9.

All the angelic nature rejoiced, seeing you, the passion-bearing Tsarevich Dimitri: even though the immature class repented of you, but with your holy soul you remained unharmed, and now with You remain like angels in the heavenly villages, rejoicing, and with them you silently sing to the Holy Trinity: Alleluia.

Ikos 9.

The prophets of many things will not be able to adequately praise your mercy and all your miracles, Tsarevich Demetrius, whom you helped our fathers; do not deny us, their children, who march to you in their footsteps and cry out to you in prayer:

Rejoice, O merciful consoler in our troubles. Rejoice, saving charity for the helpless. Rejoice, unpaid healer of sick babies. Rejoice, the poor and needy will soon be heard. Rejoice, you who show miracles to the world. Rejoice, restore sight to the blind. Rejoice, glory and praise to the virgin faces. Rejoice, the hope of earth and the glory of heaven.

Rejoice, holy passion-bearer to Prince Tsarevich Dimitri.

Kontakion 10.

For us who want to be saved, the leader of salvation appeared to us, the passion-bearing Tsarevich Dimitri; For this reason, with fervent prayer, we flow to your miraculous image, with your omnipotent help in the Lord, like an insurmountable wall, we are protected, diligently calling on the Savior Christ: Hallelu ia.

Ikos 10.

The wall and intercession of the Russian land, you, the passion-bearer of Christ, appeared to Tsarevich Demetrius, as through your prayers the Lord God sent against your servant and murderer - a certain enemy and mark of the right I am of faith, called by your namesake, so that your murderer will be overthrown from the throne of the king, even if he is. For this reason we call to you:

Rejoice, our quick helper in troubles and misfortunes. Rejoice, guardianship and sacred refuge of the faithful. Rejoice, strong helper of those who are zealous for the salvation of the soul. Rejoice, intercessor for those in need in the sea of ​​life. Rejoice, listener to those who pray to you. Rejoice, the giver of this mercy that requires it. Rejoice, by the incorruption of your relics you assure us of the truth of the resurrection of the dead. Rejoice, show the image of immortality in a mortal body.

Rejoice, holy passion-bearer to Prince Tsarevich Dimitri.

Kontakion 11.

Singing and spiritual songs were performed by the people in the transfer of your honorable and multi-healing relics, to Tsarevich Dimitri, from the God-saved city of Uglich to the reigning city of Moscow, whose holy memory is The Church continues to this day, with all her faithful children crying out to the Lord: Alleluia.

Ikos 11.

The shining lamp standing before the Throne of God, with the eyes of faith we see you, Tsarevich Dimitri. Moreover, falling with tenderness at the image of your face, we cry out to you in gratitude:

Rejoice, heavenly patron of the city of Uglich. Rejoice, I intercede heavenly blessings to all who honor your memory. Rejoice, beautiful creature, who delights the hearts of the faithful. Rejoice, immaculate infancy and adolescence are a fair amount of praise. Rejoice, faithful teacher of chastity and abstinence for young people. Rejoice, good and hasty to those who wage war against the world, the flesh and the devil. Rejoice, hasten to help us who are in need. Rejoice, show your many-powerful intercession to those who depart from life.

Rejoice, holy passion-bearer to Prince Tsarevich Dimitri.

Kontakion 12.

Ask for Divine grace and timely help for us, O saint of God, passion-bearer to Tsarevich Demetrius, in the days of our helplessness, and be our comforter in adversity, intercessor in troubles, duzeh doctor, give us healing gifts from your holy relics, and we zealously fall to them , we cry out to the Creator God for miracles: Alleluia.

Ikos 12.

Singing your miracles, passion-bearer of Christ, to Tsarevich Demetrius, we honor your martyrdom, we praise your intercession and strong intercession for everyone who requires your help, before the holy icon with faith and love, those who worship you and cry out to you in prayer:

Rejoice, our zealous intercessor is at the Throne of the Holy Trinity. Rejoice, our silent prayer service to the Most Pure Virgin Mary. Rejoice, companion and companion of the holy Angels. Rejoice, co-equal and co-equal of the holy martyrs. Rejoice, for you dwell invisibly in the temples created in your name. Rejoice, for you fulfilled the prayers of the people praying in them for the good. Rejoice, immovable affirmation for the cities of Moscow and Uglich. Rejoice, all the Russian countries are safe intercession from all troubles.

Rejoice, holy passion-bearer to Prince Tsarevich Dimitri.

Kontakion 13.

Oh, holy passion-bearing and faithful prince Tsarevich Dimitri! Accept this small prayer from us, before your holy icon, those who worship you with faith and love, and offer warm prayers for us to the Lord, and free us from troubles and sorrows, crying out to Him I’ll take it out: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1.

Prayer to the faithful Tsarevich Demetrius of Uglich

Oh, glorious and wondrous in miracles, beauty of the martyrs, passion-bearing prince Tsarevich Dimitri! Soon present yourself to the Heavenly King and extend your martyr’s hand for us sinners, stretching out a prayer to Him, for you have great boldness. With your prayers preserve this city and all the Orthodox cities and towns, and the most holy patriarchs and eminent metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, and the entire holy order of the church venerable, and all Orthodox Christians; Receive us all into your intercession, delivering us from all troubles and evils and from the invasion of visible and invisible enemies fighting us, freeing them, and destroying and driving away all kinds of slander and malice. ; Also ask for forgiveness of our sins and in the future age of the Kingdom of Heaven give us grace and present the saved to God, by the grace and love of mankind of the Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ, to Him is honor and Worship is due, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

The prayer is different.

Oh, holy martyr, faithful to the Tsarevich and Prince Demetrius! Like a gentle lamb slain by a servant, you were crowned with a royal crown from the Lord, and you were the son of kings, an invincible martyr, and instead of earthly and corruptible things, incorruptible things are in heaven. you have perceived. And now, standing in joy to the Holy Trinity, visit those who faithfully carry out your luminous memory: keep your fatherland and your city unharmed, for this is your affirmation; Establish Orthodox residence in the deep world: tame internecine strife, and always grant all that is useful to people through your prayers, and by faith and love we cry to you: Rejoice, Holy Dimi Three, faithful people, warm intercessor and refuge and adornment of the Russian lands. Amen.

The third prayer.

Oh, great and merciful passion-bearer, Tsarevich Prince Dimitri! Hear us sinners who bring you prayers with zeal, and help us in this life, saving us from sins and sorrows, and in the future be a helper and intercessor from the torments of hell freeing and enabling us to worship with you and sing praises to the All-Holy Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lives of the Saints. Holy Righteous Tsarevich Dimitri of Uglich.

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Tsarevich Dmitry. Painting by M. V. Nesterov, 1899.

Tsar Ivan the Terrible held the Russian state in a strong fist. Successful wars increased the territory of the country, the threat from the Tatar conquerors finally came to an end, and the rulers of neighboring and even distant states did not question the military power of Rus'. At the same time, in his native country they were afraid of the king. Conquest campaigns exhausted Rus'; guardsmen, cruel in their impunity, rampaged through its cities and villages. The boyars feared for their wealth and thirsted for more and more power. There was no question of receiving it during the Tsar’s lifetime. And the death of Ivan the Terrible gave many of them hope. The tsar from the Rurik dynasty left behind two sons - the feeble-minded Fyodor and the young Dmitry...

... Russian state, year one thousand five hundred and ninety-one...

Among the common people, rumors spread like circles on water. Tsar Fedor is weak, ill and unable to rule the country. The brother of his wife Irina, Boris Godunov, is in charge of everything. Year after year, the cunning and dexterous boyar removed his rivals from the court, until he finally became a real autocrat. In everything except the title. Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich was an obstacle on the way to the coveted throne. But it was not him, who was in poor health, that Godunov was afraid of. He was much more afraid that time would take its toll: the still unintelligent Dmitry would grow up and lay claim to Monomakh’s hat. The Tsarevich is already eight years old. From Uglich, where Godunov exiled him, news arrived that was bleak for the Tsar’s favorite. They say that Dmitry is strong in body, handsome in face and gentle in disposition. You can't imagine a better king. And the fact that evil tongues say that he was born from an unmarried marriage is all empty. Godunov knew that he would not be able to hold on to the throne of the new tsar; he would go to hard labor, like the rival boyars he had exiled. Or he might even lose his head. It became difficult and gloomy for boyar Godunov. It was also restless in the Uglich upper room, two hundred miles from the royal chambers. The widow of Tsar John, Maria Fedorovna, was embroidering a gold towel and thinking about the fate of her only son.

Maria Feodorovna: It’s not without reason that a thunderstorm is pressing on my heart. I feel like there's going to be trouble. Maid: What's the problem, madam? Maria Fedorovna: Something will happen to my son. Oh, Praskovyushka, if only you knew how afraid I am for him, my beloved. My brothers keep saying - be proud, you are the mother of the future king! And I would give this royal share - I don’t need it. If only Dmitry was healthy. Where would he go against Boris? He will swallow it instantly and leave no bones behind. And I had a bad dream... Maid: Don’t look at the dream, madam, maybe it won’t come true. You never know what you dream about. Maria Fedorovna: I saw my son standing on a cloud, wearing only a white shirt, his bare legs sticking out. I told him: where did you get dressed so easily? Get off, you'll get sick. And he says to me: Mother, I’m not cold here. I'm happy here. And smiles. Maid: She's not crying. So, there is nothing to worry about. Maria Fedorovna: Wait, what’s that noise?..

The nurse burst into the queen's chambers, her hair was disheveled, her clothes were torn, her face was swollen, everything was flooded with tears. Maria Feodorovna just looked at her and understood everything in an instant. And the next time she rushed out of the upper room. The little prince lay motionless at the porch. The nurse said confusedly that Vasilisa’s mother took Dmitry for a walk, but as soon as he went out into the yard, his mother’s son jumped up to him, along with two guards who had been sent by Godunov, and stabbed the prince to death. This is how the last heir of the royal Rurik family died. Later, Boris Godunov announced that Dmitry accidentally stabbed himself while playing with a knife, but ordinary people did not believe this and forever branded Godunov a “child killer.” Miracles began to happen at Dmitry’s grave—sick people were cured around it. And fifteen years later, the prince’s relics, untouched by decay, were transferred to Moscow. In the Russian Orthodox Church, Dmitry Uglichsky is revered as a holy passion-bearer - for all the torment that the innocently murdered little child endured.

Temple of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God in Alekseevsky - Tikhvin Church in Alekseevsky

Troparion, tone 4

You stained the royal diadem with your blood, / God-wise martyr, / you took the Cross in your hand for the scepter, / you appeared victorious, / and you offered yourself an immaculate sacrifice to the Lady: / ​​for as a gentle lamb, you were slain from a slave. / And now, rejoicing, you stand Holy Trinity, / pray for the power of your relatives to be godly / and for your Russian sons to be saved.

Kontakion, tone 8

Resurrect today in the most glorious memory of your faithful joy, / for you are a well-grown dream, you have vegetated / and you have brought yourself beautiful fruit to Christ; / in the same way, even after your murder, you have kept your body incorruptible, / sufferingly stained with blood. / Noble Saint Demetrius, / keep your fatherland yours and your city are unharmed, / for this you are the affirmation

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Dear brothers and sisters!

On May 15 (28), the Holy Russian Orthodox Church honors the memory of the innocently murdered youth Demetrius, the youngest son of Tsar Ivan the Terrible from Maria Feodorovna Naked. Although the prince was young, the apostates in their madness thought about getting rid of him as quickly as possible. Just as the wicked King Herod, blinded by the passion of lust for power, exterminated 14 thousand babies in Bethlehem, hoping that the Messiah would be among them, so Boris Godunov, along with his supporters, sought the death of Demetrius, fearing that when he came of age, he would inherit the throne instead or after the death of the sick Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich.

"Tsarevich Dmitry."
1924, Nesterov Mikhail Destructive is the passion of lust for power! She sows physical and spiritual death everywhere! How much suffering, grief and blood she brought to humanity! Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk writes: “Love of power is a great evil in man and the beginning of all evil... We know that the lawless Herod was not afraid to kill so many thousands of innocent babies, just so as not to lose royal power. Oh, great evil - lust for power! A person wants to control others, but cannot control himself. Flee from this evil so as not to destroy yourself and others.” According to the plan of the killers, the death of the prince should have served to strengthen the position of the Godunovs and stability in the state, but by the Providence of God it became the cause of numerous troubles that befell Russia during the Time of Troubles. At the end of his life, according to V. O. Klyuchevsky, Tsar Boris “hid himself in the palace, rarely went out to the people and did not accept petitions himself, as the previous kings did. Suspecting everyone, tormented by memories and fears, he showed that he was afraid of everyone, like a thief, constantly afraid of being caught...”

"Tsarevich Dmitry." Klavdiy Lebedev

We emphasize that despite the official conclusion of the investigative commission sent to the city of Uglich to the place of the murder of the prince (consisting, however, of the Godunovs’ people: “Uglich case”), which rejected the version of the murder of Dmitry, the most authoritative Russian historians (Karamzin N.M., Solovyov S.M., Kostomarov N.I.) unanimously say that the conclusions she made are false, and Tsar Boris is directly or indirectly to blame for the death of the boy. And Patriarch Job wrote in a letter of 1606: “I accepted the slaughter innocently at the hands of my traitors”; and Patriarch Ermogen in the legend about the murder of the prince, and many Russian and foreign contemporaries - all unanimously said that the prince was killed on the secret orders of Godunov. Pushkin's drama "Boris Godunov" was also written based on this version. The “History of the Russian Church” by Metropolitan Macarius speaks specifically about the murder of the youth. During the life of the prince, Godunov constantly saw him as a threat to his power. He either declared his birth illegal, which would automatically deprive the boy of his rights to the throne, or compared his character with the character of his father, Ivan the Terrible, which frightened the boyars and the people, or sent people to poison the prince. The youth turned into Godunov’s personal enemy, who sought to destroy the prince.

In the History of the Russian State Karamzin N.M. writes: “starting to fulfill his terrible intention, Boris thought first of declaring the ill-fated Tsarevich illegitimate, as the son of John’s sixth or seventh wife: he did not order to pray for him and remember his name at the Liturgy; but having considered that this marriage, although truly lawless, was nevertheless approved or tolerated by the church authorities, which, by solemnly destroying it, would have admitted its human weakness, to the double temptation of Christians - that Demetrius, despite this, in the opinion of people would have remained Tsarevich , Feodorov’s only heir, Godunov resorted to the surest way to eliminate his partner, justifying himself with a rumor, no doubt spread by his friends, about Dimitrieva’s imaginary premature inclination towards evil and cruelty... In contrast to the absurd slander, many argued that the young Tsarevich had a worthy mind and qualities the youth of the Sovereign; they talked about this with tenderness and fear, because they guessed the danger of an innocent baby, saw the purpose of slander - and were not deceived: if Godunov fought with conscience, he had already defeated it and, having prepared gullible people to hear without pity about the crime, he held poison and a knife in his hand Dimitri; I was just looking for someone to give them to to commit murder!... They started with poison. Tsarevich's mother, Boyar Vasilisa Volokhova, and her son, Osip, having sold their soul to Godunov, served as his instrument; but the deadly potion did not harm the baby, according to the chronicler, either in food or in drink. Perhaps conscience was still active in the executors of hellish will; perhaps a trembling hand carefully sprinkled the poison, reducing its measure, to the chagrin of the impatient Boris, who decided to use other, bolder villains.”

As a result, the people sent by Godunov stabbed the boy to death. The murder was passed off as an accident: allegedly Tsarevich Dimitri, playing with other children, in an attack of epilepsy (“black sickness”) during convulsions fatally stabbed himself. However, in the light of modern ideas about epilepsy, this is impossible, since at the very beginning of an epileptic seizure a person loses consciousness and is unable to hold any objects in his hands. And it is impossible to imagine that the Holy Church would list a suicide as a martyr, from whose relics countless miracles and healings subsequently occurred. May the lips of the wicked be silenced when they speak these lies! However, they also lied about the risen Christ the Savior, saying that at night His disciples came and took away the body while the soldiers guarding the cave were sleeping... “The Life of Tsarevich Dmitry of Uglich,” which tells about the tragic death of the son of Ivan the Terrible in Uglich, is known in four editions: Chetyih Menya German Tulupov, Prince S.I. Shakhovsky, Four Menyas of Ivan Milyutin and Four Menyas of Dmitry of Rostov. In the Chetya Menaion of John Milutin it is written: “And those accursed <all> did according to what was said: like a snake with a snake, whispering, they agreed together as if to kill a dove’s chick, although to secretly destroy it; these cruel bloodsuckers were ready to shed that innocent blood, and pounced on him like merciless wolves, and did that terrible thing: in the middle of his yard, one of them took him by the neck and cut his throat.”

"The Legend of Tsarevich Dimitri." 1967, Ilya Glazunov

Tsarevich Dmitry was buried in Uglich, in the palace church in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord. On July 3 (13), 1606, the holy relics of the passion-bearer Tsarevich Dimitri were found incorrupt. After canonization, his remains were transferred to the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Miracles happened at Demetrius's tomb: people were healed of blindness, lameness, deafness, purulent ulcers, and demonic possession. In Rus', the prince is revered as the guardian of suffering children: orphans, disabled people and street children. In 1997, the Russian Orthodox Church, together with the Russian Children's Fund, on the initiative of the chairman of the fund, writer Albert Likhanov, established the Order of the Holy Blessed Tsarevich Demetrius. It is awarded to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the care and protection of suffering children. The Order can be awarded to both individuals and organizations: orphanages, hospitals, shelters, educational institutions, family orphanages.

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus', “Day of Tsarevich Dimitri” acquired the status of an All-Russian Orthodox children's holiday in 2011. Every year in Uglich on May 28, the Orthodox holiday Day of Tsarevich Dimitri is celebrated in a solemn atmosphere.

“Tsarevich Dmitry Ioannovich.” Copy from the “Titular Book” of the 17th century

Prayer to the blessed Tsarevich Dimitri:

O glorious and wondrous in miracles, beauty of the martyrs, passion-bearing prince Prince Dimitri! Soon appear before the Heavenly King and extend your martyr hands to Him for us sinners, as if you have great boldness; preserve with your prayers this city, and all the cities and villages of the Orthodox, and His Holiness the Patriarch (name of the rivers) and the most reverend metropolitans, archbishops, bishops and the entire sacred rank of the church, and our brethren in the chamber, and all Orthodox Christians; accept us all into your intercession, and delivering us from all troubles and evils, and freeing us from the invasion of visible and invisible enemies fighting us, and destroying and driving away all slander and malice; Ask for forgiveness of the same sins of ours, and in the future century make us worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, and present those saved to God, by the grace and love of mankind of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom honor and worship is due, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Holy noble prince-martyr Demetrius, pray to God for us!

Troshchinsky Pavel

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June 16 is the day of remembrance of the holy passion-bearer, blessed Tsarevich Demetrius of Uglich (Moscow). His holy relics, transferred from Uglich to Moscow more than 400 years ago - in 1606, rest in the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Holy Righteous Tsarevich Dimitry of Uglich, son of Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible and Maria Feodorovna (from the Nagikh family), was born on October 19, 1582 in Moscow.

This is what is said in his life: “During the reign of Theodore Ioannovich, when his brother-in-law, the boyar Boris Godunov, was actually the ruler of the Russian state, Tsarevich Dimitri, together with his mother, Tsarina Maria Feodorovna, was removed from the Court to the city of Uglich. Wanting to get rid of the rightful heir to the Russian throne, Boris Godunov began to act against the Tsarevich. At first he tried to slander the young heir to the throne by spreading false rumors about his alleged illegitimate birth. Then he spread a new fiction that Demetrius had inherited the severity of his father’s Emperor. Since these actions did not bring what they wanted, Boris decided to destroy the Tsarevich. The attempt to poison Demetrius was unsuccessful: the deadly potion did not harm the youth. Then the villains decided to commit an obvious crime. On Saturday, May 15, 1591, when the boy was walking with his wet nurse in the yard, the assassins sent, Osip Volkhvov, Danilo Bityagovsky and Nikita Kachalov, brutally stabbed the Tsarevich to death. Tsarevich Dimitri was buried in Uglich, in the palace church in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Many miracles and healings began to take place at his tomb, especially those with eyes that were sick were often healed. And on June 3, 1606, the holy relics of the passion-bearer Tsarevich Dimitri were found incorrupt.” When the top stone tomb cover was lifted, the whole church was immediately filled with fragrance. Chroniclers recall that the prince seemed to be breathing, and a blush shone on his face.

In my family (Elena Chernikova - ed .) this saint has long been revered. Even as a child, my grandmother and I visited the site of the murder of Tsarevich in Uglich, in the Uglich Kremlin in the Church on the Blood (there was a museum there in those years). The story of the murdered Tsarevich has haunted me ever since. And then, when I started going to church, I bought an icon of the holy blessed Tsarevich Demetrius and began to pray to him. And so, finally, my colleague and co-author Anatoly Trunov got to the Kremlin in Moscow and visited the Archangel Cathedral, where the tomb of the Grand Dukes and Russian Tsars is located. In this temple rest the relics of Saint Tsarevich Demetrius and an icon in proportion to the height of the Tsarevich. An impression beyond words! We stand with bated breath near the relics and pray. It’s a pity that today the Archangel Cathedral is a museum, and you can’t venerate the honest relics (or even bring flowers!), the shrine with the relics is in a special fence, like in any museum. But we still try to cross ourselves and secretly touch the holy shrine with the relics of Tsarevich Dimitri, believing in the power of his prayers for us before the Lord.

Divine services are sometimes held in the Archangel Cathedral, but only on major holidays and on the days of memory of Tsarevich Demetrius (the Divine Liturgy was probably celebrated there today too).

I remembered our last trip to the relics of the holy blessed Tsarevich Demetrius. And this is a sad story that came to mind. Someone, perhaps, will see excessive bile in our story, but we cannot be blamed for the lack of patriotism!

It was the end of August last year. Moscow greeted us unfriendly, with a boring drizzling rain. The sky was overcast with thick purple clouds. It was cold. The trip was not going well...

The space in front of the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin was filled with a huge mass of foreign people of various ranks, ridiculously dressed because of the cold in hats with earflaps (women) and women's headscarves (men), cackling, scurrying around everywhere, devouring hot dogs and drinking muddy water from plastic bottles. liquid, busily clicking camera flashes and video camera lights. English, Italian, French, and Chinese were heard everywhere. I couldn’t help but remember the famous invasion of the “twelve tongues.” Although - no! There were clearly more “languages” here.

For a moment it seemed to us that we had seen a fairly accurate model of modern humanity, and not static, but dynamic. On the one hand - middle-aged and rather ugly “children of the West”, somewhat emaciated and shabby. They quite loudly discussed the architectural merits of the Moscow Kremlin, apparently feeling like they were almost masters here. Their snow-white “horse” teeth glinting predatorily, they looked condescendingly at the masterpieces of architecture of the “Muscovite barbarians,” without experiencing absolutely any spiritual awe in front of them.

On the other side we saw slender columns of children of the East. These black-headed tourists behaved much more disciplined. It was as if they were conducting some kind of reconnaissance. The short, but stocky men struck with an almost military bearing. Even in the crowd it was noticeable that some kind of special order reigned in this Orientalist chaos. The people (both men and women) were built somehow unusually, as if in a military way.

Where are the “dear Russians”?
And they just weren’t there. Neither “expensive”, nor even less “cheap”. Almost no one! And this is in the very heart of Moscow. In her sacred center! And there was something frightening, painful, sad in this absence of relatives... When we entered the Archangel Cathedral, the feeling of transhistoricity intensified. We found ourselves in a wondrous, majestic Temple, the resting place of our Great Dukes and Kings, which was in no way conducive to fuss, fun, or much talking. The words froze in my throat like a sharp lump. Solemnity and tranquility, peace and grace... “It’s quiet around, these are the heroes sleeping...” (from the waltz “On the Hills of Manchuria”) They deserve their peace. But it was not there! It’s as if some kind of madness has come over tourists, whether Western or Eastern. They screamed hysterically, laughed loudly, pushed each other, almost “jumping like goats” around the sacred tombstones and ancient frescoes and holy relics dear to our hearts. The guides didn’t even think of somehow trying to reason with their over-the-top charges. Quite the contrary! Giggling meanly along with their “masters,” our guides did not in any way hinder the spread of this multicultural fun... Having literally made our way through the foreign crowd to the shrine with the relics of the Holy Passion-Bearer Tsarevich Demetrius of Uglich, we, without saying a word, began to pray. First - silently, then - in a whisper, then - out loud, without embarrassing anyone. “May God rise again, and may His enemies be scattered, and may those who hate Him flee from His presence. As the smoke disappears, let them disappear...” Cancer with the relics of the murdered Tsarevich.[/td]

Just a few minutes passed, and all the foreign “tourists” and their domestic “servants” had disappeared somewhere, the temple was cleared of pagans and atheists, cosmopolitans and postmodernists, feminists and globalists. The long-awaited and comprehensive, grace-filled and healing silence came. And in this silence we heard the wonderful singing of the Russian vocal ensemble “Anima”, performing in wonderful, brilliantly chosen voices “Open the doors of repentance.” And it was wonderful!..

Coming out of the Temple, we saw the Moscow sky brightening... There is a belief: as long as the relics of Saint Tsarevich Demetrius are in the Kremlin, no enemy will defeat Russia. This was also the case when Napoleonic’s army rampaged through the Kremlin, but could not destroy the relics of the saint and could not enslave Russia. This was the case during the Great Patriotic War, when the Nazis stopped at the approaches to Moscow. It will continue to be so! You just need to pray and remember the glorious exploits and great sacrifices of our saints and righteous people in the name of Orthodoxy and the Russian Fatherland. The Lord will have mercy on Russia through the prayers of his saints. Holy passion-bearer, blessed Tsarevich Dimitri of Uglich (Moscow), pray to God for us! Elena Chernikova, Anatoly Trunov, Belgorod

Troparion to the Holy Blessed Tsarevich Demetrius, tone 4

With the full armor of the Spirit of grace, the pillar and stronghold was armed and invincible, appearing to its fatherland like a gentle lamb, having been unjustly slain from the enemy and offered up as an immaculate sacrifice to the Lord. And now the gift of grace from all the hero is received, exuding healing to everyone, the most praiseworthy prince, Prince Dimitri. Glory to Him who took you from earthly to Heaven, glory to Him who crowned you with an unfading crown, glory to Him who brings healing to all through you.