Since childhood, we have all been familiar with stories about epic heroes, the main one of whom was Ilya Muromets.
But it turns out that he really existed, bravely defended the Russian Land, and after being seriously wounded, he retired to a monastery, where he died. He was subsequently canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church as "Reverend Elijah of Muromets". In the Orthodox tradition, which is supported by some researchers, it is generally accepted that this epic hero had a real prototype - the famous strongman nicknamed Chobotok, which he received after fighting off enemies with the help of a chobot (boot). It is known that he came from a simple peasant family, even the names of his parents are known, but the real name of the hero himself has not reached us. He subsequently took the name Elijah when he was tonsured.
Life of St. Ilya Muromets
The hero was born between 1150 and 1165 in Murom, and apparently died in 1204. The epics say that until the age of 33, Ilya was paralyzed (paralyzed), and then he was healed by Kaliki passers-by (wandering beggars); they predicted that he would not die in battle. Literature published before the revolution claims that Christ himself and his two apostles appeared in the form of kaliks. Having received a blessing from his parents, Ilya began to serve in the squad of the Kyiv prince Vladimir Monomakh and became famous throughout Kyiv for his strength and invincibility.
Surprisingly, science confirms this legend. When the Interdepartmental Commission of the Ministry of Health of the Ukrainian SSR undertook an examination of the relics of St. Elijah of Muromets (Pechersky) in 1988, it was discovered that his height was 177 cm, which is almost a head taller than a medieval man, he had outstanding strength and received many serious injuries. In addition, signs of a disease that causes paralysis of the limbs were found on his spine. He died, apparently, from a blow to the chest with a spear or sword, which pierced the left hand with which he covered his chest.
Even the icon of Ilya Muromets amazes with its heroic build and huge hands, which are fit to hold a sword, not a rosary, and he has a stern look, like a real warrior.
Ilya Muromets became famous not only for his heroic strength, but also for his feats accomplished in battles with enemies. In one of the battles with the Polovtsians, he was seriously wounded and had to leave the military field. Like many other warriors who could no longer fight, he became a monk of the Kiev-Pechersk Dormition Monastery, but apparently did not live in this rank for long.
The canonization of Elijah of Murom took place in 1643. To this day, his relics are kept in the Anthony Caves in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. In the 18th century, one pilgrim named Leonty saw them and noted their high growth and left hand, pierced through with a spear. The fingers on the right hand are folded with two fingers, and for opponents of the Nikonian church reform, when the three-fingered fold was adopted, this serves as an argument in favor of the old custom.
How the hero from Murom ended up in the Kiev monastery
History is silent about how Ilya Muromets took monastic vows. According to one version, he was seriously wounded in battle, after which he decided to go to a monastery.
For that time, this was not a novelty: many warriors exchanged earthly weapons for heavenly ones, perishable values for eternal ones, and prepared their body and soul for the transition to another world.
Since Ilya Muromets was a modest person by nature, nothing is known about his monastic feat. The fact that his relics remained incorrupt and examples of healings through prayers to the saint do not give rise to doubt that his life was truly holy.
There is another version: not far from the monastery or in it itself, Ilya Muromets received a fatal wound to the heart. As a respected national hero, he was buried first in the St. Sophia Cathedral, and then the tomb was moved to the Near (Antonie) caves of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
What do they pray for in front of the icon of Ilya Muromets?
In front of the icon of Ilya the Wonderworker of Murom, they pray for the healing of children, especially those who are immobile and those with cerebral palsy; about help in difficult life situations, about protection, as he protected the weak.
Those who serve in the army turn to the Ilya of Muromets icon for support in order to perform their service flawlessly
Reverend Ilya Muromets is the patron saint of the strategic missile forces and the Russian border service, because he always defended his native land.
Every boy of the same name, whose heavenly patron is the saint, should have an icon of “St. Elijah of Murom”, so that he grows up as strong, courageous and fair.
Memorial Day – January 1st.
Prayer before the icon of the holy Venerable Elijah of Murom
O holy reverend Father Elijah! Holy intercessor of Rus', mighty warrior, spiritual and physical warrior who appeared to her, who faithfully served in his life for the good of the Russian people and the glorification of the Christian God, and after his repose did not leave his intercession for us, ask, holy, from the All-Merciful Lord for the Tsar of our Fatherland, peace and prosperity, the well-being of the church, deliverance for Orthodox people from the wicked, victory for Russian soldiers in battles and victory against enemies plotting evil for the Church and the Orthodox Fatherland, intercede for us all, and we also ask you, Holy One of God, to grant us reason from God, yes let us know our sins, and spiritual strength, let us repent of our sins, and bodily strength, so that we may be able to correct our lives and revive Holy Rus', and pass from it into the Kingdom of Heaven, and there, with you and all the saints, we will be honored to continually praise the glorified God in the Trinity Father and Son and Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
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Canons and Akathists
Akathist to the Holy Venerable Elijah of Murom, Kiev-Pechersk Wonderworker
Kontakion 1
To the commander of the forces of the Russian land, the warrior of the King Christ and the intercessor of Holy Russia, glorious in battle and invincible in battle, to the wondrous hero Elijah of Murom, let us sing a song of praise, may he now intercede for us who call:
Rejoice, reverend Father Elijah, glorious intercessor of the Russian land.
Ikos 1
The Creator of Angels, when He descended to the earth in the form of a slave, did not reveal Himself to the world until the age of thirty, so you too, Saint Elijah, were granted until that age to be unknown to anyone and bodily immovable, and after that serve the Lord and His people with all zeal and zeal. , we praise:
Rejoice, thou wisely preserved for thirty years by the providence of God; Rejoice, chosen from birth, may the works of the Lord appear on you.
Rejoice, having escaped many temptations of youth through your illness; Rejoice, you who kept your soul pure through suffering.
Rejoice, you who have prepared these for the reception of grace; Rejoice, sickness, as a gift of God, endured with humility.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Elijah, glorious intercessor of the Russian land.
Ikos 2
Having understood that Elijah had suddenly been healed of his illness, first put the cross on himself as written, then gave the strangers something to drink, they also gave him a cup of honey to drink, asking him to drink it to the bottom, obeying the same, do this, we, sins, we call in wonder:
Rejoice, for in the form of three strangers the Lord has come to visit you; Rejoice, for the Holy Trinity has appeared to you.
Rejoice, you who were healed by the word of the Lord; Rejoice, raised from your bed by the will of God.
Rejoice, having drunk the cup from the hand of the Savior; Rejoice, filled with the grace of Christ.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Elijah, glorious intercessor of the Russian land.
Kontakion 3
Sensing the great power within himself, Elijah, having drunk the miraculous cup, as if he had removed the relics of the mountains and plucked up oak trees from the ground, spoke about this to a stranger asking about the manifestation of your power, and in joy he sang to the Savior: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
If you now have a heroic strength, then live, Elijah, so that you will be a warrior, and in battles death will not be written upon you, - the wanderer’s rekos and, having blessed you, disappeared as if he had appeared, but we, having recognized the hand of the Lord on you, sing:
Rejoice, thou who walkest on the right foot, and may thou go on the right path; Rejoice, you who have received the possession of your hands, may you do works pleasing to God.
Rejoice, you have received good health, may you labor for God by the sweat of your brow; Rejoice, you who have received healing, may you work for Him who healed you.
Rejoice, received blessing, may you guard your soul in piety; Rejoice, you who have received great power, and glorify with it the name of the Almighty.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Elijah, glorious intercessor of the Russian land.
Kontakion 4
Your parents were overcome with a storm of bewilderment and greatly amazed with great horror, seeing you come, and your feet and hands were healed, and cried out joyfully: Glory, glory to the Lord, praise to the Most High: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Hearing the blessing of the Lord, you cannot stay at home any longer, since the time has come for your feat, ask your father and mother for permission to go to a distant land, the father says: I will give you a blessing for good deeds, but for bad deeds there are no blessings for you, you bow to the ground as you set out on your journey, as we sing:
Rejoice, having fulfilled the words of Christ with your life; Rejoice, beloved of God and neighbors more than father and mother.
Rejoice, you who preferred the love of God to the love of parenthood; Rejoice, you who left your father’s house and serve the entire Fatherland.
Rejoice, hero of Holy Russia, restored by the spirit of Christ; Rejoice, you have been appointed guardian of the church and Rus' by Him.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Elijah, glorious intercessor of the Russian land.
Kontakion 5
God-filled was your journey to the city of Kyiv. As if you first wanted to pray to the Lord in the churches of God and venerate the Mother of God of the Pechers in the Lavra of the Assumptions, thank you for your healing and sing the song: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Seeing the great sorrow that befell the land of Kyiv from the presence of the filthy, you laid the beginning with your feat, freeing the city of Chernigov and the path to the city of Kiev and destroying the enemies of the Christian faith, so that the people, liberated by you, cry out:
Rejoice, shield of salvation, who received the word of God; Rejoice, you who penetrated the copy of faith of the wicked.
Rejoice, having overcome the infidels with the club of piety; Rejoice, having saved us from the arrows of the enemy with the cloak of chastity.
Rejoice, having dressed yourself in the armor of virtues; Rejoice, thou who fought against the spiritual enemy fully armed.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Elijah, glorious intercessor of the Russian land.
Kontakion 6
The preacher of the power of the Christian God appeared, Elijah, to the foreign armies with all the power to overcome because Jesus strengthened you, and Christians, who have been liberated by you, never cease to call: Alleluia.
Ikos 6
Then a shining star appeared in the city of Kyiv - the bright brave hero Ilya of Muromets, to intimidate the wicked, the hard-hearted to trample, the Russian land given by God for glorification, where your relatives still call you:
Rejoice, Russian army leader; Rejoice, guardian of orphans and widows.
Rejoice, faithful help to the capital prince; Rejoice, hail and weight of the reliable mediastinum.
Rejoice, grace-filled victory over the forces of the enemy; Rejoice, rise of the Orthodox people.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Elijah, glorious intercessor of the Russian land.
Kontakion 7
Wanting with all your soul and heart to serve God and Holy Rus', you rejected the vainglorious thought, when you were trying to be installed as a governor of the city of Chernigov, you humbly entered into the service of the prince of Kiev, and not just to a certain city, but to serve the whole people, as if it were not forbidden sing to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 7
Having appeared on earth as a new Sampson, having served the new Israel - the Russian Orthodox Fatherland with faith and righteousness, Elijah of everlasting memory, is now a companion with your relatives who call:
Rejoice, for David fought in the name of the Lord of Hosts; Rejoice, for as Galiath is the same, so you too have defeated the foreign giant.
Rejoice, as Sampson, endowed with great strength from God; Rejoice, the namesake prophet Elijah through zeal for God.
Rejoice, for Daniel blocked the gaping lions of unfaithful foreigners; Rejoice, guardian angel of the former borders of the Russian principality.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Elijah, glorious intercessor of the Russian land.
Kontakion 8
Wandering along the side of Kiev and protecting it from dashing robbers, you did not seek wealth and honor for yourself, but I am going to serve for the Christian faith, and for the Russian land, and for the capital Kiev-grad, - you answered as a man, not seeking glory from them , Singing glory to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
Trying to fulfill the entire law of the Gospel on yourself, laying down your soul every hour for your neighbor, thinking that the Lord is my helper and I will look at my enemies, you defended the borders of the Fatherland, but the Russian people will not stop calling you like this:
Rejoice, having heard the call of the Lord with all your heart; Rejoice, you are not merciful for your neighbors.
Rejoice, thou who conquered the infidels by right faith; Rejoice, you who drove out foreigners with the Russian spirit.
Rejoice, you who called upon the Lord for help on the battlefield; Rejoice, having cut through the darkness of the enemy together with the Heavenly forces.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Elijah, glorious intercessor of the Russian land.
Kontakion 9
Every nature of men and angels was greatly amazed, when you betrayed your only begotten son, who betrayed the Russian Fatherland, without giving mercy, you slain with a spear, so that you do not harm Orthodox people, but we, trembling with the strength of your faith and your trust in God, sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
Veti praised your exploits with many words, but whoever is able to express all the providence of God over you, as in your name all the power and strength of the spirit of the Russian hero embodied, crushed all the obstacles of the enemy, for which your descendants still magnify you:
Rejoice, brave warrior of the militant Church; Rejoice, glorified victor in the triumphant Church.
Rejoice, fearless and conqueror of all enemies, visible and invisible; Rejoice, beloved, beloved of the Lord and His people.
Rejoice, righteous man, who did not hide the talent of his Master; Rejoice, reverend father, increasing the glory of our God.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Elijah, glorious intercessor of the Russian land.
Kontakion 10
To save your dear side not only from foreign enemies, but also from invisible ones, and also your soul, the gold and silver given by princes, wasting it on the poor and using it to build churches, you retired to a monastic monastery, there from the depths of your heart singing to God: Alleluia .
Ikos 10
The walls of the holy monastery sheltered you, Reverend Father Elijah, where in the cloister with unceasing tears and all-night prayers, for your sins and human blood, shed voluntarily and involuntarily, you propitiated God. The same, seeing your humility and contrition, soon bestowed upon you great grace , as if all the brethren were amazed, calling:
Rejoice, you have been transformed from a physical warrior into a spiritual warrior; Rejoice, having put aside the physical sword and spear and armed yourself with the spiritual sword.
Rejoice, you who left behind perishable weapons and cut off the enemy with unceasing prayer; Rejoice, and in spiritual battle the winner has appeared.
Rejoice, thou who was vouchsafed the gift of clairvoyance before the end; Rejoice, you who have also received the grace of miracles.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Elijah, glorious intercessor of the Russian land.
Kontakion 11
Sing, accept meager words and pray for your poor relatives, and be our intercessor with God and our deliverer on earth, as before, and do not stop, we pray, to pray to God for Rus' with the Holy Song: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
Lamp lit by the oil of grace, Father Elijah, now illuminate us, who vegetate in darkness and gloom, and be the commander of the Russian army, liberating the Fatherland from full of wickedness and strengthening the soldiers in the army, and ask for their reason and piety from God, and we call to you:
Rejoice, you who have rested serenely with all the righteous since the ages; Rejoice, you who peacefully departed to the Lady of life and death.
Rejoice, having taken much boldness from Him; Rejoice, you who continually intercede for your fellow tribesmen.
Rejoice, thou who has hitherto guarded the Russian land from the presence of the fierce ones; Rejoice, reverend Father Elijah, glorious intercessor of the Russian land.
Kontakion 12
By grace, growing the Russian state, the Lord, at the beginning of this messenger of you, Elijah, his warrior, the new people - God's acquisition - the Russian people are invincible from the slander of Satan, as the Orthodox are accustomed to, trusting in God, to sing: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing the deeds of your life, we give praise to the Almighty God, the Wise One who organizes the world, for He Himself is Triune, so also Rus' was made Triune, and the Orthodox people, with this in mind, chose three heroes as their guardians, as they represent the Trinity of God, and their commander, They cry out in glorification to Elijah Muromets:
Rejoice, thou who appeared to the servant of the Trinity in life and after thy repose; Rejoice, for the three fingers of your hand, folded for the sign of the cross, remain so to this day.
Rejoice, for through this unprecedented miracle, many who doubted have found the right faith; Rejoice, and do not cease to perform miracles according to your imagination.
Rejoice, even after your death, in your death body, glorifying the Lord; Rejoice, you who have hitherto rested in the incorruption of your relics.
Rejoice, Reverend Father Elijah, glorious intercessor of the Russian land.
Kontakion 13
O holy Father Elijah, warrior and monk, spiritual and physical hero, warrior against enemies visible and invisible, now defend our Fatherland - Holy Rus', which is the footstool of the Throne of the Lord, and protect the Russian Orthodox Church, may people sing to your memory, and to the Lord, to the one who bestowed upon Rus' the protector Sitsevago, they bring praise with the song: Alleluia.
(This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1)
Prayer to the Holy Venerable Elijah of Muromets
O holy reverend Father Elijah! Holy intercessor of Rus', mighty warrior, a spiritual and physical warrior who appeared to her, who faithfully served in his life for the good of the Russian people and the glorification of the Christian God, and after his repose did not leave his intercession for us, ask, holy, from the All-Merciful Lord for the Tsar of our Fatherland, peace and prosperity, the well-being of the church, deliverance for Orthodox people from the wicked, victory for Russian soldiers in battles and victory against enemies plotting evil for the Church and the Orthodox Fatherland, intercede for us all, and we also ask you, Holy One of God, to grant us reason from God, yes let us know our sins, and spiritual strength, let us repent of our sins, and bodily strength, so that we may be able to correct our lives and revive Holy Rus', and pass from it into the Kingdom of Heaven, and there, with you and all the saints, we will be honored to continually praise the glorified God in the Trinity Father and Son and Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
