Reading about the life and death of the blessed passion-bearers Boris and Gleb
- a monument of ancient Russian literature, written by the Venerable Nestor the Chronicler. “Reading” is dedicated to the story of the murder of princes Boris and Gleb and, according to a number of researchers, was written earlier than “The Tale of Boris and Gleb”, created, according to their version, after 1115 on the basis of “Reading” and chronicle material.[1]
The Reading begins with a lengthy introduction in which Nestor recounts the entire biblical history from the creation of the world. He laments that when Christianity became widespread, only Russia remained “ in the first [former] idolatrous charm [remained pagan]
" He describes the Baptism of Rus' by Prince Vladimir as a general triumph and joy. The following describes the traditional version of the story of Svyatopolk’s murder of Boris and Gleb, who, as presented by Nestor, acts according to the machinations of the devil. In each of the situations described in the reading, Nestor looks for an analogy or prototype in past world and biblical history.
“Reading” is written in the hagiographic genre, the author describes facts from Boris’s youth unknown in the chronicles (the dream of martyrdom under the influence of reading the lives of saints, avoidance of marriage and marriage only at the insistence of his father: “ not for the sake of bodily lust.”
", but "
for the sake of the Tsar's law and the obedience of the father
").
In those places where the “Reading” coincides with the chronicle story, Nestor gives other, hagiographic interpretations of events. For example, in the chronicles about Boris’s campaign against the Pechenegs on behalf of his father, it is said that Boris returned to Kiev, since he did not “ find
” (did not meet) the enemy army, and in “Reading” the enemies flee from him, since they do not dare to “
stand against blessed
."
When describing the murder of the brothers, Nestor reports only on the ritual prayer of the doomed princes, quoting psalms, who, at the end of the prayer, urge the killers to “ finish their work
.”
According to medieval philologist O. V. Tvorogov:
Using the example of "Reading" we can judge the characteristic features of the hagiographic canon - this is cold rationality, conscious detachment from specific facts, names, realities, theatricality and artificial pathos of dramatic episodes, the presence (and inevitable formal construction) of such elements of the life of the saint, about which the hagiographer did not have the slightest information...[2]
Links
12th century The Tale of Bygone Years · Teachings of Vladimir Monomakh · The Tale of Igor's Campaign · The Prayer of Daniel the Imprisoner · The Mother of God's Passion · The Deed of Devgenia · The Life of the Venerable Euphrosyne of Polotsk XIII century A Word about the Destruction of the Russian Land · The Tale of the Devastation of Ryazan by Batu · The Legend of the City of Kitezh · The Tale of the Life of Alexander Nevsky · Alexandria · The Tale of the Capture of Constantinople by the Crusaders · The Kiev-Pechersk Patericon · The Legend of the Indian Kingdom · Instruction of the Tver Bishop Semyon This is a draft article about literature. You can help the project by adding to it.
Passion-bearers
Gleb was stabbed to death by the cook. The cook's name was Torchin. It was as if he had slain a lamb with a sharp, crooked knife. Are you crying, little heart, over this terrible line or do you not care what happened there? They were friends - the cook and the young prince. Could it be otherwise if you entrusted your life to those who are next to you? Does this mean something, or is it no longer important to value friendship? The waters of the Smyadyn River cannot wash away this sin. The cook is still crying. Cry and my soul! How many glorious children of Russia have fallen over the years, having tasted the sting of Cain’s knife! Alexander Balyberdin
2010
Excerpt characterizing Reading about Boris and Gleb
- Mon pere, [Father,] tell me how it was? – she asked through tears. - Go, go, killed in a battle in which they ordered the best Russian people and Russian glory to be killed. Go, Princess Marya. Go and tell Lisa. I will come. When Princess Marya returned from her father, the little princess was sitting at work, and with that special expression of an inner and happily calm look, characteristic only of pregnant women, she looked at Princess Marya. It was clear that her eyes did not see Princess Marya, but looked deep into herself - into something happy and mysterious happening within her. “Marie,” she said, moving away from the hoop and waddling back, “give me your hand here.” “She took the princess’s hand and placed it on her stomach. Her eyes smiled expectantly, her sponge with mustache rose, and childishly happily remained raised. Princess Marya knelt in front of her and hid her face in the folds of her daughter-in-law's dress. - Here, here - do you hear? It's so strange to me. And you know, Marie, I will love him very much,” said Lisa, looking at her sister-in-law with sparkling, happy eyes. Princess Marya could not raise her head: she was crying. - What's wrong with you, Masha? “Nothing... I felt so sad... sad about Andrei,” she said, wiping her tears on her daughter-in-law’s knees. Several times throughout the morning, Princess Marya began to prepare her daughter-in-law, and each time she began to cry. These tears, the reason for which the little princess did not understand, alarmed her, no matter how little observant she was. She didn’t say anything, but looked around restlessly, looking for something. Before dinner, the old prince, whom she had always been afraid of, entered her room, now with a particularly restless, angry face, and without saying a word, he left. She looked at Princess Marya, then thought with that expression in her eyes of attention directed inward that pregnant women have, and suddenly began to cry. – Did you receive anything from Andrey? - she said. - No, you know that the news could not come yet, but mon pere is worried, and I’m scared. - Oh nothing? “Nothing,” said Princess Marya, looking firmly at her daughter-in-law with radiant eyes. She decided not to tell her and persuaded her father to hide the receipt of terrible news from her daughter-in-law until her permission, which was supposed to be the other day. Princess Marya and the old prince, each in their own way, wore and hid their grief. The old prince did not want to hope: he decided that Prince Andrei had been killed, and despite the fact that he sent an official to Austria to look for his son’s trace, he ordered a monument to him in Moscow, which he intended to erect in his garden, and told everyone that his son was killed. He tried to lead his previous lifestyle without changing, but his strength failed him: he walked less, ate less, slept less, and became weaker every day. Princess Marya hoped. She prayed for her brother as if he were alive and waited every minute for news of his return. “Ma bonne amie, [My good friend,”] said the little princess on the morning of March 19th after breakfast, and her sponge with mustache rose according to an old habit; but just as in all not only smiles, but the sounds of speeches, even the gaits in this house since the day the terrible news was received, there was sadness, so now the smile of the little princess, who succumbed to the general mood, although she did not know its reason, was such that she reminded me even more of general sadness. – Ma bonne amie, je crains que le fruschtique (comme dit Foka – the cook) de ce matin ne m'aie pas fait du mal. [My friend, I’m afraid that the current frishtik (as cook Foka calls it) might make me sick.] - What’s the matter with you, my soul? You're pale. “Oh, you are very pale,” said Princess Marya in fear, running up to her daughter-in-law with her heavy, soft steps.
“...Barely touching the stones of Sinai,
the dark forest, the airy bread, saving their breadwinners at a quick trot, the horses of Boris and Gleb gallop.
The crafty devils are confusing their path.
Dahl wakes up in scattered sunshine. God is not responsible for either life or death. He who does not accept torment will never be saved.”
(B. Chichibabin “At Chernigov Night from the Ararat Mountains”)
Such a painful and complex, but unchangeable question for many generations and centuries: “Could there be a bloodless sacrifice?” Why is the atonement for sins washed with the blood of the innocent? And the immortality of the soul - through earthly torment? If you don’t find the full answer, then at least the story of the life and death of the noble princes Boris and Gleb helps to start the path to it. One of the first Russian martyrs and passion-bearers. With their feat they clearly demonstrated: only in Christ does loss in earthly life turn into victory in eternal life!
“...The devil, who hates the human race, seeing how people multiplied and spread throughout the earth, taught them to bow to idols, and not to God, who created heaven and earth. The good God, long-suffering and waiting for people to repent, sent His holy prophets to them. They didn’t listen to some and drove them away, and killed others...”
the Venerable Nestor the Chronicler
begins his “Reading about the life, murder and miracles of the blessed passion-bearers Boris and Gleb.” And, indeed, the story of Boris and Gleb is by no means a private fragment of internecine strife between brothers. Not only the story of human envy and selfishness of their brother Svyatopolk. It is not a story of mere submission by some and a brutal seizure of power by others. Rather, it is the story of the path that God gave to those to whom he pointed.
“...Blessed Boris was given the name Roman in baptism, because just as the Holy Spirit rested on Saint Roman from a young age, so the grace of God rested on him. The devil, seeing the grace and mercy given to him from God for all people and not tolerating it, got into his older brother, wanting to destroy the saint.
Saint Gleb was given the name David in baptism. So this child was marked by the grace of God from a young age. Do you understand this? He said that he was named David. But why? Just as the prophet David came out against the foreigner and delivered the sons of Israel from shame, so this holy David came out against the villain the devil and defeated him, and delivered the sons of the Russians from shame.”
(Nestor the Chronicler “Reading about the life, murder and miracles of the blessed passion-bearers Boris and Gleb”)
The story of the test that Boris and Gleb were destined to undergo is brought to us by lives, legends, historical and hagiographic works. Boris and Gleb were the younger half-brothers of Svyatopolk the Accursed and Yaroslav the Wise. All of them are the sons of the Kyiv prince Vladimir, the baptist of Rus'. However, one of the brothers was already different by birth.
“...His mother was Greek and was formerly a nun. Vladimir's brother Yaropolk, seduced by the beauty of her face, undressed her, took her as his wife, and conceived the accursed Svyatopolk from her. Vladimir, at that time still a pagan, having killed Yaropolk, took possession of his pregnant wife. So she gave birth to this accursed Svyatopolk, the son of two fathers and brothers. That’s why Vladimir didn’t love him, because he didn’t come from him.”
(Iakov Chernorizets “The Legend of Boris and Gleb”)
After the death of Vladimir's father, Svyatopolk, in fear of losing power, plots the murder of the brothers Boris and Gleb. And here’s an important point: no one is encroaching on his power! Brothers around 987–989 each received their own allotment from their father: Boris - Rostov, and Gleb - Murom. And they rule there peacefully. Moreover, having learned about Svyatopolk’s bad intentions, they do not plan to repel his attacks in any way, do not weave evil intrigues and do not wish him death. Because they see him as a good older brother. And they obey him completely.
“...And Boris thought: “If I go to my father’s house, then many will turn my heart to the idea of expelling my brother, as my father did before holy baptism, for the sake of the glory of the reign of this world. And this is all fleeting, perishable and more insignificant than a spider’s web. What did my father’s brothers and my father acquire, where is their life and the glory of this world, scarlet and feasts, silver and gold, wine, honey and meat, fast high horses, much property, tribute and honor without number and pride in one’s boyars. So Solomon experienced everything, saw everything, acquired everything, and, having examined everything, said: “vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecc. 1:2); help only comes from good deeds, from orthodoxy and from unfeigned love.”
The primordial hater of good people, the devil, seeing that Saint Boris placed all his hope in God, began to exert a stronger influence on Svyatopolk, who, like Cain, burned with the fire of fratricide, planning to beat up all the heirs of his father and take over his power alone.”
(Dmitry Rostovsky “Lives of the Saints”)
It is surprising and incredible for us – children of the 20th century – to read the thoughts of Prince Boris at the most difficult and turning point of his life. We, who have been searching and not finding justice all our lives. We are so grumbling for every unkind word addressed to us. For every mistake we make, we strive to give “what we deserve” to our neighbor, friend, brother. To us - forever defending our rights before the powers that be, those who rule, those who lead. It is so difficult for us to understand this great humility of the prince. How every step and movement of Boris’s thought echoes the words of the Gospel. Like the savior, he had his own Garden of Gethsemane, and his own prayer “for the cup” and his own absolutely conscious decision to go to the end. By the will of the Lord.
“...Without mercy, the honest body of the holy blessed passion-bearer of Christ Boris was pierced.
- My dear and beloved brothers! Wait a little, let me pray to my God. Lord, merciful God, glory to You, for you have freed me from the temptations of this life. Glory to Thee, most generous giver of life, who has made me worthy of the suffering of Thy holy martyrs. Glory to Thee, Lord, lover of mankind, who has fulfilled the desire of my heart. You know, Lord, you know that I don’t resist, I don’t mind. Having in my hands all my father’s warriors and all his favorites, I did not think of doing anything evil to my brother. He rose up against me with all his might. If an enemy insulted me, I would endure it; if a hater humiliated me, I would hide. But You, Lord, look and judge between me and my brother. And do not hold him guilty of this sin, but accept my soul in peace. Amen".
(Dmitry Rostovsky “Lives of the Saints”)
However, such humility embittered the evil one even more. Seeing the fulfillment of his desire, Svyatopolk did not repent. He was afraid that the other brothers would find out about the murder and take revenge on him. It is truly said that to a lesser evil a greater one will be added. And whoever commits a crime once will not stop. Not because he doesn’t know his guilt and doesn’t understand the scale of what he’s done, on the contrary, he knows everything and is sure that he will never be forgiven. After all, he no longer knows the love of God. And he creates new evil, many times greater than the first.
“...When the boats drew level, the villains grabbed Prince Gleb’s boat by the rowlocks, pulled it towards them and began to jump into it, holding naked swords in their hands, shining like water.
- Most generous, most merciful Lord, do not despise my tears, but look with pity at the contrition of my heart. Look, Lord, and judge. “Behold, my soul is ready before You, Lord, and we send up glory to You, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
(Dmitry Rostovsky “Lives of the Saints”)
Brothers killed. Goal achieved. And what? Where is the earthly truth? Here is Svyatopolk (now it is clear why history “awarded” him with the name “cursed” and forever related him to Cain) - in front of his possessions. He can rule and be great. But what is his destiny? Brother Yaroslav, having learned about what had been done to his brothers by Svyatopolk, could not leave the crimes unpunished. But death by dagger would be the least that would be just for the murderer. He was attacked by a serious illness, he was relaxed and could not stay in one place for long. Constantly rushed to run from pursuit. And he ran through the Lyash land, driven by the wrath of God, and reached the desert between the land of the Lyakhs and the Czechs. Here he lost his life and received retribution from the Lord. So in his earthly life he lost not only his reign, but also his life. And in eternal life - not only the Kingdom of Heaven and being with the angels, but also was given over to torment and fire. His grave remains. But an evil stench emanates from her. From that time on, sedition subsided in the Russian land, and Yaroslav gained dominance in Rus'.
...Centuries have passed. And now we are looking back from the confines of the 20th century and again asking the same question: “Could there have been a bloodless victim?” The most important answer to this is given by history itself.
Where are the names of those who committed the great crime now? N.M. Karamzin, for example, in “History of the Russian State” names the murderers: these are Putsha, Talets, Elovich, Lyashko. But they are known only to chroniclers, historians, and hagiographers.
Where are the passion-bearers Boris and Gleb now? With us, in our reality, in our lives! By your feat and the power of your faith. As the Evangelist said: “A city standing on top of a mountain cannot hide. And when they light a candle, they do not put it under a bushel, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone” (Matthew 5:14, 15). So the Lord made these saints to shine in the world and shine with many miracles in the Russian country, where many suffering people received salvation. The blind began to see, the lame received the speed of a chamois, the bent were straightened. How many churches and monasteries have forever made the names of the murdered immortal:
— Boris and Gleb Cathedral in Chernigov (1123)
— Boris and Gleb Church in Kideksha near Suzdal (1152)
— Boris and Gleb Church in Polotsk (mid-12th century)
— Boris and Gleb Church in Novgorod (1167)
— Kolozha Church in Grodno (1180-1190)
And many, many others. Such a number of churches in honor of saints in the Middle Ages were not dedicated to a single ascetic. Through their feat and their unceasing prayer, the holy martyrs Boris and Gleb are with us forever!
“...Now and ever, along the steep slopes of the Sinai, across the Russian field into the Russian sky, without crushing a single spikelet, the horses of Boris and Gleb gallop.”
(B. Chichibabin “At Chernigov Night from the Ararat Mountains”)
The lives of the saints say that Prince Gleb was stabbed to death by his own cook
After the murder of Prince Boris, Svyatopolk decides to deal with Gleb. Researchers believe that he did it out of fear of revenge from his half-brother, Prince Boris. There are two versions of the death of the saint.
One by one, Svyatopolk calls on Gleb, who does not yet know about his father’s death, to urgently come to him in Kyiv. According to another, the passion-bearer was in Kyiv and fled from it to the north, fleeing death.
The assassins are waiting for Prince Gleb (above); murder of Prince Gleb (below). Miniature from the Sylvester collection, 2nd half of the 14th century
In any case, he stops near Smolensk.
If we take the main version of events of Prince Gleb about the death of his father and the murder of his brother Boris, as well as his brother Yaroslav warned about the preparation of an assassination attempt on him from Veliky Novgorod.
September 5
Prince Gleb suffered martyrdom
The killers sent from Svyatopolk arrived to the saint on September 5.
They captured the prince's ship and declared their intention to kill him. The lives of the holy prince indicate that he himself forbade his retinue from using weapons to protect him.
Murder of Gleb on Smyadyn. Miniature. Radzivilov Chronicle. By order of the warrior Svyatopolk the Accursed Goryaser, the cook of the holy prince Gleb Torchin cut off his head
The killers were led by Goryaser, a warrior of the fratricide. He ordered Saint Torchin's cook to kill him. Researchers claim that the traitor came from the Torok tribe.
The body of the murdered man was buried right at the scene of the murder on the banks of the Dnieper. At the same time, the body was placed like a peasant in an ordinary hollowed out log.
After Yaroslav occupied Kyiv in 1019, he ordered the body of the holy prince to be found and buried next to the ashes of Boris at the Church of St. Basil.
History says that his father’s squad invited Prince Boris to go to Kyiv, but he refused
Prince Boris enjoyed the love and support of both the squad and the Kyiv people. That is why Vladimir’s squad suggested that he go to war against Svyatopolk and take away the grand-ducal table from him.
“I will not raise my hand against my elder brother: if my father died, then let this one be my father instead,”
- the chronicler quotes Boris as saying.
Murderers at the tent of Prince Boris (above); murder of Prince Boris and Georgy Ugrin (below). Miniature from the Sylvester collection, 2nd half of the 14th century
Because of this, his father’s squad left him. It is possible that she went over to Svyatopolk’s side. Only servants remained to guard Saint Prince Boris.
As the chronicle says: “And then it was the Sabbath day.” The saint spent the night before his death in his tent in solitude and prayer.
July 24
Saint Prince Boris was killed by order of Svyatopolk
Svyatopolk, who promised his brother brotherly love and an increase in his inheritance, decided to kill him and sent the Vyshny Novgorod boyars led by Pushta to him.
On Sunday, July 24, the murderers came to the passion-bearer’s tent. They heard him singing psalms and decided to wait until nightfall. At night they attacked the sleeping prince and pierced him with spears.
The Varangians pierce the heart of Prince Boris with a sword (above); Prince Boris's coffin is being carried for burial (below). Miniature from the Sylvester collection, 2nd half of the 14th century
His Hungarian servant Georgy tried to protect Boris and he was pierced along with him. The saint was still breathing when he was wrapped in a tent cloth and taken to Svyatopolk.
The same, having learned about this, ordered two Varangians to stab his brother with a sword.
Since the people of Kiev were afraid to accept the body of the saint, he was buried in Vyshgorod next to the Church of St. Basil. The holy passion-bearer Prince Boris died a martyr's death at the age of 25.
