Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom are the patrons of happy marriages. In memory of the blessed couple, a holiday was established - the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, which is celebrated on July 8. These saints are one of the most popular personalities, in whose honor temples are opened and monuments are erected throughout the country. Sculptures of the holy spouses have already been installed in 60 cities of Russia and this number is growing.
The princely couple earned the admiration of the people by maintaining love and loyalty to each other in the face of trials, everyday problems and evil tongues. The couple carried their love throughout their lives and by their example teach us how to save a marriage today.
Character traits
Peter is a strong and confident person. He skillfully rules the country, looking after his subjects with paternal care. There are no bad people around him. The prince prefers to resolve all issues without the use of force, relying on his sharp mind and well-developed intuition. Among the main character traits of Peter, I would like to highlight the following:
- courage
. He was not afraid to put the boyars in their place when they began to openly express their negative opinion about his chosen one; - determination
. He will always stand up for his neighbor; - pride
. This quality did not allow him to fulfill his promise to marry the first time. He considered it beneath his dignity to tie the knot with an ordinary girl; - diligence
. Takes care of the people, doing everything for their good; - religiosity
. Believes in God. Attends church. Respects Christian customs. Keeps the fast. Takes monastic vows; - love and loyalty to loved ones
. Having tied the knot, Peter remained faithful to his wife all his life, listening to her in everything; - wisdom
_ A smart ruler, but inferior in this to his wife. Having arranged a verbal competition with Fevronia, he admits his defeat to her; - kindness
. Will always support you in difficult times. Will not refuse help to anyone; - courage
_ He was not afraid to enter into mortal combat with the snake-headed monster, knowing that the forces were unequal; - responsiveness
_ The prince did not ignore someone else's misfortune. When Brother Pavel turned to him for help, Peter immediately began to solve his personal problems.
Why did Peter and Fevronia become saints?
Why is this childless couple, an “unequal marriage,” as they would say now, a role model for the family idyll? Why did the Lord glorify them as the ideal of family life?
It is sometimes difficult for us to accept that the world is not ideal. How often do we come to church to perform a mechanical ritual and calm down: well, now everything will be fulfilled? But the Church is not a service bureau. This is living communication with God, with the saints. Once upon a time, Peter and Fevronia were also simple people, the most ordinary. With your aspirations and weaknesses, hopes. So, the girl Fevronia “did not miss her goal,” as they would have noticed today. So Prince Peter tried to escape responsibility. The goals were earthly, people were not holy. Holiness comes when a person correctly understands his duty and place in this world.
It was probably not sweet for the young people in the company of wealthy boyars - neither the prince nor the poor peasant woman. After all, things don’t always happen as you expect, and Fevronia, unlike her girlish dreams, was not received cordially. Who knows what thoughts visited the naive girl, who, perhaps, simply asked God to send her a good husband and regarded the arrival of the sick prince as a message from above.
And the prince. Did he dream of marrying a simpleton? Was he ready for this marriage and grateful enough for the healing to not shy away from reproach? Did you maintain sufficient tact during the first period of “grinding in”? We won't know. But the Lord glorified His saints precisely because they were able to overcome these difficulties with their heads held high, with an awareness of responsibility for the chosen path. We remained true to ourselves and devoted to each other.
Children are not the goal in a Christian marriage. They are a great blessing and comfort. But not the goal. They say it is more difficult to save a marriage without children. But the faithful spouses succeeded. The family is called a small church - this means that in marriage a Christian learns love. The true one who does not die. And it was on this path - on the path of knowing love and mastering it perfectly that the Murom spouses achieved holiness. And they encourage us to do this - just start, just try. Give in. Cover each other's weaknesses. Keep silent. To be at one with each other before the rest of the world. To be together despite circumstances, “characters”, surroundings.
First meeting with Fevronia
When Peter's body was struck by a disease unknown to science, His Majesty's servants went in search of a healer who could save the prince from suffering. One of the servants accidentally wanders into one of the villages, where he meets the daughter of a tree frog-beekeeper, who is engaged in healing. The girl promised to cure him, but on the condition of marrying her.
As soon as Peter was cured, he immediately forgot about this promise. He was ashamed and uncomfortable in front of Fevronia, but the girl managed to forgive him. However, the disease did not go away the first time. Peter had to return to the village. At the first meeting, the prince did not appreciate the beauty of his savior, but after talking with her, he was deeply touched by her inner beauty, her openness and wisdom developed beyond her years. After a frank conversation, the prince realizes that he has fallen in love.
Real examples of help
Traditionally, the sisters of the Holy Trinity Monastery document cases known to them of real help to parishioners after prayers to Peter and Fevronia and various miraculous phenomena occurring near the relics.
After the relics were transferred to the monastery in the early nineties of the twentieth century, two pillars of light were noticed rising above the monastery. The candles in the lamps were also lit independently.
Among the well-known cases of helping parishioners is the case when the wife of one of the people who sponsored the restoration of the monastery gave birth to a daughter after prayer. The woman was already over forty, but she was childless. After praying to the holy relics, the Lord gave the couple their first child.
The meaning of the image of Peter in the story
Using the example of the family relationship of Peter and Fevronia, one can see exactly what spiritual values should be in a marriage in order for it to last as long as possible. To create a harmonious family, the most important qualities of the bride and groom are meekness and humility. Only then will peace and harmony reign in the family.
The main characters were able not only to carry their feelings throughout their lives, but to die on the same day, as they both wanted. Even after death, no one could separate the two lovers, sending them to another world together, in the same coffin.
Since then, the Murom saints have been recognized as protectors of loving hearts, as well as guardians of families and marital ties.
Texts in Russian
Below are the texts of prayers and excerpts from church hymns dedicated to Saints Peter and Fevronia. As you know, prayer is addressed to the saints mainly to gain family well-being, protection from influences that can destroy marriage relationships, to prolong and strengthen love, to find a soul mate, as well as to gain healthy and strong offspring.
Prayers
Here are the texts of the miraculous prayers addressed to the holy couple. These prayers have helped a considerable number of people in gaining and maintaining family well-being.
About saving the family
“Holy righteous spouses, Peter and Fevronia, pious, praying for everyone who suffers and needs the help of the Lord! Take away sorrows, discord and squabbles from my house, save my marriage, blessed by the Lord, forever and ever. Just as you lived in peace and harmony, so I want to live with my husband, to serve our Father, to fulfill His instructions, to know His Kingdom. I trust in your mercy with all my heart and in your prayers for my family to the Almighty Lord. Do not leave us, spouses (names), in sadness, do not leave us in joy. Bless the family for a righteous life that is pleasing to the Lord God. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen".
About marriage
“On the greatness of the saints of God and wonderful miracle workers, on the good faith of Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia, intercessor and guardian of the city of Murom, and on all of us, zeal for the Lord, prayer books! We come running to you and pray to you with strong hope: offer up your holy prayers to the Lord God for us sinners, and ask from His goodness all that is useful to our souls and bodies: faith in justice, hope in goodness, unfeigned love, unshakable piety in good deeds prosperity, peace of peace, fruitfulness of the earth, prosperity of the air, health of the body and salvation of souls. Petition from the Heavenly King the Holy Church and the entire Russian Empire for peace, silence and prosperity, and for all of us a prosperous life and a good Christian death. Protect your Fatherland and all Russian cities from all evil; and all the faithful people who come to you and worship your holy relics, overshadow with the grace-filled effect of your God-pleasing prayers, and fulfill all their requests for good. Hey, holy wonderworkers! Do not despise our prayers, offered to you today with tenderness, but awaken for us to intercede with the Lord in your dreams, and with your help make us worthy to improve eternal salvation and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven: let us glorify the ineffable love for mankind of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in the Trinity we worship God, in forever and ever. Amen".
About the return of a loved one
“I appeal to the great miracle workers, saints, Saints Peter and Fevronia! I bow in repentance before you, begging for the love of God’s servant (name). I hope for mercy and help. O Great Murom Wonderworkers, ask the Lord God to bestow a blessing. I ask you to help my heart calm down, to send me the love of God’s servant (name). I believe in your truth and strength.”
Troparion
“Just as you were of pious origin and most honorable, having lived well in piety, blessed Peter, so with your wife, the wise Fevronia, you have pleased God in the world and have been honored with a reverent life. With them, pray to the Lord to preserve your fatherland without harm, so that we may continually honor you.”
Kontakion
“Contemplating the reign of this world and temporal glory, for this sake you lived piously in the world, Peter, together with your wise wife Fevronia, pleasing God with alms and prayers. In the same way, even after death, lying inseparably in the grave, you invisibly give healing, and now you pray to Christ to save the city and the people who glorify you.”
What help can you get from an image?
The faithful Peter and Fevronia are prayed to in various life situations. A sincere request, spoken in front of their icon mentally or out loud, helps:
- meet your one and only true love;
- eliminate family conflicts;
- find mutual understanding between spouses;
- overcome the difficulties that arise in a marriage;
- get rid of grievances, learn to forgive your half;
- keep the marriage pure, avoid deception and betrayal;
- conceive and give birth to a healthy child;
- properly raise a growing child.
The image also helps those who are ill, pray for their own recovery, the healing of their neighbors or children. The icon protects from all kinds of evil, helps to save love that is crumbling, and to avoid the separation of spouses.
It is recommended that the sacred picture be hung above the bed of the husband and wife. Being here, she will ward off all sorts of troubles, help avoid betrayal, and get rid of envious people and ill-wishers. The image will strengthen young families who do not yet have sufficient experience of living together.
The serpent and the hare
Today the myth of Peter and Fevronia looks surprisingly relevant. Orthodox rhetoric only bashfully covers up its powerful pagan energy. It would be worth filming this story in the spirit of Game of Thrones. There is a lot of blood, magic and outright indecency. It is not surprising that our ancestors were so fascinated by this legend for centuries.
The story begins with the fact that the “evil winged serpent” begins to go to the wife of his elder brother Peter “to commit fornication.” The snake is the oldest erotic symbol of Slavic folklore. He is not dangerous - he does not kill anyone, does not breathe fire, he only indulges in love pleasures. To an earthly woman who enters into a relationship with him, the snake gives incredible offspring - heroes, wizards, handsome men.
In our story, the snake is also a werewolf - at first he appears to the princess under the guise of her husband. And then he indulges in lovemaking with her in the form of a monster. Showing a kind of humor, he, in the guise of a prince, sits with the princess in the palace, and the courtiers do not notice anything. The husband has no idea about anything either.
Finally, the wife finally tells the prince about the snake. Showing reasonable caution, he does not rush at the enemy, but tells her to find out from her lover how he can even be killed. Having become overwhelmed by the caresses, the snake trustingly tells the princess: “I am destined to die from Peter’s shoulder, from Agrikov’s sword.”
Then the prince calls his younger brother, whose name is Peter, for help. During prayer, a certain youth appears to him and points out the secret place where Agrikov’s sword is kept. It is very noticeable that Ermolai-Erasmus the Pregreshny is well acquainted with European folklore. Agrikov's sword and the story of its acquisition are closely reminiscent of the story of King Arthur's sword.
Bursting into the princess's bedroom, Peter kills the snake, but the monster's blood gets on his skin, and the prince is covered with scabs. He is treated by different doctors, but to no avail. Having heard that many skilled doctors live in the Ryazan land, Peter orders him to be taken there. There, in the village of Laskovo, Peter's servant sees a girl in one house. She sits and weaves, and a hare jumps on the floor in front of her.
The hare appears in the legend for a reason. He is the main character of the so-called “kissing songs” and all marriage folklore. For the pagan Slavs, the hare is a popular and powerful spirit of fertility. It is responsible for sexual strength and can provide abundant offspring. All these “bunny, jump!” brought to our times the echo of ancient pagan spells. By jumping in front of the girl, the hare recognizes her strength and serves her. This means that this is a very difficult girl.
Fevronia and the hare. Peter kills the serpent
© wikipedia.org
Feminist Goddess
Setting off from the city of Murom to the Ryazan wilderness, Peter seems to be traveling back in time. Let us remember that this takes place at the turn of the 12th-13th centuries. Christianity has already reached the princely court in Murom, but the outback for the most part still lives in paganism.
It’s interesting that Fevronia’s father is a “tree climber.” That is, a person who climbs trees and extracts wild honey. It was in the forests that the priests of Slavic pagan cults lived, hiding from the new religion. It can be assumed that Fevronia’s father is a powerful sorcerer who passed on his knowledge to his daughter.
Fevronia, if we put aside later omissions, works as a local sorceress. She is an expert in weaving and crafts. She knows riddles and conspiracies. She cures all diseases. She can severely punish disobedience. In general, this is a later version of the great mother goddess. Another hypostasis of this goddess in our folklore is Vasilisa the Wise.
Fevronia treats Peter with a magic potion. This is “kislyazhd” - bread leaven in a pot. Blowing on it and casting a spell, she orders the prince to be taken to the bathhouse and there to rub his ulcers and scabs.
From time immemorial, the bathhouse was for Russians a place of witchcraft, a place of power. The Magi believed that God created the first man in the bathhouse, wiping his sweat. Peter undergoes a magical ritual in the bathhouse, smears himself with ointment - and recovers. Now he must pay off Fevronia.
Before treating Peter, the sorceress demanded that he marry her. Appreciate the courage of this medieval feminist. Fevronia directly demands marriage, although this violates both etiquette and the law of that time: the prince simply could not marry a simple village girl.
Therefore, having recovered, Peter simply leaves the village, without even thinking about keeping his promise. But as soon as he returns to Murom, he again becomes covered with scabs. He has to go to the village and ask Fevronia for forgiveness. The unforgiving girl replies that she will cure him only if he marries her.
© pixabay.com
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