| St. Euphrosyne of Moscow, blessed princess |
Euphrosyne
, in the world
Evdokia
(c. 1354 - 1407), blessed princess of Moscow, venerable Memory May 17, May 19 together with the blessed. book Demetrius Donskoy, July 7, in the Cathedrals of Moscow and Radonezh Saints.
In the world, Evdokia Dmitrievna, was born around 1354 [1] in the family of the Suzdal prince Dimitri Konstantinovich and his wife Anna.
On January 18, 1366, with the blessing of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow, Evdokia’s marriage took place with the Grand Duke of Moscow Dmitry Ivanovich. The wedding was solemnly celebrated according to the customs of those years in Kolomna. This marriage was of great importance for the fate of the Moscow state, cementing the union of the Moscow and Suzdal principalities.
This marriage took place at a difficult time. The forty-year period of relative calm in Rus' was ending: the time of almost continuous wars with numerous enemies - external and internal - was coming. In addition to the constant confrontation with external enemies - the Horde and Lithuania, the bloody rivalry of the Russian principalities continued.
In addition, almost in the very year of Prince Dimitri’s marriage to Evdokia, a “pestilence” was raging in Moscow, people were dying in the thousands, and the crying and lamentations of orphaned people could be heard along the Moscow streets. This misfortune was joined by another one - a terrible fire in Moscow.
Moscow had barely recovered from the ashes when in 1368 the Lithuanian prince Olgerd besieged the Kremlin, in which the Grand Duke and Princess, Metropolitan Alexy and the boyars secluded themselves. And again Moscow was burning, again the groans and cries of Moscow residents were heard, being beaten by the Lithuanians. The entire Moscow land was devastated.
The princess rightfully shared with the Grand Duke the feat of the struggle for the liberation of Rus' from the Mongol-Tatar yoke - with fervent prayers and deeds of love. In memory of the victory on the Kulikovo Field, Evdokia built a temple inside the Moscow Kremlin in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The invasion of the Tatar Khan Tokhtamysh in 1382 became a new terrible test for Moscow and the entire Russian land. Dimitri Ivanovich left to gather an army, first to Pereslavl, and then to Kostroma, leaving the Grand Duchess in Moscow. Because of the danger of taking Moscow, the Grand Duchess and her children and Metropolitan Cyprian barely managed to leave the city walls, after which Evdokia followed the prince. On the way, she was barely captured. After three days of siege, Tokhtamysh’s troops took Moscow and burned the city, after which they turned most of the Russian lands into ashes.
In 1383, Dimitri Ivanovich had to appear before Tokhtamysh to defend the khan’s rights to the great reign. Because of Tokhtamysh’s extreme anger, they decided to send the Grand Duke’s eldest son, Vasily, who was about 13 years old, to the Horde. Evdokia released her son and thereby doomed herself to two years of suffering - her son was detained in the Horde as a hostage. In addition to tribute, Tokhtamysh demanded a ransom of 8 thousand rubles for Vasily. The amount at that time was huge and the devastated Moscow principality could not pay the entire amount. Therefore, Vasily had to live in captivity of the khan for two long years, after which he managed to escape. On May 19, 1389, Grand Duke Dimitri Ivanovich died at the fortieth year of his life.
Dimitri Ivanovich handed over the throne to his son Vasily, bequeathing that his mother be his co-ruler. The Grand Duchess refrained from direct participation in state affairs. Even during her husband’s life, she lived a truly Christian life, and after his death she led a strictly monastic ascetic life, dressed in a hair shirt, and wore heavy chains under her luxurious grand-ducal clothes. Even in front of her loved ones she did not want to reveal her exploits; She organized dinner parties in the Grand Duke's palace, but she herself did not touch the dishes, eating Lenten food.
But ridiculous rumors began to circulate around Moscow, affecting the honor of the widow - the princess. These rumors reached the sons. The princes, although they loved their mother and did not believe the slander, still could not help but be embarrassed. One of them, Yuri, turned to his mother with a question about the slander defaming her. Then the princess gathered all her sons and took off part of the grand ducal clothes - the children saw that the ascetic had become so thin from fasting and labors that her body was withered and blackened and “the flesh stuck to the bones.” Yuri and his other brothers asked their mother for forgiveness and wanted to take revenge for the slander. But their mother forbade them to even think about revenge. She said that she would gladly endure humiliation and human slander for the sake of Christ, but seeing the embarrassment of the children, she decided to reveal her secret to them.
Every day Evdokia could be found either in one of the churches or in the monastery. Remembering her late husband, she constantly made contributions to monasteries and donated money and clothing to the poor. The sons of the Grand Duchess grew up, she began to think about a monastery in which she could devote herself entirely to God. In the heart of Moscow - in the Kremlin - she is building a new convent in honor of the Ascension. We chose a place near the Florovsky Gate. From here she saw off, here she met her husband, returning from the Kulikovo field. Near the gate there was a grand-ducal tower, burned during the invasion of Tokhtamysh. On this site of the former princely home, the Grand Duchess erected monastic cells. At the same time, she built several churches and monasteries in Pereslavl-Zalessky.
One of the most significant events in the spiritual history of Russia is associated with the name of Grand Duchess Evdokia. In 1395, Tamerlane’s army approached the borders of Rus', which horrified the entire people. Grand Duke Vasily Dmitrievich, thanks to the influence of his mother, showed fortitude, gathered an army and went out to meet the enemy. The people, strengthened by faith in God's intercession, prayed to God together with their princess. Evdokia made deep prayers for the deliverance of Rus' from destruction. The prayer of the righteous woman was heard by God. On the advice of his mother, Vasily Dimitrievich ordered to bring the miraculous Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God from Vladimir to Moscow. On August 26, 1395, Grand Duchess Evdokia with her sons, the metropolitan, the clergy, the boyars, and many assembled residents of Moscow met the icon of the Mother of God on Kuchkovo Field. On that very day and hour, Tamerlane, in a sleepy vision, saw the “Radiant Woman”, surrounded by radiance and many “lightning-fast warriors” menacingly rushing forward. On the advice of his mentors, Tamerlane ordered the troops to turn away from the borders of Rus'.
In 1407, after a vision of the Archangel Michael, who foreshadowed her imminent death, Princess Evdokia decided to accept monasticism, which she had striven for all her life. At her request, an image of the Archangel Michael was painted and placed in the Kremlin church in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On May 17, 1407, she took monastic vows with the name Euphrosyne in the wooden Church of the Ascension. According to legend, on the day of the Grand Duchess's tonsure, 30 people were healed of various diseases.
And three days later, on May 20, the foundation stone of a new stone church in honor of the Ascension of Christ took place, where the Grand Duchess determined her resting place. But she did not get to see the completion of construction.
She died on July 7, 1407 at the age of 54. They buried Saint Euphrosyne in front of a large crowd of people in the place of the church that was under construction, indicated by her, where she rested until 1929, bestowing grace-filled help to everyone who came with faith to her multi-healing relics.
In 1922, the shrine and the canopy over the relics were removed in order to extract precious metals from it. The relics of St. Euphrosyne remained in a stone tomb under the floor of the cathedral.
In 1929, by decision of the government, the destruction of the buildings of the Ascension Monastery began. Museum staff tried to save the necropolis. The basement of the Judgment Chamber of the Archangel Cathedral was chosen for its placement. The white stone tomb of St. Euphrosyne was damaged and they could not remove it entirely from the ground. The relics of the saint were saved from destruction; they were located along with other remains from burials in two white stone tombs of the 15th century. When opening the burials, among the remains of St. Euphrosyne, in addition to small pieces of fabric from the shroud, they found scraps of her leather monastic belt with embossed images of the twelve feasts and captions for them. These shrines, together with the vessels for oil that were in the coffins, are kept in the collections of the Kremlin museums.
On May 28, 2008, with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus', the relics of the Holy Blessed Princess Euphrosyne of Moscow were transferred to the chapel of the martyr Huar of the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. The Patriarch in his speech called this event “the second discovery of the relics of St. Euphrosyne of Moscow.” The transfer of the relics was preceded by the work of a commission in which spiritual and secular scientists worked together under the leadership of Archbishop Alexy of Orekhovo-Zuevsky. During the work of the commission, the relics of the saint were discovered [2].
On July 13, 2015, by decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, the joint memory of the faithful Prince Dimitry Donskoy and Princess Evdokia was established on May 19, like other saints who showed the image of a married family [3].
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The daughter of the Prince of Suzdal and Nizhny Novgorod, Evdokia, was born in Suzdal in 1352. According to contemporaries, “she combined with the beauty of her face a rare kindness of soul.” Here they taught her to perceive the dignity of the Grand Duke not as an opportunity to spend time idle and well-fed, but as a great and difficult service - to God, the Fatherland, the people, and not to spare her heart for anyone. Throughout her life, the Grand Duchess will prove how she has internalized her father’s precepts. In 1366, she married the grandson of Ivan Kalita and the son of Ivan II the Red - Dmitry Donskoy, Grand Duke of Moscow and Vladimir. The chronicle says that the prince was “strong and courageous and had a marvelous look.” Evdokia was 13 years old, and Dmitry Donskoy was 17.
The marriage celebration took place on January 18, 1366 in Kolomna with all the splendor and magnificent rituals of that time. As Karamzin wrote, “this wedding was celebrated with all the magnificent rituals of that time in Kolomna.” The wedding took place in Kolomna because Moscow did not have time to rebuild after the terrible fire of 1365. This fire was called the Great All Saints. In two hours he destroyed the entire city and suburbs. But a year after the wedding, Prince Dmitry laid the foundation for the white-stone Kremlin, which was completed in 1368.
From the first days of her marriage, the young princess of Moscow Evdokia constantly justified the honor and attention shown to her. Chastity, ardent love for her husband, the deepest modesty of behavior before society and active piety - all these qualities were demonstrated by the Grand Duchess, and they fully corresponded to the high spirituality of her husband. Dmitry’s main qualities were peaceful, piety and family virtues, which he inherited from his father, Prince Ivan “The Meek.” Evdokia and Dmitry lived in love and harmony for 22 years. They had six sons and three daughters. Together they steadfastly endured all the trials that befell them. Dmitry Donskoy had to reign in difficult times. The Moscow land suffered from strife and external enemies, was twice raided by the Lithuanians, was devastated by the invasion of Tokhtamysh, and then rebuilt again.
During the reign of Dmitry Donskoy, the principalities of Suzdal, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod rallied around Vladimir and Moscow. But from four sides, Lithuania, the Prince of Tver, the Horde and the Prince of Ryazan attacked Rus'. Evdokia was not destined to enjoy serene happiness. In the year of the wedding, a terrible pestilence struck southern Russia, and then Moscow - Olgerd of Lithuania subjected Rus' to terrible devastation. Evdokia and her family survived the siege of the Kremlin. Dmitry's wife locked herself with the children in the new stone Kremlin, which Dmitry rebuilt after the All Saints Fire of 1365. Olgerd did not take the Kremlin.
The disasters of the Fatherland, the dangers to which the sovereign was exposed, crushed the heart of the young wife. She was ardently worried, seeing the devastation of the capital caused by the Lithuanians, she was ready to suffer better than to see her dearly beloved husband in danger. Having no other means to help, she earnestly prayed to the Lord for help. Prince Mikhail Alexandrovich of Tver, brave and active, did not want to go under the will of the Moscow prince, but could not equal Moscow with his own strength and therefore sought help from his son-in-law Olgerd Gedominovich of Lithuania, then support in the Horde. Mikhail Tverskoy managed to get a label from the Horde for the Great Reign, but the Moscow prince Dmitry did not let him into Vladimir, moreover, he went on a campaign to Tver and defeated Mikhail Tverskoy. In 1375, peace was concluded between Tver and Moscow. Princess Evdokia was greatly distressed by the fact that her husband and the Moscow state had another enemy who wanted to overthrow Dmitry from the grand ducal throne - Oleg Ryazansky. Proud and wayward, he either helped Moscow in the wars with Olgerd of Lithuania, or marched with an army to Moscow, opposing the policy of unity of command pursued by Dmitry. In December 1371, the Muscovites defeated the Ryazanians, but Oleg again established himself on the throne. Evdokia knew that he was the most stubborn of the Russian princes, and she prayed to God for the humility of his soul. Sergius of Radonezh helped in establishing peace. He knew how to quietly and meekly tune a person’s soul and extract the best feelings from it. The monk dissuaded the stubborn and severe Ryazan resident from war with Moscow. Subsequently, Ryazan and Moscow made peace, and Oleg Ryazansky agreed to the marriage of his son Fyodor Olegovich with the daughter of Evdokia and Dmitry, Sofia Dmitrievna, and became their matchmaker. After the end of the war, peace was concluded with Lithuania. Before this, the Lithuanian prince Olgerd went to Moscow three times and besieged it in 1368 and 1370. And the third time, in 1372, Olgerd did not reach Moscow, peace was concluded, and Olgerd hurried to the west to repel the advance of the Teutonic Order. To commemorate the conclusion of the alliance with Lithuania, Evdokia's brother-in-law, Prince Vladimir Andreevich (cousin and faithful friend from childhood of Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich) was solemnly engaged to Olgerdova's daughter Elena. The wedding took place a few months later and the Lithuanian princess became a Russian princess. Evdokia received her daughter-in-law in Moscow, not yet knowing how many insults she would endure from her relatives.
The robberies of the Horde stopped and silence fell on Russian soil during the reign of Ivan Kalita, the grandfather of Dmitry Donskoy. People began to wean themselves from the chilling fear of the Horde, and the moral and political revival of the Russian people began. The consciousness of the need for complete liberation from the Tatar yoke was maturing, but had this time come? Moscow Prince Dmitry discussed for a long time with Metropolitan Alexei and the boyars how to build relations with the Horde. It was necessary to choose: either openly oppose the Tatars, or resort to the previous means - to achieve the mercy of the khans by submission and humiliation. They chose a very wise policy, decided to act with cunning, flattery, and win the favor of the khan with gifts and obedience. In the early 70s, the success of courage and boldness was still doubtful. The people were excited and horrified when they learned that the young sovereign, Dmitry was then about 20 years old, should be in danger of being killed in the Horde. Karamzin wrote about the prince’s upcoming visit to the Horde: “No one could see without emotion how much Dmitry preferred the people’s safety to his own, and the general love for him doubled in the hearts of the grateful.”
There is no doubt that the state of mind of Evdokia, who was seeing off her dearly beloved husband, was as painful as that of all people, and the suffering was even deeper and despair. Metropolitan Alexei, Princess Evdokia and the people accompanied Dmitry to the banks of the Oka and there they prayed for a long time to the Most High Lord God . The Metropolitan ordered the boyars who accompanied the prince to the Horde to protect his precious life and share any danger with him. Evdokia, like all of Moscow, waited with trepidation for news from the Horde. The worries about the fate of those who went to the Horde were especially grave because an evil omen appeared in nature: black spots were visible in the sun, there was an evil drought in the country, fogs were so thick on the ground that it was impossible to see faces two fathoms away. Birds could not fly, but walked on the ground in flocks. The cattle were dying. Bread prices were beyond the reach of the common people. Neither the khan, nor the temnik Mamai, nor the nobles of the Horde recognized Dmitry’s true thoughts and greeted the prince kindly. He was again granted the Grand Duchy of Vladimir and released with great honor, agreeing to take a tribute much less than before. In the Horde, Dmitry did a good deed for his enemy, Prince Mikhail Tverskoy. He ransomed his son Mikhail, the young Prince Ivan Mikhailovich, from Horde captivity for 10,000 rubles. At the end of the autumn of 1371, Evdokia greeted Dmitry from the Horde with great joy. For Evdokia, a calm time of family happiness has come for several years. With her qualities of kindness and patience, Princess Evdokia acquired deep respect from the best people of her time - Metropolitan Alexei and, especially, St. Sergius of Radonezh. When her son Yuri was born in 1373, Sergius of Radonezh came on foot to Pereyaslavl, where the princely family was located, to be the successor of the newborn son Evdokia from the font. Evdokia considered this day one of the happiest in her life. Nearby were her husband, Grand Duke Dmitry, and her father, Prince Dmitry Konstantinovich of Suzdal, and her mother, Princess Anna, and her siblings, Princes Vasily Dmitrievich and Semyon Dmitrievich (not yet in litter, still alive). Sergius of Radonezh personally baptized her son and laid him in her arms. Perhaps in memory of this event, Princess Evdokia built a church in Pereyaslavl in the name of John the Baptist and founded a monastic monastery with it.
With a strict view of her Christian duties as a wife and mother, Princess Evdokia rarely appeared in society. Something extraordinary was needed to force her to leave her circle of family and friends and appear before the people. Such an event was the farewell of the husband of Prince Dmitry to the great and decisive battle with the Horde in 1380. Two years before, in 1378, there was a victory for Grand Duke Dmitry in the battle with the Tatars on the river. Vozhe. And now we are getting ready for a new battle. Going to battle with the hordes of Mamai on the Kulikovo Field, Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich walked around the cathedral churches of Moscow for the last time. On the square in front of the Archangel Cathedral, a group of women was waiting for him: Grand Duchess Evdokia, Princess Elena Serpukhovskaya - the wife of Prince Vladimir Andreevich, the wives of the Moscow boyars, they came out “to give their sovereign the final kiss.” When Dmitry left the Archangel Cathedral and went to Evdokia, she could not utter a word from tears and excitement. Dmitry himself almost burst into tears, as the legend says: “don’t shed tears for the sake of the people.” Gathering all the strength of his spirit, he spoke the words of the psalm: “If the Lord is against us, who can be against us?” - and jumped on his horse. During all the time of his absence there was not a day when Evdokia did not pray for the salvation of her husband.
Saint Sergius of Radonezh predicted to Dmitry “terrible bloodshed, but victory... the death of many Orthodox heroes, but the salvation of the Grand Duke.” And indeed, the prince was found after the battle unconscious, but alive. Dmitry’s Russian troops gathered in Kolomna, then crossed the Oka and moved to the upper reaches of the Don. We met with countless hordes of Mamai on the banks of the Nepryadva River, the right tributary of the Don. The battle began on the huge Kulikovo field. Only on the fourth day did Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich send a messenger to his wife Evdokia and Metropolitan Kupriyan with the news that he was alive and that on the day of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, September 8, a victory was won over the enemy and the enemy was defeated. After the Battle of Kulikovo, Grand Duke Dmitry began to be called Donskoy. On September 25, 1380, Dmitry Donskoy returned to Moscow victoriously. Grand Duchess Evdokia with her children, princes Vasily and Yuri, met him at the Kremlin gates. She was accompanied by her daughter-in-law - the wife of Prince Vladimir Andreevich and the wives of the governor. Together with her husband, Grand Duchess Evdokia toured the Kremlin cathedrals, where she offered fervent prayers of thanks for the victory won and the salvation of her husband. In the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God, Metropolitan Cyprian performed a liturgy and a prayer service of thanks for the victory granted. The next day, Dmitry Donskoy, accompanied by Grand Duchess Evdokia, went to the Trinity Monastery to see Sergius of Radonezh, the herald of victory. Evdokia, in commemoration of the Battle of Kulikovo, vowed to turn the small wooden church of St. Lazarus into the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, for this day brought victory in the battle on the Kulikovo field. Evdokia fulfilled this vow at the end of her life. All the people celebrated the defeat of Mamai, but this was not yet the final victory over the Horde. Karamzin wrote: “God miraculously saved the prince among countless dangers to which he exposed himself with excessive ardor, fighting in a crowd of enemies and often leaving his squad behind him.”
The heart of Evdokia and all the people was filled with great horror when in 1382 a comet swept over the earth, which foreshadowed the formidable invasion of Tokhtamysh, and yet the enemies approached Moscow unexpectedly. Dmitry Donskoy, in order to gather an army, quickly rushed to Kostroma. Evdokia and her children remained in Moscow. The people were worried and did not let anyone leave the city. Scary drunken people, who usually appear during public unrest, wandered the streets and crowded at the Kremlin and city gates. Evdokia, in order to save the children from the anger of Tokhtamysh, who could fall on the city at any minute, decided to leave Moscow. This was not easy to do; there were barriers everywhere. Distributing her jewelry to the crowd, she paved the way for her train to leave the city wall. On the way to Pereyaslavl, a new danger awaited her. Tokhtamysh burned Moscow, causing a terrible pogrom in the city and plundering the surrounding area. One detachment from Tokhtamysh’s army overtook Evdokia’s train. The Horde were hot on her heels, but she and her children managed to rush to Pereslavl-Zalessky and take refuge behind the walls of the monastery, and then through Rostov she brought the children to Kostroma to her husband.
Tokhtamysh soon left Russian lands forever. One of his detachments was defeated by Vladimir Alexandrovich, his faithful comrade and brother of Dmitry Donskoy. When Tokhtamysh learned that Vladimir Alexandrovich’s army was standing at Volok, and Grand Duke Dmitry himself was standing in Kostroma, he quickly began to retreat. This marked a decisive change in Rus'’s relations with the Tatars, which was a consequence of the Battle of Kulikovo.
Grand Duchess Evdokia with her husband and children returned to devastated Moscow, where everyone was crying and burying the dead. Evdokia suffered difficult trials one after another in 1383. In addition to Tokhtamysh’s invasion of the country, there was a personal grief - her father, 60-year-old Dmitry Konstantinovich, died. Prince of Suzdal and Nizhny Novgorod. The old enemy Prince Tverskoy, counting on Tokhtamysh’s anger towards Moscow, went to the Horde to take away the title of Great from Dmitry Donskoy, i.e. the main thing in Rus', the prince. He did not go along the straight road, but along the outskirts, so that princes Dmitry and Vladimir would not find out about this. Tokhtamysh sent ambassador Murza Karacha to Dmitry, to invite him to the Horde to the khan. The circumstances were such that it was impossible to resist the Tatars this time, but going into the horde was also very dangerous. Princes were often killed there. Prince Dmitry Ivanovich was not allowed to go because “the very sound of his name outraged the soul of Tokhtamysh, who was evil to him.” No matter how great Evdokia’s sadness was, at the Great Council it was decided to send the eldest son Vasily to the horde, who in the future would become the Grand Duke after his father. Princess Evdokia made a sacrifice to the Russian land - she submitted to the decision of the Boyar Council, sent her 13-year-old son to the horde to Tokhtamysh, who had just incinerated Moscow. The mother's heart was seriously wounded by the news that Tokhtamysh had detained the young prince in the horde for an indefinite period, as a pledge of loyalty to his father's khan. The grieving Evdokia could barely stand three difficult years of separation from her son and constant prayer for him. Vasily Dmitrievich also suffered a lot until he escaped from Tatar captivity through the southern regions and western countries, through Moldova and Prussia. Vitovt, the cousin of Prince Jagiello of Lithuania, helped him escape. For this, Vasily Dmitrievich undertook to marry Vitovt’s daughter Sophia. The Moscow boyars solemnly greeted Prince Vasily.
Evdokia’s heart rejoiced and calmed down. Princess Evdokia was 34 years old at that time, and she was again expecting a child. She gave birth to a girl and named her Anna after her mother. All Moscow people rejoiced at the maternal happiness of their princess. But this joy was only a brief moment before new troubles. The year 1389 of the death of Dmitry Donskoy was approaching. Grand Duchess Evdokia was pregnant again, expecting her last child, and therefore they did not tell her about her husband’s serious illness. But then Prince Konstantin was born and the next day, still very weak, she entered her husband’s bedroom and was struck with grief - Dmitry lay in a serious illness, surrounded by his sons and boyars. Dmitry, seeing that Evdokia, whom he loved and deeply respected, had arrived, began to say his “last word.” He called Evdokia his dear wife and heir to wealth. In his spiritual will, Dmitry Donskoy assigned an important role to his wife, Evdokia: he allocated to the Grand Duchess several volosts from the inheritance of each son. Granted Grand Duchess Evdokia unlimited power in the redistribution of volosts between her sons. If one of the sons dies, then Evdokia herself should dispose of the inheritance. In addition to the lands, Dmitry bequeathed to his wife trades and most of the Moscow income. Having made exhortations to his sons, he ordered the boyars to approach: “Serve my wife and children,” asked the dying prince. Dmitry Donskoy introduced the boyars and everyone present to his 17-year-old son Vasily as the future sovereign. So he was the first of the princes not to ask the consent of the horde. He hugged Evdokia and said: “May the God of peace be with you!” He folded his hands on his chest and died. According to the chroniclers, it is impossible to imagine deeper spiritual grief: crying, long lamentations and screams did not stop in the palace, on the streets and squares. Grand Duke Dmitry was loved not only by his wife, but also by the people for his generosity, for caring for the glory of the Fatherland, for justice and kindness. Evdokia’s lament was recorded by chroniclers and became an ancient Russian literary monument. She lamented: “Why don’t you say a word to me, my beautiful flower? Why do you fade early? O abundant vine, no longer give fruit to my heart and sweetness to my soul. My sun, set early; My beautiful month, you perish early; Eastern star, are you coming towards sunset? Finishing the story about the princess’s cry, the chronicler exclaims: “From the grief of the soul, the tongue is tied, the lips are blocked, the larynx is silent.” Even in widowhood, she remained faithful to her husband’s memory, was a caring mother and was distinguished by her modest behavior in society and at court. According to her inner spiritual state, Evdokia wanted and was ready to go to a monastery immediately after her husband’s death.
But she considered it her duty as a Christian to take care of the well-being of children and to regulate family relations, including legal, property and financial relations. She began managing family affairs by fulfilling the agreement on the marriage of her son Vasily to the daughter of Vytautas. Vytautas at that time, pressed by Jogaila, did not sit firmly in Lithuania. So this marriage was not beneficial for Muscovy. But fulfilling this word was a matter of honor. Having enormous wealth, Evdokia used it not for herself, but for the cause of piety and charity. She fulfilled the vow made on the day of Dmitry’s return from the Battle of Kulikovo: the construction of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary began, and she herself supervised the construction. In Pereslavl-Zaleskoye, at the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist, built through her efforts, she created a monastic hostel. The Book of Degrees says that Princess Evdokia “built many holy churches and built monasteries.”
But there were also difficult, sorrowful days for the widow Evdokia. The courtiers who came from Lithuania—relatives of the young princess Sofia Vitovtovna—uttered “fictional words” about Evdokia, dishonoring her rumors. Evdokia knew about these fables, but silently endured the insults, counting this patience as a Christian duty. The widow princess incessantly fasted, deliberately exhausting her flesh. And at ceremonial receptions she wore several luxurious clothes so that her ascetic exhaustion would not be visible. When rumors at court intensified and became known to her sons. And one of them, Yuri, was even inclined to believe the slander; Evdokia decided to act and defend herself. After all, to ignore rumors meant losing sons, losing their respect and reverence. The gravity of the situation for her was that making excuses was not only humiliating, but also meant violating the secrets of piety and humility. For the sake of a moral lesson for the children, the princess cast aside her doubts. She secretly called her sons to her and announced that for the sake of higher justice she intended to reveal the secret of her life. At these words, she opened her clothes and exposed her chest and stomach. Horror seized the sons - they saw the emaciated, seemingly dried-out body of the mother, the bones covered with skin. This especially struck the gullible Yuri Dmitrievich. Princess Evdokia made the children promise to keep this meeting a secret. But the mother’s main order was for her sons to be more careful when talking about other people. She also made them promise that they would never take revenge on anyone who spread false rumors about their mother. Thus, Evdokia defended her dignity in an edifying manner for her young sons.
Princess Evdokia married all her sons and all her daughters. Two sons, Daniel and Simeon, died under their father. John - after the death of Dmitry Ivanovich. In 1394, Evdokia gave her daughter Princess Maria Dmitrievna to the Lithuanian prince Semyon Olgerdovich. The next year, 1395, she had a grandson from the eldest son of Prince Vasily, Yuri Vasilyevich, and in 1396, a grandson Ivan Vasilyevich. The next year, 1397, Princess Evdokia married her daughter, Princess Anastasia (Natalia) to Prince Tverskoy, Ivan Vsevolodovich, nephew of the famous militant Mikhail Alexandrovich Tverskoy. The eldest daughter, Princess Sophia, two years before the death of Dmitry Donskoy, was married to the son of Prince Oleg of Ryazan - Fyodor. In 1400, she married her son Yuri to Princess Smolenskaya, who briefly in 1433 - 1434. will become a Grand Duke. In 1403, Princess Evdokia married her son Andrei to Princess Agripina of Starodubskaya. In 1406, she married her son Peter to the daughter of the Moscow boyar Poluekhta Vasilyevich. The younger son Konstantin, who was left a 3-day orphan after the death of his father, was already carrying out the orders of the elder brother of Grand Duke Vasily - his godfather. In 1406, he was sent to Pskov to protect it from the Livonian Germans and remained in the war waged by the Moscow principality with the Lithuanian principality from 1406 to 1408. The upbringing of the last son of Constantine perfectly completed the worldly feat of Princess Evdokia - the feat of her mother.
F. Ya. Alekseev. Spassky Gate and Ascension Monastery in the Kremlin. 1800s
The children grew up and could no longer remain under her care. Now nothing tied the pious princess to worldly life. For seventeen years of her widowhood, for the sake of the well-being of her children, Evdokia endured the grand-ducal court, full of intrigues and gossip. Her soul had long longed for freedom and the peace of monastic life. And now this high-spirited woman could move away from the bustle of the world, think about her soul, especially since she had already been told about the imminent end of her earthly life. As an ancient legend says, an Angel appeared to the princess with the news of her death. Struck by joyful horror, the princess was speechless. The princess asked with signs that icon painters be sent to her. They rewrote the icon twice, but could not please the princess. Finally, the icon painter depicted Archangel Michael on the icon. Evdokia recognized the Angel, paid him homage, and the ability to speak returned to her. Evdokia placed the icon of the Archangel Michael in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, which she created. Evdokia did not stain herself with any family quarrel, never interfered in the affairs of her son - Grand Duke Vasily Dmitrievich, who after his father reigned for 36 years, and Dmitry Donskoy reigned for 27 years, although he lived only 39 .
Illness and the foreshadowed proximity of death prompted Evdokia to enter a monastery. The procession of the princess to the monastery from the royal chambers became a great event. The “Tale of the Blessed Grand Duchess Evdokia” says that during this procession God was pleased to show a sign of God’s favor and love for the righteous woman. With a calm step, the princess walked to the holy monastery she had built. The streets were full of people, the poor and the sick. During the short transition of Princess Evdokia from the palace to the monastery, about 30 sick people were healed. The blind beggar cried out loudly: “Princess! Give me insight! Blessed Evdokia continued on her way, as if not hearing his appeals, but when she caught up with him, as if by accident, she straightened her clothes and the sleeve fell onto the hands of the blind man. He dared to wipe his eyes with it and regained his sight! And the princess continued on her way with a calm step. Finally, she entered the monastery and the heavy gates closed behind her. On May 17, she was tonsured a nun, taking the name Euphrosyne.
But her good deeds continued. Three days later, after her tonsure, the humble nun Euphrosyne founded the new Church of the Ascension of Christ at her own expense. This was a special day memorable not only for Euphrosyne, but also for all of Great Rus' - the Day of the Burial of Dmitry Donskoy. But the days of the Monk Euphrosyne were numbered - on May 30, 1407, she died. She was buried on the seventh day, seventh month, seventh year of the 15th century, mourned by her sons, boyars and all the people. In the Church of the Ascension in the Kremlin, the tomb of St. Euphrosyne is the oldest of the tombs. She is placed at the right wall of the church, not far from the side South door. Her soul entered the world where the righteous live, this was soon proven by the first miracle that happened at her tomb: the unlit candle standing at her tomb lit up by itself, just as First, a candle was lit at the tomb of St. Peter.
For modern women, it may seem that the life of Princess Evdokia is generally very ordinary, dedicated to the fulfillment of the modest duties of a Christian, wife and mother. But the strictest honest and selfless fulfillment of one’s duty expresses the true Christian calling of a married woman, mother and widow. Therefore, the example of her life is of great importance for women and the entire Russian people. The monastery was the burial place of Russian princesses, queens and princesses. The royal brides lived here before their wedding. The Ascension Convent for Women was destroyed, and in its place in 1932-1934 an administrative building was built for the School of Red Commanders named after the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.
Early marriage in adolescence - to strengthen the peace of Russian princes
Nothing is known about the birth, childhood and youth of Evdokia. The daughter of Suzdal Prince Dimitri and his wife Anna, she grew up in Christian piety and purity. Torn civil strife between the princes darkened the life of the Russian people. For the political purpose of reconciliation, with the blessing of her parents, she was given as a wife to the Grand Duke of Moscow Dimitri Ivanovich.
Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy, Evdokia's husband. Image of 1672 from the Tsar's titular book
The wedding took place with the blessing of St. Alexy of Moscow. The solemn wedding was celebrated according to the customs of those times in Kolomna.
The chronicler describes that this event “filled the hearts of the Russians with joy,” since the union between the Moscow and Suzdal principalities was of great political significance for the fate of Rus'.
18 January 1366
The marriage of Evdokia and Dimitri took place
Despite the fact that the first meeting of the spouses took place at a wedding, the love that kindled between them did not fade away throughout their earthly life.
Invasion of Tamerlane. Why the Great Conqueror did not dare to attack Rus'
Another extraordinary event took place in Rus' with the name of Evdokia. A strong and formidable ruler appeared in the world - Tamerlane. He completely defeated the army of Tokhtamysh, and marched on Rus', wanting to raze it to the ground. The young Prince Vasily, having gathered a small army, boldly went to repel an enemy much superior in strength.
Evdokia remained reigning. Realizing that without God’s help the enemy could not be overcome, she ordered to bring the ancient miraculous image of the Vladimir Mother of God. When on August 26, 1395, the procession with the icon entered Moscow, all the people, from commoners to the Metropolitan of Moscow, were on their knees. On this day a miracle happened. Tamerlane, who never changed his decision, merciless even towards children, deployed his army and did not ruin Rus'.
According to legend, in a dream the Great Ruler saw a formidable heavenly army marching against Tamerlane from a high mountain. At the head of the army stood the saints with golden rods, and above them was the luminous Woman of indescribable greatness. His wife ordered Tamerlane to leave the Russian lands. The terrible ruler woke up in horror and ordered the troops to retreat.
A physically weak, suffering woman, the Moscow princess, saved Rus' with her prayers to the Mother of God.
Death of Dmitry Donskoy, reign of Evdokia
Grand Duke Dimitri Ivanovich died on May 19, 1389, at the fortieth year of his life. He was buried in Moscow on the territory of the Archangel Cathedral of the Kremlin. This event became a day of sadness for the Russian people.
The princess suffered and cried from inconsolable grief. The chronicler recorded the words of this lament, which was included in the list of poetic masterpieces of ancient Russian culture.
Excerpts from “The Grand Duchess’s Lament for her Dead Husband”:
“How did you die, my dear life, leaving me alone as a widow? Why didn't I die before you? How did you get there, light of my eyes? Where are you going, treasure of my life? Why don't you say anything to me? My beautiful flower, why do you fade early? The vine is abundant in fruit, and you will no longer give fruit to my heart or sweetness to my soul. Eastern star, why are you coming to the west? Glorious King, my dear life, how can I rejoice with you, or how will I receive you, or serve you? Where, O glorious sovereign, is your honor and glory, where is your dominion? My bright light, why have you become dark? If God hears your prayer, pray for me, your princess, so that as I lived with you, I will die with you. Youth has not left us, and old age has not overtaken us. My great God, King of Kings, be my intercessor! Most Pure Lady Theotokos, do not leave me and in times of sorrow do not forget me!”
Dying, the Grand Duke commanded his son Vasily to listen to his mother as a co-ruler. Evdokia abstained from reigning. She led a strict prayer life and wore chains in secret. Having become thin from excessive fasting, she placed fabrics under her clothes to hide her thinness. Along with this, according to custom, she organized dinner parties, but did not touch the food.
Evil tongues spread slander about her. For this reason, confused children came to her with questions about her supposedly wicked life. The princess took off her expensive clothes, under which her sons saw an emaciated body, wounded by heavy chains. The disgruntled sons decided to take revenge on the slanderers, but their mother forbade them to take revenge and talk about her exploits.
Dmitry Donskoy and Evdokia had a real Christian marriage, in which they gave birth to 12 children
Throughout their lives, Evdokia of Moscow and Dmitry Donskoy relied on God’s providence. They were guided by the wise advice of St. Sergius of Radonezh, who baptized Dmitry himself and his two children. The great Russian saint, Metropolitan Alexy, took part in the fate of the family. He took care of Demetrius from infancy, and replaced his earthly father. Evdokia's confessor is the abbot of the Moscow Simonov Monastery, Saint Feodor, a disciple of St. Sergius.
A contemporary of the life of the Grand Ducal couple, the chronicler writes: “The wise man also said that the loving soul is in the body of the beloved. And I am not ashamed to say that two such people carry one soul in two bodies and both have one virtuous life; they look at future glory, raising their eyes to heaven. Likewise, Demetrius had a wife, and they lived in chastity. Just as iron is heated in fire and tempered with water so that it is sharp, so they were inflamed by the fire of the Divine Spirit and purified with tears of repentance.” It was a real Christian marriage.
In her marriage to Prince Dmitry, Evdokia gave birth to eight sons and four daughters.
Sons Daniel and Semyon died in infancy. Son Ivan, who according to some sources was weak-minded, died without leaving any offspring in 1393.
Five sons - Vasily, Yuri, Andrey, Peter and Konstantin - grew up to be strong, energetic people, endowed with considerable ambition. It took the mother a lot of work to maintain peace in the family. More than once, she must have reminded her brothers of the words from Dmitry Donskoy’s will: “And you, my children, listen to your mother in everything, do not act against her will in anything. ...And my young children, brothers of Prince Vasilyev, honor and listen to your elder brother, Prince Vasily, in my place, your father. And my son, Prince Vasily, keeps his brother Yury and his younger brother in brotherhood, without offense.”
Princess Evdokia honored her husband's dying will. The brothers never took up arms against each other, despite disagreements over land.
The battle with Mamai and the invasion of Tokhtamysh is a test of the spirit and faith of Evdokia and the Russian people
According to the chronicler, the princess “experienced a little joy in her marriage to Dimitri.” One misfortune followed another. But all the adversities only strengthened Evdokia’s faith in Christ.
A new tribulation came in 1380. Mamai's army from the Golden Horde was advancing on Rus'. The plans of the conquerors include not only tribute, but also the destruction of temples and the inculcation of the Muslim faith.
St. Sergius gave his blessing to the war and victory over the enemy.
The monk sent two of his monks, Peresvet and Oslyabya, as warriors.
The princess shed many fervent prayers and tears, and St. Sergius of Radonezh also prayed. Through the zeal of the warriors' feat of arms and holy prayers, the battle ended with the defeat of the enemy. Almost all of the Prince of Moscow's squad fell on the battlefield. Dmitry Ivanovich Donskoy returned with a serious wound.
Painting by artist V.K. Sazonov “Dmitry Donskoy on the Kulikovo Field”, 1824 State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg
Evdokia, in honor of the victory on the Kulikovo Field, ordered the construction of a temple in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The temple was built inside the Moscow Kremlin, and was painted by the great Russian icon painters Simeon the Black and Theophanes the Greek. The princess decorated it with expensive icons and church utensils, thereby fulfilling her promises to the Most Holy Theotokos for her help in the battle with Mamai. Since then, at the direction of Evdokia, the Victory has been solemnly celebrated on the Kulikovo Field.
The Russians did not rejoice about the victory for long. The new enemy Tokhtamysh turned most of the cities and villages into ashes. Prince Dimitri left to gather troops in Pereslavl and Kostroma. At this time, Moscow was taken and burned by Tokhtamysh’s cunning and deception. Evdokia and her children went to fetch her husband, thereby saving herself from death.
Siege of Moscow by Tokhtamysh. Miniature of the 16th century, front chronicle vault
The chronicler describes the state of Moscow after the invasion: “In what words will we depict the appearance of Moscow at that time? ... one day her beauty died; All that remained was smoke, ashes, bloody ground, corpses and empty burnt churches. The terrible silence of death was interrupted by one dull groan of some sufferers, cut by Tatar sabers, but not yet deprived of life and feeling.”
The prince cried over the ashes of Moscow. Evdokia consoled the disadvantaged and helped them as best she could.
For his money, Dmitry Donskoy buried 24 thousand Muscovites.
Another test awaited the princely family. In 1383, Tokhtamysh summoned the prince to confirm his reign. Instead of Dmitry, their 13-year-old son Vasily was sent to the Horde. For the release of his son, the khan demanded a ransom of 8 thousand rubles. At that time, the state did not have that kind of money. The son stayed in the Horde for 2 years, but he managed to escape. All this time the prayer of the Monk Euphrosyne did not dry out.
