Holy Faithful Alexander Nevsky. Prayer and services to Russia. The meaning of the icon of Alexander Nevsky and how it helps in everyday life

The most important factor in the formation of an idea of ​​a particular event or a historical person is his.That is why in Orthodoxy so much importance is attached to icons. They show us the images of saints, transformed, enlightened, removed from the bustle of the world. This is what we see as the icon of Prince Alexander Nevsky - a valiant warrior, defender of the Russian land.

Childhood and youth of the prince

The life of Alexander Nevsky, compiled after the acquisition of his honest relics in 1380, as well as historical documents indicate that the future saint was born on May 30, 1220 in Pereslavl-Zalessky. His father was Prince Yaroslav (baptized Theodore), and his mother was the Ryazan princess Theodosia Igorevna. When the youth was seven years old, his father was called to reign in Novgorod-Veliky, where he took Alexander with him. From an early age, the prince comprehended the art of war, and already at less than fifteen years old, together with his father, he took part in his first battle on the Emajõgi River (modern Estonia).

Guardian of the Russian land

Soon came one of the most difficult stages in the history of Russia. From the east, from the wild Mongol steppes, hordes of nomads were advancing, and from the west the German hordes invaded. The situation was critical, but, as happened during the entire period of our history, the Lord sent a defender and a deliverer to the Russian land. It was the faithful prince Alexander Nevsky, whose icon in subsequent times inspired many generations of Russian soldiers to fight enemies.

Defeat of the Swedish and German invaders

His first great deed was the defeat of the Swedes in 1240, who invaded the mouth of the Neva and planned to seize Ladoga. The prince was not yet twenty years old at that time, but, firmly relying on God's help and being filled with courage, he and his retinue inflicted a crushing defeat on the warlike Scandinavians. In memory of this feat, the people began to call him Alexander Nevsky.

The Swedes were done away with, but the German knights remained, who captured Kaporye, and in 1242 Pskov. Alexander, having acted at the head of a large army, liberated these cities, and in the spring of the same year he defeated the crusaders on the ice in a battle that went down in history as His prayers and feats of arms were completely expelled from the Russian land by the Latins.

Negotiations in the Horde and the honorable death of the prince

The life of Alexander Nevsky shows us the image of not only a fearless commander, but also a wise diplomat. Having ensured the security of the western borders of the state, he understood that an open struggle with Khan Baty, who led the Tatar hordes, at that time was destructive for Russia, which had not yet managed to gather strength after previous battles.

Four times Alexander visited the Golden Horde with negotiations, as a result of which he managed not only to avert the military threat, but also, having settled discord in the enemy's camp, to make a significant part of the khan's army his allies.

Alexander Nevsky reposed in the Lord on November 14, 1263 in Gorodets, on his way back from the Horde. His last desire was to accept the monastic schema, in which he received the name Alexy. After an honest death, his body was delivered to Vladimir nine days later, and all those present at the same time testified that there were no signs of decay in it.

Canonization and early icons

The popular memory of the glorious deeds of the prince lived on from the day of his death, but religious worship followed the acquisition of honest relics in 1380. He was officially canonized only a century and a half later, during the reign of Ivan the Terrible.

Among the documents of the Moscow Council of 1547, there is a decision according to which, among other saints of God, the right-believing prince Alexander Nevsky was numbered among the saints. The icons, painted in the early period, show him to the viewer in monastic vestments, thereby emphasizing the monasticism he adopted at the very end of his life. In them, first of all, the spiritual component of his feat sounds.

However, there is one icon, written a hundred years earlier than these events - "The Battle of Novgorodians with the Suzdals", in which Prince Alexander Nevsky is already represented with a halo of holiness around his head. Icons like this, created before the official act of canonization, were not considered legitimate, and today they are very rare. There is one more curious detail in the plot of this image - the event depicted on it took place long before the birth of Alexander Nevsky, which should emphasize the timelessness of the life of this saint of God.

Icons of the pre-Petrine period

His iconography was widely developed already in the 16th century, immediately after the Moscow Cathedral, and it went in two directions. Their essence was well formulated in his words by Metropolitan John (Sychev). He emphasized that the holy prince served the cause of the salvation of Russia equally as a valiant warrior and as a humble monk.

It was this monastic interpretation of the image that prevailed in the icons of the pre-Petrine period. For example, the icon of Nevsky from the Novgorod Sophia Cathedral represents the prince holding a scroll in his hands, the inscription on which calls to fear God and do His commandments. Saints are depicted together with Alexander: John and Abraham of Rostov.

Icon from the Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed

One of the outstanding works of Old Russian painting is the hagiographic image of St. Alexander Nevsky, which is located in Moscow, in the famous St. Basil's Cathedral. On it, the prince is represented in the guise of a schema-monk, standing in full growth, raising his hand in a blessing gesture. This is a very unusual icon of Alexander Nevsky.

Its significance lies in the fact that the hallmarks surrounding the central part of the composition represent not only real events from the life of the prince, but also those that occurred in subsequent times. In the plots of these miniatures, the presence of Alexander and his heavenly patronage are invisibly felt. Among these scenes - and the battle with the Crimean Khan Giray, and much more. This indicated, first of all, the spiritual component of the life of the prince, and put at the forefront of his service to God and the Church.

Icons of the era of Peter the Great

The interpretation of the icon-painting image of Alexander Nevsky changed radically during the reign of Peter I. The Tsar-reformer considered himself to be the successor of his struggle against all manifestations of foreign expansion. As a sign of deep reverence for his illustrious predecessor, he founded the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Monastery in St. Petersburg in 1710, which later received the status of a lavra.

The holy relics of the prince were brought here from Vladimir. Together with this special resolution of the Synod, it was commanded to continue to depict him on icons in military vestments, with weapons and in the royal mantle with ermine padding. Thus, the emphasis was shifted from spiritual exploits to military valor for which Alexander Nevsky became famous. Since that time, the icons represented him not as a humble monk, but as a formidable warrior, defender of the fatherland.

Iconographic trends of subsequent centuries

Saint Prince Alexander Nevsky enjoyed special veneration in the 19th century, during which three emperors who bore his name and considered him their heavenly patron visited the Russian throne. During this period it was written a large number of icons of the prince, which continued the development of the iconographic line that began in the era of Peter the Great.

At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century, the so-called religious-national style developed in Russian painting. He also touched on icon painting. Its most prominent representatives were V.M. Vasnetsov, who created a monumental artistic image of the prince for the Vladimir Cathedral in Kiev, and M.V. Nesterov, who painted icons for the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg. In the first case, Alexander Nevsky is represented as an epic hero, and in the second, as a humble monk.

Temples erected in his honor

The memory of the holy noble prince was embodied in church architecture. Literally today in Moscow, at the intersection of Aleksandrovka and Novokryukovskaya streets, the newly built Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is preparing to open its doors for parishioners. Its builders have already started finishing works. And he is not the only one in the capital. Another temple of Alexander Nevsky operates at MGIMO - the Institute of International Relations. It is very gratifying that future diplomats are being trained and brought up by an example so worthy of emulation.

Temples in the name of the holy noble prince were erected in former times in different cities. This is St. Petersburg, Riga, and Tula. Of particular note is the cathedral in Nizhny Novgorod, built in 1858 and now rebuilt after years of atheistic intoxication. The icon in the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral of this Volga city is revered as miraculous.

The meaning of the holy prince today

What does the holy noble Prince Alexander Nevsky mean for our history, whose icons are so close to the heart of every true patriot? Obviously, a lot, because it was not for nothing that in the difficult war years the film of the genius Sergei Eisenstein about the national hero, the winner of the Germans on the ice of Lake Peipsi, was so needed, which gave new strength to the fighters who smashed the Nazis. His name is a banner for all who went into battle for the Motherland, and his prayer feat is an example of hope for the help and intercession of the Holy Trinity.

Every true believer, when asked about what and how the icon protects, will rightly answer that it directs our thoughts and spiritual aspirations to God - the Creator and Actor of human destinies and protector from troubles. This is absolutely true. Likewise, the icons of Alexander Nevsky, in church or at home, preach to us eternal, not fading values ​​- the Orthodox faith and love for the Motherland, and it is in them that our salvation is laid.

Date of publication or update 24.11.2017

In 2013, the Church solemnly celebrated the 750th anniversary of the repose of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky. There is no doubt that Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky is the most famous saint of a considerable number of famous warriors of Holy Russia. The veneration of him as a saint arose immediately after his death and was preserved by the Russian people throughout history - right up to modern times. The name of St. Alexander Nevsky has become synonymous with high patriotic service, rooted in the desire to fulfill the truth of God. It is not surprising that in Western historiography the military exploits of the prince are reduced to the level of minor border conflicts, and his policy is viewed as "short-sighted." The tendentiousness of such assessments is obvious.

Alexander Nevsky was born in about 1220 in Pereyaslavl.

His father, Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich (in holy baptism Theodore), was at that time the Pereyaslavl prince. The prince's palace - wooden, like most buildings in Russia in those days - stood not far from the Transfiguration Cathedral - the only white-stone temple of North-Eastern Russia of the pre-Mongol period that has come down to our time (it was laid by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky, and built in 1157 by St. . Andrey Bogolyubsky). It was in this cathedral that Prince Alexander was baptized.

In his youth, Alexander, along with his older brother Fedor, was the father's governor in Novgorod, and after his father received the great reign in Kiev, he reigned in Novgorod (in fact, from 1236 to 1252). In 1239 Alexander married the daughter of the Polotsk prince Bryachislav.

The reign of Prince Alexander fell on an extremely difficult time: the enemies attacked Russia simultaneously with different sides: from the east - the Tatar-Mongols, from the west - the Latins. Wealthy Novgorod bought off the Tatars, but failed to buy off the Lithuanian state and the Swedes. The Swedes set out on a campaign against Novgorod in 1240; they were going to found a new fortress and cut off the city from Karelia, that is, to deprive Novgorod of almost a fifth of its territory (later - Votskaya Pyatina).

This is how the Story about the life of Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky, written in Vladimir a few years after the death of the prince, in the 1280s, says: “The king of the Roman country from the northern land ... gathered a great power, and filled many ships with his regiments, moved with a huge army, puffing with the spirit of war. And he came to the Neva, drunk with madness, and sent his ambassadors, puffed up, to Novgorod to Prince Alexander, saying: "If you can, defend yourself, for I am already here and ravaging your land."

Alexander, hearing such words, flushed his heart, and entered the church of St. Sophia, and, falling on his knees before the altar, began to pray with tears: the limits of the peoples, you commanded to live without crossing other people's borders. " And, remembering the words of the prophet, he said: "Judge, O Lord, those who offend me and protect from those who fight me, take up arms and a shield and stand up to help me."

It was then a miracle, wondrous and worthy of memory. When his holy body was laid in the tomb, then Sevastian the economist and Cyril the metropolitan wanted to unclench his hand in order to enclose the spiritual letter. He, as if alive, stretched out his hand and received the letter from the hand of the metropolitan. And confusion seized them, and they barely retreated from his tomb. Metropolitan and economist Sevastian announced this to everyone. Who will not be surprised at this miracle, because his body was dead and was taken from distant lands to winter time... And so God glorified His saint. "

The veneration of Saint Alexander Nevsky as the defender and patron of the Russian land is evidenced by the letter of the Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia Macarius to Tsar Ivan the Terrible, written before the capture of Kazan. The Primate, blessing the tsar for the battle, calls on him to remember "the bravery of their forefathers, the God-crowned tsar Vladimir Monomakh and the brave prince Alexander Nevsky and your other relatives, what victories over the filthy creatures have created and glorified from God" (Nikon Chronicle).

Images of St. Prince Alexander Nevsky appear in the 16th century. after his canonization. According to tradition, he, as having received the schema before his death, was depicted in monastic robes (mantle, kukol).

One of the earliest icons depicting Alexander Nevsky in monastic vestments is a Novgorod tablet from the mid-16th century from the Cathedral of St. Sophia "Venerable John, Avraamy of Rostov and Alexander Nevsky" (Novgorod Museum-Reserve). The saint is presented in a brown robe, a grayish-ocher tunic, on the shoulders of a schema cockle, short, slightly curly hair and a small wedge-shaped beard touched with gray hair, in his left hand an unfolded scroll with the text: "My brothers, fear God and do His commandments."

In monastic vestments, the prince is also represented in the murals of the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. This iconography is also characteristic of the front covers on the saint's tomb, created in the 17th century. Several obverse covers have survived, depicting St. Alexander Nevsky. The veil stored in the sacristy of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and apparently originating from the cathedral of the Rozhdestvensky Monastery in Vladimir was made in 1670-1680. in the Stroganov workshops. On the cover of St. Alexander Nevsky is shown with his eyes closed, in a schema and mantle; in the hands - an expanded charter with the text of the prayer; the short beard and mustache are filled with dark red silk, which makes the face stand out against the background of silver and gold embroidery of clothes, a halo and a background.

Parallel to the "monastic" iconographic version of St. Alexander Nevsky, there was also "princely", which appeared already in the 16th century.

Images of saints and unholy princes Ancient Rus were included in the special iconographic programs of palace churches, for example, the Archangel and Annunciation Cathedrals of the Moscow Kremlin, as well as the Novospassky Monastery - the burial vault of the Romanovs. If in the Annunciation Cathedral, Prince Alexander is depicted in monastic vestments, then on the frescoes of the Archangel Cathedral in the layer of painting of the 17th century. - according to traditional princely iconography - in a cloak and a hat.

As mentioned above, a number of miniatures depicting Alexander Nevsky's military victories are contained in the Litsevoi Chronicle Code.

In the XVII century. both lines of iconography continued to develop. The hagiographic icon of St. Alexander Nevsky, kept in the chapel of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem of the Intercession-on-the-Moat Cathedral (St. Basil's Cathedral, State Historical Museum). This temple image came from a church in honor of St. Alexander Nevsky that once existed on the territory of the Kremlin. The centerpiece depicts a schema prince surrounded by 35 hallmarks telling about his life and miracles.

Throughout the XVII century. to the Kremlin Church of St. Alexander Nevsky, the annual royal exits were made on the day of the memory of the saint (later the church was dismantled).

In the small centerpiece there is a full-length frontal image of Alexander Nevsky in monastic attire, the inscription: "Holy noble Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, named Alexy in the foreign church."

Around the centerpiece, there are two rows of hallmarks, of which 12, occupying the upper field, are dedicated to the events of the saint's life, the rest - to posthumous miracles: the first is about "spiritual literacy", then various miracles and healings at the tomb follow, at the end - "The Miracle of the Don Victory" (Alexander Nevsky assists the noble Prince Dimitri Donskoy in the Battle of Kulikovo) and "Miracle in the Battle of Molodekh" (Alexander Nevsky, the holy princes Boris and Gleb, princes Andrei, Vsevolod, George and Yaroslav take part in the battle of the Russian army with the Crimean Khan Devlet- Giray in 1572). In some of the hallmarks over the tomb of Alexander Nevsky, on a high stand, there is an analogue icon with a half-length image of the prince (in the schema), which, perhaps, reproduces the specific realities of the Nativity Cathedral, where the relics of the saint stayed.

In monastic vestments, he is represented in the icon "The Tree of the Moscow State" ("Praise to Our Lady of Vladimir"), written by Simon Ushakov in 1668 (Tretyakov Gallery). His image is located on the right, at the base of the Tree of the State. Both branches, symbolizing the two constituent parts of the state - secular and spiritual power, grow from the Kremlin's Assumption Cathedral and border the miraculous image of the Mother of God of Vladimir.

In painting of the 17th century. there are many examples of the iconography of the monastic version, as on the icon from the Church of the Assumption on Apukhtinka in Moscow (Tretyakov Gallery).

In Vladimir, in connection with the special veneration of Alexander Nevsky as a local saint, the icon "Christ the Almighty with the leaning princes Alexander Nevsky and Georgy Vladimirovich", 17th century, was painted. (Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve). Local veneration contributed to the creation of a special version of the images of the cathedral of the holy princes of Vladimir.

The situation with the iconography of Alexander Nevsky changed dramatically in 1724 after the transfer of his relics by order of Peter I to St. Petersburg, to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. In the same year, a decree of the Holy Synod was issued (dated June 15, 1724) to paint Saint Alexander Nevsky not in monastic robes, but in grand ducal robes. Since then, the monastic iconography of the saint has been used only in the Old Believer environment.

For the relics of the prince in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, a silver tomb was installed, made according to the sketch of G.H. Grot in 1750-1753. (now in the State Hermitage). The saint's shrine was decorated with an icon painted by Ivan Adolsky the Younger. In the cathedral, the knights of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. This order was conceived by Peter I to reward the military, but Catherine I established it after Peter's death, and awarded it to both military and civilians.

In the XVIII century. new variations of the iconography of St. Alexander Nevsky. The prince was often depicted with the view of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra - as in the icon of the 18th century. from the Monplaisir Palace in Peterhof. The figure of the saint was placed, as a rule, on the right, and the main space of the board was set aside for the depiction of the buildings of the lavra.

In the XVIII century. there will also be a series of images of Alexander Nevsky with a small cycle of life, consisting of four hallmarks. For example, the icon "St. Alexander Nevsky with scenes from his life" of the second half of the 18th century, painted in the village of Pavlovo-on-Oka (NGKhM), shows scenes illustrating the battle on the Neva.

There are some icons depicting the prince against the background of the Battle of the Neva (GMIR).

In the XIX century. there is interesting example combinations of the Mother of God of Bogolyubskaya with the image of the kneeling Alexander, although traditionally the Mother of God of Bogolyubskaya was depicted with Prince Andrew. In the XIX century. hagiographic icons of St. Alexander Nevsky with a small number of plots. In the icons-menaea of ​​the New Age, St. Alexander is portrayed in princely clothes.

Most of the icons of the 18th-19th centuries. depicts St. Alexander Nevsky exactly as established by the Most Holy Synod - in military armor and a royal robe, decorated with an ermine, sometimes on horseback.

In the 20th century, Saint Alexander Nevsky was portrayed both in the tradition of the "grand-ducal" version, and in the image of a schema-monk - in accordance with the recommendation of the Iconographic original of the 18th century: “in the schema, venerable vestments, the people of Kuder see a little is under the schema, he is shoulder-shouldered in body, the vest the hook, the underside of the game, the scroll is clamped in the hand ”(Stroganov icon-painting original, BAN).

Nun Juliania (M.N. Sokolova) in the mid-1970s. was written as study guide for students of the icon-painting class of the Moscow Theological Seminary, the icon-tablet of St. Alexander Nevsky, representing both the grand-ducal and schematic versions.

The wide distribution of icons of St. Alexander Nevsky is associated with the significant role that Russia played in world politics in the 19th century. In particular, the victories won during the Russian-Turkish conflicts, the liberation of the peoples enslaved by the Turks contributed to the veneration of St. Alexander Nevsky in Europe. Cathedrals in honor of Alexander Nevsky were erected in Paris (1859-1861), Sofia (1883-1912), Warsaw (1894-1900), Belgrade (1894-1912) and Tallinn (1895-1900).

The special veneration of St. Alexander Nevsky is associated with the defense of the Motherland during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. At the call of His Beatitude Metropolitan Sergius of Moscow, the believing people raised funds for the creation of an aviation squadron named after Alexander Nevsky. Hero of the Soviet Union Alexander Dmitrievich Bilyukin fought on one of the fighters with the inscription "Alexander Nevsky" on board; during the war years, he performed 430 successful sorties, in 36 air battles he personally shot down 23 and as part of group 1 enemy aircraft.

Many churches are dedicated to the holy noble Prince Alexander Nevsky in Russia. So, within the limits of the Moscow diocese, of the Russian saints, most of the churches are dedicated to him. Numerous icons of the saint are in military units and on the warships of the Russian armed forces. There is no doubt that, on the basis of the well-known iconographic plots, new ones will appear, testifying to the prayerful veneration and grace-filled help of the saint, who uttered the once famous words: "God is not in power, but in truth."

Bishop Balashikha Nicholas

Source of material: the journal "Moscow Diocesan Vedomosti", No. 11-12, 2013

Before you is an icon of Alexander Nevsky. The iconography of St. Alexander Nevsky is divided into two parts, reflecting his life path... Some of the icons depict the period from 1221 to 1262 - the time when the faithful prince Alexander Nevsky was a warrior and a great commander who managed to unite many Russian lands. On such icons, St. Alexander Nevsky is most often depicted with weapons, in princely clothes. Another part of the icons indicates the end of the life path of Alexander Nevsky - in 1263 the Saint took the schema with the name Alexey and became a monk. Such icon of St. Alexander Nevsky depicts the blessed prince in monastic attire. This iconography was typical until the 18th century.

This icon of Alexander Nevsky depicts the first part of the life of the great Russian commander - the time of his service to the establishment of statehood in Russia, the time of his great military exploits for the glory of the Orthodox faith. Icons of Prince Alexander Nevsky are found in churches and cathedrals throughout Russia - from Transbaikalia to Kaliningrad; for many cities of Russia, including St. Petersburg, he is the patron saint.

The holy noble Prince Alexander Nevsky was born in May 1221 in the city of Pereslavl-Zalessky. The father of Alexander Nevsky was Yaroslav Vsevolodovich - the son of Vsevolod the Big Nest, the Grand Duke of Vladimir, who, during his reign, managed to unite the Vladimir, Ryazan and Novgorod lands. Six years old in the Transfiguration Monastery of Pereslavl, Alexander and his brother Theodore go through princely tonsure, where Bishop Simon of Suzdal ordains them to warriors and blesses them for "feats of arms in the name of the Land of the Russian and Russian Church."

In 1227, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich took Novgorod the Great into reign from Prince Vladimir Yuri, and moved there with his sons. But the Novgorodians, expressing their dissatisfaction with the reign of the princes of Vladimir and their refusal to abolish them in the lean year 1228, the "zealot" - the prince's tribute, call on Mikhail Chernigov, and Saint Alexander Yaroslavich, together with his brother Theodore and his father, return back to Pereslavl. Three years later, Prince Mikhail of Chernigov went back to reign in Chernigov, in order to consolidate relations with the princes of Vladimir, he betrothed his daughter Theodulia to his elder brother Alexander Theodore. After that, the Novgorodians call on Yaroslav Vsevolodovich to reign, and he puts his sons to reign in Novgorod the Great. In 1233, the faithful prince Theodore Yaroslavovich dies at the age of 13.

The first feat of arms The holy noble prince Alexander Yaroslavich performed in 1234 together with the army of his father, when a battle took place on the Omovzha River, as a result of which Derpt was recaptured from the Livonians. In 1236 Yaroslav Vsevolodovich left to reign in Kiev, and Alexander became the sole full-fledged Novgorod prince. Three years later, Alexander Yaroslavich is married to the daughter of the Polotsk prince Bryachislav Alexandra. Alexander Nevsky's father blesses the young with the Feodorovskaya icon Mother of God(Yaroslav Vsevolodovich before baptism bore the name Feodor) with the patroness of weddings and brides, Holy Paraskeva Friday, on the back of the image. It was this icon of the Feodorovskaya Mother of God that since that time has constantly accompanied the blessed prince Alexander Nevsky as his prayer image.

The reign of Saint Alexander Nevsky had a difficult time - in the west the lands of Novgorod were threatened by the crusaders: the Livonian Germans came close to Pskov, and the Swedes, led by Jarl Birger, attacked Novgorod; in the east, hordes of Mongol-Tatars hung over Russia as a constant dark threat. On July 15, 1240, Prince Alexander Nevsky and his small squad, consisting of residents of Novgorod the Great and Ladoga, won the first independent victory, completely defeating the camp of Jarl Birger's warriors that had stopped at the mouth of the Izhora River, which fell into the Neva. Legend has it that at dawn before the battle, one of the warriors from the squad of St. Alexander Yaroslavich, the Maritime Watchman Pelguy, had a vision of a floating boat, in which there were Holy Princes Boris and Gleb, dressed in crimson robes, hurrying to help Prince Alexander. For bravery in battle and a convincing victory in that memorable battle, the young Prince Alexander was nicknamed "Nevsky". And the faithful prince was lucky in his future victories, therefore the icon of Alexander Nevsky is especially revered by people of military professions and diplomats.

After a brilliant victory over the Swedes, the Holy Noble Prince Alexander Nevsky had to deal with the Germans, who in 1242 besieged and took Pskov. First, Alexander Nevsky, together with his squad, liberates the Koporye fortress, then the city of Pskov, and already on April 5, 1242, inflicts a crushing blow on the knights of the Livonian Order during the famous Battle of the Ice on the ice of Lake Peipsi. Three years later, the Lithuanian knights will again try to conquer the lands of Novgorod, but the faithful prince Alexander Nevsky, with his bravery and talent as a general, puts them to flight, for a long time discouraging any desire from their western neighbors to attack their lands. The result of Alexander Nevsky's policy on the western borders of his possessions is the complete liberation of the Novgorod lands from the Germans and the annexation of a part of Latgale (now the eastern edge of Latvia) to his principality. At the same time, in September 1246, Mikhail Chernigovsky was forcibly killed in the possession of the Golden Horde and Alexander Nevsky's father, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, was poisoned in Karakorum, and the noble prince had to completely switch to improving relations with the Mongol-Tatars. Before his death, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich bequeathed to Alexander Nevsky to conclude a diplomatic alliance with the Golden Horde, and the holy noble prince coped with this incredibly difficult task brilliantly.

In 1247, Prince Alexander Nevsky and his brother Andrey from Khan Batu from the Lower Volga region went to Mongolia to the Great Khan Guyuk. This difficult and dangerous journey lasted for two whole years. The Great Khan gave the Vladimir lands to Andrei as reign, and Saint Alexander Nevsky became the prince of Kiev and Novgorod.

In 1251, Batu Mongke's uncle became the great khan - and Saint Alexander Nevsky again had to go to the Horde. Simultaneously with this, Prince of Vladimir Andrei Yaroslavich and Prince of Tver Yaroslav led an unsuccessful uprising against the Tatars. As a result of the punitive invasion of the Tatars under the command of Nevryu, Andrei was forced to flee to Sweden, and Yaroslav Tverskoy took up defensive positions in Pskov. As a result, the Vladimir-Suzdal lands were also transferred to the reign of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky. After that, a new stage of the war with the Germans and Lithuanians, successful for Russia, begins, which lasted 7 years, as a result of which Pomorie becomes Russian and Orthodox.

In 1258, Saint Alexander Nevsky went to the Golden Horde to the new Khan Berke to show him his respect and confirm the friendly disposition of the Russian lands subordinate to him. After this campaign, the freedom-loving population of Veliky Novgorod, who did not want to fully recognize the strength and will of Alexander Nevsky, finally submits to the will of the noble prince. In 1261, in the new capital of the Golden Horde, Sarai, through the efforts of Metropolitan Kirill and St. Alexander Nevsky, the Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church was established.

A year later, Saint Alexander Nevsky makes his last trip to the camp of the Golden Horde. By secret order of the blessed prince, the Baskaks, the Golden Horde tax collectors, were killed in all the cities of Russia. But the wise Alexander Yaroslavich was personally able to convince Khan Berke of the impossibility and inexpediency of collecting tribute in favor of Mongolia, and encouraged him to declare the independence of the Golden Horde. In this way, Saint Alexander Nevsky achieved the appearance of a powerful natural barrier from uninvited and unfriendly Mongols.

In Sarai-Berk St. Alexander Nevsky falls ill. On the way back from the capital of the Golden Horde, his illness intensifies. On November 14, 1263, in Gorodets, having accepted the schema under the name of Alexy, the Holy Noble Prince Alexander Nevsky ends his historically great life path. Metropolitan Kirill, announcing the death of Alexander Nevsky in Vladimir, called him "the setting sun of the Russian land."

In 1724, the Russian Emperor Peter the First, by his decree, transferred the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky from the Nativity Monastery of Vladimir to the St. Petersburg Alexander Nevsky Monastery (after 1797 - the Lavra). And to this day, the Holy Noble Prince Alexander Nevsky is the heavenly patron of St. Petersburg.

The icon of Alexander Nevsky and prayers to him help people of military professions and diplomats.

Alexander Nevsky is a great Russian ruler, commander, thinker and, finally, a saint, especially revered among the people. His life, icons and prayers are in the article!

Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky (1220 - November 14, 1263), Prince of Novgorod, Pereyaslavsky, Grand Duke of Kiev (from 1249), Grand Duke of Vladimir (from 1252).

Canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in the guise of the faithful under Metropolitan Macarius at the Moscow Cathedral in 1547.

Memorial Day Alexander Nevsky

Commemoration of December 6 and September 12 in a new style (transfer of relics from Vladimir-on-Klyazma to St. Petersburg, to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery (from 1797 - Lavra) on August 30, 1724). In honor of the memory of St. Alexander Nevsky, many churches have been built throughout Russia, where prayers are held these days. There are such churches outside our country: the Patriarchal Cathedral in Sofia, the Cathedral in Tallinn, the temple in Tbilisi. Alexander Nevsky is such a significant Saint for the Russian people that an order was established in his honor even in Tsaras Russia. It is surprising that in the Soviet years the memory of Alexander Nevsky was honored: on July 29, 1942, the Soviet military order of Alexander Nevsky was established in honor of the great commander.

Alexander Nevsky: only facts

- Prince Alexander Yaroslavovich was born in 1220 (according to another version - in 1221) and died in 1263. In different years of his life, Prince Alexander had the titles of Prince of Novgorod, Kiev, and later the Grand Duke of Vladimir.

- Prince Alexander won his main military victories in his youth. During the Battle of the Neva (1240) he was at most 20 years old, during the Battle of the Ice - 22 years old. Subsequently, he became famous more as a politician and diplomat, but occasionally acted as a military leader. Throughout his life, Prince Alexander has not lost a single battle.

– Alexander Nevsky canonized as a faithful prince... These saints include the laity, famous for their sincere deep faith and good deeds, as well as Orthodox rulers who have managed to remain faithful to Christ in their public service and in various political conflicts. Like any Orthodox saint, the noble prince is not at all an ideal sinless person, however, he is primarily a ruler, guided in his life primarily by the highest Christian virtues, including mercy and philanthropy, and not a thirst for power and not selfishness.

- Contrary to popular belief that the Church canonized almost all the rulers of the Middle Ages in the face of the faithful, only a few of them were glorified. Thus, among the Russian saints of princely origin, the majority are glorified as saints for their martyrdom for the sake of their neighbors and for the preservation of the Christian faith.

–Through the efforts of Alexander Nevsky, the preaching of Christianity spread to the northern lands of the Pomors. He also managed to contribute to the creation Orthodox diocese in the Golden Horde.

- On modern representation about Alexander Nevsky was influenced by Soviet propaganda, which spoke exclusively about his military merits. As a diplomat who built relations with the Horde, and even more so as a monk and a saint, he was completely out of place for the Soviet regime. Therefore, Sergei Eisenstein's masterpiece "Alexander Nevsky" tells not about the prince's whole life, but only about the battle on Lake Peipsi. This gave rise to a widespread stereotype that Prince Alexander was numbered among the saints for his military merits, and holiness itself became something of a "reward" from the Church.

- The veneration of Prince Alexander as a saint began immediately after his death, at the same time a rather detailed "The Story of the Life of Alexander Nevsky" was compiled. The official canonization of the prince took place in 1547.

The life of the holy blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky

Portal "Word"

Prince Alexander Nevsky is one of those great people in the history of our Fatherland, whose activities not only influenced the fate of the country and the people, but in many respects changed them, predetermined the course of Russian history for many centuries to come. It fell to him to rule Russia in the most difficult, a turning point that followed the devastating Mongol conquest, when it came to the very existence of Russia, whether it would be able to survive, preserve its statehood, its ethnic independence, or disappear from the map, like many other peoples of Eastern Europe , underwent an invasion at the same time.

He was born in 1220 (1), in the city of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, and was the second son of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, at that time the Pereyaslavl prince. His mother Theodosia, apparently, was the daughter of the famous Toropets prince Mstislav Mstislavich Udatny, or Udatny (2).

Very early Alexander became involved in the turbulent political events that unfolded around the reign in Veliky Novgorod - one of the largest cities in medieval Russia. It is with Novgorod that most of his biography will be associated. For the first time, Alexander came to this city as a baby - in the winter of 1223, when his father was invited to the Novgorod reign. However, the reign was short-lived: at the end of the same year, having quarreled with the Novgorodians, Yaroslav and his family returned to Pereyaslavl. So Yaroslav will put up, then quarrel with Novgorod, and then the same will be repeated in the fate of Alexander. The explanation was simple: the Novgorodians needed a strong prince from close to them North-Eastern Russia so that he could protect the city from external enemies. However, such a prince ruled Novgorod too abruptly, and the townspeople usually soon quarreled with him and invited some southern Russian prince to reign, who did not annoy them too much; and everything would be fine, but he, alas, could not protect them in case of danger, and he cared more about his southern possessions - so Novgorodians had to turn again for help to the Vladimir or Pereyaslavl princes, and everything was repeated anew.

Prince Yaroslav was again invited to Novgorod in 1226. Two years later, the prince left the city again, but this time he left his sons in it as princes - nine-year-old Fedor (his eldest son) and eight-year-old Alexander. Together with the children, Yaroslav's boyars - Fyodor Danilovich and the princely tiun Yakim - remained. However, they did not manage to cope with the Novgorod “freemen” and in February 1229 they had to flee with the princes to Pereyaslavl. On a short time Prince Mikhail Vsevolodovich of Chernigov, a future martyr for the faith and a revered saint, established himself in Novgorod. But the South Russian prince, who ruled distant Chernigov, could not defend the city from outside threats; in addition, a severe famine and pestilence began in Novgorod. In December 1230, the Novgorodians invited Yaroslav for the third time. He hastily arrived in Novgorod, concluded an agreement with the Novgorodians, but stayed in the city for only two weeks and returned to Pereyaslavl. His sons Fyodor and Alexander remained in the reign of Novgorod again.

Novgorod reign of Alexander

So, in January 1231, Alexander formally became the prince of Novgorod. Until 1233, he ruled with his older brother. But this year Fedor died (his sudden death happened just before the wedding, when everything was already ready for the wedding feast). Real power remained entirely in the hands of his father. Probably, Alexander took part in his father's campaigns (for example, in 1234 under Yuryev, against the Livonian Germans, and in the same year against the Lithuanians). In 1236, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich took the vacated Kiev throne. From that time on, sixteen-year-old Alexander became the independent ruler of Novgorod.

The beginning of his reign fell on a terrible time in the history of Russia - the invasion of the Mongol-Tatars. The hordes of Batu, which fell on Russia in the winter of 1237/38, did not reach Novgorod. But most of North-Eastern Russia, its largest cities - Vladimir, Suzdal, Ryazan and others - were destroyed. Many princes died, including Alexander's uncle, the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yuri Vsevolodovich and all his sons. Alexander's father Yaroslav (1239) received the Grand Ducal throne. The disaster that occurred turned the whole course of Russian history and left an indelible imprint on the fate of the Russian people, including, of course, Alexander. Although in the first years of his reign, he did not have to directly face the conquerors.

The main threat in those years came to Novgorod from the west. From the very beginning of the 13th century, the Novgorod princes had to restrain the onslaught of the growing Lithuanian state. In 1239, Alexander built fortifications along the Sheloni River, defending the southwestern borders of his principality from Lithuanian raids. In the same year, an important event took place in his life - Alexander married the daughter of the Polotsk prince Bryachislav, his ally in the struggle with Lithuania. (Later sources call the name of the princess Alexandra (3).) The wedding was held in Toropets, an important city on the Russian-Lithuanian border, and the second wedding feast was in Novgorod.

An even greater danger for Novgorod was the advance from the west of the German knights-crusaders from the Livonian Order of the Swordsmen (united in 1237 with the Teutonic Order), and from the north - to Sweden, which in the first half of the 13th century intensified the offensive on the lands of the Finnish tribe Eme (Tavastov), traditionally included in the sphere of influence of the Novgorod princes. One can think that the news of the terrible defeat of Russia by Batu prompted the rulers of Sweden to transfer hostilities to the territory of the Novgorod land proper.

The Swedish army invaded the Novgorod borders in the summer of 1240. Their ships entered the Neva and stopped at the mouth of its tributary Izhora. Late Russian sources report that the Swedish army was led by the future famous Jarl Birger, the son-in-law of the Swedish king Eric Erikson and the long-term ruler of Sweden, but researchers are doubtful about this news. According to the chronicle, the Swedes intended “to seize Ladoga, or to put it simply, Novgorod and the entire Novgorod region”.

Battle with the Swedes on the Neva

This was the first truly serious test for the young Novgorod prince. And Alexander withstood it with honor, showing the qualities of not only a born commander, but also a statesman. It was then, upon receiving the news of the invasion, that his famous words sounded: “ God is not in power, but in truth!”

Gathering a small squad, Alexander did not wait for help from his father and set out on a campaign. On the way, he united with the Ladozhians and on July 15, he suddenly attacked the Swedish camp. The battle ended in complete victory for the Russians. The Novgorod Chronicle reports on huge losses on the part of the enemy: “And many of them fell; they filled two ships with the bodies of the best men and sent them out ahead of them on the sea, and for the rest they dug a hole and threw them there without number. " Russians, according to the same chronicle, lost only 20 people. It is possible that the losses of the Swedes are exaggerated (it is significant that there is no mention of this battle in the Swedish sources), and the losses of the Russians are understated. The synodikon of the Novgorod church of Saints Boris and Gleb in Plotniki, compiled in the 15th century, has survived, mentioning “the princely governors, and the Novgorod governors, and all our beaten brethren” who fell “on the Neva from the Germans under the Grand Duke Alexander Yaroslavich”; their memory was honored in Novgorod both in the XV, and in XVI centuries, and later. Nevertheless, the significance of the Battle of the Neva is obvious: the Swedish onslaught in the direction of North-Western Russia was stopped, and Russia showed that, despite the Mongol conquest, it was able to defend its borders.

The life of Alexander highlights the feat of six "brave men" from Alexander's regiment: Gavrila Oleksich, Sbyslav Yakunovich, Yakov from Polotsk, Misha from Novgorod, Sava's warrior from the junior squad (who chopped down the golden-domed royal tent) and Ratmir, who died in the battle. The Life also tells about a miracle performed during the battle: on the opposite side of Izhora, where there were no Novgorodians at all, later found many corpses of fallen enemies, who were struck by the angel of the Lord.

This victory brought resounding glory to the twenty-year-old prince. It was in her honor that he received the honorary nickname - Nevsky.

Soon after his victorious return, Alexander fell out with the Novgorodians. In the winter of 1240/41, the prince, together with his mother, wife and “his court” (that is, the army and the princely administration) left Novgorod for Vladimir, to his father, and from there - “to reign” to Pereyaslavl. The reasons for his conflict with the Novgorodians are unclear. It can be assumed that Alexander strove imperiously, following the example of his father, to rule Novgorod, and this provoked resistance from the Novgorod boyars. However, having lost a strong prince, Novgorod could not stop the offensive of another enemy - the crusaders. In the year of the Neva victory, the knights, in alliance with the "Chud" (Estonians), captured the city of Izborsk, and then Pskov, the most important outpost on the western borders of Russia. The next year, the Germans invaded the Novgorod lands, took the city of Tesov on the Luga River and built the Koporye fortress. The Novgorodians turned to Yaroslav for help, asking him to send a son. Yaroslav first sent his son Andrei, the younger brother of Nevsky, to them, but after a repeated request from the Novgorodians, he agreed to let Alexander go again. In 1241, Alexander Nevsky returned to Novgorod and was enthusiastically received by the residents.

Battle on the Ice

Once again, he acted decisively and without delay. In the same year, Alexander took the Koporye fortress. He captured the Germans partly, and partly let them go home, while the traitors to the Estonians and the leaders were hanged. The next year, with the Novgorodians and the Suzdal squad of his brother Andrei, Alexander moved to Pskov. The city was taken without much difficulty; the Germans who were in the city were killed or sent as war booty to Novgorod. Building on this success, Russian troops entered Estonia. However, in the very first clash with the knights, Alexander's guard detachment was defeated. One of the governors, Domash Tverdislavich, was killed, many were taken prisoner, and the survivors fled to the regiment to the prince. The Russians had to retreat. On April 5, 1242, a battle took place on the ice of Lake Peipsi (“on Uzmen, near the Crow's Stone”), which went down in history as the Battle of the Ice. The Germans and Estonians, moving in a wedge (in Russian, "pig"), pierced the advance regiment of the Russians, but were then surrounded and completely defeated. “And they chased them, beating them, seven miles on the ice,” the chronicler testifies.

In assessing the losses of the German side, Russian and Western sources differ. According to the Novgorod Chronicle, innumerable "Chuds" and 400 (in another list of 500) German knights perished, and 50 knights were taken prisoner. “And Prince Alexander returned with a glorious victory,” says the Life of the saint, “and there were many prisoners in his army, and they led barefoot beside horses those who call themselves“ God's knights ”.” The story of this battle is also found in the so-called Livonian Rhymed Chronicle of the late 13th century, but it reports only 20 dead and 6 captured German knights, which is, apparently, a strong understatement. However, the differences with Russian sources can be partly explained by the fact that the Russians counted all the killed and wounded Germans, and the author of the Rhymed Chronicle - only the “knight brothers”, that is, the actual members of the Order.

The Battle on the Ice was of great importance for the fate of not only Novgorod, but also the whole of Russia. On the ice of Lake Peipsi, the crusading aggression was stopped. Russia received peace and stability on its northwestern borders. In the same year, a peace treaty was concluded between Novgorod and the Order, according to which an exchange of prisoners took place, and all the Russian territories captured by the Germans were returned. The chronicle conveys the words of the German ambassadors addressed to Alexander: “What we took by force without the prince Vod, Luga, Pskov, Latygola - we retreat from everything. And that your husbands were taken prisoner - we are ready to exchange them: we will release yours, and you will let ours in ”.

Battle with the Lithuanians

Alexander was also successful in battles with the Lithuanians. In 1245, he inflicted a severe defeat on them in a number of battles: at Toropets, near Zizhich and near Usvyat (not far from Vitebsk). Many Lithuanian princes were killed, and others were captured. “His servants, mocking, tied them to the tails of their horses,” says the author of the Life. “And from that time they began to be afraid of his name.” So the Lithuanian raids on Russia were also stopped for a while.

Another one is known, later Alexander's campaign against the Swedes - in 1256... It was undertaken in response to a new attempt by the Swedes to invade Russia and establish a fortress on the eastern, Russian, bank of the Narova River. By that time, the fame of Alexander's victories had already spread far beyond the borders of Russia. Having learned not even about the performance of the Russian army from Novgorod, but only about the preparation for the action, the invaders "fleeing across the sea." This time Alexander sent his squads to Northern Finland, recently annexed to the Swedish crown. Despite the hardships of the winter crossing over the snow-covered desert terrain, the campaign ended successfully: “And they fought all of Pomorie: they killed some, and took others in full, and returned back to their land with a lot of fullness”.

But Alexander was not only at war with the West. Around 1251, an agreement was signed between Novgorod and Norway on the settlement of border disputes and delimitation in collecting tribute from the vast territory inhabited by the Karelians and the Sami. At the same time, Alexander was negotiating the marriage of his son Vasily to the daughter of the Norwegian king Hakon Hakonarson. True, these negotiations were not crowned with success because of the invasion of Russia by the Tatars - the so-called “Nevruyeva rati”.

In the last years of his life, between 1259 and 1262, Alexander, on his own behalf and on behalf of his son Dmitry (proclaimed in 1259 by the Novgorod prince), “with all Novgorodians” concluded an agreement on trade with the “Gothic Coast” (Gotland), Lubeck and the German cities; this treaty played an important role in the history of Russian-German relations and proved to be very durable (it was referred to even in 1420).

In the wars with Western opponents - Germans, Swedes and Lithuanians - Alexander Nevsky's military leadership was clearly manifested. But his relationship with the Horde was completely different.

Relations with the Horde

After the death in 1246 of Father Alexander, the Grand Duke of Vladimir Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, who was poisoned in the distant Karakorum, the Grand Duke's throne passed to Alexander's uncle, Prince Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich. However, a year later, Alexander's brother Andrei, a warlike, energetic and decisive prince, overthrew him. Subsequent events are not entirely clear. It is known that in 1247 Andrei, and after him Alexander, made a trip to the Horde, to Batu. He sent them even further, to Karakorum, the capital of the huge Mongol empire (“to the Kanovichs,” as they said in Russia). The brothers returned to Russia only in December 1249. Andrei received from the Tatars a label for the grand-princely throne in Vladimir, Alexander - Kiev and “the entire Russian land” (that is, South Russia). Formally, Alexander's status was higher, for Kiev was still considered the main capital city of Russia. But devastated by the Tatars and depopulated, it completely lost its significance, and therefore Alexander could hardly be satisfied with the decision he made. Without even visiting Kiev, he immediately went to Novgorod.

Negotiations with the papal see

By the time of Alexander's trip to the Horde, his negotiations with the papal see were related. Two bulls of Pope Innocent IV, addressed to Prince Alexander and dated 1248, have survived. In them, the primate of the Roman Church offered the Russian prince an alliance to fight against the Tatars - but on condition that he accepts the church union and passes under the patronage of the Roman throne.

The papal legates did not find Alexander in Novgorod. However, one can think that even before his departure (and before receiving the first papal message), the prince held some kind of negotiations with representatives of Rome. In anticipation of the upcoming trip “to the Kanovichs,” Alexander gave an evasive answer to the Pope's proposals, calculated to continue the negotiations. In particular, he agreed to the construction of a Latin church in Pskov - a kirche, which was quite common in ancient Russia (such a Catholic church - the "Varangian goddess" - existed, for example, in Novgorod since the 11th century). The Pope regarded the prince's consent as a willingness to go to union. But this assessment was deeply mistaken.

The prince probably received both papal messages on his return from Mongolia. By this time, he had made a choice - and not in favor of the West. Researchers believe that what he saw on the way from Vladimir to Karakorum and back made a strong impression on Alexander: he became convinced of the indestructible power of the Mongol Empire and the impossibility of ruined and weakened Russia to resist the power of the Tatar “kings”.

This is how the Life of his prince is conveyed famous response to papal messengers:

“Once ambassadors from the Pope came to him from great Rome with the following words:“ Our Pope says so: We have heard that you are a worthy and glorious prince and your land is great. Therefore, out of the twelve cardinals, two of the most skillful ones were sent to you ... so that you would listen to their teaching about the law of God ”.

Prince Alexander, having thought with his wise men, wrote to him, thus saying: “From Adam to the flood, from the flood to the separation of tongues, from the confusion of tongues to the beginning of Abraham, from Abraham to the passage of Israel through the Red Sea, from the exodus of the sons of Israel to death King David, from the beginning of the kingdom of Solomon to August the king, from the beginning of August and to the Nativity of Christ, from the Nativity of Christ to the Suffering and Resurrection of the Lord, from His Resurrection to the Ascension to Heaven, from the Ascension to Heaven to the kingdom of Constantine, from the beginning of the kingdom of Constantine to the first cathedral, from the first cathedral to the seventh - all that we know well, but we do not accept teachings from you“. They have returned home. "

In this answer of the prince, in his unwillingness to even enter into a debate with the Latin ambassadors, it was not at all some of his religious limitations that appeared, as it might seem at first glance. It was a choice, both religious and political. Alexander was aware that the West would not be able to help Russia in liberation from the Horde yoke; the fight against the Horde, to which the papal throne called, could be disastrous for the country. Alexander was not ready to go to union with Rome (namely, this was an indispensable condition of the proposed union). The acceptance of the union - even with the formal consent of Rome to the preservation of all Orthodox rituals in worship - in practice could only mean simple submission to the Latins, both political and spiritual at the same time. The history of the domination of the Latins in the Baltics or in Galich (where they briefly established themselves in the 10s of the XIII century) clearly proved this.

So Prince Alexander chose a different path for himself - the path of refusing any cooperation with the West and at the same time the path of forced obedience to the Horde, acceptance of all its conditions. It was in this that he saw the only salvation both for his power over Russia - albeit limited by the recognition of the Horde's sovereignty - and for Russia itself.

The period of the short great reign of Andrei Yaroslavich is very poorly covered in Russian chronicles. However, it is obvious that a conflict was brewing between the brothers. Andrei - unlike Alexander - showed himself to be an enemy of the Tatars. In the winter of 1250/51, he married the daughter of the Galician prince Daniil Romanovich, a supporter of decisive resistance to the Horde. The threat of the unification of the forces of North-Eastern and South-Western Russia could not but alarm the Horde.

The denouement came in the summer of 1252. Again, we do not know exactly what happened then. According to the chronicles, Alexander went to the Horde again. During his stay there (and maybe after returning to Russia) a punitive expedition led by Nevryu was sent from the Horde against Andrey. In the battle at Pereyaslavl, the squad of Andrei and his brother Yaroslav, who supported him, was defeated. Andrei fled to Sweden. The northeastern lands of Russia were plundered and ruined, many people were killed or taken prisoner.

In the Horde

St. blgv. book Alexander Nevskiy. From the site: http://www.icon-art.ru/

The sources at our disposal are silent about any connection between Alexander's trip to the Horde and the actions of the Tatars (4). However, one can guess that Alexander's trip to the Horde was associated with changes in the khan's throne in Karakorum, where in the summer of 1251 Mengu, an ally of Batu, was proclaimed the great khan. According to sources, “all the labels and seals that were issued to princes and nobles indiscriminately in the previous reign”, the new khan ordered to take away. This means that those decisions, in accordance with which Alexander's brother Andrei received a label for the great reign of Vladimir, also lost force. Unlike his brother, Alexander was extremely interested in revising these decisions and getting his hands on the great reign of Vladimir, to which he - as the eldest of the Yaroslavichs - had more rights than his younger brother.

One way or another, but in the last open military clash between the Russian princes and the Tatars in the history of the turning-point of the 13th century, Prince Alexander ended up - perhaps through no fault of his own - in the Tatars' camp. It was from this time that we can definitely talk about the special “Tatar policy” of Alexander Nevsky - the policy of appeasing the Tatars and unquestioning obedience to them. His subsequent frequent trips to the Horde (1257, 1258, 1262) were aimed at preventing new invasions of Russia. The prince strove to regularly pay a huge tribute to the conquerors and not allow any uprisings against them in Russia itself. Historians have different assessments of Alexander's Horde policy. Some see it as a simple servility in front of a ruthless and invincible enemy, a desire to retain power over Russia by any means; others, on the contrary, consider it the most important merit of the prince. “The two exploits of Alexander Nevsky — the feat of battle in the West and the feat of humility in the East,” wrote the prominent historian of the Russian Diaspora GV Vernadsky, “had one goal: the preservation of Orthodoxy as a moral and political force of the Russian people. This goal was achieved: the growth of the Russian Orthodox kingdom took place on the soil prepared by Alexander. " A close assessment of the policy of Alexander Nevsky was also given by the Soviet researcher of medieval Russia, VT Pashuto: “With his cautious, circumspect policy, he saved Russia from the final ruin of the nomads' armies. Armed struggle, trade policy, electoral diplomacy, he avoided new wars in the North and West, a possible but disastrous for Russia alliance with the papacy and the rapprochement of the curia and crusaders with the Horde. He gained time, allowing Russia to grow stronger and recover from the terrible devastation. "

Be that as it may, it is indisputable that the policy of Alexander for a long time determined the relationship between Russia and the Horde, largely determined the choice of Russia between East and West. Subsequently, this policy of appeasing the Horde (or, if you like, currying favor with the Horde) will be continued by the Moscow princes - the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Alexander Nevsky. But the historical paradox - or rather, the historical pattern - lies in the fact that it is they, the heirs of the Horde policy of Alexander Nevsky, who will be able to revive the power of Russia and eventually throw off the hated Horde yoke.

The prince erected churches, rebuilt cities

... In the same 1252, Alexander returned from the Horde to Vladimir with a label for the great reign and was solemnly seated on the grand throne. After the terrible devastation of Nevryuev, he first of all had to take care of the restoration of the destroyed Vladimir and other Russian cities. The prince "erected churches, rebuilt cities, gathered people who were dispersed into their homes," the author of the prince's Life testifies. The prince showed special care in relation to the Church, decorating churches with books and utensils, granting them rich gifts and land.

Novgorod unrest

Novgorod caused a lot of troubles for Alexander. In 1255, the Novgorodians expelled the son of Alexander Vasily and put Prince Yaroslav Yaroslavich, brother of Nevsky, on the reign. Alexander approached the city with his retinue. However, bloodshed was avoided: as a result of negotiations, a compromise was reached, and the Novgorodians obeyed.

A new unrest in Novgorod took place in 1257. It was caused by the appearance in Russia of the Tatar “census” - census takers, who were sent from the Horde for a more accurate taxation of the population with tribute. The Russian people of that time treated the census with mystical horror, seeing in it the sign of the Antichrist - a harbinger of the last times and the Last Judgment. In the winter of 1257, the Tatar “censors” “counted all the land of Suzdal, Ryazan, and Murom, and appointed foremen, and thousanders, and temniks," the chronicler wrote. From the “number”, that is, from tribute, only the clergy - “church people” were exempted (the Mongols invariably freed servants of God from tribute in all the countries they conquered, regardless of religion, so that they could freely turn to various gods with words of prayer for their conquerors).

In Novgorod, which was not directly affected by either Batu's invasion or Nevryuev's army, the news of the census was greeted with particular bitterness. The unrest in the city continued for a whole year. Even the son of Alexander, Prince Vasily, was on the side of the townspeople. When his father appeared, accompanying the Tatars, he fled to Pskov. This time the Novgorodians avoided the census, limiting themselves to paying a rich tribute to the Tatars. But their refusal to fulfill the Horde's will aroused the wrath of the Grand Duke. Vasily was exiled to Suzdal, the instigators of the riots were severely punished: some, by order of Alexander, were executed, others "cut off" their nose, others were blinded. It was only in the winter of 1259 that the Novgorodians finally agreed to "give the number." Nevertheless, the appearance of Tatar officials provoked a new revolt in the city. Only with the personal participation of Alexander and under the protection of the princely squad was the census carried out. “And the accursed ones began to roam the streets, rewriting Christian houses,” says the Novgorod chronicler. After the end of the census and the departure of the Tatars, Alexander left Novgorod, leaving his young son Dmitry as a prince.

In 1262 Alexander made peace with the Lithuanian prince Mindovg. In the same year, he sent a large army under the nominal command of his son Dmitry against the Livonian Order. This campaign was attended by the squads of Alexander Nevsky's younger brother Yaroslav (with whom he managed to reconcile), as well as his new ally, the Lithuanian prince Tovtivila, who settled in Polotsk. The campaign ended in a major victory - the city of Yuryev (Tartu) was taken.

At the end of the same 1262, Alexander went to the Horde for the fourth (and last) time. “There was great violence from the infidels in those days,” says the prince’s Life, “they persecuted Christians, forcing them to fight on their side. The great prince Alexander went to the king (the Horde khan Berke. - AK) to beg his people to pray for this misfortune. " Probably, the prince also sought to rid Russia of a new punitive expedition of the Tatars: in the same 1262, a popular uprising broke out in a number of Russian cities (Rostov, Suzdal, Yaroslavl) against the atrocities of the collectors of Tatar tribute.

The last days of Alexander

Alexander, obviously, managed to achieve his goals. However, Khan Berke detained him for almost a year. Only in the fall of 1263, already sick, did Alexander return to Russia. Reaching Nizhny Novgorod, the prince fell completely ill. In Gorodets on the Volga, already feeling the approach of death, Alexander took monastic vows (according to later sources, with the name of Alexei) and died on November 14. His body was transported to Vladimir and on November 23 was buried in the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin of the Vladimir Rozhdestvensky monastery with a huge crowd of people. The words with which Metropolitan Kirill announced to the people about the death of the Grand Duke are known: "My children, know that the sun of the land of Suzdal has already set!" The Novgorod chronicler put it differently - and perhaps more accurately: Prince Alexander “worked hard for Novgorod and for the entire Russian land”.

Church veneration

The church veneration of the holy prince began, apparently, immediately after his death. The Life tells about a miracle that happened at the very burial: when the prince's body was placed in the tomb and Metropolitan Kirill, as usual, wanted to put a spiritual letter in his hand, people saw how the prince, “as if alive, stretched out his hand and received the letter from his hand Metropolitan ... Thus God glorified his saint. "

Several decades after the death of the prince, his Life was compiled, which was subsequently repeatedly subjected to various alterations, revisions and additions (there are up to twenty editions of the Life dating back to the 13th-19th centuries). The official canonization of the prince by the Russian Church took place in 1547, at a church council convened by Metropolitan Macarius and Tsar Ivan the Terrible, when many new Russian miracle workers, previously venerated only locally, were canonized. The Church equally glorifies the military valor of the prince, “she is conquered in battle, but always conquers”, and his feat of meekness, patience “more than courage” and “invincible humility” (according to the outwardly paradoxical expression of Akathist).

If we turn to the subsequent centuries of Russian history, we will see a kind of second, posthumous biography of the prince, whose invisible presence is clearly felt in many events - and above all at the turning point, the most dramatic moments in the life of the country. The first acquisition of his relics took place in the year of the great Kulikovo victory won by the great-grandson of Alexander Nevsky, the great Moscow prince Dmitry Donskoy in 1380. In miraculous visions, Prince Alexander Yaroslavich appears as a direct participant in both the Battle of Kulikovo itself and the Battle of Molodya in 1572, when the troops of Prince Mikhail Ivanovich Vorotynsky defeated the Crimean Khan Devlet-Girey just 45 kilometers from Moscow. The image of Alexander Nevsky is seen over Vladimir in 1491, a year after the final overthrow of the Horde yoke. In 1552, during a campaign against Kazan, which led to the conquest of the Kazan Khanate, Tsar Ivan the Terrible performs a prayer service at the tomb of Alexander Nevsky, and during this prayer service a miracle occurs, regarded by everyone as a sign of the coming victory. The relics of the holy prince, which remained until 1723 in the Vladimir Nativity monastery, exuded numerous miracles, information about which was carefully recorded by the monastic authorities.

A new page in the veneration of the saint and faithful Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky began in the 18th century, under the emperor Peter the Great... The winner of the Swedes and the founder of St. Petersburg, which became a "window to Europe" for Russia, Peter saw in Prince Alexander his immediate predecessor in the struggle against Swedish rule in the Baltic Sea and hastened to transfer the city he founded on the banks of the Neva to his heavenly patronage. Back in 1710, Peter ordered to include the name of St. Alexander Nevsky as a prayer representative for the "Nevskaya Strana" in the service dispensations. In the same year, he personally chose a place to build a monastery in the name of the Holy Trinity and St. Alexander Nevsky - the future Alexander Nevsky Lavra. Peter wanted to transfer here from Vladimir the relics of the holy prince. The wars with the Swedes and Turks slowed down the fulfillment of this desire, and only in 1723 they began to fulfill it. On August 11, with all appropriate solemnity, the holy relics were taken out of the Nativity monastery; the procession went to Moscow, and then to St. Petersburg; everywhere she was accompanied by prayers and crowds of believers. According to Peter's plan, the holy relics were supposed to be brought into the new capital of Russia on August 30, the day of the conclusion of the Nystadt peace with the Swedes (1721). However, the range of the path did not allow this plan to be implemented, and the relics arrived in Shlisselburg only on October 1. By order of the emperor, they were left in the Shlisselburg Church of the Annunciation, and their transfer to St. Petersburg was postponed until next year.

The meeting of the shrine in St. Petersburg on August 30, 1724 was distinguished by special solemnity. According to legend, on the last stretch of the journey (from the mouth of the Izhora to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery), Peter personally ruled a galley with a precious cargo, and behind the oars were his closest associates, the first dignitaries of the state. At the same time, the annual celebration of the memory of the holy prince was established on the day of the transfer of the relics on August 30.

Today, the Church celebrates the memory of the saint and faithful Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky twice a year: on November 23 (December 6 in the new style) and August 30 (September 12).

Days of celebration of St. Alexander Nevsky:

May 23 (June 5 new.Art.) - Cathedral of the Rostov-Yaroslavl Saints
August 30 (September 12, new. Art.) - the day of the transfer of the relics to St. Petersburg (1724) - the main
November 14 (November 27 new. Art.) - the day of death in Gorodets (1263) - canceled
November 23 (December 6, new Art.) - the day of burial in Vladimir, in the schema of Alexy (1263)

Myths about Alexander Nevsky

1. The battles for which Prince Alexander became famous were so insignificant that they are not even mentioned in Western chronicles.

Not true! This idea was born out of sheer ignorance. The battle on Lake Peipsi is reflected in German sources, in particular, in the "Elder Livonian Rhymed Chronicle". Based on it, some historians talk about the insignificant scale of the battle, because the Chronicle reports the death of only twenty knights. But here it is important to understand that we are talking about the "knight brothers" who performed the role of the highest commanders. Nothing is said about the death of their warriors and the representatives of the Baltic tribes recruited into the army, who formed the backbone of the army.
As for the Battle of the Neva, it did not find any reflection in the Swedish chronicles. But, according to Igor Shaskolsky, a prominent Russian specialist in the history of the Baltic region in the Middle Ages, “… this should not be surprising. In medieval Sweden, until the beginning of the XIV century, there were no major narrative works on the history of the country, such as Russian chronicles and large Western European chronicles ”. In other words, the Swedes have no place to look for traces of the Battle of the Neva.

2. The West did not pose a threat to Russia at that time, unlike the Horde, which Prince Alexander used exclusively to strengthen his personal power.

Wrong again! It is unlikely that in the 13th century one can speak of a “united West”. Perhaps it would be more correct to talk about the world of Catholicism, but as a whole it was very motley, heterogeneous and fragmented. It was not the "West" that really threatened Russia, but the Teutonic and Livonian orders, as well as the Swedish conquerors. And for some reason they smashed them on Russian territory, and not at home in Germany or Sweden, and, therefore, the threat posed by them was quite real.
As for the Horde, there is a source (Ustyug Chronicle), which makes it possible to assume the organizing role of Prince Alexander Yaroslavich in the anti-Horde uprising.

3. Prince Alexander did not defend Russia and the Orthodox faith, he simply fought for power and used the Horde to physically eliminate his own brother.

This is just speculation. Prince Alexander Yaroslavich primarily defended what he inherited from his father and grandfather. In other words, with great skill he performed the task of a guardian, a keeper. As for the death of his brother, it is necessary, before such verdicts, to study the question of how he, in recklessness and youth, put the Russian armies useless and in what way he gained power in general. This will show: not so much Prince Alexander Yaroslavich was his destroyer, as he himself claimed the role of an early destroyer of Russia ...

4. Turning to the east, not to the west, Prince Alexander laid the foundations for the future revelry of despotism in the country. His contacts with the Mongols made Russia an Asian power.

This is already completely groundless journalism. All Russian princes were then in contact with the Horde. After 1240, they had a choice: to die on their own and subject Russia to a new ruin, or to survive and prepare the country for new battles and, ultimately, for liberation. Someone rushed headlong into battle, but 90 percent of our princes of the second half of the XIII century chose a different path. And here Alexander Nevsky is no different from our other sovereigns of that period.
As for the "Asian power", different points of view are really being voiced here today. But as a historian, I believe that Russia has never become one. It was not and is not part of Europe or Asia, or something like a mixture, where European and Asian take different proportions depending on the circumstances. Russia is a cultural and political essence that is sharply different from both Europe and Asia. In the same way, Orthodoxy is neither Catholicism, nor Islam, nor Buddhism, nor any other confession.

Metropolitan Kirill about Alexander Nevsky - named after Russia

On October 5, 2008, in a television program dedicated to Alexander Nevsky, Metropolitan Kirill made a fiery 10-minute speech in which he tried to reveal this image so that it would become available to a wide audience. The Metropolitan began with questions: p Why can a faithful prince from the distant past, from the XIII century, become the name of Russia? What do we know about him? Answering these questions, the Metropolitan compares Alexander Nevsky with the other twelve applicants: “You need to know history very well and you need to feel history in order to understand the modernity of this person ... I carefully looked at the names of everyone. Each of the candidates is a representative of his own shop: politician, scientist, writer, poet, economist ... Alexander Nevsky was not a representative of the shop, because he was at the same time the greatest strategist ... a man who sensed not political, but civilizational dangers for Russia. He fought not with specific enemies, not with the East or the West. He fought for national identity, for national self-understanding. Without him there would be no Russia, no Russians, no our civilizational code. "

According to Metropolitan Kirill, Alexander Nevsky was a politician and defended Russia with "very subtle and courageous diplomacy." He understood that it was impossible at that moment to defeat the Horde, which “ironed Russia twice,” seized Slovakia, Croatia, Hungary, entered the Adriatic Sea, invaded China. “Why doesn't he raise the fight against the Horde? - asks the metropolitan. - Yes, the Horde captured Russia. But the Tatar-Mongols did not need our soul and did not need our brains. The Tatar-Mongols needed our pockets, and they turned out these pockets, but did not encroach on our national identity. They were not able to transcend our civilization code. But when a danger arose from the West, when the Teutonic knights clad in armor went to Russia - there was no compromise. When the Pope writes a letter to Alexander, trying to take him to his side ... Alexander replies “no”. He sees a civilizational danger, he meets these armored knights on Lake Peipsi and breaks them, just as he miraculously breaks with a small squad of Swedish soldiers who entered the Neva. "

Alexander Nevsky, according to the Metropolitan, gives “superstructure values”, allowing the Mongols to collect tribute from Russia: “He understands that this is not scary. Mighty Russia will get all this money back. It is necessary to preserve the soul, national identity, national will, and it is necessary to give an opportunity for what our remarkable historiosophist Lev Nikolayevich Gumilyov called “ethnogenesis”. Everything is destroyed, you have to accumulate strength. And if it had not accumulated forces, if it had not pacified the Horde, if it had not stopped the Livonian invasion, where would Russia be? She would not exist. "

According to Metropolitan Kirill, following Gumilyov, Alexander Nevsky was the creator of the multinational and multi-confessional “Russian world” that exists to this day. It was he who “tore the Golden Horde away from the Great Steppe” *. With his cunning political move, he “persuaded Batu not to pay tribute to the Mongols. And the Great Steppe, this center of aggression against the whole world, was isolated from Russia by the Golden Horde, which began to be drawn into the area of ​​Russian civilization. These are the first vaccinations of our union with the Tatar people, with the Mongol tribes. These are the first vaccinations of our multinationality and multi-religiousness. This is how it all started. He laid the foundation for such a world of our people, which determined the further development of Russia as Russia, as a great state. "

Alexander Nevsky, according to Metropolitan Kirill, is a collective image: he is a ruler, thinker, philosopher, strategist, warrior, hero. Personal courage is combined in him with deep religiosity: “At a critical moment, when the power and strength of the commander should be shown, he enters into single combat and stabs Birger in the face with a spear ... And how did it all start? He prayed at St. Sophia in Novgorod. Nightmare, hordes many times greater. What is the resistance? Goes out and addresses his people. With what words? God is not in power, but in truth ... Can you imagine what words? What a power! ”

Metropolitan Kirill calls Alexander Nevsky an “epic hero”: “He was 20 years old when he defeated the Swedes, 22 years old when he drowned the Livonians on Lake Peipsi ... A young, handsome guy! .. Brave ... strong.” Even his appearance is “the face of Russia”. But the most important thing is that, being a politician, strategist, military leader, Alexander Nevsky became a saint. “Oh my God! - exclaims Metropolitan Kirill. - If in Russia there were saints rulers after Alexander Nevsky, what would our history be! This is a collective image as much as there can be a collective image ... This is our hope, because even today we need what Alexander Nevsky did ... We will give not only our votes, but also our hearts to the holy noble Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky - the savior and organizer of Russia ! ”

(From the book of Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeev) "Patriarch Kirill: Life and Worldview")

Vladyka Metropolitan Kirill's answers to questions from viewers of the "Name of Russia" project about Alexander Nevsky

Wikipedia calls Alexander Nevsky "the beloved prince of the clergy." Do you share this assessment and, if so, what is the reason for it? Semyon Borzenko

Dear Semyon, it's hard for me to say what exactly the authors of the free encyclopedia "Wikipedia" were guided by, calling St. Alexander Nevsky. Perhaps, because the prince was canonized and is venerated in the Orthodox Church, solemn services are performed in his honor. However, other holy princes, for example, Dimitri Donskoy and Daniel of Moscow, are also venerated by the Church, and it would be wrong to single out the “beloved” from them. I believe that such a naming could also have been adopted by the prince because during his lifetime he favored the Church and patronized her.

Unfortunately, the pace of my life and the volume of work allow me to use the Internet exclusively for business purposes. I regularly visit, say, informational sites, but I have absolutely no time left to browse those sites that would be personally interesting to me. Therefore, I could not take part in the voting on the site "Name of Russia", but supported Alexander Nevsky by voting by phone.

He defeated the descendants of Rurik (1241), fighting for power in civil wars participated, betrayed his brother to the pagans (1252), gouged out the eyes of the Novgorodians with his own hand (1257). Is the Russian Orthodox Church ready to canonize Satan to maintain the schism in the churches? Ivan Nezabudko

Speaking about certain acts of Alexander Nevsky, it is necessary to take into account many different factors. This is also the historical era in which St. Alexander - then many actions that seem strange to us today were completely commonplace. This is the political situation in the state - remember that at that time the country was experiencing a serious threat from the Tatar-Mongols, and St. Alexander did his best to minimize this threat. As for the facts you cite from the life of St. Alexander Nevsky, historians still cannot confirm or deny many of them, let alone give them an unambiguous assessment.

For example, there are many ambiguities in the relationship between Alexander Nevsky and his brother Prince Andrey. There is a point of view according to which Alexander complained to the khan about his brother and asked to send an armed detachment in order to deal with him. However, this fact is not mentioned in any ancient source. The first time this was reported only by VN Tatishchev in his "History of Russia", and there is every reason to believe that the author was carried away by historical reconstruction here - he "thought out" something that actually did not exist. So thought, in particular, N.M. Karamzin: "According to Tatishchev's invention, Alexander informed Khan that his younger brother Andrey, having appropriated the Great Duke for himself, is deceiving the Moguls, giving them only a part of the tribute, etc." (Karamzin N.M. History of the Russian state. M., 1992. Vol. 4. P. 201. Approx. 88).

Many historians today tend to adhere to a point of view different from Tatishchev's. Andrei, as you know, pursued a policy independent of Batu, while relying on the rivals of the khan. As soon as Batu took power into his own hands, he immediately dealt with his opponents, sending detachments not only to Andrei Yaroslavich, but also to Daniil Romanovich.

I am not aware of a single fact that could at least indirectly testify to the fact that the veneration of St. Alexander Nevsky is a pretext for a church schism. In 1547, the noble prince was canonized, and his memory is sacredly honored not only in the Russian, but also in many other Local Orthodox churches.

Finally, let us not forget that when deciding on the canonization of a person, the Church takes into account such factors as the prayerful veneration of the people and the miracles performed by these prayers. Both that, and another in a multitude have taken place in connection with Alexander Nevsky. As for the mistakes made by such a person in life, or even his sins, it must be remembered that "a person is not, who will live and will not sin." Sins are expiated by repentance and sorrow. Both that and especially the other were present in the life of the noble prince, as was also present in the life of such sinners who became saints as Mary of Egypt, Moses Murin and many others.

I am sure that if you carefully and thoughtfully read the life of St. Alexander Nevsky, you will understand why he was canonized.

Like Russian Orthodox Church refers to the fact that Prince Alexander Nevsky betrayed his brother Andrei for reprisal to the Tatars and threatened his son Vasily with war? Or is it as canonical as the consecration of warheads? Alexey Karakovsky

Alexey, in the first part your question echoes the question of Ivan Nezabudko. As for the "consecration of warheads", I am not aware of any such case. The Church has always blessed her children to defend the Fatherland, guided by the Savior's commandment. It is for these reasons that since ancient times there has been a rite of consecration of weapons. During each Liturgy, we pray for the army of our country, realizing how heavy the responsibility lies on the people who, with arms in their hands, are guarding the security of the Fatherland.

Is it not so, Vladyka, that in choosing Nevsky Alexander Yaroslavich we will choose a myth, a cinematic image, a legend?

I’m sure not. Alexander Nevsky is a completely concrete historical personality, a man who did a lot for our Fatherland and laid the foundations of the very existence of Russia for a long time. Historical sources allow us to know quite definitely about his life and work. Of course, during the time that has passed since the death of the saint, human rumor has brought into his image a certain element of legend, which once again testifies to the deep veneration that was always given to the prince by the Russian people, but I am convinced that this shade of legend cannot serve as an obstacle to that. so that we today perceive Saint Alexander as a real historical character.

Dear Vladyka. What, in your opinion, qualities of the Russian hero, Saint Blessed Alexander Nevsky, could the current Russian government draw attention to, and, if possible, adopt them? What principles of state governance are still relevant to this day? Victor Zorin

Victor, Saint Alexander Nevsky belongs not only to his time. His image is relevant for Russia today, in the 21st century. The most important quality, which, as it seems to me, should be inherent in the authorities at all times, is boundless love for the Fatherland and its people. The entire political activity of Alexander Nevsky was determined precisely by this strong and sublime feeling.

Dear Vladyka, tell me if Alexander Nevsky is close to the souls of the people of today's modern Russia, and not just Ancient Russia. Especially for nations professing Islam and not Orthodoxy? Sergey Krainov

Sergei, I am sure that the image of St. Alexander Nevsky is close to Russia at all times. Despite the fact that the prince lived several centuries ago, his life, his activities are relevant to us today. Do such qualities as love for the Motherland, for God, for one's neighbor, as the willingness to lay down one's life for the peace and well-being of the Fatherland, have a statute of limitations? How can they be inherent only in Orthodox Christians and be alien to Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, who have lived peacefully for a long time, side by side in multinational and multi-confessional Russia - a country that has never known wars on religious grounds?

As for the Muslims themselves, I will give you just one example that speaks for itself - in the program "The Name of Russia", shown on November 9, there was an interview with a Muslim leader who spoke in support of Alexander Nevsky because it was the holy prince who laid the foundations for the dialogue east and west, Christianity and Islam. The name of Alexander Nevsky is equally dear to all people living in our country, regardless of their nationality or religion.

Why did you decide to take part in the "Name of Russia" project and act as a "lawyer" for Alexander Nevsky? In your opinion, why do most people today choose the name of Russia not for a politician, scientist or cultural figure, but a saint? Vika Ostroverkhova

Vika, several circumstances prompted me to participate in the project as a “defender” of Alexander Nevsky.

First, I am convinced that it is Saint Alexander Nevsky who should become the name of Russia. In my speeches, I have repeatedly argued my position. Who, if not a saint, can and should be called "the name of Russia"? Holiness is a timeless concept that extends into eternity. If our people choose a saint as their national hero, this testifies to the spiritual rebirth taking place in the minds of people. This is especially important today.

Secondly, this saint is very close to me. My childhood and youth were spent in St. Petersburg, where the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky rest. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to often resort to this shrine, to pray to the holy prince in the place of his rest. While studying at the Leningrad Theological Schools, which are located in the immediate vicinity of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, all of us, then students, clearly felt gracious help, which Alexander Nevsky showed to those who with faith and trust called him in their prayers. At the relics of the holy prince, I received the ordination in all degrees of the priesthood. Therefore, I have deeply personal experiences associated with the name of Alexander Nevsky.

Dear Vladyka! The project is called "The Name of Russia". For the first time, the word Russia was spoken almost 300 years after the dormition of the prince! Under Ivan the Terrible. And Alexander Yaroslavich only reigned in one of the fragments Kievan Rus- an upgraded version of Great Scythia. So what does St. Alexander Nevsky have to do with Russia?

The most direct. In your question, you are raising a fundamentally important topic. Who do we consider ourselves today? The heirs of what culture? The bearers of what civilization? From what point in history should we count our existence? Is it really only since the reign of Ivan the Terrible? A lot depends on the answer to these questions. We have no right to be Ivanov who do not remember their kinship. The history of Russia begins long before Ivan the Terrible, and it is enough to open a school history textbook in order to be convinced of this.

Please tell us about the posthumous miracles of Alexander Nevsky from the moment of his death to the present day. Anisina natalya

Natalia, there are a great many such miracles. You can read about them in detail in the life of the saint, as well as in many books dedicated to Alexander Nevsky. Moreover, I am sure that every person who sincerely, with deep faith invoked the holy prince in his prayers, had his own little miracle in his life.

Dear Vladyka! Is the ROC not considering the canonization of other Princes, such as Ivan IV the Terrible and JV Stalin? After all, they were autocrats who increased the power of the state. Alexey Pechkin

Alexey, many princes besides Alexander Nevsky are canonized. When deciding on the canonization of a particular person, the Church takes into account many factors, and achievements in the political arena play here by no means a decisive role. The Russian Orthodox Church does not consider the question of the canonization of Ivan the Terrible or Stalin, who, although they did a lot for the state, did not display qualities in their lives that could testify to their holiness.

Prayer to the Holy Blessed Great Great Prince Alexander Nevsky

(in schemonasekh to Alexy)

An early helper of all those who are earnestly running to you, and our warm greetings to the Lord's proponent, holy faithful Grand Duke Alexandre! Seemingly mercifully unworthy of us, who have created many iniquities for themselves, who now come to your relics and cry out from the depths of your soul: in your life you are a zealot and defender of the Orthodox faith, you were your invincible Gods in it. You have carefully passed the great service entrusted to you, and with your help, take someone, who is called to be, instruct us. You, having defeated the regiments of supostats, drove you away from the limits of the Rossiysti, and put down all visible and invisible enemies against us. You, having left the perishable crown of the earthly kingdom, have chosen a silent life, and now, rightly crowned with an imperishable crown, reigning in heaven, come forth to us, humbly pray thee, a quiet and serene life, and to the eternal kingdom of God. Standing with all the saints in the prayer of God, praying for all Orthodox Christians, may the Lord God preserve them by His grace in peace, health, long life and all prosperity in the due summer, may we praise and bless God in the Trinity, the Holy Father, and glorify Holy Spirit, now and in order and forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion, Voice 4:
Get to know your brethren, Russian Joseph, not in Egypt, but reigning in heaven, faithful to Prince Alexandra, and accept their prayers, multiplying the life of people with the fruitfulness of your land, protecting the cities of your dominion with prayer, with Orthodox people fighting to resist.

In troparion, Glas the same:
As for the pious root, the most honorable branch was you, blessed Alexandra, for Christ is revealed as a kind of Divine treasure of the Russian land, the new wonder-worker is glorious and God-favorable. And today, having come together in your memory by faith and love, in psalms and songs we rejoice in praising the Lord, who gave you the grace of healings. Himself pray to save this city, and to the country of our God-pleasing existence, and to be saved as a Russian son.

Kontakion, Voice 8:
As if we honor the bright star that shone from the east, and came to the west, enrich this whole country with miracles and kindness, and enlighten with faith honoring your memory, blessed Alexandra. For this, for the sake of this day we celebrate yours, your people in existence, pray to save your Fatherland, and everything that flows to the race of your relics, and truly crying to you: Rejoice, our hail affirmation.

Ying Kondak, Voice 4:
Like your relatives, Boris and Gleb, appearing to you from Heaven to help you who are struggling against Veilger Sveiskago and fighting him: so you now, blessed Alexandra, come to the aid of your relatives, and overcome the struggling us.

Icons of the Holy Blessed Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky

Alexander Nevsky is a great ruler and commander, famous not only for his numerous victories at a young age, but also for his indestructible faith in the Lord. The icon of Alexander Nevsky can become a real protection for your home and strengthen your faith in God.

Alexander Nevsky was the youngest voivode who did not lose a single battle. The prince was born in 1221, and died in 1263. For 42 years of his life, Alexander won many victories over the enemies of Russia, showed himself to be an ardent adherent of the Orthodox faith, and after his death was elevated to the rank of saints. The icon of Alexander Nevsky began to be venerated in 1547, after the official canonization.

Where is the holy image of Alexander Nevsky

The half-length icon of Saint Prince Alexander, painted in the 13th century, is located in the Intercession Holy Trinity Cathedral. Copies of this image can be found in the Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra and in the temple of the city of Irkutsk.

Description and meaning of the icon

The icon depicts Saint Alexander in armor, with a sword in one hand and Holy Scripture in the other. Thus, he carries the Word of God and protects the Orthodox faith from the encroachments of militant unbelievers. The sword on this icon is not only an integral part of the image of the holy commander, but also symbolizes the power of Christianity in the hands of true believers.

What they pray to the icon of the holy prince

Prayer is addressed to Alexander Nevsky primarily by those people whose activities are related to military operations and diplomacy. Employees of law enforcement agencies venerate the holy prince as their patron, and unjustly convicted, offended or devoted people ask for help and intercession of Alexander Nevsky.

It is believed that the icon of the saint in home iconostasis can help in promotions and also protect the home from thieves and bandits. Prayers to Alexander Nevsky can strengthen faith and bring peace and understanding to your family.

It is believed that the most famous case of the help of St. Alexander Nevsky dates back to the time of the brutal blockade of Leningrad. The inhabitants dying of hunger prayed to Saint Alexander, asking for protection and strength to withstand and not surrender. As the children and grandchildren of the survivors of the blockade recall, Saint Alexander appeared to their parents in a dream, giving them the strength to survive and not perish during the hostilities.

Prayers to the image of Alexander Nevsky

“Oh, holy and revered Prince Alexandra, protector of the weak, bestowing strength and endurance! We beg you to grant us a peaceful path to the Kingdom of Heaven, so that our belly will not be darkened by pain, wars and the burden of reckoning for our sins. Holy prince, who drove out the enemies from the earth with the native Word of God and indestructible courage, grant us your protection, your strength and the firmness of the Christian faith, for with it we will drive out the serpent of doubt and sin from our hearts. Amen".

It is customary to read this prayer to the icon of St. Alexander in difficult life situations in order to strengthen the faith and receive the patronage of the saint.

“Alexandra, the most holy governor, who exalted the truth, conquered lies and devilish cunning; we run to you with crying and entreaty: subdue our enemies and cast away all evil from us. Ask our God Jesus Christ so that He may send down His holy Grace and His blessing on our heads. Amen".

“Saint Alexandra, most holy and venerable voivode, with the sword and the Word of God defended Russia, expelled enemies and demons, brought peace! I pray you: grant me, the humble servant of God, with your strength and protection, as with the truth of God and your fire to carry true faith and to know the grace of serving our God. Amen".

This prayer can completely change your life, turning it into the channel of the indestructible Christian faith and service to the Lord. The icon of St. Alexander Nevsky must be in your home for everyone who wants to firmly walk their path in life, easily overcoming all difficulties and obstacles.

What does the icon of St. Prince Alexander look like?

In addition to the original image of the voivode, the icon of Alexander Nevsky has several more writing options. The image of a warrior prince carrying the Word of God is most often presented as a gift to people whose profession is related to military affairs.

The icon of Alexander Nevsky, depicting the prince in a prayer feat, humbly bowing before the Voice of God, is designed to strengthen faith in the family and bring blessings to all household members.

Alexander, the defender of the Russian land, is depicted with the banner of God in one hand and a sword in the other. This image symbolizes the protection and patronage of the saint for all Orthodox people.

Days of celebration of the icon of Alexander Nevsky

Three times a year, all Orthodox Christians honor the icon of St. Prince Alexander: June 5, September 12 and December 6. On these days, festive services are held in all Orthodox churches and canons of praise to St. Alexander are read.

Prayers to this saint can help you strengthen your faith in God, see your true path, and gain confidence in your power and God's help. We wish you peace of mind and good luck in all your endeavors. Be happy and don't forget to press the buttons and