Holiness - is heart purity, seeking uncreated divine energy manifested in the gifts of the Holy Spirit as a set of colored rays in the solar spectrum.The pious ascetics are the link between the earthly world and the heavenly kingdom.Penetrating light of divine grace, they, through contemplation of God and communion with God, learn the secrets of the highest spiritual.In the life of the holy earth, accomplished the feat of self-denial for the sake of the Lord, receive the grace of the supreme divine revelation.According to biblical teaching, holiness - a likeness of man to God, who is the sole bearer of a unique and perfect life and its source.
What canonization
Church procedure chargeability of the righteous among the saints is called canonization.It calls believers to esteem recognized saint in public worship.As a rule, the church of piety precedes recognition of national glory and honor, but it is an act of canonization allowed to glorify the holy creation of icons, writing Lives, drawing up prayers and church services.The reason for formal canonization can become a righteous deed, created his incredible deeds, his life or martyrdom.And after the death of a person can be declared a saint because of the incorruptibility of his relics, or originating from the remains of his miracles of healing.
In the event that a saint is revered within the same temple, the city or the monastery, say diocesan, local canonization.
officially recognize the existence of the church and unknown saints confirmation piety are not yet known to the whole Christian flock.They are called the revered deceased righteous, and serve them the memorial service, while canonized saints are served prayers.
That is why the names of Russian saints, to whom reverence in one diocese, may be different and unknown parishioners another city.
Who canonized in Russia
-suffering Russia has generated more than a thousand martyrs and martyrs.All the names of the holy people of the Russian land, who were canonized, are listed in the calendar, or mesyatseslov.Right solemnly reckon canonized saints had initially Kiev, and later Moscow, metropolitans.The first canonization was preceded by the exhumation of the remains of the righteous for the creation of a miracle.In the 11-16 centuries were discovered burial of Boris and Gleb, Princess Olga, Theodosius of the Caves.
the second half of the 16th century, when Metropolitan Macarius, the right to canonize saints taken over by the church council at the Primate.Unquestioned authority existed in Russia had already 600 years the Orthodox Church, supported by numerous Russian saints.List the names of the righteous glorified Makarii cathedral was filled up naming 39 saints pious Christians.
Byzantine rule canonization
In the 17th century Russian Orthodox Church succumbed to the influence of ancient Byzantine rules of canonization.During this period, canonized, mostly priests, because they were ordained church.Also chargeability deserved missionaries carrying the faith, and associates the construction of new churches and monasteries.And the need for the creation of miracles has lost its relevance.So were canonized 150 saints, mainly from among the monks and higher clergy and Church Calendar new names joined the Russian Orthodox saints.
weakening of church influence
In the 18-19 centuries had only the right to canonize the Holy Synod.This period is characterized by a decrease in the activity of the Church and the weakening of its influence on social processes.Before ascending to the throne of Nicholas II took place only four canonization.During the short reign of the Romanovs to the saints have been ranked seven Christians, and calendar have added new names of Russian saints.
the beginning of the 20th century, in the calendars were made of locally recognized and Russian saints, a list of names which are complemented by a list of the departed Orthodox Christians, to whom the memorial service were happening.
Modern canonization
early modern period of the history of canonization held the Russian Orthodox Church can be considered held in 1917-18 Local Council who have been canonized saints universally venerated Russian saints Sofronii Irkutsk Joseph Astrakhan.Then, in 1970, three were canonized priest - Herman of Alaska, Japan and the Archbishop Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna Innocent.
In the year of the millennium the Baptism of Russia passed new canonization, which were recognized as pious Xenia of Petersburg, Dmitry Donskoy and other, less well-known, Russian Orthodox saints.
In 2000, the anniversary Council of Bishops, which were canonized Tsar Nicholas II and members of the royal Romanov family "as the martyrs."
first canonization of the Russian Orthodox Church
names of the first Russian saints who were canonized by Metropolitan John in the 11th c., Became a symbol of the true faith, the newly baptized people, the full acceptance of Orthodox norms.Princes Boris and Gleb, the sons of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslav after the canonization of heaven became the first defenders of Russian Christians.Boris and Gleb were killed by his brother in the internecine struggle for the throne of Kiev in 1015.We are aware of the planned attempt, with Christian humility they accepted death for the sake of autocracy and tranquility of its people.
Honoring princes bore a mass character even before the official recognition of the sanctity of the church.After the canonization of the power of the brothers were found incorrupt and ancient Russian people are miracles of healing.And ascending to the throne of the new rulers made the pilgrimage to the holy relics in the search for a fair reign blessing and assistance in military exploits.Memorial Day Saints Boris and Gleb celebrated on 24 July.
Formation of Russian holy brotherhood
next after Boris and Gleb canonized was added Theodosius Pechersky.The second solemn canonization held Russian church took place in 1108.Theodosius is considered the father of Russian monasticism and founder, together with his mentor Anthony, Kiev-Pechersk Monastery.Teacher and student showed two different ways of monastic obedience - one severe asceticism, renunciation of all worldly things, and the other - the humility and work for the glory of God.
In the caves of Kiev-Pechersk monastery, bearing the names of the founders, the relics of 118 novices of the monastery, who lived before and after the Mongol-Tatar yoke.Canonize them all in 1643, reaching a total service, and in 1762 the names of Russian saints were entered in the calendar.
Reverend Abraham Smolensky
About righteous pre-Mongol period, very little is known.Abraham of Smolensk, one of the few saints of the time, which kept a detailed biography, compiled his disciple.Abraham long revered in his hometown before his canonization Makarii cathedral in 1549.Having given all his possessions in need remaining after the death of wealthy parents, the thirteenth child of the Lord vyproshenny only son after twelve daughters, Abraham lived in poverty, praying for salvation during the Last Judgment.Shorn a monk, he was copying church books and painted icons.Reverend Abraham credited with saving Smolensk from the big drought.
most famous names of the saints of the Russian land
in a row with the aforementioned Boris and Gleb, a kind of symbol of Russian Orthodoxy, are no less significant names of Russian saints, patron of all the people who have been through its contribution to the participation of the Church in public life.
After liberation from the Mongol-Tatar influence of Russian monasticism saw its goal enlightenment pagan peoples, as well as the construction of new churches and monasteries in the uninhabited north-eastern states.The most prominent figure of the movement was St. Sergius of Radonezh.For bogoposlushnogo privacy cell he built on the hill Makovec, where he later built the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.Gradually Sergius began to join the righteous, inspired by his teachings, which led to the formation of monks living the fruits of their own hands, not alms of the faithful.Sergius himself worked in the garden, setting an example for fellow.Disciples of St. Sergius of Radonezh was built 40 monasteries throughout Russia.
St. Sergius of Radonezh carried the idea of godly humility is not only ordinary people but also the ruling elite.As a skillful politician, he contributed to the unification of Russian principalities, the rulers of the need to convince the Cohesion dynasties and scattered lands.
Dmitry Donskoy
great veneration for St. Sergius of Radonezh used a Russian prince canonized, Dmitry Donskoy.It Sergius blessed the army engineered by the vampires Dmitry Donskoy in the Kulikov battle, but for God's support had sent two of his acolytes.
becoming Duke in early childhood, in the affairs of state, Dmitry listening tips Metropolitan Alexy, fervor toward the unification of Russian principalities around Moscow.Not always, this process took place peacefully.Where force, and where and marriage (in Suzdal Princess) Dmitry Ivanovich Join the surrounding land to Moscow, where he built the first Kremlin.
It Dmitry Donskoy was the founder of a political movement, is aimed at unification of Russian principalities around Moscow to build a powerful state with a political (from the khans of the Golden Horde) and ideological (from the Byzantine church) independence.In 2002, in memory of the Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy and St. Sergius of Radonezh was established by the Order "For Service to the Fatherland", fully emphasizes the depth of the impact of these historic figures on the formation of Russian statehood.These Russian holy men Radel of well-being, independence and tranquility of its great people.
Faces (grades) Russian saints
All the saints of the universal Church summarized in nine choirs or ranks of prophets, apostles, saints, martyrs, martyr Martyr, confessors, disinterested, and blessed fools.
Russian Orthodox Church shares the different faces of the saints on.Russian holy men, due to historical circumstances, divided into the following grades:
Princes .The first righteous recognized Russian Church of the Holy became princes Boris and Gleb.Their feat was in self-sacrifice for the sake of peace of mind of the Russian people.This behavior has become an example for all the rulers of the time of Yaroslav the Wise, when the truth is the recognized authority in the name of the prince brought a sacrifice.Divided on the rank of SS (distributors of Christianity - Princess Olga, her grandson Vladimir, who baptized Russia), the monks (princes, shorn a monk) and Passion (the victims of civil strife, assassinations, murders of faith).
Reverend .So-called saints who have chosen during the life of monastic obedience (Antony and Theodosius Pechersky, Sergius of Radonezh, Joseph of Volokolamsk, St. Seraphim of Sarov).
hierarchs - the righteous who have the rank of a church, as the basis for his ministry protect the purity of faith, the spread of Christian doctrine, the temple grounds (Niphon of Novgorod, Stefan of Perm).
Fools (blissful) - saints wore during his lifetime appearance of madness, rejecting worldly values.Very large rank of Russian saints, replenished, mostly monks, considered insufficient monastic obedience.They left the monastery, leaving the rags in the streets of cities and enduring all the hardships (St. Basil, St. Isaac the Recluse, Simeon Palestinian, Xenia of Petersburg).
holy laymen and wife .This combines the rank of recognized saints killed babies renounced wealth lay righteous differs boundless love for the people (Lazarus Juliana, Artemi Verkola).
Lives of Russian Saints
Lives of the Saints - a literary work containing historical, biographical and personal information on the righteous, the church canonized.Lives are one of the oldest literary genres.Depending on the country and writing, these tracts were created in the form of a biography, Enkomi (eulogy), Martyrios (testimony), Patericon.The style of writing the lives of the Byzantine, Roman and Western cultures, the church was significantly different.Back in the 4th century church began to unite the Saints and their life stories in the vaults, which had the calendar indicating the day of remembrance of the pious.
In Russia there lives together with the adoption of Christianity from Byzantium in the Bulgarian and Serbian translations in the combined collections of reading for months - and the Saints Lives calendars.
Already in the 11th century there is a laudatory biography of Boris and Gleb, where an unknown author of the Life - Russian.Saints names recognized by the Church and added to the calendars.In the 12th and 13th centuries, along with monastic desire to enlighten the north-east of Russia, and a growing number of biographical works.Russian writers have read during the Divine Liturgy life of Russian saints.The names, the list of which has been recognized by the Church to glorify received is now a historical figure, and holy deeds and miracles have been fixed in the literary monument.
In the 15th century there was a change of style of writing Lives.The main attention was paid to authors are not the actual data, and skillful artistic expression, the beauty of the literary language, the ability to pick up many impressive comparisons.They became known to skilled scribes of the period.For example, Epiphanius the Wise, who wrote vivid lives of Russian saints whose names are above all famous people - Stephen of Perm and St. Sergius of Radonezh.
Many lives are considered to be a source of information about important historical events.From the biography of Alexander Nevsky can learn about the political relations with the Horde.Life of Boris and Gleb tell of princely feuds before the unification of Russia.Creating a literary and biographical works of the church largely determines what the names of Russian saints, their deeds and virtues will become the most widely known among the faithful.
