Day of Remembrance of the Blessed Princes Boris and Gleb, in the Holy Baptism of Roman and David (06/08)

Holy noble passion-bearing princes Boris and Gleb (in Holy Baptism — Roman and David) — are the first Russian saints canonized by both the Russian and Constantinople Churches. They were the younger sons of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir.

The holy brothers, born shortly before the Baptism of Rus', were raised in Christian piety. The eldest of the — brothers, Boris, received a good education. He loved to read the Holy Scriptures, the works of the holy fathers and especially the lives of the saints. Under their influence, Saint Boris had an ardent desire to imitate the feat of God's saints and often prayed that the Lord would honor him with such an honor.

Saint Gleb was raised with his brother from early childhood and shared his desire to devote his life exclusively to serving God. Both brothers were distinguished by mercy and kindness of heart, imitating the example of the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir, merciful and responsive to the poor, sick, and disadvantaged.

During his father’s lifetime, Saint Boris received Rostov as an inheritance. Ruling his principality, he showed wisdom and meekness, caring primarily about instilling the Orthodox faith and establishing a pious way of life among his subjects. The young prince also became famous as a brave and skilled warrior. Shortly before his death, Grand Duke Vladimir called Boris to Kyiv and sent him with an army against the Pechenegs.

However, the insidious and power-hungry Svyatopolk did not believe Boris’s sincerity; In an effort to protect himself from the possible rivalry of his brother, on whose side were the sympathies of the people and troops, he sent murderers to him. Saint Boris was notified of such treachery of Svyatopolk, but did not hide and, like the martyrs of the first centuries of Christianity, readily met death. The assassins overtook him as he prayed for matins on Sunday 24 July (Old Style) 1015 in his marquee on the banks of the river Alta.

After this, Svyatopolk equally treacherously killed the holy Prince Gleb. Insidiously calling his brother from his inheritance — Murom, Svyatopolk sent vigilantes to meet him to kill St. Gleb on the way. Prince Gleb already knew about the death of his father and the villainous murder of Prince Boris. Deeply grieving, he preferred death rather than war with his brother. The meeting of St. Gleb with the killers took place at the mouth of the Smyadyn River, not far from Smolensk.

The life of holy passion-bearers was sacrificed to the basic Christian good work of — love. «Whoever says: «I love God», but hates his brother, is a liar» (1 John. 4, 20). The holy brothers did what was still new and incomprehensible to pagan Rus', accustomed to blood feud — they showed that evil cannot be rewarded with evil, even under the threat of death. «Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but those who cannot kill the soul» (Matt. 10, 28).

The holy martyrs Boris and Gleb gave their lives for the sake of observing obedience, on which a person’s spiritual life and, in general, any life in society are built. «Do you see, brethren, — notes the Monk Nestor the Chronicler, — how high is submission to his older brother? If they had resisted, they would hardly have been worthy of such a gift from God. There are many young princes now who do not submit to their elders and are killed for resisting them. But they are not like the grace that these saints received».

Celebrations in honor of Saints Boris and Gleb are held three times a year — according to the new style these are dates: May 15 — transfer of their relics to the new tomb church in 1115, built by Prince Izyaslav Yaroslavich in Vyshgorod, August 6 — celebration for both saints and September 18 — memory of Prince Gleb.

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