Metropolitan Peter: Life. Sainted Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia

Wonderworkers in Christianity have been from time immemorial. There are among them monks, priests, ordinary people. St. Peter went from boyar son to Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia. His life will be interesting to learn not only believing people, but also all who are interested in the history of the Russian state and the fate of famous people.

The appearance of Peter and the beginning of his studies

Once in Volhynia (now the north-western part of Ukraine) in a noble boyar family, the mother of the future prelate, shortly before his birth, saw in his dream that he was holding a lamb on his hands. Between its horns grows a wonderful tree with fruits and flowers, as well as burning candles. Soon, around 1260, she had a son - this was the future metropolitan Peter. When the boy was seven years old, he was taught to read and read the Holy Scriptures, but this did not bring the expected result. He could not master anything until one day in a dream of Peter's lips somebody in the saints' attire touched him. It was from this moment on that the future metropolitan Peter began to study well. Soon he managed to become the best of all disciples and study all the Holy Scriptures.

Righteous Path

At the age of twelve, the future prelate Peter (Metropolitan of Moscow) became a novice in the nearest monastery. In addition to doing all kinds of work, which he always did with humility, Peter was the first to come to the church service. All the liturgies he stood, listening and submissively listening to the Divine Scripture and praying, and even never backed against the wall for all the time. Seeing the efforts of Peter in obedience, looking at his humility, the abbot of the monastery produced the saint in the deacon, and later - in the presbyter. In addition, the saint became an icon painter, moving away at moments of working on the image of the whole earthly world, becoming imbued with theology and with all his heart, striving for a virtuous life. For a very long time the future metropolitan Peter of Moscow and All Russia spent in the monastery. Then he was blessed by the abbot and left the walls of the refuge in order to build a monastery on a river called Rati in a deserted place. The saint built there the church of the Savior Jesus Christ, and then with her - a monastery called Preobrazhensky. The brother assembled there, Peter taught with meekness, considering himself the most recent of all. He was kind and never let go without begging or helping beggars and strangers. About him heard even the prince, because he was revered by all, and everyone with joy accepted from the holy instruction.

Metropolitan Peter

Metropolitan Maxim, who came from Constantinople, at that time taught the people in Russia. Peter gave him the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of his own work (called Petrovsky), and also asked himself and the brethren of the blessing. After giving it, the metropolitan received the image with reverence and kept it at home. Subsequently, the icon was in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin in Moscow. The hour of Metropolitan Maxim's death has come. After that, they began to look for a candidate for his holy post. There were two candidates: Yuri Lvovich, Prince of Galicia-Volynsky, persuaded Peter to go to become a metropolitan, and Tverskoi and Vladimir prince offered Tver Hegumen to the post of prelate. The second candidate went by sea to Constantinople, but the storm overtook him on his way. Then, in the vision, the Most Holy Mother of God told Gerontia that Peter should be the metropolitan. Patriarch of Constantinople Athanasius, too, was the purpose of Peter. When the saint entered the temple, the fragrance filled everything around. This was a sign for the patriarch, who happily blessed Peter. But, as was supposed, there was a meeting of saints, who considered a candidate for the post of Metropolitan. It recognized that Peter is worthy of this post, which was predetermined to him long before birth. During the dedication, all present understood that he was the chosen one of God, who came here at the behest of the Heavenly Father, because his face beamed.

The machinations against Peter

The newly baptized Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, received instructions from the patriarch for several days after his initiation, and then left Constantinople to begin his duties. But gentle and gentle, when it came to him, and firm, strict in church matters He caused dissatisfaction on the part of some people. Among them was the envious bishop Andrei Tverskoi. He slandered the saint, wrote to the holy Patriarch Athanasius such accusations against the metropolitan that he did not even believe in them, but still sent a church cleric. The Russian Church convened a cathedral in Pereyaslavl. The investigation exposed false evidence against Peter, and the instigator was disgraced. The saint did not conceal malice against Bishop Andrew and, having forgiven him, dismissed the cathedral. This metropolitan Peter has gained even greater respect and veneration for himself.

Acts of the saint

Peter went all over Rus for the good of the people. In the Golden Horde, he secured privileges for the clergy. With all his might, the Metropolitan tried to pacify the warring princes. Their divisions most troubled Peter. Arriving in Bryansk in order to smooth out the next conflict, the metropolitan almost fell victim to the murder. Realizing and foreseeing that the unification of Russia is possible through Moscow, Peter often visited this then small and not very significant town. At that time, the prince was Georgy Danilovich, but he was often absent from the city. In his absence, the brother of Prince John was a very kind ruler. He always helped the poor and disadvantaged. It was with John that Peter often talked about the affairs of the church and the future of the city of Moscow. The family of the prince metropolitan predicted greatness and prosperity. St. Peter wanted to move his chair to Moscow, for which the cathedral was necessary. The Russian Church owes the building of the Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin to Saint Peter, who, according to the thought of it, was laid in 1326. At the base of the building, near the altar, Metropolitan Peter of Moscow arranged his coffin.

Predicting the passing of a saint

Prince John after a while saw in a dream a very high mountain in the snow. The snow melted, and after him the mountain disappeared. Saint Peter explained what this means. The melting snow is the death of the metropolitan, and the missing mountain is the death of the prince. Peter received the very revelation of his own death, but what exactly, nobody knows. On December 21, 1326, during the evening service, Metropolitan Peter died at a prayer. His grave is in the Assumption Cathedral. Prince John was not in the city when there was no saint. Returning, he saw the sorrow of the holy people. During the funeral procession, one unbeliever doubted the saintliness of the Metropolitan and immediately repented of his disbelief when he saw Peter sitting in a coffin and blessing people.

Miracle worker Peter

Healing and miracles began to occur almost immediately after the burial. Some young man who had immobile hands from birth, with tears and faith, prayed at the tomb of the saint. At the same hour he recovered, and his hands became stronger. He healed St. Peter and one of the twisted, and opened the ears to the deaf, and he began to hear. The blind man who came to the tomb with a prayer received his sight. Thus began the miracles performed by the saints. And today Metropolitan Peter helps those who come with faith and prayer to his mercy.

Counting the Miracle-Worker to the Face of the Saints

The Assumption Cathedral was built and consecrated in 1327. Metropolitan Feognost, who came to replace Peter, did not change the teachings of the holy predecessor. He settled in Moscow, prayed at the tomb of the saint and himself saw many miracles taking place there. Passing all the patriarch, Feognost received a decree and ranked the miracle-worker Peter as the saint. Three times the relics of the saint were found incorruptible. For the first time, when the invasion of Tokhtamysh Khan in 1382, the saint's grave was burnt. Then, when in 1477 the walls of the cathedral collapsed. And the last time that Aristotle Fioravanti, the Italian architect, erected the Assumption Cathedral anew, in 1479. In this form, he still remains. The life of Metropolitan Peter was written by Bishop Prokhor of Rostov, who was ordained by the saint himself. The feast days of St. Peter are on December 21 (or January 3) and August 24 (or September 6).

The Temple of Metropolitan Peter

In 1514, by the decree of Prince Ivan III in the High-Pokrovsky Monastery , the first stone church was built in honor of the saint. In it, more than once, reconstruction work was carried out. Therefore, in our days parishioners visit the temple of Peter the Metropolitan of Moscow. Saint was revered and revered not only in Moscow. There are churches in his honor and in other cities of Russia. So, in St. Petersburg in 1991-2001 the wooden church of Peter the Metropolitan was built. On that place stood a temple erected by the decree of Peter I in the name of the saint in memory of the victory over the Swedes.

It is difficult to overestimate the contribution to the strengthening of faith in and the reunification of St. Peter. Metropolitan can be compared with such outstanding Christian prelates as Gregory the Theologian, Basil the Great, John Chrysostom. His life is a vivid example of selfless love to God, people and the Motherland. I wish that every Christian had at least a little bit of St. Peter.