On October 18, the memory of the Moscow Saints Peter, Theognost, Alexy, Cyprian, Photius, Jonah, Gerontius, Joasaph, Macarius, Philip, Job, Hermogenes, Tikhon, Peter, Filaret, Innocent and Macarius is celebrated. Celebrating the memory of the saints on the same day, the Church gives each of them equal honor as the heavenly patrons of the city of Moscow and prayer books for our Fatherland.
The celebration of the honor of the All-Russian Saints Peter, Alexy and Jonah was established by the Holy Patriarch Job on October 5, 1596. Subsequently, the names of their holy heirs began to be added to the host of Moscow primates. Saint Philip was canonized in 1875 at the request of Metropolitan Innocent of Moscow, and Saint Hermogenes in 1913.
Until the end of the 20th century, the cathedral celebration of the Moscow and All Russia wonderworkers honored the memory of these five saints. The names of the Holy Patriarchs Job and Tikhon and Metropolitans Macarius, Filaret, Innocent, Macarius and Peter are included in the Council of Moscow Hierarchs according to the definition of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church dated December 27, 2005. The names of the holy Primates of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitans Theognost, Cyprian, Photius, Gerontius and Joasaph, were included in the Cathedral of the Moscow Hierarchs with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on March 6, 2017.
St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow of All Russia (1308-1326), wonderworker. The Primate experienced many difficulties during his reign: in the Russian Land, which suffered under the Tatar yoke, he asserted the true faith, called on the warring princes to love peace and unity.
Saint Theognost (1328-1353) was the assistant and firm support of the Moscow princes, and led an active stone construction in the Kremlin.
Saint Alexy (1354-1378). Statesman, diplomat and miracle worker. As a church and statesman, he stood at the origins of the successful struggle of the Grand Duchy of Moscow against the Horde yoke. Saint Alexy did his best to promote the spread of Cenobitic monasticism in Russia.
Saint Cyprian (1390-1406) was a wise and zealous guardian of the Church of God, its pure teachings and institutions. He took special care of the organization of worship and the correction of liturgical books, carried out liturgical reform, and introduced the Jerusalem Church Charter. He was engaged in translating from Greek and rewriting South Slavic books.
St. Photius (1408-1431). In the difficult conditions of wars, internecine warfare, and predatory raids by the Tatars, the saint was able to raise the spiritual importance, material security, and splendor of the churches of the Moscow Department to a high level. Russians Russian Orthodox Church's prosperity allowed St. Photius to provide great assistance to the impoverished Patriarchate of Constantinople and to strengthen the international importance of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian state.
St. Jonah (1448-1461). In the conditions of the fall of Constantinople and the penetration of the Florentine Union into the Greek lands, he approved the autocephaly of the Russian Church.
St. Gerontius (1473-1489). His time was marked by the intensive construction of churches and other buildings in the department of the metropolitan see: the Metropolitan house was rebuilt; the stone Metropolitan Cathedral of the Robe of State was built; the construction of the current building of the Assumption Cathedral was completed.
Saint Joasaph (1539-1542). He participated in a fierce political struggle during the youth of John IV the Terrible, and took care to stop the riots.
St. Macarius (1542-1563). A follower of Joseph Volotsky. In 1547, for the first time in history, the royal wedding of the Moscow sovereign took place in Moscow, which was performed by St. Macarius. The saint convened two Councils in 1547 and 1549, which dealt with the issue of the church-wide glorification of Russian saints. At the Centennial Council of 1551, he approved the foundations of Russian Orthodoxy. He opened the first Moscow printing house.
St. Philip (Kolychev) (1566-1568). Prior to his election to the Moscow department, he was abbot of the Solovetsky Monastery, where he proved himself to be a talented and active leader, a strict prayer book.
St. Job, the first Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (1586-1605). Educator of the peoples of the Volga region and Siberia. The saint celebrated the Divine Liturgy daily, recited the Gospel, the Psalter, and the Apostle by heart.
Hieromartyr Hermogenes, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (1606-1612). The saint's activity coincided with a difficult period for the Russian state during the Time of Troubles — the invasion of the impostor False Dmitry and the Polish king Sigismund III. The Patriarch openly opposed the foreign invaders, calling on the Russian people to stand up for the Motherland, and sent letters to the cities calling for a fight against the Polish intervention. He blessed both militias designed to liberate Moscow from the Poles.
St. Filaret (Drozdov), Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna (1821-1867). Russian Russian Orthodox Church, the great archpastor, the largest Orthodox theologian of the 19th century, the organizer of the translation of the Bible into modern Russian. Emperors and grand dukes, ministers and senators, governors and generals listened to his experience and wisdom.
St. Innocent (Veniaminov), Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna (1868-1879). A great missionary and educator. He converted tens of thousands of people to Orthodoxy in Eastern Siberia, the Far East, Alaska and the Aleutian Islands.
St. Macarius (Nevsky), Metropolitan of Moscow and Kolomna (1912-1917). A well-known missionary, long-term head of the Altai spiritual Mission. He was a spiritual writer, had the gift of intelligent, heartfelt prayer, and was a strict monk and ascetic. He paid great attention to the cotonization of the people, boldly denounced the moral licentiousness of his contemporaries. Lawlessly expelled from the Moscow department by the Provisional Government.
St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia (1917-1925), the first after the restoration of the patriarchate in Russia. In the face of the most severe God-fighting persecution, he was able to preserve the Russian Orthodox Church. He became famous for his wisdom, meekness and the deepest prayerfulness.
Hieromartyr Peter Krutitsky, Patriarchal Locum Tenens (1925-1937). During the beginning of the persecution of the holy Church, in 1920 His Holiness Patriarch Tikhon invited him to take the veil, the priesthood and become his assistant in matters of church administration. A firm defender of Orthodoxy and an uncompromising fighter against Renovationists. He is a strict follower of church rules and is without silver. He has undergone numerous incarcerations, interrogations, tortures and exile.
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To Know It «Like the Lord’s Prayer»
Natalia Sazonova
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