2On the month of December, 21st day,3 the hagiography and the life4 and a few
tales of the miracles5 of our father Peter, Archbishop6 of Kiev and All Russia,
who is among the saints.
7
Written by Kyprian8 the humble,9 Metropolitan
of Kiev and All Russia.10
Lord our Father, give us your blessing.
11The righteous live eternally and receive their reward from God and their nature from the one on highest. And the righteous man, when his time to die comes, will receive eternal peace. And when à righteous man is praised, the people are happy because the righteous should be praised. And one of these [righteous] is the leader of priests12 whom we are now praising. Since no-one at present has been called upon to praise the deserving according to just desert, it cannot be left thus, even if those who went before us wilfully passed him over. I think that this too is God’s intent and a gift from the holy man so that we too should be able to receive a small reward, like the widow who brought two mites.13
For I have suffered for many days, being drawn by my love to the true pastor and I wanted to bring a small praise to the holy man but looking at my incapacity to conceive the greatness of him I held back.14 On the other hand I considered it a most grievous wrong to leave this to the end and to be lazy. And that is why placing all my hope in God and that one who pleased God I took on the cause which is greater than my capacity, to speak a little of his life, as much as God allows, and that which I heard form those who told me, and a little of his miracles. For if someone cannot empty the depths of the well should he leave it instead of drinking a small cup and satisfy his thirst? That is how I unworthily deliberated when I stood in his place and looked at his grave, I who have inherited his throne from which he left for the heavenly dwelling 15 before his time so I shall now begin this tale about him.
His birth and education and how he left the world.16
This blessed Peter
was born from Christian and God-fearing parents 17 in one of the cities of the
land of Volynia 18 and certain things happened even before he was born which
must be not passed over in silence. When he was still in his mother’s womb
on a certain night when the day of Sunday was dawning his mother saw the
following vision. It seemed to her that she was holding a lamb in his
hands and in the middle of his horns a tree with beautiful leaves grew and
covered in many flowers and fruits and in the middle of the branches many
candles shone and many beautiful smells came out. 19 And when she woke she could
not understand what it was or what will be the end of such a vision. Even
though she did not understand it that the end was later amazingly shown through
the gifts that God gave to his follower. 20
When the child was born and reached seven years of age 21 it was handed over by its parents to learn from books.22 Even though his teacher worked hard and applied himself the child did not hurry to learn learning but badly and without any work. 23 And this caused much sorrow to his parents and his teacher too felt not inconsiderable sense of vanity. 24 On one occasion the child saw in his dream a man dressed in pastor’s robes come before him and stand above him, saying: ‘Open, my child, thine mouth.’ When he opened his mouth the priest touched his tongue with his right hand and blessed him and he felt some kind of sweetness filling his throat.25 And then the child woke and didn’t see anyone. And from that moment on whatever his teacher wrote for him he learnt very soon through study so that in no time at all he was more advanced than the head of all his contemporaries.
When he was twelve he went to a nearby desert, 26 to a certain monastery, in order to be tonsured by that monastery’s abbot and join the brethren. And from the moment that his hair was cut off he cut off all thought of worldly things. And he was a perfect novice,27 following his spiritual father in everything.28 For he carried water and logs to the kitchens on his shoulders and washed the robes of his brethren, working non-stop in the winter and in the summer.29 Nor did he ignore the rule which said that he should be the first in the church, as soon as the church bells rang out , both for the night and the day liturgy, and that he should be the last to leave. And when he stood in the church he listened to the holy scripture with humility and with great attention, never leaning against the wall.30 And thus he spent many years day after day as if building a ladder of perfection in his heart in accordance with the words of Climacus:31 ‘Always obey your teacher in everything. Serve your brethren without laziness. Serve them not as men but as if you were serving God himself’. And he was a perfect image of goodly living by his humility and humbleness and silence.
After time passed he became a deacon by the will of his superior.32 Then he also became worthy of the presbyter’s rank.33 But he didn’t stop what he had done before, serving his brethren with all humility and with his heart humble, but he felt the desire to learn icon painting, and soon he learnt it by the order of his superior and he worked hard in this and painted the image of the Saviour and of his Mother who is without sin and also the images and faces of saints and thus he moved his mind and thoughts from worldly things, for he was tempered34 in mind and though by the images of them. And he had great zeal for goodly life and turned to tears. For it is a common habit that when you remember somebody you love, the love makes you weep tears.35 Thus also the holy priest did, for when his mind turned from the painted images to those who were their models.36 And thus our sainted father and holy man painted icons without idleness. And his superior taking them gave them out, some to the brethren and some to some God-loving people coming to the monastery in order to receive blessing. 37
After some time by the blessing and order of his superior he left the monastery. For it is meet that a man take all the steps [of the ladder] and only then to take the seat of the teacher.
38And when he left the monastery and walked around those desert places he found a place that was silent on the river that was called Rata. And there he built himself a dwelling and performed many labours and added pain to pains and much sweat he poured out. And he built a church in the name of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and built cells for the brethren who came to join him to live in. And after some time he gathered a large number of brethren. And this blessed man took care of their salvation like a child-loving father. And he did not just teach them by the word, but more by the deed. For he was humble in his behaviour and silent in all things and he did not act like an elder among his brethren but made himself the last of all. He never lost his temper with anyone who was sinful but with quiet and measured words he taught him. He was also so charitable that he never let anyone who was poor or a stranger39 go with empty hands, but gave of that which he had, and large amounts and secretly away from the brethren, for he remembered that it says ‘He who takes pity on the beggar gives a loan to the Lord’ and he obeyed our Lord who said ‘Be generous, just like your heavenly Father is generous’. Often when he didn’t have anything to give the beggars he gave them icons which he had painted, sometimes even took off his robe and gave it to a poor man suffering from cold to go on his way.
And thus in these efforts and perfecting he lived and it was impossible for him to be hidden from the city when he was standing on the hill of goodness and the Prince who was there heard about this man’s virtuous life and so did the nobles and speaking simply the whole country and land heard. For that was the time when the land of Volynia was much honoured and had all wealth, power and fame, whereas now after many wars it isn’t the same though it still honoured. And he was honoured and famed this wondrous man by princes and great nobles. And they all attempted his word and his teaching.
And then it happened that priest Maksim40 who decorated the throne of all the Russian land in those years passed through the land, teaching the people of God in accordance with canon law. And this holy man Peter came with his brethren to take blessing from the priest and he brought him an icon of our pure lady, the mother of God, which he had painted himself. And the holy priest blessed Peter and his brethren and then he took the icon of the All-Pure with great happiness and decorated with gold and precious stones, kept it by himself [in his own rooms] praying constantly day and night in front of it for the preservation and safety of the Russian land while he lived.41
And when the end came of the life of the archbishop Maksim and his body was buried in the great church of the All-Pure lady Mother of God, and the eternal virgin Mary in the famous city of Vladimir. A certain Gerontii, abbott, filled with pride wanted the holy office not knowing that ‘every gift is given from above coming from God our father in light’ nor did he listen to the scriptures saying ‘neither he who wants nor he who travels but our love in God’. But he was so full of the sickness of self-will42 that by his own thoughts he had the temerity to climb such heights. And for a while everything went well for him, for no-one opposed his acts.43 For he did these things. He took the clothing of the hierarch44 and the holy church furnishings and even that icon made by the very hand of our Father Peter which Peter gave to Maxim. He also seized the pastor’s staff and the high-ranking priests and went to Constantine’s city,45 having his desire ready.
And this came to be heard throughout the land of Russia and as far as Volynia and many were outraged. And the prince of Volynia convened a council,46 which was not a good Council because he wanted the bishopric of Galich to become a metropolis,47 and he claimed that this was because he did not want Gerontii’s high-handedness. And he fell upon Peter with words urging him to go to Constantinopolis. And this he did for many days, sometimes the Prince himself spoke to Peter, sometimes he sent his boiars and counsellors to him. 48 And the holy man gives way, meets their words and gets ready for the journey.
And the Prince secretly from Peter writes letters begging the holy Patriarch and the holy council, asking them not to ignore his prayer so that he can see that very Peter on the holy throne. And he sent an ambassador with the letters together with Peter.
When Gerontii came to the sea he got into a ship and headed for Constantinopolis. Our blessed father reached the sea he too in another place, he took a boat and also went to Constantinopolis. But Gerontii had a certain unpleasant accident during his journey, for there was a great storm which rose in the sea and opposing wind leant against the prow of the ship and put the ship into terrible trouble, with great waves rising. 49 Whereas the ship of Peter had a head wind, gentle and cool like a zephyr. And as he crossed the sea as if in a dream, his flight landing at the walls of the city of Constantine. 50
And Gerontii was saddened and at night he saw a vision of the icon of the pure Mother of God, the one who was painted by the hands of the blessed Peter, as I have told above. The Mother of God said: ‘Your labours are in vain on this journey that you have started on! The great priestly office that you wanted to usurp will not be yours. But Peter, the abbot of Raka, who painted me, who is the servant of the Son and the Father and me, he will be raised to the great throne of the glorious Russian metropolis, 51 and he will decorate that throne and will be a good pastor to the people for whom Christ, my Son and Lord, spilt his blood taken from me. And when he has thus lived, pleasing God to a great age, then he will happily come to the desired Lord 52 and first priest’. 53 Gerontii saw this vision and heard these words from the honoured and glorious image of the All-Pure, and he woke up and told of it to all those who were with him, saying thus: ‘We labour in vain brethren: we won’t get that which we desire’. And to all those who asked to know the reason he told all that he saw and heard. And thus after much flooding and storms, he only just managed to get to Constantinople. 54
But as I have already said, the blessed father Peter had got to Constantinople first and he got off the ship and went to the holy patriarch, and entered into the glorious church of the Holy Wisdom of God’s Word.55 At that time the universal patriarch’s throne was decorated with the wondrous holy Athanasius.56 And when Peter was at the door where the Patriarch sat, a certain beautiful smell filled that church.57 And the Patriarch understood through the Holy Spirit that it is because of Peter’s coming that the beautiful smell was there and he received him with joy and happily made him ready for blessing. And then when he found out the reason for his coming he called together the council of the most holy Metropolitans and they elected him as was the custom. And Peter, who was chosen even before birth, and also when at sea by the image of the All-Pure Virgin, appeared worthy. And the Patriarch with the holy council officiated at the divine secret liturgy and consecrated the wondrous Peter, placing the light on the candelabra58 so that he should shine for all who were in the church. And thus he appointed that teacher and pastor for the land of Russia. And then, so I have heard from certain people who tell the truth,59 his face became alight so that everyone who was at the liturgy with the Patriarch was amazed. And from this even more the Patriarch and the whole council felt a sign, for they said that: ‘This man came to us through the will of God. Through him the flock with which he is entrusted will be well cared for through providence’. And there was much spiritual happiness on that day.
After a few days Gerontii too came to Constantinople after many troubles just as I have said before. And he too went up to the holy Patriarch and willingly he tells him everything that happened to him including his vision. The Patriarch then announced good words which he had learned from the rules of our God-caring fathers, that it is not meet for men of the world to elect pastors and that no-one may by himself have the pride to aspire to such an office. But first of all has to be chosen by the holy council and receive the sign of the all-holy and life-giving spirit. And then he said many other things from the holy rules and divine scriptures, so as to calm down with the word. And he took the priestly robes and the honoured icon and the staff of the pastor and the church hierarchy and put it into the hands of the true pastor, God’s man, Peter, saying thus: ‘Receive the holy icon of the mother of God which you yourself painted with your hands. For that is why the icon rewards you by naming you’.60
And thereafter the holy Patriarch Athanasius spoke the whole day in spiritually useful words, saying to the priest Peter thus: ‘Beloved child and brother in Christ, see what and how many endeavours you have risen to. For Christ God has given you the great ship, entrusting it to you so that you should instruct it and rule it and bring it into the harbour of salvation.61 May you never be lazy, may you never grow weary, may you not feel too burdened by the great demands of the great and populous land of Russia.62 For Christ has appointed thee as the successor of the apostles, to serve, and to husband his vineyards.63 Copy the apostle, be a true pupil of the Saviour, so that you too can with courage stand at his second coming, calling ‘Here I stand with the children whom you gave me’ and with such words and with many others he always instructed the blessed man, and then after several days he let him leave Constantinople with much honour.
And when he left and safely crossed the sea he came to the most holy metropolis of the Russian throne, and gave peace and blessing to everyone, and he started teaching the flock which God had entrusted him with, travelling from place to place with such humility and labour and obedience, travelling wherever he was wanted, remembering that it says ‘In the heart of the humble God lives’ and then ‘A heart that is humble and resigned will not be belittled by God’.64
And because it was thus, the devil could not bear it.65 Since he has always been the enemy of and fighter against mankind, not wanting ever to see mankind be happy, he started to give some trouble to the holy man and he made it so that some did not want him to come. But after a while they suppressed their feelings and received the holy man, obeying him with humility. Not only did he not think evil of them, on the contrary he responded to them with all his soul, and prayed for them. And he carried out his duties assiduously.
But after a while the creator of envy, the enemy,66 came to Andrei, bishop of Tver, making him envious, for he was light of brain and even lighter of wisdom, and [Andrei] was amazed and opened his mind to the vanity of the world, so that he sharpened his tongue to speak unlawfully against the blessed one. And he wove together lying and calumnious words, and sent them to Constantinople to the most holy and blessed Patriarch Athanasius.67 And Athanasius was amazed for he could not believe them.. Since there were many complaints he sent one of his priests with a letter saying thus: ‘Most holy Metropolitan of Kiev and all-Russia, beloved brother in the Holy Spirit and co-servant of our humility, Peter! Know thee that you have been chosen by the Holy Spirit as pastor and teacher of Christ’s spoken flock and I have now received from your people and your realm heavy words against thee which have filled my ears and have clouded my judgement. Do thy best to clear them and put them right.’
And the priest took these writings and these words sent by the Patriarch and got to the land of Russia. But the empty words of Andrei were no secret even before that to the holy priest Peter, who placed all his trust in God saying: ‘I suffer, I call to the Lord and he hears me’68 and ‘If I have God on my side, who can go against me?’69 And when the clerics sent by the Patriarch arrived in Russia the council met in Pereiaslavl. And the God-loving bishop of Rostov, Simeon, and the blessed Prokhor, who was then an abbot, came and Andrei the bishop of Tver was also called, the one who got started all the discord. Prince Mikhail70 was in the Horde71 but his sons came, Dimitrii and Alexandro, and a number of other princes and many nobles. And also the best of the abbots and monks and a multitude of priests.
Then the priest sent by the Patriarch made public to all the writings and the words addressed to the blessed priest Peter. And there was much horror at the lying and false calumny against the saint. There was so much talk that very nearly something quite inappropriate happened were it not for the fact that the blessed and God’s man calmed down the shouting, imitating his teacher Christ, when he said to Peter ‘Sheathe your knife’.72 For he was a meek pupil of a meek teacher, following him in all things, and he said to all ‘Beloved brothers and children in Christ! I am not better than the prophet Jonah.73 If all this trouble is because of me, cast me out and your talking will cease. Why all this trouble because of me?’ That is because everyone tried to find out who and from where had uttered such false words against our Father and priest, teacher and good pastor trying.
And because evil will be found out everyone saw publicly the uncorrected lies written by Andrei against the saint and he was shamed and laid low in front of everybody. But the holy Peter did not do evil to him but instructed him in front of everyone with consoling words, saying thus: ‘Peace to thee in Christ, child! You did not do this but the devil who has since the beginning envied mankind. But from now on take care. May the Lord forgive you for that which has passed.’ And he also instructed all the princes and all the clergy and the people and let them go with peace. He himself added labour to labour, wanting to multiply a hundredfold the talents he was given. And he added humility to humility and never idle he travelled through cities and villages instructing the flock entrusted to him by God, feeling neither difficulty nor bodily pains. And thus he came to old age, appearing like a real father to orphans, widows and the poor.
This was the time when Seit the heretic appeared, troubling the church of Christ and wrongly thinking about orthodox faith, and the saint overcame him in a dispute.74 And when he [the heretic] did not submit, then [Peter] cursed him and thus he died.
And God’s man, Peter, travelled to cities and towns, he came to the glorious city called Moscow, which was then very small and did not have many people living in it, not like we see it now.75 In that city the ruler was the God-honouring Grand Prince Ivan,76 son of Daniel, grandson of the blessed Aleksandr.77 And the blessed Peter saw him shining in orthodoxy and decorated in all good deeds, being merciful to beggars, honouring the holy God churches and their priests, loving the scriptures and listening to the holy teachings of the books and the Lord’s priest took a great love for him and he started to spend more time living in that city then anywhere else.
And he gave good counsel to the priest, counselling him to build a church put together from stone, in the name of the All-Pure Lady, the Mother of God, the eternal Virgin Mary, for he prophesied thus: ‘If you listen to me, O son and raise the church of the All Holy Mother of God in your city, then you will be more famous than other princes and your sons and grandsons and your progeny [will also be famous] and this city will be famous in all the cities of Russia and people live in them and its 'hands will fall on the shoulders of its enemies' and God will be famed here. And my bones will be laid here.’ And the Prince received these words from the teacher with great joy and started to work on the church with great attention. And when it was founded it started to rise more and more day by day and grow and the holy man himself came and hurried every day.
And there was constant joy among them both in spirit. For the Prince
listened to everything and gave great honour to his father. As the Lord
said to his disciples, ‘He who receives you receives me’.78 And the priest
also took great care of the Prince in spiritual and bodily matters, speaking
like Paul.79
And when the church was being built the saint found out that he was to die thanks to a divine revelation and with his holy hands he started to build himself a tomb near the holy altar. And when this was finished he saw a vision which told him that he was to leave this life and go to God whom he loved since early youth and he was glad.
And when the day [of his death] came he himself went to church to officiate at the liturgy. Having prayed for the orthodox Emperors and princes and for his son whom he grew to love – by which I mean the pious Prince Ivan – and for the whole pious Christian multitude of the whole Russian land, he also remembered the dead [in his prayers] and took the holy mysteries in communion. And when he left the church he summoned all the clergy and gave them an extensive instruction as was his custom. And from that moment on he did not cease in giving alms to all poor who came to see him and to monasteries, and to the priests of churches.
And since he had found out when he was to leave the world and knew the time he called a certain Protasius, who was appointed by the Prince as the elder of the citadel. It so happened the Prince was not in the citadel. And that Protasius was an honest man and faithful and decorated by many good deeds, and he [Peter] said to him ‘Child, I am now leaving this life. I am leaving my beloved son, Prince Ivan the mercy, peace and blessings of God for him and his progeny till time eternal. If my son will bury me, then God will reward him a hundredfold in this world and he will inherit eternal life. May those who rule after him from his family never be needy and may his fame go far and wide’. And also he gave him a bag [with money], asking that everything in it should be used for the completion of the church. And when he had prayed peace for everyone in the world he started singing evensong. And while there was still a prayer in his mouth his spirit left his body. He lifted his hands to the heavens, but his body stayed on the earth while his soul flew up to Christ whom he desired.
And the Prince came back to the city with all his nobles with great speed, being most unhappy at the end of his good father and good teacher, and having put the saint on a bed, they bore him to the church, as is the custom with dead people. And something terrifying happened then, full of awesomness. A certain man disbelieved in the holy man and he came among the people, and in his head he calumnied against him, saying: ‘Why does the Prince himself and so many people come and before and after just one man who is dead, giving him so much honour?’80 And thus he thought in his heart. But then he saw, as he afterwards said, that the saint sat up on his bed and blessed the people on both sides of him, both the Prince going before him and the people who went after him. And the bed with the relics was brought to the tomb which he had prepared himself and he was placed in there in the month of December on the 21st day where he is now lying, performing various miracles to those who come with faith.
81 And after twenty days after his body was placed in the tomb a certain young man who had weakened hands from birth which could not move, so that he could not even raise them to his mouth, he came with warm faith to the tomb of the saint and prayed in tears and was immediately cured. And then a hunchback was given the gift of a cure and a blind was given vision.
And this then happened publicly at the grave of the saint in a few days and the pious Prince Ivan writing it down brought it to the glorious city of Vladimir.82 And then a day of counsel and feast happened and it was read out on the ambo in the centre of the church. And thus it happened that even those who formerly did not believe in the saint, as I have mentioned before, said in the midst of the people that they saw him sitting on his bed and praising peoples, when he was carried to the church. And when the Prince heard this and the clergy and all the people, they praised God and his servant in one voice. ‘He who praises me, I will praise, saith the Lord.’83
And the Lord did not stop from that day to the present, creating signs and miracles by the grave of the saint. And those who come with faith and without envy receive the gift of cure. And there are even greater cures which are secret, and thus even after his death God’s servant thus humbly and secretly and confidentially cures illnesses.84
85 After a while Theognostus, the holy Metropolitan of Kiev and all-Russia came, having been appointed by the most holy Patriarch Isaiah, and he found that so many cures had taken place by the tomb of holy Peter. And he sent to Constantinople, to inform the Patriarch and the council about the miracles with the saint. And the Patriarch convened a council and when the Metropolitan’s letter was read, all in one voice praised God, who makes his saints famous. And the Patriarch with the whole council wrote to Theognostus thus: ‘Most holy Metropolitan of all Russia, and honoured and beloved brother in the Holy Spirit of our humbleness, and servant! May you have blessings and peace from God to your holiness. I have received the letter of your holiness which told and notified about the priest Peter who was before you in the most holy of churches and how he had been famed after death by God, and how he was his near servant and how he pleased him and how great miracles happened from him and how he cures all sorts of illnesses. And I was overjoyed and happy in my spirit about this and gave due glory to God. And since your holiness asks to find out from us what to do about these holy relics, you know yourself what the holy church does in such cases. Having received news and unchanged news of this your holiness should take the church rule and with holy hymns and praises honour God’s servant so as to start him on to the years to come for praise and glory of those who glorify God, for his blessings then will be with your holiness. And this writing was brought to God’s priest Theognostus, and he did everything [that was in the letter] so that the Prince and everyone should see, and they create a luminous feast for the saint. And from then on to this day we celebrate the holy [feast] as is meet, and just like a source from which water is taken flows more, thus also the tomb of our new miracle worker Peter overflows with spiritual and bodily cure for those who come with faith.
86 And to this I want to add a certain small spiritually uplifting tale
and then give peace to the word. Some years ago, and do not know how, for
God is the master of fate, I, the humble one, was also raised to this high
throne of the Russian metropolis by the holy Patriarch and wondrous
Philotheus87 and the holy council in his reign. But when I came to
the Russian land a number of things happened because of my sins. When the
third year came I went to Constantinople and I got there after much labour and
tests, hoping to receive some consolation, but I discovered disorder among the
Emperors and the Patriarchs. For on the patriarch’s throne there sat the
evilly raised Macarios the Mad who dared to leap on the high patriarchal throne
by the wish of the Emperor without being elected by the council or without the
sign of the Holy Ghost. The holy and blessed Patriarch Philotheos had been
the decoration of the throne of the great universal Patriarchate, and for many
years he looked after the spiritual flock well, and fought against the heresy of
Akindinus and Varlaam,88 and destroyed their teachings through his
instructions; with his spiritually uplifting words he defeated Grigoras the
heretic89 and laid low his teachings and his writings and cursed them and
he wrote many books for the confirmation of orthodoxy and he wrote many hymns
and canons, but him who was holy and great and wondrous both in word and deed
was not wanted by the then Emperor. The Emperor removed him from the
throne with lying and cheating words and locked him in a monastery. And
then by his own will he chose a certain mad Macarios, who had no wisdom, and
ignoring church tradition and law appointed the abomination of the devil in the
holy place. For Jacob was cast out and Esau, accursed before he was born, was
raised. Like Arcadius who listened to his wife and imprisoned St John
Chrisostomos, thus Arsacius the accursed did with the throne of his successor.90
But the wondrous Philotheos, God’s man and honey-creating tongue, was in great sorrow and unbearable pains, but he did not stop glorifying and thanking God and after some years he fell asleep with blessed sleep having passed his soul into the hands of the living God. And he was ranked among the [holy] Patriarchs, whose lives he emulated.
And the Emperor who angered him destroyed the empire for nothing.91 Macarios, whom he had appointed was removed by the judgement of God, cast out by the council and cast down as having evil fame and he was imprisoned; and I was among the hierarchs at that council. And I signed the scroll about the excommunication.
At that time I spent thirteen months in Constantinople. I could not leave because the imperial city was then in terrible disorder and need. For the sea was held by the Latins and the dry land was held by the godless Turks. And thus I was in such a prison and difficult sicknesses attacked me so that I was almost dead. But as soon as I came to even a little I called for the help of the holy priest Peter saying thus: ‘Servant of God and he who pleases the Saviour! I know that you are close to God and can help those who are in trouble or in sickness, if you so wish. And if it is your wish to allow me to reach my throne and to bow at thine grave, give me help and lighten my sickness.’ Believe me, from that moment those unbearable pains stopped and after a few days I left the imperial city and with God’s speed and that of his servant I came and worshipped at his miracle-working grave, when I was received with happiness and great honour by the pious great Prince of All Russia Dimitrii, son of Grand Prince Ivan, grandson of Alexander.92
93 Such were the works of this great saint and miracle-worker. These were his labours and pains, with which he since his youth and from his very youth pleased God and for which God spread his fame, giving him that which he deserved.
This is the word of praise from us to thee, the best our rough-hewn strength could manage. You, unusual among saints whom you followed like an apostle, you who with your blood saved the spoken sheep of Christ the flock with which you were entrusted through endless charity and goodness. For you protected faith in accordance with the great apostle.94 When your life’s course came to an end most clearly partaking of the non-evening light of the Trinity, thinking in the divine way you flew up well directed. I pray to thee look after us and direct us from above. For you know how difficult this life is. For you also once suffered in it.
95 The Russian land holds you as its intercessor,96 and the
glorious city of Moscow keeps your relics as a treasure, honestly looking after
them. Every day our orthodox and enlightened Princes bow with warm faith and
receive blessing with all the Orthodox, giving praise to the life-begetting
Trinity through which we will all come to the presence of Christ our Lord, to
whom glory, praise and power belongs, with the Father and the unbegotten, the
all-holy blessed and life-creating spirit, for now and for ever, Amen.
NOTES:
1. Russian text © G. M. Prokhorov. From G.M.Prokhorov, Povest’ o
Mitiae, Leningrad 1978: 204-215; Translation and commentary © Jana Howlett
2. Section 1 - heading
3. This version of the Life is from a parchment
(valuable) liturgical menologion (collection of readings for specific days of
the year) for December.
4. Emphasises the difference between æèòèå
(hagiography by 14th century) and æèçíü (life on earth)
5. The saintliness
of a ‘candidate for canonisation’ requires miracles as a demonstration of God’s
grace.
6. Metropolitans can also be titled bishops and archbishops,
emphasising the ecumenical nature of the Church hierarchy.
7. Section 2:
prayer before commencement of a ïîäâèã.
8. For information about Kyprian see
biographical notes at end
9. A very cursory humility topos.
10. In 14th
century Russia it was unusual to have the author/scribe enter his name at the
beginning. More typical are colophons, prayer by author scribe at end. Kyprian’s
name may have been entered by a copyist. However Prokhorov considers that this
version had marginalia written by Kyprian himself, so this may reflect Western
practice.
11. Section 3: reasons for present work.
12. Immediately
emphasises that Peter is a leader, most senior among the Russian hierarchy.
13. [Luke 21:2] And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two
mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in
more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the
offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she
had.
14. Humility topos.
15. Here Kyprian emphasises that he is Peter’s
successor as Metropolitan of All Russia.
16. This is the only ‘subtitle’ in
the work. It marks the beginning of the Section 4: passages about Peter’s
childhood and youth.
17. A saint should be born of good stock. Cf. Luke 1: 6
about the parents of John the Baptist: And they were both righteous before God,
walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
18.
Then a wealthy principality, according to Peter (see below, p. 5).
19. Since
one of the signs of sanctity is the imperviousness of the saint’s body to
‘corruption’, i.e. decomposition after death, the ‘odour of sanctity’ is a very
real thing to a medieval hagiographer. Here the lovely smell presages Peter’s
sanctity.
20. Zachariah, father of John the Baptist also saw a vision in
which the angel of the Lord told him that his wife would bear a son (Luke
1:11-20)
21. Multiples of seven are common in medieval literature. But here
it may reflect real practice.
22. Shows that reading and writing was part of
the education of children of well-born parents.
23. As head of the Russian
Church, Kyprian was also a ‘doctor’ or teacher; maybe that is why he shows such
sympathy with Peter’s teacher.
24. The word òùåòà is normally the translated
as vanity, but in the Biblical sense, as in Ecclesiastes 1:2: Vanity of
vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. I.e. something
that is done in vain.
25. An oblique simile with one of the Fathers of the
Christian Church, John Chrisostomos (golden-tongued).
26. Ïóñòûíÿ means
desert or deserted place. Kyprian here means that Peter went to one of the new
‘desert’ monasteries, founded in uninhabited lands, such as Sergius’s Trinity
monastery.
27. The Russian word is ïîñëóøíèê, he who obeys.
28.
Emphasises obedience as a key virtue.
29. Note that no mention is made of
learning or reading.
30. In Russian Orthodox tradition only the old and
infirm are allowed not to stand in the presence of God.
31. John Climacus
(~525-606 AD) was an early Father of the Church who wrote the Klimax Paradisi
(the Ladder to Heaven) the work which was required reading for monks because it
described the steps towards perfection that a monk must take. Commemorated as a
saint on 30 March. He became a monk at the monastery of St Catherine on Sinai at
the age of 16. He withdrew from there to live the life of an anchoret (hermit)
but was elected abbot at the age of 75, when he wrote the Ladder.
32.
Throughout the importance of obedience is stressed.
33. Monks could become
presbyters (priests), which gave them the right to officiate at liturgy and act
as priests for other monks in the community.
34. The Russian îáîæåí is like
a play on words , for it means ‘burned’ but also suggests ‘worship’.
35.
Fine reference to the parallels between spiritual and earthly life.
36.
Reference to Orthodox teaching about icons, which are not worshipped for
themselves, but for those whom they represent.
37. We know that icons were
bought and sold as valuable items. Here Kyprian stresses that Peter was above
such commercial considerations.
38. Section 5: Here the main part of
Kyprian’s life is narrated.
39. Meaning a lone traveller
40. Maksim,
Metropolitan of Russia.
41. Here Kyprian stresses that the Metropolitan
represents all Russia, not just the Principality of Moscow.
42. By contrast
with Peter who is humble and obedient to authority.
43. Áåñëîâåñèå is
another play on words meaning both speechlessness and ‘devil’s words’.
44.
Kyprian is conscious of the need to vary terms – here hierarch (a Greek word
absorbed into Russian vocabulary) means Metropolitan.
45. Constantinople,
now Istanbul. The city of Constantine is a calque from the Greek
Constantinopolis.
46. In the Orthodox tradition Councils of the Church were
convened jointly by the heads of the secular and religious authority (e.g.
Emperor and Patriarch). In practice secular rulers often convened Councils on
their own initiative, though usually with the agreement of the Church.
47.
In 1371 Kazimir of Poland forced Philotheus to create separate Galician
Metropolis on his territory by threatening forced conversion to Catholicism.
48. Shows that Kyprian, for all his protestations, considers that a secular
hierarchy lends weight to a religious hierarchy.
49. Like the storm which
the Virgin whipped up in the sea when the Rus first attacked Constantinople. In
Russia the importance of the Virgin as an intercessor is emphasised by the many
wonder-working icons of the Mother of God and by the importance of the feast of
Intercession.
50. This is an unusually lyrical passage.
51. Kyprian
never omits to mention the importance of the metropolis of which he is now the
head.
52. I.e. die.
53. Stressing the idea that the Church hierarchy was
made in the image of Christ.
54. This is one of several points in the
hagiography where Kyprian shows that he is not entirely in control of the genre
of hagiography. After all the visions one would expect Gerontii to drown or be
otherwise prevented from attaining his desired aim, but Kyprian has to combine
fact with fiction. All the miraculous visions only yield a result much later.
55. I.e. the church of St. Sophia.
56. Kyprian approves of him because
he was on the side of the Palamites.
57. See above, footnote 18
58. Note
the metaphor – teaching=enlightenment. This is also seen as a ‘hesychast’
comment, since it suggests that a ‘physical light’ emanates from those who are
chosen.
59. This is another topos – the evidence of an eyewitness. Cf. Life
of Aleksandr Nevskii
60. Peter, who ‘gave’ by painting the Virgin
61. A
lyrical metaphor common in medieval writing. Cf. Life of Aleksandr Nevskii.
62. Here Kyprian is also drawing attention to his own burden.
63.
Another common metaphor seen in images on icons and in book illumination.
64. There are a number of biblical quotations on the theme of humility, none
exactly like this. Probably a paraphrase of Thou dost deliver a humble people,
but thy eyes are upon the haughty to bring them down [2Sam 22:28.5].
65.
Since God is good, it falls to the devil to bring about evil on earth.
66.
I.e. the Devil.
67. Andrei apparently accused Peter of simony, the taking of
money [bribes] for Church appointments.
68. [Pss 9:13.6] Have mercy upon me,
O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that
liftest me up from the gates of death:
69. Paraphrase of The LORD is on my
side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? [Pss 118:6.5]
70. Mikhail of
Tver.
71. Interestingly this is not deemed worthy of comment even though by
the time this was written Mikhail had been canonised after a ‘martyr’s death’ in
the Horde.
72. Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword into its sheath; shall I
not drink the cup which the Father has given me?’ [John 18:11.4]
73. Who was
cast out into the sea.
74. There was no heretic Seit. This entire passage is
the result of a misreading of 'ñå èí åðåòèê
ÿâèñÿ' ('and then another heretic appeared'
75. Another passage drawing
attention to the importance of Kyprian’s metropolis.
76. A puff for Ivan
Kalita, Prince of Moscow from 1325, Grand Prince of all Russia 1328-41
77.
Aleksandr Nevskii, evidently canonised by this date.
78. 'Truly, truly, I
say to you, he who receives any one whom I send receives me; and he who receives
me receives him who sent me.' [John 13:20.22]
79. The ideal of harmonia,
accord between Church and State.
80. The motif of the doubting man who is
miraculously cured of disbelief.
81. Beginning of Section 6: posthumous
miracles
82. Still the official seat of the Metropolis.
83. Can not
identify source.
84. This suggests that the Peter’s miracles were not
exactly plentiful.
85. Beginning of Section 7: the canonisation of Peter in
Constantinople
86. Beginning of Section 8: Kyprian’s troubles.
87. In
Russian Filofei. See Biographical Notes
88. Varlaam of Calabria (see
Biographical Notes) and Gregory Akindinus were opponents of the hesychasts.
89. The same Gregory Akindinus mentioned above.
90. From the Life of St.
John Chrysostom, banished from Constantinople 404 AD (see
http://ccel.wheaton.edu/fathers2/NPNF1-09/npnf1-09-03.htm - P112_2013)
91.
This refers either to John V’s conversion to Catholicism or the onslaught of the
Ottomans.
92. Kyprian fails to mention the problems he had with Dimitrii,
who wanted Constantinople to appoint his own candidate, Michael.
93.
Beginning of Section 9, encomium (praise).
94. This probably means the
Äåÿíèÿ àïîñòîëîâ, or Acts of the Apostles.
95. Final Section, the prayer.
96. Like the Mother of God, whose icon was painted by Peter.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
Aleksei:
appointed Metropolitan in 1354, but his candidacy not recognised
by GP Olgerd of Lithuania. When Aleksei tried to go to Lithuania in 1358 he was
arrested by Olgerd and released only in 1360. Olgerd wanted a separate
metropolis for all territories not under Moscow, including Tver, but Philotheus
responded by calling upon him to make piece between Moscow, Lithuania and Tver.
Kyprian
Born into a noble Bulgarian family (Tsamblak) fled from Bulgaria
to Byzantium in the 1350’s, probably met Philotheus on Athos in the 1350’s. In
~1373 Philotheus sent Kyprian to Lithuania, to make piece between Moscow, Tver,
Lithuania.
Philotheus
Born in late XIIth or early XIVth century in Thessaloniki in a
poor family, died 1376. His mother was Jewish. As a servant in the family of a
court orator Thomas he learnt to read and write. He became a monk, and is known
to have been both at Sinai and at Athos. Famous for spiritual verse. First
became Metropolitan in 1353. In 1354 he confirmed the Moscow candidate Aleksei
as Metropolitan of All Russia and officially confirmed the transfer of the seat
of the Metropolitan from Kiev to Vladimir. That meant that Lithuanian GP’s could
no longer say that metropolis is on their territory. In 1355 Philotheus had to
resign and return to Athos as abbot of the monastery of St. Athanasius. The new
Patriarch Kallistos appointed Roman , a Lithuanian candidate, as Metropolitan of
All Russia (1355-1362). Kallistos died of the plague in 1363, and after an
eighteen-month interregnum Philotheus returned to Constantinople in 1364. He
boycotted all dealings with the papacy (on 18 October 1369 John V Palaeologue
converted in Rome to Western Catholicism, but without a single Byzantine priest)
and canonised Gregory Palamas. By 1375 Philotheus restored the unity of Eastern
churches (Byzantine, Bulgarian, Serbian, Wallachian). He died in 1376.
Varlaam of Calabria
A Greek monk, born in Southern Italy. He came to
Constantinople ca. 1330 and in 1333 took part in negotiations with the Papacy
which aimed at bringing about a union of the Eastern and Western branches of
Christianity. In 1339 he went to Avignon to Pope Boniface XII. He was a bitter
opponent of Gregory Palamas.