Where are the relics of Ilya of Murom? Savior Transfiguration Monastery, the city of Murom. Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

Ilya Muromets is quite famous, but very, very mysterious hero, about whom many interesting legends and epics have been composed and composed so far. It is almost impossible to find a person who would not have heard about the hero's heroic deeds. Most often, people's knowledge of Ilya Muromets is drawn from a small number of Russian folk tales, but the truth, oddly enough, remains in the shadows.

A complex and multi-faceted image of the hero even of some scientists and philosophers introduces a slight error. Ilya Muromets' relics have been thoroughly studied for a long time. What this led to, will be described below.

Truth or fiction?

For nearly 200 years, scientists have spent trying to at least approach the solution of the secrets of the hero's personality, nevertheless, most attempts remain vain. People living in the distant 16th-19th centuries did not even have any doubt about the fact that Ilya Muromets existed and performed feats in reality. It is also known that the Russian hero was a warrior and served in the regiment of the prince of the glorious city of Kiev. Ancient Russian legends do not give any way to doubt the origin of the hero, whose native city is considered to be Moore. Nevertheless, historical information says that his true homeland is the village of Karacharovo, located in the Murom region. Perhaps these data do not contradict each other. It is not for nothing that the city of Moore stores the relics of Ilya Muromets. The address of the monastery, where they are resting, is st. Lakina, 1.

The Motherland of the Bogatyr

However, contemporary figures of historical sciences believe that in fact Muromets was born and lived for a long time in the Chernigov region. Not far from this place there are such settlements as Karachev and Moroviysk, where they remember about the heroic deeds and lives of the hero and do not get tired of arguing to this day. If you look at this information with knowledge of geography, you can understand that the information is absurd, since these cities are hundreds of kilometers away from each other.

Why the hero is Muromets?

Nevertheless, it is worth taking into account the fact that these three cities, that is, Murom, Chernigov and Karachev, are located approximately in the same direction from Kiev.

Accordingly, this territory could well become the site of the most famous military accomplishments of the ancient Russian hero epic. Still nearby there is a village Nine Oaks, passing by which, Russian hero Ilja Muromets reached the place of performance of service. Accordingly, there are no significant differences between official history and folk epics and legends. Also very remarkable fact is that Murom for a long time was part of the Chernigov principality. Comparison of the name of the city and the name of the epic hero is quite justified, since the cities of Murom and Chernigov have long been a significant part of both Vladimir-Suzdal, and Moscow, and Kievan Rus. These sites to this day are considered the historical homeland of the knight. It is not for nothing that today a particle of the relics of Ilya of Murom is stored in Murom.

The first mention of Muromets

Ironically, the ancient Russian chronicles have no information about Ilya Muromets, while even in far-off Germany, this historical hero is rightfully recognized as one of the main persons of poetic works of the 18th century, which are based on earlier epic creations. In these writings Ilya Muromets appears before the readers in the image of a mighty warrior and knight Ilya of Russia. As for official documents, in them the name of Muromets first occurs in the distant 1574 year.

Heroes of Ilya of Murom

Since Ilya was a convinced Christian by faith, brought up according to all the laws and canons of faith in Jesus, before bowing to feats, he bowed to parents and the whole family to the ground. Having bowed, Ilya asked his father and mother for blessings and farewells. The legends explain that Ilya's mother and father, despite their own weakness and weakness, gave their consent to the deeds of their son and let him go on a long journey, only by giving a handful of the native land of the city of Murom to memory. Even the parents took the oath with the son that people who adhere to Christianity will not perish from his sword. Ilya Muromets confirmed the allegiance to this parent by the fact that all Christians were alive, and in the territory of Russia justice reigned and truth triumphed.

Significant battles

As soon as Muromets heard approval from the lips of his parents, his path lay in the Vladimir principality, from where the process of his ministry began. Bogatyr was the only one who decided to go to the prince in the most difficult times for Russia. Meeting the bandits, Ilya preferred to avoid war and fired an archery arrow into an age-old oak tree, which grew very close. The arrow, which fell right in the middle of the tree, broke the oak into the smallest pieces that shocked the robbers, and they bowed and respectfully, letting the knight advance without starting the battle.

Historical data says that the next battle, in which Ilya won, is the battle with Nightingale the robber, a mythical being that symbolizes the pagan beginning. That is why the hero, who truly believes in the existence of Christ, tried to lead a fierce duel with the robber. To prove that the hero was an adherent of the Christian faith, many historians and great figures of fine art try to capture the knight with a weapon in the form of a cruciform spear.

Reception at the prince

Remembering the instructions of the mother, Muromets made every attempt to convince the enemies to finish everything peacefully before each battle. Thus, one can assert that the illustrious knight has practically unlimited endurance, patience and mercy.
Most of the stories about the military service of Ilya of Murom originate from the moment of the noble feast in the palace of Prince Vladimir. At this feast hit the hero immediately, as soon as he was in Kiev. The guests had the opportunity to sit down at any places at the table, while Ilya, before sitting down and proceeding to the festivities, prayed at the images and bowed to his feet not only to the prince and the prince's nobility, but to all those present. They accepted the hero with all the cordiality and honor, and all thanks to the fact that the knight was able to protect the people of Rus from the violent attacks of Nightingale the robber and his assistants.

Ilya Muromets is the Messenger of Christ

In fact, the hero was on his way to the possession of Vladimir Monomakh, and not to Vladimir Svyatoslavovich, as they say in many writings. This can be judged from the fact that faith in Christ was already popular not only within Russia, but also abroad, and specifically in the countries of Asia. And this, as you know, simply could not happen immediately after the Sacrament of the Baptism of the Russian people happened.

Many folk legends already have information about Vladyka Chernomorsky, who was the father of another famous hero, Alyosha Popovich. Faith in Christ in this area has taken root among the population far from immediately. Exclusively thanks to Ilya Muromtsu and his assistants-heroes, the battles with cruel commanders were held in the steppe area.

Just at that time, the truth spread among the people that the divine power is not in physical strength, but in truth and struggle for justice. This is a great success, that even today people can feel all the power of the hero, touching his holy relics. The Kiev-Pechersk Lavra (Ukraine) protects them with all trepidation.

The secret of the death of Ilya Muromets

Ilya Muromets belonged to the clan of commoners and was a kind of thorn in the eye of the principality. Therefore, the honest name of the hero was defiled and even struck from the chronicle as an example of the triumphant return of a Russian peasant who fought for the calm of Russian people.

Cruel vandalism

Ilya Muromets was buried in that place in St. Sophia Cathedral, where all the representatives of the nobility dreamed of being buried, but they simply did not have the opportunity. Perhaps, precisely because Ilya Muromets burial was mercilessly defeated, meanwhile, as all the neighboring tombs remained intact and safe. On this injustice on the part of the authorities in relation to the hero of Rus, the ambassador of the head of the Holy Russian Empire, Rudolf II Erich Lasot, who managed to drive past the outskirts of Kiev and past the city itself from May 7 to 9, 1594, let know in his own manuscripts. It is said that Erich followed in Kiev with diplomatic purposes. At that time, the miraculous relics of Ilya of Murom were kept in the reconstructed church of the name of Guria, Samon and Aviv.

Relics in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

At that time, the servants of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra began to care about the condition of the buried body. In this monastery the body of the hero is now. His monument was signed by a modest combination of words "Ilya from Murom". The memorial day of the knight is celebrated on December 19 according to the old version of the calendar, and on January 1 - on the new one. It is worth mentioning that it was on January 1 in the homeland of the hero Ilya of Murom that an icon dedicated to the knight was brought to the local cathedral. It was attached to the ark, which contained a small particle of the relics of the famous savior of Russia. Precisely because the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra (Ukraine) has a lot of classified materials, many historians and even ordinary inhabitants have an opportunity to slightly open the veil of the mystery of the life and death of the great military soldier.

Mention of Muromets in the books of the saints

In 1638 was published for the first time an interesting book, authored by one of the monks of the laurels named Athanasius of Kalfofoy. When writing the book, Athanasius took into account all the saints, including several lines devoted to the life and military exploits of Muromets. It was clarified that the period of the hero's life lasted as long as 450 years, beginning in 1188. The events that happened in those days were literally overflowing with drama.

The struggle for the Principality

In the period from 1157 to 1169 the city of Kiev became a hotbed of feuds for the title of prince of Rus. To think, during this time the rule of Rusya-Mother passed from hand to hand about 8 times! And in 1169, Russia was devastated by Andrei Bogolyubsky, who, incidentally, took away from the territory of Russia the consecrated face of Ilya of Murom, considered the greatest icon and carrying divine power and strength. This miraculous icon is still known as the icon of Vladimir the Mother of God. From 1169 to 1181, the reign of Kiev was done by as many as 18 princes, some of whom entered the throne on several occasions. Also in the struggle for the reign came the Polovtsians (Kipchaks, Kumans), who in the period from 1173 to 1190 heavily plundered the state treasury and even committed murders.

Cause of the hero's death

When physicians of that time conducted a study of the relics of Ilya of Murom to find out the cause of death, it was found out that the hero was killed precisely because of one of such armed attacks of the Polovtsians. As suggested by Sergei Khvedchenya, who is a journalist of the publication "Around the World", it happened in 1203 due to the raid of the Polovtsians and Rurik. Kiev was conquered by force, the lavra was burned to the ground, and most of the possessions were simply plundered, not disdaining any values. As they say the drafters of chronicle documents, such a robbery in the territory of Russia was not even once.

A faithful servant

Having reached the venerable age, Ilya Muromets took tonsure and became one of the priests of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. In documents, the hero is recorded as "Ilya, nicknamed Muromets." As for the true name, it is unknown to anyone. It is also natural that the hero could not remain indifferent to the fact that the symbol of the Orthodox faith may suffer and by that time had become a native monastery.

In the struggle for justice

Studying the holy relics of Ilya Muromets, experts said that the hero fought to the last moment, not wanting to yield to the enemy under any circumstances. As evidenced by their conclusion, drawn up on the results of the inspection, Ilya Muromets received only 2 injuries: one was on hand, and the second though was insignificant, but the fate fate pleased directly in the heart of the knight. In addition, the corpse lacks the feet of both legs, and there is a round-shaped wound on the left arm, and another serious injury is seen on the left side of the chest. From this we can conclude that, before he died, the hero tried to cover the area with the cross with his hand. At the sight of this, it seems that from the impact of the spear the hand was literally "nailed" to the chest. Being in the laurel, you can see that Murom is buried in the white monk's robes. Above the coffin of Ilya of Murom there is an icon with its image.

For the first time, in order to study the power of Ilya Muromets in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, they were disturbed in 1963. During the Soviet era, the commission assembled erroneously determined that the wounds on the surface of the corpse were skillfully imitated by the ministers of the monastery, who wore monks. And also members of the Soviet commission took the hero not for the Russian man, who was always Ilya, but for the Mongol.

In order to thoroughly study the power of Ilya Muromets, Soviet scientists used the most modern equipment brought from Japan. The results of the manipulations just astonished. An interesting fact is that the pierced palm of Muromets saw in 1701 a pilgrim named Ivan Lukyanov. The remaining parts of the body could not be identified, since the body was wrapped from head to toe in a white veil.

The relics of Ilya of Murom. Where are they still?

Another refuge of the holy relics of the hero became one of the cathedrals of the Transfiguration Monastery in Murom. Here in a separate room in the decorated sarcophagus a part of the body of the knight is preserved. You can apply to relics at almost any time. This is available to everyone.

Even after his death, the epic hero helps people. It is said that the relics of Elijah Murom in Murom are able to heal diseases of the spine and paralysis.

According to medical experts, Ilya Muromets lived in the 12th century, and the life expectancy was approximately from 1148 to 1203. The growth of the epic hero was slightly higher than the average value of 1 meter 77 centimeters, but at that time a man of this height was considered a giant. This is confirmed even after 350 years, when a merchant from Germany by the name of Martin Gruneweg had a chance to pass by the capital. Seeing the power of Ilya of Murom, the merchant fell into a real numbness from the unprecedented strength and greatness of the defender of the Russian land. And this is justified, since the hero Ilya of Murom really did have a truly mighty appearance: a slanting sazhen in the shoulders, a muscular torso, broad cheekbones. In a word, everything in the body of the hero inspired confidence and tranquility. The strength and power of the hero passed through the inheritance and Karachar descendants of Ilya, the men of the Guschiny family, who could easily move the train from place to place.

Today, the relics of the famous Russian hero can be attached to several places. Some of them accepted the Spasso-Preobrazhensky Monastery (Murom). The remaining particles are stored in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.