(monastic Alexy; after 1219/20-11/14/1263), St. blgv. (commemorated on November 23 and August 30 - the transfer of relics, in the Cathedral of the Vladimir Saints, in the Cathedral of the Karelian Saints, in the Cathedral of the Novgorod Saints, in the Cathedral of the Rostov-Yaroslavl Saints, in the Cathedral of St. Petersburg Saints, in the Cathedral of the Tula Saints and in the Cathedral saints of the Estonian land), led. book. Vladimir (1252-1263), 2nd son of Pereyaslav Prince. (from 1238 Grand Duke of Vladimir) Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. Even in adolescence, in 1228-1236. (with interruptions), A. Ya. N. (until 1233, together with the elder brother of the Holy Blessed Prince Theodore Yaroslavich) was his father's governor in Novgorod; from 1236 (after Yaroslav left for the Grand Duke's table in Kyiv) to 1252 - Prince of Novgorod (with a short break in the winter of 1240/41). The Novgorod reign of A. Ya. N. fell on a period of noticeable foreign policy complications in the north-west. Rus'. Registration of the Lithuanian state-va under Prince. Mindovge led not only to the strengthening of permanent litas. raids on Novgorod, Pskov, Smolensk and Polotsk lands, but also to direct territorial expansion against Polotsk. Already the marriage of A. Ya. N. in 1239 with the daughter of the Polotsk prince. Bryachislav (Vasilkovich?) Pursued, obviously, the goal of organizing joint actions against Lithuania, since in the same year A. Ya. N. fortified the fortresses along the river. Sheloni, who covered Novgorod from the west. The actions of the Livonian Order, which became more active after uniting with the Teutonic Order in 1237 and settling relations with Denmark in 1238, turned out to be directed against Pskov (together with Izborsk captured in 1240) and the lands subject to Novgorod along the river. Luga (campaigns in 1240 and the construction of a fortress in Koporye). At the same time, the offensive of the Swedes in Finland resulted in the summer of 1240 in a campaign against Novgorod lands , pursuing the goal of either capturing Ladoga or establishing a fortress on the Neva, which would cut off Novgorod from Karelia subject to it. The swift response of A. Ya. N., however, led to the defeat of the Swede. troops on the Neva on July 15, 1240 (hence the nickname Nevsky), to recapture Koporye in 1241, and in 1242 Pskov, to the campaign in the winter of 1241/42 (with Suzdal help led by younger brother Andrei Yaroslavich) to Vost. Estonia, which ended with a decisive defeat of the troops of the Livonian Order and the Bishop of Dorpat on the ice of Lake Peipsi. 5 Apr. 1242 Contradictory data on the losses of the Order in Old Russian. (Novgorod Chronicle I) and German. (Livonian rhymed chronicle) sources make it difficult to assess the scale of the battle, but the political significance of this victory of A. Ya. N. remains beyond doubt: it was up to the 15th century. ensured the status quo on the Livonian-Novgorod border, therefore attempts to reduce the battle to the level of an ordinary border skirmish (J. Fennell) are unlawful. After the death in 1246 of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich (probably Tver received from the hereditary possessions of his father A. Ya. N.), a struggle broke out for the lead. the reign of Vladimir, in the course of which A. Ya. khans to Karakorum, from where he returned only to the con. 1249, having received a label for "Kiev and the whole Russian land" (while Andrei became Grand Duke of Vladimir). The content of the title received by A. Ya. N. is not entirely clear; it is usually believed that we are talking about Yuzh. Rus', but since A. Ya. N. did not go to Kyiv, but remained to reign in Novgorod, then, probably, the latter was one of the possessions granted to him. During these years, the political concept of A.Ya.N. West. This concept was formed in the confrontation with the policy of the princely coalition headed by Andrei Yaroslavich and the Galician-Volyn prince. Daniil Romanovich, aimed at an alliance with the West, and above all with the papacy, in the hope of his help in organizing a rebuff to the Mongols-Tatars. The policy of Andrei and Daniel inevitably led to a union with Rome, so A. Ya. N. in his struggle against it could fully rely on the support of the Russian Church, and in particular Met. Cyril II. Obviously, it was in 1250, having received the bull of Pope Innocent IV of 1248 with a proposal for a union, A. Ya. N. gave Rome. We sent the famous reply: "We do not accept teachings from you." Changes in Karakorum, where the patronized by Batu led. Khan Meng, allowed A. Ya. N. to proceed to decisive action. In 1252, he left Novgorod for Saray, where he received a label for a bicycle. the reign of Vladimir and, enlisting the Tatars. help (“Nevryuev’s army”), ousted Andrei from Vladimir, who eventually fled to Sweden, and planted his son Vasily in Novgorod.
The subsequent years of the reign of A. Ya. N. were devoted to the consolidation domestic political situation and reconciliation with his brothers: Yaroslav Yaroslavich, who tried to gain a foothold in Novgorod in 1255, was forced to come to terms with A. Ya. N. Tver allocated to him; At about the same time, Andrei Yaroslavich returned from across the sea, having received Suzdal. The stabilization of the internal situation allowed A. Ya. N. to take active foreign policy steps: in the winter of 1256/57, he, at the head of the Suzdal-Novgorod army, made a campaign against it, preventing the Swedes from gaining a foothold in southern Finland; it is possible that negotiations on the marriage of the son of A. Ya. N. with the daughter of a Norwegian belong to the same time. box Haakon IV (1217-1263), usually dated 1251/52; A major foreign policy success was also the conclusion of an alliance treaty with Mindovg against the Livonian Order in 1262. The Mongol-Tatars became a grave but inevitable consequence of A. Ya. "number" - a census conducted by khan officials with the help of princely power (moreover, princes Andrei Suzdal, Yaroslav Tverskoy, Boris Vasilkovich Rostovsky acted as obedient executors of the policy of A. Ya. N.) in order to streamline the collection of tribute and the participation of Russian. units in the military campaigns of the Horde. In 1257, "what" Suzdal and Muromo-Ryazan lands, in 1258 - Vladimir. The census ran into an active protest of the Old Russian. cities. The first census attempt in Novgorod in 1257, despite the personal presence of A. Ya. N., was unsuccessful; success with great difficulty military force managed to achieve only in 1259, after the previous year A. Ya. N. and other princes had to go to the Horde for explanations. Horde requisitions led in 1262 to a mass uprising of the townspeople in Rostov, Vladimir, Suzdal, Yaroslavl, which forced A. Ya. Being detained there by Khan Berke for a whole year, the prince died on the way back, having taken monastic vows before his death, and was buried in the Bogolyubsky Nativity of the Virgin Mon-Re in Vladimir on November 23. 1263
As an epochal figure, who determined the fate of Rus' and Russia for centuries, A. Ya. N. and his political concept, which became the last. traditional for the princes of the Moscow House, Rus are evaluated differently. and app. scientists. In Russian historiography, A. Ya. N. usually acts as a national hero, a far-sighted politician, a defender of the Church, and his actions are the only true and realistic at that time. Foreign historians, mainly of recent times, believe that the figure of A. Ya. N. and his activities are largely exaggerated, that his policy is pro-Tatars. conformism removed Rus' from the West. Europe and for a long time undermined the possibility of organized resistance to the Mongols-Tatars. However, Russian the outstanding historical role of A. Ya. N. was comprehended by the national consciousness soon after his death in the hagiographically stylized biography of the prince - “The Tale of the Life of Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky”. The original version of the Tale was probably compiled in the 1980s. 13th century in the Vladimir monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin by an unknown monk with the blessing of Metropolitan. Cyril II of Kyiv and led by will. book. Vladimir Dimitry Alexandrovich, the son of A. Ya. in 1380 his relics were found. All-Russian The canonization of the saint took place at the Council of 1547. To the cathedral glorification of A. Ya. N. with the blessing of the Moscow Metropolitan. Macarius, a monk of the Vladimir Nativity monastery, Michael composed a service to the saint. At the same time, “A word of praise to the right-believing Grand Duke Alexander, who is also called Nevsky, was written, to the new miracle worker, in whom he confessed about his miracles.” As stated in the "Word", its author recorded the story of the miracles of A. Ya. N. from the words of the monks of the Nativity monastery. In 1550, the "Word" became part of the VMC. In con. 16th century service compiled by Mon. Michael, was supplemented by the 2nd canon, that is, it became vigilant in composition. N. S. Seregina suggests that the author of the additions to the service was Jonah (Dumin), archim. Nativity monastery (1584-1588). The service appeared already in the 1st edition of the Menaion in 1610. In the Charter, published in the same year, regarding the celebration of the memory of A. Ya. N., there is an indication: “Polyeleos, if the rector wants.” The vigil service from the Menaion of 1610 was also placed in the supplementary part of the Festive Menaion of 1637, but a special title of A. Ya. N. as a reverend already appeared in it.
Shortly after the end of the Northern War, on July 4, 1723, Peter I ordered the relics of A. Ya. N. to be transferred from Vladimir to St. Petersburg, so that Fr. consecrate new capital, a new monastery (Alexander Nevsky Monastery) and the conclusion of the Nystad peace. As far as Novgorod, the holy relics were solemnly carried in their arms, and from Novgorod they were carried on a richly decorated boat. The solemn meeting of the relics of A. Ya. N. took place on August 30. 1724 in Ust-Izhora, near the site of the Neva battle. On the same day, the upper temple of c. Annunciation of St. The Mother of God of the Alexander Nevsky Mon-rya and here a cancer with relics is installed. In 1725 archim. Gabriel (Buzhinsky) compiled a service on the day of the transfer of relics, the celebration of A. Ya. N. was combined in it with thanksgiving to God on the day of the conclusion of peace with Sweden. The magnification of A. Ya. N. in this service lost all elements of magnification to the reverend. Shortly before the transfer of the relics, by a decree of June 15, 1724, the Synod decided to paint the image of the saint not in monastic attire, “but in grand-princely robes.” The word "great" was added to the saint's title. With imp. Peter II celebration 30 Aug. was canceled, and under the Empress Anna Ioannovna - restored. Since that time, the synodal editions of the Menaia began to include both services of A. Ya. and August 30 - for the transfer of relics, the service of 1725. Akathist A. Ya. N. (St. Petersburg, 1853) was compiled by Bishop. Cyril (Naumov), the edition of the akathist also contains a prayer read at a prayer service before the relics of the saint in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. In 1790, the holy relics of A. Ya. The results of the autopsy showed that the relics of A. Ya. N. were indeed in the cancer, burned during a fire in the Nativity Cathedral of Vladimir in 1491. The events of 1491 were evidenced by a record on paper of that time, found in the cancer along with the relics. After the examination of cancer was sealed. Since 1922, the relics have been in the collections of the Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism, and cancer - in the State Geological Museum. In May 1988, the relics of A. Ya. N. were transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church and on June 3, 1989 they were transferred to the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
Source: PSRL. L., 1926-19282. T. 1; NPL; Pskov Chronicles / Ed. L. N. Nasonov. M.; L., 1941-1955. Issue. 1-2; Livländische Reimchronik / Hrsg. L. Meyer. Paderborn, 1876; Begunov Yu . TO . Monument of Russian literature of the XIII century. "A word about the destruction of the Russian land". M.; L., 1965. S. 158-180, 185-194 [ed. life of A. Ya. N.]; Diplomas of Veliky Novgorod and Pskov / Ed. S. N. Valka. M.; L., 1949; Acts of history relating to Russia / Extracted from. from foreign archives and the library of A. I. Turgenev. SPb., 1811. V. 1. No. 78 [bull Innocent IV A. Ya. N.]; Yanin V. L . Assembly seals Ancient Rus' X-XV centuries M., 1970. T. 2. No. 372-378 [printed by A. Ya. N.].
Lit.: Instance A . IN . Great and specific princes of Northern Rus' in the Tatar period from 1238 to 1505. St. Petersburg, 1889. T. 1. S. 29-40; Nasonov A . N . Mongols and Rus: A History of Tatar Policy in Rus. M.; L., 1940; Battle on the Ice of 1242: Sat. M.; L., 1966; Kolotilova S. AND . Russian sources of the 13th century. about Alexander Nevsky // Uch. app. LGPI. 1971. Issue. 502. S. 99-107; Fennell J. L. I. Andrej Jaroslavič and the Struggle for Power in 1252: An Investigation of the Sources // Russia Mediaevalis. 1973. T. 1. P. 49-63; idem. Heiligkeit und Herrschaft in der Vita Aleksandr Nevskijs // Forschungen zur osteuropäischen Geschichte. 1973. Bd. 18. S. 55-72; Leitsch W. Einige Beobachtungen zum politischen Weltbild Aleksandr Nevskijs // Ibid. 1978. Bd. 25. S. 202-216; Shaskolsky I . P . Struggle of Rus' against crusader aggression on the shores of the Baltic in the 12th-13th centuries. L., 1978. S. 147-226; Kuchkin V . A . To the biography of Alexander Nevsky // The most ancient states on the territory of the USSR: Materials and research., 1985. M., 1986. P. 71-80; Okhotnikova V. AND . The Tale of the Life of Alexander Nevsky // SKKDR. L., 1987. Issue. 1. S. 351-363 [bibliogr.]; Fennell D . Crisis of medieval Rus': 1200-1304. M., 1989. S. 136-207; Prince Alexander Nevsky: Materials of scientific and practical. conf. 1989 and 1994 SPb., 1995; Prince Alexander Nevsky and his era. SPb., 1995; Alexander Nevsky and the history of Russia: Materials of scientific and practical. conf. 1995 Novgorod, 1996; Lurie Ya . WITH . Horde yoke and Alexander Nevsky: Sources and historiography of the 20th century. // He is . Ancient Russia and New Russia: (Selected). SPb., 1997. S. 100-130; he is. To the study of the chronicle tradition about Alexander Nevsky // TODRL. 1997. V. 50. S. 387-399. Jackson T . N ., Kuchkin V . A . Year 1251, 1252 or 1257? (On the date of the Russian-Norwegian negotiations) // Eastern Europe in antiquity and the Middle Ages: X Readings for the 80th anniversary of V. T. Pashuto. M., 1998. S. 21-28.
A. V. Nazarenko
Iconography
The earliest surviving images of A. Ya. N. belong to the middle. 16th century Some researchers ( Smirnova, Laurina, Gordienko. P. 229) identify with A. Ya. N. a rider in armor and a helmet, presented together with the martyr. George, blgv. princes Boris and Gleb on the Novgorod icon, ser. 15th century “The Sign from the Icon of the Mother of God” (“The Battle of the Novgorodians with the Suzdalians”) (NGOMZ), however, other similar images of A. Ya. N. are unknown.
2 versions of the iconography of the saint - in monastic and princely clothes - appeared simultaneously. In iconography until the 18th century. A. Ya. N. was portrayed as a reverend: on the icon-tablet “Reverend John, Abraham of Rostov, Alexander Nevsky” ser. 16th century from the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Novgorod (NGOMZ), he is represented in a brown robe, a grayish-ocher tunic, on the shoulders of a cockle schema, short, slightly curly hair and a small wedge-shaped beard touched with gray, in his left hand an unfolded scroll with the text: “My brothers, Fear God and do His commandments." The saint was also depicted with a doll on his head: a fresco of ser. 16th century from the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin (next to A. Ya. N., Grand Duke John Kalita is represented in monastic attire and with a halo); hagiographic icon. 16th century from the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Moat (GIM); cover of the reliquary A. Ya. N. con. XVI - beginning. 17th century (GMMK) - on the scroll is the text: “Let us [tread] with diligence, we will ascend the mountain of the Lord of the day”; the icon of 1695 (GE), which was the lid of the wooden tomb of the saint; 17th century icon from a private collection (Recklinghausen catalogue, S. 49) with the inscription: “Reverend Alexander Nevsky”; embroidered covers of the 17th-18th centuries. (GVSMZ, GRM). On the cover, which, apparently, comes from the Cathedral of the Nativity Monastery in Vladimir, made in the 70-80s. 17th century in the Stroganov workshops (SPGIAKhMZ), A. Ya. N. is represented with eyes closed, in schema and mantle; in the hands - an expanded charter with the text of the prayer; a short beard and mustache are filled with dark red silk, which makes the face stand out against the background of silver and gold embroidery of clothes, a halo and a background. The icon-painting original recommends depicting A. Ya. rev.; late 18th century).
The princely iconography of A. Ya. N. is presented in monumental painting and book miniature XVI - XVII centuries: in the painting of 1565 of the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, the saint is depicted in a richly embroidered fur coat and a princely hat, with a cross in his right hand; on miniatures of the facial life, included in the Personal Chronicle Code (RNB. Laptev volume. F IV. 233. L. 927v., 938; 2nd half of the 16th century), also in princely attire, in illustrations with battle scenes - in a hat, cloak and armor. On the icons of the XVIII-XIX centuries. A. Ya. N., in accordance with the decree of the Holy Synod of June 15, 1724, was written mainly in military armor and a royal mantle, decorated with ermine, sometimes on horseback.
The hagiographic icon of con. XVI - beginning. 17th century A. Ya. N. with 36 hallmarks in the aisle of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem of the Cathedral of the Intercession on the Moat (SIM). The icon was painted for c. Alexander Nevsky, built in con. 16th century in the Moscow Kremlin; throughout the 17th century. annual royal exits were made there on the day of the memory of the saint (later the church was dismantled). In a small centerpiece - a frontal image of A. Ya. N. in full growth in a monastic robe, the inscription: “Holy Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, named Alexy as a foreigner”; around the centerpiece there are 2 rows of hallmarks, of which 12 occupying the upper field are dedicated to the events of the saint’s life, the rest to posthumous miracles: the first is about “spiritual literacy”, then various miracles and healings at the coffin follow, at the end - “The Miracle of the Don victory "(A. Ya. N. assists Blessed Prince Dmitry Donskoy in the Battle of Kulikovo) and" Miracle in the Battle of Molodekh "(A. Ya. N., holy princes Boris and Gleb, princes Andrei, Vsevolod, George and Yaroslav take part in the battle of Russian troops with the Crimean Khan Devlet Giray (1572)). In some hallmarks above the tomb of A. Ya.
Lit .: Begunov Yu . TO . Life of Alexander Nevsky in easel painting of the early 17th century // TODRL. 1966. T. 22. S. 312; Smirnova E. S ., Laurina V . K ., Gordienko E . A . Painting of Veliky Novgorod, XV century. M., 1982. S. 229; Silkin A . Facial sewing // The Art of the Stroganov Masters: Restoration. Research Problems: Cat. vyst. M., 1991. S. 124, 166-167; Russisch Нeilige in Ikonen: 2000 jahre Orthodoxe Kirche in der Russ", 988-1988 / Museen der Stadt Recklinghausen, 20 Nov. 1988 - 15 Jan. / Hrsg., F. Ullrich. Recklinghausen 1988. S. 49; Life of Alexander Nevsky. Text and miniatures of the Facial Code of the 16th century Fax ed. L., 1990; Markelov Saints of Ancient Russia vol. 2 pp. 42-43.
N. V. Kvlividze
ALEXANDER NEVSKIY , the holy Grand Duke of Vladimir, the great defender for the Russian land and the Orthodox faith. The son of Grand Duke Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, grandson of St. Andrei Bogolyubsky and great-grandson of Vladimir Monomakh, St. Alexander Nevsky, was born on May 30, 1220, and under the influence of his pious mother, St. young nails taught every good deed. He spent most of his youth in Novgorod, where, being a prince in 1228, he got acquainted with the sad troubles of an unsettled people's rule and at the same time prepared for those great feats that he was given to perform for the good of the Russian land. By that time, the world position of Russia had already been completely determined, as a country that was destined to remain forever the mighty guardian of Orthodoxy from the ever-increasing encroachments, the popes of Rome, to subjugate the entire Christian world to its illegal power. The popes themselves, standing at the height of their power, when one of them could even proudly say: “the whole West reveres us as an earthly god,” of course, very much wanted to subjugate the numerous Russian people, who were powerfully advancing onto the historical stage. Some Slavic peoples, like the Poles and Czechs, had already submitted to the papacy, the crusaders had conquered Byzantium, causing all sorts of rampages in it, and now it was Russia's turn. But since it was impossible to hope for his voluntary submission, the popes were not averse to using the "worldly sword." And so, at a beckon from Rome, a crusade was announced (by a bull of December 9, 1237 addressed to the Archbishop of Uppsala), which had as its first goal to punish the Finns who were indignant against the Latin propaganda, but at the same time against the Russians. Pope Gregory IX promised forgiveness of sins to all participants in the campaign, and eternal bliss to those who fell in battle. Under the influence of zealous preaching, a large army gathered, moving on ships, accompanied by "honest bishops" and many clergy with a cross instead of a banner, and with the singing of sacred hymns. At the head of the army was the famous Swedish nobleman Birger, an experienced military leader, under whose control the crusader fleet went to the Neva, from where he planned to take Ladoga and directly hit Novgorod. Seeing the formidable danger, the young Prince Alexander of Novgorod "inflamed his heart" and, having gathered a squad and offered up an ardent prayer in the Cathedral of St. Sophia, moved to meet the enemy. “Brothers, he addressed his squad with a short but strong speech: God is not in power, but in truth! Let us remember the words of the psalmist: these are in arms and these are on horses, but we will call on the name of our Lord ... We will not be afraid of many different ones, as God is with us! On July 15, 1240, the prince, like an eagle, flew into the enemy, who had carelessly stopped at the mouth of the Izhora, and inflicted a decisive defeat on him. Alexander received heavenly help in this glorious battle from the saints Boris and Gleb, who appeared to him the day before in a night vision “The Romans are defeated and put to shame,” the Novgorodians joyfully exclaimed, fully understanding what kind of enemy they had to deal with. And this was, indeed, the first glorious rebuff on the part of the Russians to the formidable conquering movement of Latinism to the Orthodox-Russian East, and the culprit of it rightly received the title of Nevsky.
Meanwhile, the movement of the western Latin-Germanic world to the east was revealed from the other side. In the 13th century, the western Baltic coast became a place of intense propaganda by the Germans, who forced the Lithuanians who inhabited it to be baptized by force. For their more successful conversion, the Livonian Order of the Sword-bearers was founded; and, this semi-religious, semi-military order began to conduct successful religious and political propaganda among the local population. Since it had already managed to be influenced by the Russian trading settlements (Kukenois and Gersin), the knights of the order did not fail to destroy these centers of influence they did not want. And so Kukenoys was the first to fall, and then Gersint, and the soul of this entire movement, “the good and faithful shepherd Albert” (bishop of Livonia), offered to destroy the Orthodox church there and rob the holy icons and bells. The storm was getting closer. Yuryev and, finally, Pskov were taken by the "iron people". The pope rejoiced and demanded further conquest. Meanwhile, there was a terrible turmoil in Novgorod, so that his valiant prince Alexander had to retire from it (to the Suzdal land in Pereyaslavl). But when trouble was already approaching Novgorod, the Novgorodians came to their senses and asked the prince to return to them and help them repel the enemy. And the valiant prince, forgetting the offense caused to him by the freemen, moved with his retinue against the triumphant enemy. First of all, Pskov was liberated, and then on Lake Peipsi in the famous “Battle on the Ice” (April 5, 1242), Alexander smashed the formidable enemy clad in iron armor on his head. This victory finally undermined the strength of the Livonian Order and the German-Latin world was put a limit in its movement to the Orthodox Russian East. After that, even from the side of the Livonian land, raids were made on the Russian regions, especially when the Teutonic Order joined the Livonian Order. But it was enough for Alexander Nevsky to appear for the danger to be eliminated from this side as well.
But if the struggle against the German-Latin West was hard and difficult, then no struggle against the terrible Asian enemy, the Mongols, was completely impossible. Therefore, Alexander (since 1252, the Grand Duke of Vladimir) adhered to a different policy towards them, trying to humbly avert the disasters that threatened him from the Tatars from the people, and in this respect did a lot to alleviate the fate of the people conquered by the barbarians. For this purpose, he himself went to the horde four times and by his wisdom achieved many reliefs that were most important for the people. And the people highly appreciated this statesmanship of his, and bitterly mourned their beloved prince, when he fell ill on his way back from the horde and died in Gorodets Volzhsky on November 14, 1263. When the sad news about this reached Vladimir, Metropolitan Kirill announced it to the people in touching words: “My dear child, understand that the sun of the Russian land will set,” and all the people, choked with tears, could only exclaim: “We are already perishing!” And, indeed, in his person, the Russian land lost a great ascetic for the faith and the fatherland, who, according to the chronicler, “worked a lot for the Russian land, for Novgorod and Pskov, giving his life for the whole great reign and for the Orthodox faith.” The Church, the true spokesman of the people's conscience, ranked him among the saints.
His imperishable relics, discovered in 1380, by the will of Emperor Peter I were solemnly transferred (1724) to the newly founded capital, where they rest in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra until now in the richest silver reliquary, donated from the pious zeal of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna.
Literature: In addition to the "Lives" and "Tales", which will be discussed below, see full assembly Russian chronicles (published by Stroev 1820), as well as quite numerous studies and biographies, of which one can note: “The life and work of the Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky in connection with the events in Rus' in the XIII century”, Op. Kholodny, Tambov, 1883; "Holy Blessed, Grand Duke Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky", Op. M. Khitrova. Moscow, 1893, (richly illustrated with detailed references to literature), in spiritual and secular magazines (for example, "The Wanderer" 1880 June-July), respectively. departments of the History of Russia Karamzin, Solovyov, Ilovaisky, Kostomarov and others, in the History of the Russian Church Macarius, Golubinsky and others.
* A. P. Lopukhin.
Text source: Orthodox theological encyclopedia. Volume 1, column. 437. Edition Petrograd. Appendix to the spiritual magazine "Wanderer" for 1900. Spelling is modern.
The task to find information about Alexander Nevsky is also in the textbooks for the lessons The world, and in textbooks on literature for grades 3-4. And there and there this message will fit. If you add more pictures, you get a presentation.
Alexander Nevskiy
Alexander Yaroslavovich was born in Pereslavl-Zalessky in 1221 in the family of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and Princess Theodosia. From the age of four, the child was excommunicated from his mother and given to the upbringing of princely soldiers. The kid began to be taught military affairs and literacy. He grew up, turned into a dexterous, strong young man who loved to read and wrote beautifully.
Already in 1228, young Alexander began to reign in Novgorod with his older brother Fedor under the supervision of the boyars, and in 1236 Alexander reigned independently in Kyiv and Vladimir. The people admired their prince - smart, handsome, tall, with strong voice blaring like a trumpet.
In 1240, the Swedes declared war on Novgorod. Their army was led by Birger. Prince Alexander with his army, having prayed in St. Sophia Cathedral, set out to meet the enemy. On the morning of July 15, 1240, the army of Prince Alexander imperceptibly approached the enemy camp and suddenly attacked the enemies, hitting them with axes and swords. A battle ensued. This battle took place on the Neva River. The Swedes fled, the Novgorodians pursued them. Prince Alexander caught up with Birger and hit him in the face with a spear, leaving scars.
The Russian army returned to Novgorod with a victory, and Prince Alexander received an honorary nickname for his name - Nevsky.
Time passed, and enemies from the west again moved to Novgorod. In 1242, Alexander set out to meet the enemy. The famous battle, known in history as the Battle of the Ice, took place on the ice of Lake Peipsi, near a rock called the Raven Stone. The Russian regiments hit the enemy wedge from the sides and crushed it.
Under the weight of knightly armor, the ice began to crack and fall, the defeated knights went under water, to the bottom of Lake Peipsi. And again victory over the enemy. The victory in the Battle of the Ice glorified Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky as the great commander of Rus'.
In those days, Rus' was under the rule of the Golden Horde. Russian princes had to confirm the right to reign in the Horde. Batu Khan gave Alexander Kyiv, devastated by the Mongol-Tatars. wise rule Grand Duke Alexander continued, Rus' retained its faith, its traditions, although it groaned under the Tatar yoke.
In 1263, Alexander again had to visit the Horde. All winter and summer he lived in the Horde. At the same time, Alexander became seriously ill. He returned to Rus' mortally ill. The prince, by all means, wanted to return home, but only reached Gorodets. There he finally fell asleep and felt the approach of death. Before his death, he took monastic vows.
Prince Alexander was buried with honors in the Assumption Cathedral in Vladimir. The prince was elevated to the rank of saints. in 1724 the relics of the holy prince Alexander Nevsky, whom the Russian people loved and revered, were transferred from Vladimir to Saint Petersburg. The relics were laid in a newly built monastery dedicated to Saint Prince Alexander. Here, in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, in the Trinity Cathedral, at the shrine with holy relics, even today you can kneel and pray to the right-believing Prince Alexander, our faithful, reliable protector and patron of the Russian land. And ask him for courage, a clear mind, strength and humility so that we can preserve and beautify Russia.
Prince of Novgorod (1236-1252), Grand Duke of Kiev (1249-1263), Grand Duke of Vladimir (1252-1263), Russian commander, Holy Russian Orthodox Church.
Origin and family
The second son of the Prince of Pereyaslav (later the Grand Duke of Kyiv and Vladimir) and Rostislava (Feodosia) Mstislavna, Princess of Toropetsk, daughter of the Prince of Novgorod and Galicia Mstislav Udatny (Udaly). The grandson of the Grand Duke of Vladimir-Suzdal Vsevolod the Big Nest, in 1239 he married the Polotsk princess Alexandra Bryachislavna, sons were born in the marriage: Vasily, Dmitry, Andrey and Daniel, the ancestor of the Moscow princely dynasty, as well as daughter Evdokia. His wife and daughter Evdokia were buried in the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Mother of God of the Assumption Knyaginy Monastery in the city of Vladimir.
Reigning in Novgorod
Even in his adolescence, in the years 1228-1236 (with interruptions), Alexander Nevsky (for some time, together with his elder brother Theodore Yaroslavich) was appointed his father's deputy in Novgorod, then became the Prince of Novgorod (with a short break in the winter of 1240/1241).
The first information about Alexander dates back to 1228, when Yaroslav, after a quarrel with the Novgorodians, left the city, leaving two of his young sons Fedor and Alexander in Novgorod in the care of trusted boyars. In 1236, Alexander was appointed to the reign of Novgorod, since his father Yaroslav went to reign in Kyiv (the elder brother died in 1233).
The Novgorod reign of Alexander Nevsky fell on a period of noticeable foreign policy complications in the north-west of Rus': a strong Principality of Lithuania appeared on the borders, headed by an energetic prince, and after the actual defeat of the Knights of the Sword, the Livonian Order was significantly strengthened. Therefore, in the first years of his reign, Alexander Nevsky built several fortresses for the defense of Novgorod. The main fortress was Gorodets on Shelon (Stary Porkhov), at the confluence of the Dubenka River with Shelon.
Fighting the threat from the West
At the same time, the offensive of the Swedes in Finland resulted in the summer of 1240 in a campaign against the Novgorod lands, during which they sought to gain a foothold at the mouth of the Neva and on Ladoga - the key points of the Eastern Baltic trade, as well as to cut off Novgorod from Karelia subject to it. Alexander, having learned about the landing of the Swedish fleet led by Birger from local elders, without requesting help from Vladimir and even without a full collection of the militia, with his squad and detachments of Novgorodians and Ladoga who had time to gather, attacked the Swedish camp at the mouth of the Izhora and won a brilliant victory (July 15 ). It is believed that it was for this victory that the prince began to be called Nevsky, although this nickname appears in the sources no earlier than the 14th century; since the sons of Alexander also bore it, it is possible that the nickname was associated with princely possessions in this area. At the same time, the nickname Alexander the Brave stuck to him.
Soon after the battle on the Neva, due to another conflict with the Novgorodians, Alexander Nevsky left for Pereslavl-Zalessky. A threat from the side that seized Izborsk, the land of the Vozhan and Koporye, supported by the old rivals of the Novgorodians, the Pskovians, the Novgorodians turned to Yaroslav for the prince. He tried to keep his eldest son with him, sending Andrei to them with an armed detachment, but they insisted on Alexander's candidacy. Upon his return from Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, he liberated the Koporye and Vodsky land captured by the knights, and then drove out of Pskov a small German garrison that was there under an agreement with the Horde. Then, in the winter of 1241/1242, Alexander, together with Suzdal help, led by his younger brother Andrei Yaroslavich, invaded the territory that had shortly before been transferred by the Horde to the Derpt bishopric and began to ravage the settlements of Estonians, tributaries of the Crusaders. A detachment of the Dorpat bishopric destroyed the advanced Russian regiment of Domash Tverdislavich, forcing Alexander to withdraw his detachments to the border of Russian lands, which passed along Lake Peipsi. Here, at the Raven Stone, on April 5, 1242, a battle took place, which went down in history as. The victory of the Novgorod-Suzdal squads of Alexander Nevsky significantly changed the balance of forces on the northwestern borders of the Russian land. The authorities of the Order were forced to turn to the Novgorod prince with a proposal for peace on the most favorable terms for Novgorod, and also transferred part of Latgale. Immediately after these events, Nevsky's father was summoned to Batu.
In the summer of the same year, Alexander defeated seven Lithuanian detachments that attacked the northwestern Russian lands. In 1245, the army of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led by Prince Mindovg, attacked Torzhok and Bezhetsk. Alexander, approaching with the Novgorod army, took Toropets and killed more than eight Lithuanian princes, after which he let the Novgorodians go home. Then, with the forces of his squad, he finally defeated the remnants of the Lithuanian army near Lake Zhiztsa, then on the way back he defeated a detachment of the Lithuanian militia near Usvyat. The successful military actions of Alexander Nevsky significantly strengthened western borders Rus'.
In 1251, two cardinals arrived in Novgorod with a bull to Alexander Nevsky, who tried to persuade the prince to accept the Catholic faith. According to the chronicler, Nevsky, after consulting with wise people, outlined the whole history of Rus' and in conclusion said: “we will eat everything good, but we will not accept teachings from you.”
The position of Rus' in the northwest was so strengthened that a number of agreements were concluded to secure the borders. Around 1251, Alexander Nevsky concluded an agreement with the Norwegian king Hakon IV the Old on the settlement of border disputes and delimitations in the collection of tribute from the vast territory inhabited by Karelians and Sami. In 1254, the agreements were confirmed by the "Delimitation Letter".
In 1261, an alliance was concluded between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Novgorod, the next year the Novgorod, Tver, Polotsk and allied Lithuanian regiments under the nominal command of the 12-year Prince of Novgorod undertook a campaign in Livonia and laid siege to the city of Yuryev, burned the settlement, they managed to capture almost the entire city - the capital of the Derpt bishopric; only the citadel, the inner castle, survived.
Relations with the Golden Horde
In 1243, the Khan, the ruler of the western ulus of Jochi of the Great Mongol Empire, handed the label of the Grand Duke of Vladimir to control the conquered Russian lands to the father of Alexander Nevsky, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. Great Khan Guyuk summoned Yaroslav to Karakorum, where he was poisoned on September 30, 1246. After his death, a struggle broke out for the great reign of Vladimir, during which Alexander Nevsky, following his brother Andrei, went to the Horde to Batu Khan in 1247, and then to the headquarters of the great khans in Karakorum, from where he returned only at the end of 1249, having received a label on "Kyiv and the whole Russian land" (while Andrei became the Grand Duke of Vladimir). Returning to his homeland in 1249, Alexander Nevsky immediately went to Novgorod.
In 1252, civil strife broke out in the Horde, which was used by the prince, who went to Saray, where Batu handed him a label for a great reign. Andrei Yaroslavich, supported by his brother Yaroslav, Prince of Tver, and Daniil Romanovich Galitsky, refused to submit to such a decision. Then Batu sent a detachment under the command of Nevryuy (“Nevryuev’s army”) to Vladimir land, who ousted Andrei from Vladimir, who eventually fled to Sweden, and planted his son Vasily in Novgorod. Yaroslav entrenched himself in Pskov. This was the first attempt to openly oppose the Mongol-Tatars in North-Eastern Rus'.
Since 1255, the new Horde khan Berke introduced in Rus' a system of tribute taxation common to the conquered Mongolian lands, for which a “number” was carried out - a census of the population of khan officials with the help of princely power. In 1257, "numerals" were sent to Novgorod and other Russian cities. This caused the performance of the Novgorodians, despite the personal presence of Alexander Nevsky. The dissatisfied were even supported by Prince Vasily. Success in suppressing the uprising with great difficulty by military force was achieved only in 1259, when the leaders of the unrest were executed, after the previous year Alexander Nevsky, along with other Russian princes, went to the Horde for explanations. Since 1259, Prince Dmitry Alexandrovich became the new Novgorod governor.
In 1262, mass uprisings of citizens broke out in Rostov, Vladimir, Suzdal, Yaroslavl, who killed the Khan's Baskaks. Khan Berke also demanded military assistance from the Russian princes. To appease Khan Berke, Alexander Nevsky went with gifts to the Horde. The very trip of the Grand Duke of Vladimir dragged on for actually a year. In the Horde, Alexander fell ill, although he managed to calm Khan Berke. Already being ill, he left for Rus', returned to Vladimir, and on November 14, 1263, he died in Gorodets, having taken monastic tonsure before his death, and was buried in the Bogolyubsky Nativity of the Virgin Monastery in Vladimir on November 23, 1263.
veneration of a saint
Soon after his death, with the participation of his son Dmitry Alexandrovich and Metropolitan Kirill, the hagiographic Tale was written, which formed the basis of the canonical life of the saint. In 1380, his relics were found. The all-Russian canonization of the saint took place at the Council of 1547.
After graduation, on July 4, 1723, Peter I ordered the relics of Alexander Nevsky to be transferred from Vladimir to St. Petersburg, a monastery was founded in his honor, named after him (now). He also decided to celebrate the memory of Alexander Nevsky on August 30, the day of the conclusion of the victorious with Sweden. In 1790, the holy relics of Alexander Nevsky were transferred from the Church of the Annunciation to the new Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Lavra, where they remained until 1922, when they were sent for storage to the Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism. On June 3, 1989, the relics were solemnly returned to the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.
ALEXANDER NEVSKIY
(1220-1263), Russian statesman, commander, Prince of Novgorod, Grand Duke of Vladimir. Born May 30, 1220 in Vladimir. The son of Grand Duke Yaroslav II Vsevolodovich of Novgorod, from 1236 he independently ruled in Novgorod, a participant in battles with the Swedes, Germans and Lithuanians. After the victory over the Swedes on the banks of the Neva in 1240, he was nicknamed Nevsky. In 1242, he inflicted a decisive defeat on the knights of the Order of the Sword and the Teutonic Order, who invaded Rus', in the battle on the ice of Lake Peipus (Battle on the Ice). Later achieved the location of the conquered Rus' Mongol Khan Batu and in 1252 received a khan's label for the great reign of Vladimir. He died in Gorodets on November 14, 1263. The Russian Orthodox Church canonized him among the saints. By order of Peter I, the relics of Alexander Nevsky in 1724 were transferred from Vladimir to St. Petersburg.
LITERATURE
Alexander Nevsky and the history of Russia. Novgorod, 1996
Collier Encyclopedia. - Open society. 2000 .
See what "ALEXANDER NEVSKY" is in other dictionaries:
- (1221? 1263) Prince of Novgorod in 1236 51, Grand Duke of Vladimir from 1252. Son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. With victories over the Swedes (Battle of the Neva 1240) and the German knights of the Livonian Order (Battle on the Ice 1242), he secured the western borders ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary
- (1220 or 1221 63), Prince of Novgorod in 1236 51 and Tver in 1247 52, Grand Duke of Vladimir from 1252. Son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. Victories over the Swedes (Battle of the Neva 1240) and the German knights of the Livonian Order (Battle on the Ice 1242) ... ... Russian history
Alexander Nevskiy- Alexander Nevskiy. Figure 17 c. ALEXANDER NEVSKY (1220 or 1221-1263), Grand Duke of Vladimir from 1252, Prince of Novgorod (1236-51), Tver (1247-52). Son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. Inflicted a crushing defeat on the Swedish troops in ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
Alexander Nevskiy- (12211263), Prince of Novgorod, Tver, Grand Duke of Vladimir (since 1252), son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. He led the Russian troops defending the northwestern borders of Rus' from the invasions of Swedish and German feudal lords; skillful policy ... ... Encyclopedic reference"Saint Petersburg"
ALEXANDER NEVSKY, USSR, Mosfilm, 1938, b/w, 111 min. Historical film. After eight years of forced downtime, when his films were criticized, Eisenstein shot "Alexander Nevsky", with which he reasserted himself as an artist of the world ... ... Cinema Encyclopedia
- (1220 or 1221 1263), Grand Duke of Vladimir from 1252, Prince of Novgorod (1236 51), Tver (1247 52). Son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. He inflicted a crushing defeat on the Swedish troops in the Battle of the Neva (1240), for which he was nicknamed Nevsky. Cast out... ... Modern Encyclopedia
- (1221 1263), Prince of Novgorod, Tver, Grand Duke of Vladimir (since 1252), son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. He led the Russian troops defending the northwestern borders of Rus' from the invasions of Swedish and German feudal lords; clever policy... St. Petersburg (encyclopedia)
Grand Duke of Vladimir and All Rus', 2nd son of Grand Duke Yaroslav II Vsevolodovich, great-grandson of Vladimir Monomakh, b. May 30, 1220; in 1236 he began to reign in Novgorod and immediately decided to curb his main enemies, the Swedes. To this end, he... Big biographical encyclopedia
Alexander Nevskiy- (Alexander Nevsky) (c. 1220 63), Russian. commander, Grand Duke of Vladimir (1252 63). Born in Vladimir and being the son of the Grand Duke of Novgorod Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, he received this nickname after the victory over the Swedes (Battle of the Neva, ... ... The World History
- (1220/1221 1263), Prince of Novgorod in 1236 1251, Grand Duke of Vladimir from 1252. Son of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. With victories over the Swedes (Battle of the Neva 1240) and the German knights of the Livonian Order (Battle on the Ice 1242), he secured the western ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
ALEXANDER NEVSKIY- I Prince * of Novgorod in 1236 1251, Grand Duke of Vladimir from 1252, commander, saint of Russia Orthodox Church. Prince Alexander Yaroslavich was born c. 1220 During his reign in Veliky Novgorod * the land of northeastern Rus' * ... ... Linguistic Dictionary
Books
- Saint Alexander Nevsky. 800 years, Nevsky Alexander, In 2021, Russia will celebrate a significant date - the 800th anniversary of the birth of the holy noble Grand Duke Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky, who played an outstanding role in the civilizational… Category: Lives of Saints and Priests Series: History of Russia Publisher: Siberian Bellower,
- Alexander Nevsky, V. Pashuto, Alexander Nevsky was not only an outstanding commander, but also an intelligent politician, a subtle diplomat. He led a complex political struggle in order to preserve the independence of the Russian people. Doctor's book... Category:
