A new holiday has appeared in Russia - falling on July 8, when the Church celebrates the memory of the holy noble princes Peter and Fevronia of Murom.
Svetlana Medvedeva about the new holiday:
Peter and Fevronia of Murom
Anna Arkhangelskaya's note
Love is different. If we are talking about what is most often meant by love - about love-passion, then this, of course, is not at all about Peter and Fevronia, but, say, Tristan and Isolde and the novel about them. A love potion is a perfect metaphor for this passion, from which it “destroys the roof” so much that everything else not only loses its meaning and meaning, but actually ceases to exist. It is impossible to fight with her: she was not meant for him, just like he was for her, she is married to another, just as he is married to another, but in the whole world there is only she for him, as well as for her - only he. This passion can last a lifetime (and maybe even longer), but it is not for nothing that it is shown as sinful: on its basis, a family union is practically impossible. It is an end in itself and self-worth, but this is also its main weakness.
"The Tale of Peter and Fevronia" rather speaks of love-destiny. Fevronia’s condition “if it’s not for the imam to be his spouse, you don’t need to heal him” is not a pragmatic attempt not to miss your chance and extract the maximum benefit for yourself from the current situation, but knowledge of your own destiny. Fevronia from the very beginning knows not only that Peter will try to deceive her, but also that she will eventually become his wife. Because she is for him, and he is for her.
This marriage is beneficial, it seems, to a much greater extent just to Prince Peter. Unless, of course, we understand by benefit not the improvement of social status, but spiritual perfection. It is not for nothing that the entire first scene of Peter and Fevronia is a vivid metaphor for repentance: the blood of the serpent (=devil), falling on Peter, brings him illness (=sin). This is manifested in the sinful duality of Peter's consciousness (he thinks one thing, but says another). That is why the healing of Peter is not final, and from the fact that the sin is not completely outlived (= unanointed scab), the disease again takes possession of his entire being.
The second visit of Peter to Fevronia demonstrates the necessary signs of sincere repentance (shame in the deceit and firm determination not to act in this way again), after which only final healing (= liberation from sin) is possible.
In the future, it is Fevronia who helps Peter overcome the temptation of power (inducing him to leave the Murom princely table in order to act according to the Gospel), and at the same time - between deeds and in passing - brilliantly eliminates the Murom boyar opposition.
Love-destiny (as opposed to love-passion) just manifests itself in such a harmonious mutual service (and mutual complement). It allows coexistence without serious shocks and without spectacular scenes. Unlike love-passion, which overcomes separation, often sweeping away everything in its path, love-destiny, in principle, does not imply separation. Two particles of the universe, destined for each other, so firmly enter into the grooves coinciding with each other, forming a single whole, that no force can separate them: neither the Murom boyars, nor death itself.
Simultaneous death is an equally striking sign of this unity in love. It seems to be an invariant of the traditional fairy tale ending "they lived happily ever after and died on the same day." But at the same time, it is an important component of love-destiny. It is characteristic that Tristan and Isolde die, after all, not quite simultaneously, but one after another. Tristan and Isolde are buried in different graves (= separated again), but a thorn branch connects these graves (the question still remains whether this last separation is overcome in this way or, on the contrary, is emphasized and ascertained with particular force). They try to put the bodies of Peter and Fevronia in different coffins, but to do with them the same thing that they did with Tristan and Isolde - to bury them in different graves - turns out to be impossible, and without any questions and doubts they leave together for eternity ...
Life of Peter and Fevronia of Murom
Peter and Fevronia of Murom are spouses, saints, the brightest personalities of Holy Russia, who reflected its spiritual values and ideals with their lives.
Life history of St. miracle workers, the faithful and reverend spouses Peter and Fevronia, existed for many centuries in the traditions of the Murom land, where they lived and where their honest relics were preserved. Over time, the true events acquired fabulous features, merging in the people's memory with the legends and parables of this region. Now researchers are arguing about which of the historical figures the life is written about: some are inclined to believe that they were Prince David and his wife Euphrosinia, in monasticism Peter and Fevronia, who died in 1228, others see in them the spouses Peter and Euphrosinia, who reigned in Murom in 14th century
Recorded a story about blgv. Peter and Fevronia in the 16th century. priest Yermolai the Sinful (monastic Erasmus), a talented writer, widely known in the era of Ivan the Terrible. Having preserved folklore features in his life, he created an amazingly poetic story about wisdom and love - the gifts of the Holy Spirit with a pure heart and humble in God.
Rev. Peter was the younger brother of the blgv who reigned in the city of Murom. Paul. Once a misfortune happened in Paul's family - at the instigation of the devil, a kite began to fly to his wife. The woeful woman, who had succumbed to the demonic power, told her husband about everything. The prince ordered his wife to find out from the villain the secret of his death. It turned out that the death of the adversary "is destined from Peter's shoulder and Agrikov's sword." Upon learning of this, Peter immediately decided to kill the rapist, relying on God's help. Soon, during a prayer in the temple, it was revealed where Agrikov's sword was kept, and, having tracked down the snake, Peter struck it. But before his death, the snake splashed the victor with poisonous blood, and the prince's body was covered with scabs and ulcers.
No one could heal Peter from a serious illness. Enduring torment with humility, the prince surrendered to God in everything. And the Lord, taking care of His servant, sent him to the Ryazan land. One of the young men sent in search of a doctor accidentally went into the house, where he found a lonely girl named Fevronia, the daughter of a poison dart frog, who had the gift of clairvoyance and healing, at work. After all the questions, Fevronia punished the servant: “Bring your prince here. If he is sincere and humble in his words, he will be healthy!”
The prince, who himself could no longer walk, was brought to the house, and he sent to ask who wants to cure him. And he promised that if he cured him, a big reward. “I want to cure him,” Fevronia replied bluntly, “but I don’t demand any reward from him. Here is my word to him: if I do not become his wife, then it is not fitting for me to treat him. Peter promised to marry, but in his heart he was cunning: the pride of the princely family prevented him from agreeing to such a marriage. Fevronia scooped up bread leaven, blew on it and ordered the prince to take a bath and grease all the scabs except one.
The blessed maiden had the wisdom of the Holy Fathers and prescribed such treatment not by chance. Just as the Lord and Savior, healing lepers, the blind and the paralyzed, healed the soul through bodily ailments, so Fevronia, knowing that diseases are allowed by God into testing and for sins, prescribed a cure for the flesh, implying a spiritual meaning. Bath, according to St. Scripture, the image of baptism and the cleansing of sins (Eph. 5:26), while the Lord Himself likened the Kingdom of Heaven to leaven, which souls, whitened by the bath of baptism, inherit (Luke 13:21). Since Fevronia saw the cunning and pride of Peter, she ordered him to leave one scab unoiled as evidence of sin. Soon, from this scab, the whole disease resumed, and the prince returned to Fevronia. The second time he kept his word. “And they arrived in their patrimony, the city of Murom, and began to live piously, in no way violating God’s commandments.”
After the death of his brother, Peter became autocrat in the city. The boyars respected their prince, but the arrogant boyar wives disliked Fevronia, not wanting to have a peasant woman as their ruler, taught their husbands unkind things. The boyars tried to raise all sorts of slanders against the princess, and once they rebelled and, having lost their shame, offered Fevronia, taking whatever she wanted, to leave the city. The princess wanted nothing but her husband. The boyars rejoiced, because each secretly aimed at the prince's place, and they told their prince about everything. Blessed Peter, having learned that they wanted to separate him from his beloved wife, preferred to voluntarily give up power and wealth and go into exile with her.
The couple sailed down the river in two boats. A certain man, sailing with his family along with Fevronia, stared at the princess. The holy wife immediately guessed his thought and gently reproached: “Draw water from one side of the boat and the other,” the princess asked. Is the water the same or is one sweeter than the other? “The same,” he replied. “So the nature of a woman is the same,” said Fevronia. “Why are you, forgetting your wife, thinking about someone else?” The accused was embarrassed and repented in his soul.
In the evening they moored to the shore and began to settle down for the night. "What will happen to us now?" - Peter thought sadly, and Fevronia, a wise and kind wife, affectionately consoled him: “Do not grieve, prince, the merciful God, the Creator and Defender of all, will not leave us in trouble!” At this time, the cook began to prepare supper and, in order to hang the cauldrons, he cut down two small trees. When the meal was over, the princess blessed these stumps with the words: "May they be big trees in the morning." And so it happened. By this miracle, she wanted to strengthen her husband, foreseeing their fate. After all, if “there is hope for a tree that, even if it is cut down, it will come to life again” (Job 14: 7), then a person who hopes and trusts in the Lord will have a blessing both in this life and in the next.
Before they had time to wake up, ambassadors arrived from Murom, begging Peter to return to reign. The boyars quarreled over power, shed blood, and now they were again looking for peace and tranquility. Blzh. Peter and Fevronia with humility returned to their city and ruled happily ever after, doing alms with prayer in their hearts. When old age came, they became monks with the names David and Euphrosyne and begged God to die at the same time. They bequeathed to bury themselves together in a specially prepared coffin with a thin partition in the middle.
They died on the same day and hour, each in his cell. People considered it impious to bury monks in one coffin and dared to violate the will of the deceased. Twice their bodies were carried to different temples, but twice they miraculously ended up nearby. So they buried the holy spouses together near the cathedral church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, and every believer found generous healing here.
Prayer to Saints Peter and Fevronia, Miracle Workers of Murom
About the greatness of the saints of God and the wonderworkers of the future, the faithfulness of Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia, the city of Murom, the intercessor and guardian, and for all of us, zeal for the Lord of prayer! We resort to you and pray to you with strong hope: lift up your holy prayers for us sinners to the Lord God, and ask His goodness for all that is beneficial to our souls and our bodies: faith in the right, good hope, love is not hypocritical, piety is unshakable, in good deeds prosperity, pacification of the world, fruitfulness of the earth, well-being of the air, health of the body and salvation of souls.
Intercede from the King of Heaven, the Church of Saints and the entire power of Russia, peace, silence and prosperity, and for all of us a prosperous life and a good Christian death. Protect your Fatherland and all Russian cities from all evil; and all the faithful people who come to you and worship with your holy relics, overshadow the grace-filled action of your God-pleasing prayers, and fulfill all their petitions for the good.
Hey, holy miracle workers!
Do not despise our prayers, which are lifted up to you today with tenderness, but wake up intercession for us to the Lord, and make us worthy of your help to improve eternal salvation and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven: let us glorify the inexpressible love of mankind of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, in the Trinity worshiping God, in ages of ages. Amen.
Svetlana Medvedeva: About devotion, family and true love
Last year, a new holiday appeared in Russia - the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, which falls on July 8, when the Church celebrates the memory of the holy noble princes Peter and Fevronia of Murom. We are talking about the meaning of this date and what can be done today to once again raise the status of family values in our society with the wife of the President of Russia, Chairman of the organizing committee for celebrating the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity in the Russian Federation Svetlana Vladimirovna Medvedeva.
This day could once again remind everyone what is truly significant in human relations. What was most inspiring was the joy with which he was received by the people. Reading the letters that came to our organizing committee, we were pleasantly surprised, because we ourselves did not expect such a response. It is wonderful that family values and such concepts as "love", "fidelity" still mean a lot to our compatriots.
It is very important that we received wide support from the press and public organizations, which provided us with invaluable assistance. It is this kind of support, I hope, that will make it possible to make the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity truly popular - the day of the joy of fatherhood and motherhood, care for parents, as well as for their loved ones. I would like us to have another day when we can get together with family, with friends - as it was before. I am sure that the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity is a holiday aimed at the future, that is, to a large extent addressed to young people who have not yet married. It will be great if on July 8, lovers and young couples spend with each other or with their parents, grandparents ... Thank them for their love and care, which create real family warmth.
November 8, 2008, at the stand of the holiday at the exhibition "Orthodox Russia". The Church, represented by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the late Patriarch Alexy, supported the idea of holding a Day of Family, Love and Fidelity.
- Why was the day of memory of the Orthodox chosen?
- Such a choice, of course, is not accidental, because the life story of Princes Peter and Fevronia is a story of fidelity, devotion and true love, capable of sacrifice for the sake of a loved one. It is very important that this holiday is part of the forgotten tradition of our people, which we would like to revive. After all, earlier on this day, engagements were made, and after the end of Peter's Lent, the couple got married in the church.
Despite the fact that this is the day of memory of Orthodox saints, it was readily accepted by representatives of other traditional religions of Russia, as well as non-religious people. Our initiative was immediately actively supported by the Interreligious Council of Russia. Last year, for example, extensive celebrations were held in Kazan. There is nothing surprising here: the story of Peter and Fevronia, their example are equally important for all of us, close and understandable to everyone.
The center of celebrations this year, as in the past, will be the city of Murom, where the holy spouses lived and ruled. It seems to us that this will allow us to more vividly feel the connection of times and feel the culture that has nurtured our great family traditions.
- Chamomile has become a symbol of the Day of family, love and fidelity. Was it your personal choice? What was he connected to?
Each memorable day can have its own symbol. When I thought about what could become an image of devotion, purity, love, the thought of a chamomile flower came, as they say, by itself. I immediately called my friend, with whom we discussed the idea of \u200b\u200bthe holiday that day, she really liked the symbol I invented.
Chamomile is a simple, but at the same time surprisingly beautiful flower, which is also familiar to each of us. This is a very dear, close, home symbol. In addition, it is a symbol of summer, warmth, comfort, purity and innocence.
Svetlana Vladimirovna, now the interest in creating a family among modern young people, unfortunately, is falling. What do you think is the cause of this phenomenon and how should one respond to it?
The problem, it seems to me, is that people, especially young people, today do not always understand what was obvious to their ancestors. Family is, first of all, sacrifice, but today the question is relevant: why sacrifice yourself for the sake of another person? Why should responsibility be preferred to momentary pleasures?
It is difficult to say how it happened that today we may not be ready for such sacrifice - even for the sake of love for another person, moreover, we often do not understand its meaning. It is necessary to look for an answer to this question.
Personally, it seems to me that the break with traditions that occurred in the last century also had a large effect here. After all, what is a tradition? This is a living experience of previous generations, our parents, grandparents. And this experience should be treated with respect and attention.
Each person is free to choose how to live. But the older generation, it seems to me, should show what, what options this choice consists of, what it can lead to. For example, to explain that, having abandoned the family in favor of a “free life” in youth, then you can find yourself completely alone. You can learn such an understanding only from mistakes: either others' or your own. Unfortunately, other people's mistakes are of less and less interest to people today, but their understanding and experience is also a tradition, traditional values that many today seem to be something unnecessary.
I am convinced that the preservation of the family is very important for our society. Without this, it is impossible to solve one of the most important problems in our country - the problem of demography. In addition, if we eventually abandon the family, then after this we can go even further - abandon normal human relationships, replacing them with selfishness and selfishness.
Now it is necessary to talk about those vital principles that once seemed an integral part of society, and today need to be constantly reminded of them to a person of the 21st century. Although it is quite obvious - and this should also be discussed with young people - that these principles do not contradict the modern way of life, that traditional morality will only strengthen our society, help it move forward, and not at all throw it back.
However, today it is often said that the disintegration of a traditional family is a natural process. If so, then maybe it's not worth it to confront him?
Indeed, such trends exist. For example, in modern society, the model of the patriarchal family of two hundred years ago becomes practically unfeasible. But, firstly, I would like to note another trend: today, when more and more people talk about the equal rights of spouses, the importance of the family is only growing. After all, it is in a family where people provide mutual support and truly trust each other that each of its members can hope for the most complete self-realization.
Secondly, even if negative trends are not so easy to stop, this does not mean that nothing is worth doing. Foreign examples also tell us about this: in the modern experience of different countries, the conversation about family values is increasingly taking an important place in public policy. In our country, in recent years, the state has been increasingly supporting families, including those with many children. Of course, there are problems, but now a lot is being done so that the traditions of a strong and happy family that have been formed for centuries are not lost.
However, in such an important and multilateral issue, the efforts of one state are not enough. No one can force people to change if they themselves do not want it. No matter how great the efforts of the state, public and religious organizations, no matter how much effort is allocated to support families - if no one wants to create them, all efforts will be useless to anyone.
That is why we pay so much attention to the Day of family, love and fidelity. After all, it embodies the most important values in its name.
Whether we will have real strong families, whether we will learn to be faithful and devoted to each other - all this depends on each of us, on our patience, desire, readiness for understanding. From our love.
A very famous holiday is Valentine's Day. Probably, there is no such person on our planet who would not have heard of him. But few people know about the Day of Family, Fidelity, Love, which is celebrated on July 8 (Slavic Valentine's Day). Let's get acquainted with the history of this holiday and its traditions, because it is part of our culture.
July 8, Family Day: the history of the holiday
Since childhood, in fairy tales, we have met a touching statement: "They lived happily ever after and died on the same day." It is borrowed from a well-known story that children study in elementary school. The work, which has become a monument of ancient Russian literature, was written in the 16th century. It was based on oral Murom legends.
The main characters in the story are Peter and Fevronia of Murom - the faithful spouses, who showed the main spiritual values with their lives. The story of their love passed through several centuries, was not lost among other works and was not forgotten. It marked the beginning of a bright holiday, which recently began to be celebrated in Russia on July 8 (Day of Family, Love and Fidelity).
The Tale of Peter and Fevronia
The main characters who appear to the readers in the story are identified with the prince of Murom and his wife. Peter had leprosy. He could not get rid of his tormenting illness. Nobody was able to help him. Once the prince had a dream in which he saw that only Fevronia, a peasant woman, the daughter of a beekeeper, could cure him of a terrible disease.
Having met with a young and kind beauty, the prince spoke about his illness. Fevronia said that she would cure him, but in return he must marry her. The prince agreed to this condition. He was attracted not only by the cure, but also by the piety, wisdom of the girl, her beauty. Fevronia healed Peter, and he kept his promise.
The boyars, having learned about the event, condemned the prince. They demanded that he give up his wife because she was a commoner. Peter did not take such a step, because it did not matter to him what origin Fevronia had. Together with his wife, he left Murom and renounced the principality. A similar attitude towards Fevronia, love for her became an eternal example. In order to pass on to new generations of such examples of values, the holiday of July 8, the Day of Peter and Fevronia, the holiday of Valentine's Day, was created in modern times.
Return to the city and the continuation of the love story
Murom did not last long without Peter and Fevronia. The unrest that began, the ongoing murders and atrocities frightened the boyars. People, worried about their future fate, asked the prince to return to the city with his wife. Peter and Fevronia agreed to this.
When Peter again became a prince, his marriage did not collapse. Arriving Fevronia was able to win the respect of the people living in this city. Her life-giving power of love was so great that poles stuck in the ground turned into beautiful trees with her blessing. With her wisdom and kindness, she endeared herself to the townspeople. Fevronia never insulted those people who did not love her. She tried to teach her opponents a harmless lesson, to show them the mistakes made in life.
Death Cannot Separate
July 8 - Day of family, love and fidelity - personifies eternal love. She was in the life of Peter and Fevronia. People who want to separate a married couple someday have failed to do so. It turned out to be beyond the control of not only them, but also death. When the couple felt the end of their lives approaching, they asked God for death on the same day and hour and prepared for themselves a common coffin made of stone with a thin partition.
In old age, Peter and Fevronia went to the male and female monasteries. When the prince felt that he was dying, he sent to his wife to inform him that he was waiting for her, that he wanted to leave this world with her. As a result, Peter and Fevronia died on the same day.
People after the death of the spouses put the bodies in different coffins. The townspeople could not fulfill the desire of the dead to be buried in the same coffin, because they considered such an act incompatible with the monastic path that Peter and Fevronia had done. The bodies were left in different cloisters, and the next day they were found together. People decided to make another attempt and again separated Peter and Fevronia, but in the end nothing came of them. The bodies of the spouses were again in a single coffin. For the third time, the inhabitants of Murom no longer began to separate them. Peter and Fevronia were buried together.
The appearance of the holiday in Russia
In 1547, Peter and Fevronia were ranked among the saints of God, that is, they were canonized. Spouses began to be considered saints. Their memorial day fell on June 25 (July 8, according to the new style). In 2001, Valentin Kachevan, who is the mayor of Murom, proposed making July 8 a holiday. A huge number of people's signatures were collected. All of them were sent to the State Duma.
The measures taken were not in vain. The day of the holy princes Peter and Fevronia became the All-Russian day of family happiness and marital love. From now on, July 8 is a holiday. A special organizing committee was created to develop the paraphernalia and symbols of this special day of the year. It was headed by Svetlana Medvedeva, who is the wife of Dmitry Medvedev, who at that time was president.
Symbols of the Day of family, fidelity and love
The created organizing committee developed what was included in its plans. The symbol of the holiday is the chamomile, which has a pair of multi-colored petals among its white petals. One petal is blue and the other is red. Chamomile was approved for a reason. This flower has long been considered a symbol of love. Daisies were used for divination "loves - does not love." They were also given by young men and men to their ladies and wives as a sign of respect, attention and love.
The organizing committee also developed a medal "For Love and Loyalty" to be presented on July 8 to those families of our country that can serve as an example for other people. On the medal on one side there is a portrait of the saints - Peter and Fevronia. The opposite side is decorated with a symbol of the holiday - a beautiful camomile.
Monuments to the Murom couple
In connection with the advent of the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, monuments to Peter and Fevronia began to be erected in Russia. The first of them appeared in 2008 in Murom, where a couple in love once lived. The sculptural composition was made according to the project of Nikolai Shcherbakov under the name "Union of Love - Wise Marriage" and installed in front of the city registry office by July 8. The holiday on this day was covered in Murom from this event. The following year, monuments to Peter and Fevronia appeared in Arkhangelsk, Sochi, Ulyanovsk, Yaroslavl, and Abakan. Later they were erected in other settlements of our country.
To date, the idea of creating a monument by July 8 has been implemented in more than 60 cities of Russia. All sculptures look different, because they were not created according to a single model. Each project has its own author, who came up with a certain image and embodied it in stone, but the meaning of all monuments is the same - it is the personification of family, eternal love and fidelity.
Traditions and signs of the holiday
On the Day of Saints Peter and Fevronia, it has become a good tradition to come to the monument. This is done by both couples in love and single people who dream of finding their soul mate. It is also customary for newlyweds to come to the sculpture of Peter and Fevronia and ask the saints for help in maintaining love and fidelity to each other.
The marriage on July 8 has become a tradition and a sign. There is a belief that people who have entered into an alliance on this day will live a long and happy life together. Their marriage will be strong and prosperous. Years will not be able to destroy it.
One very amazing day can be found in the Orthodox calendar - the feast of Peter and Fevronia, the history of which is so beautiful and interesting that it cannot be ignored by the modern generation. Honoring the memory of Peter and Fevronia of Murom takes place on July 8. This date was approved in 2008 by the Federation Council of Russia. The initiator of this event was the wife of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev, Svetlana. She also came up with the symbol of the holiday - chamomile.
Peter and Fevronia of Murom. History of Holiness
The marital union of Peter and Fevronia has become an indicative example of Christian marriage, therefore these saints are revered as its patrons. It is very important to note that the story of Saints Peter and Fevronia will not leave indifferent any truly Orthodox person. People perceive this holiday with great joy and response in their hearts. The story of Peter and Fevronia is simply amazing, and God's providence is clearly traced in it.
Peter and Fevronia died on the same day - June 25, 1228 according to the old calendar according to the new one). Their bodies, left in different churches, somehow miraculously suddenly ended up in the same coffin, prepared by them in advance. People regarded it as a great miracle. In 1547, Peter and Fevronia of Murom, whose history is simply amazing, were canonized. Today, their holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in the Holy Trinity Monastery in the city of Murom.
Truly, the city of Murom is rich in various epic heroes. Everyone remembers the hero Ilya Muromets very well, but few people know that his holy relics are kept in the burial caves of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
Poetic story
The love story of Saints Peter and Fevronia has existed for many centuries in the Murom region. Over time, the true story about these faithful and reverend miracle workers acquired a fabulous shape that merged with the parables and legends of this region. Today in Murom there is a shrine with the relics of the married couple of Saints Peter and Fevronia, and pilgrims come to them from everywhere to honor their memory, ask for help and pray.
The story of the life of the faithful Peter and Fevronia was written by the clergyman Yermolai the Sinful, a brilliant writer who lived in the era of Ivan the Terrible. The story of Peter and Fevronia in the original interpretation of the writer acquired the colors of folklore and became a poetic story about love and wisdom, which are given only to a pure heart from God and the Holy Spirit.
About love and loyalty
This amazing story of Peter and Fevronia began at a time when Prince Pavel ruled on Russian soil in the city of Murom. And he had a beautiful wife, to whom the devil, in his dislike and hatred for the human race, began to send a winged serpent to fornication. Using his impure magical power, he appeared before her in the form of a prince. The wife did not hide such an obsession from her husband and said that the insidious serpent had mastered her by cunning. The frustrated prince did not know what to do with the villain of darkness. However, he ordered his wife to find out from the insidious tempter with flattering speeches whether he knows what death will come to him from. When the snake once again appeared to her, the princess found out from him that death was prepared for him from the shoulder of Petrov and Agrikov's sword.
Savior Peter
She immediately told Prince Pavel about all this. The same one called his own brother Peter to him and began to share his thoughts with him. Peter immediately realized that it was he who was destined to kill the snake. However, the only thing that really bothered him was that he didn't have Agric's sword.
But at that time, Peter, all alone, loved to go to churches and pray. One day he ended up in a convent, in the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, and a young boy approached him, who told the prince that he knew where the cherished weapon was hidden. And, leading Peter to the altar wall, he pointed out to him a place between the slabs where Agrikov's sword lay. Peter took it and went to his brother to tell him about everything and to think over a plan for the next action.
And when Peter came to his brother Pavel, and then went to his daughter-in-law to express his respect, he noticed that Prince Pavel in some incredible way was in two places at once, in his chambers and with his wife. Peter immediately saw through the cunning of the snake in its reincarnation and, of course, not without God's help killed the monster.
Acquaintance with Fevronia
But the story of Peter and Fevronia did not end there. After the blows of the sword, the serpent took on its real brutal appearance, trembled and died, spattering Prince Peter with its blood. From this, the whole prince was covered with fetid scabs, terrible ulcers covered his body. Since that time, all those close to him have lost their feet, looking for doctors all over the world, but not one took up his treatment.
Once one of his youths went to the Ryazan lands, where there were many folk healers, and ended up in a small village called Laskovo, where he met a very wise young maiden named Fevronia. She promised to cure Prince Peter if he was sincere and humble in his thoughts. And she ordered him to be brought to her.
When the prince came to Fevronya, he began to promise her a huge reward. But she answered him that she would cure him if he took her as his wife. And the prince was cunning, promising to take her as his wife for healing. Then the girl scooped up a bowl of bread leaven, then breathed on it and ordered the prince to heat the bath and anoint his sick body with it, but only so that one scab remained unanointed.
Peter did just that, and the disease immediately receded. However, the prince was in no hurry to fulfill the main condition, and soon he was again covered with ulcers. Then he still had to marry Fevronia. After that, they left for Murom and lived there according to God's commandments.
Leave to return
After the death of Prince Paul, his brother Peter took over as governor of the city. But the boyars disliked the princess and one day, having drunk wine for courage, they came to her and asked her to take everything that her soul desires and leave their city. But she did not take the wealth, but asked for one thing - to give her her faithful Peter.
The boyars were even delighted with this turn of affairs, because in their hearts everyone dreamed of taking the throne of the prince. Well, what's decided is decided. The pious Prince Peter did not violate the laws of God and wished to leave with his wife. They got into the boat and sailed along the Oka River. The merciful intercessor did not leave them in trouble. Landing on one bank, they stopped for the night. The nobles from Murom immediately appeared and tearfully asked them to return, since the struggle for power led to strife and deaths between the boyars.
Blessed Peter and Fevronia with great humility returned to the city of Murom and began to rule there happily ever after. When they grew old, they decided to take a vow of monasticism, and during the tonsure they received the names of David and Euphrosyne. And then together they began to pray to the Lord that He would send them death at the same time. The pious couple wanted to be buried together. There was even a special coffin prepared in advance for two with a partition in the middle. But after their death in their cells, people considered it impious to bury the monks in one coffin and did not fulfill the will of the deceased. Their bodies were left twice in different temples, but in the morning they always somehow miraculously ended up together in the same coffin. Then it was decided to bury them together.
This is how Peter and Fevronia of Murom, whose love story deserves respect and recognition, became the patrons of the family, love and fidelity. And now every believer can come to the Murom Holy Trinity Convent to venerate their holy relics.
Many Orthodox are helped by Peter and Fevronia of Murom. The story of eternal love will forever remain in the heart of everyone who could ever hear or read it.
The All-Russian holiday Day of Family, Love and Fidelity is closely connected with the history and biography of Saints Peter and Fevronia. This married couple lived in the city of Murom, Vladimir Region, in XII - XIII centuries.
The story of their romantic love and exemplary life began with a real miracle, which is reported in the Old Russian “The Tale of Peter and Fevronia of Murom”: the noble Prince Peter, who ascended the throne of Murom, was ill with leprosy. His serious illness did not respond to treatment, but once in a dream the prince had a vision that the maiden Fevronia, the daughter of a dart frog from the village of Laskova, in the Ryazan land, could heal him. The virgin healed Prince Peter, for which he took her as his wife and saw how hardworking, economic, affectionate, kind and understanding she was. Quite quickly, Peter truly fell in love with Fevronia and had no idea how he lived without her before. Their family, where mutual feelings, trust and harmony have always reigned, has become a symbol of true devotion.
According to legend, they died on the same day - June 25 (according to the new style - July 8), 1228. Their bodies, placed in different places, miraculously ended up in the same coffin, which was considered a miracle. Peter and Fevronia were canonized by the Orthodox Church at a church council in 1547. Their relics are kept in the Church of the Holy Trinity of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Murom.
The tradition of the secular celebration of the day of Peter and Fevronia was restored by the Muromites in the 90s, when the City Day was combined with the Day of Family Values and began to be celebrated on July 8th.
In 2002, the urban and rural youth of the Murom district came up with a proposal to revive the historical tradition of celebrating the Day of Peter and Fevronia, not only in the homeland of the saints, but in all corners of Russia.
In 2008, the project was supported by many public associations and figures, the Russian Orthodox Church and all traditional religious organizations in Russia - after all, the idea of celebrating the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity has no confessional boundaries. The initiative to establish a new public holiday was unanimously approved by the Federation Council and the State Duma of the Russian Federation.
The organizing committee of the celebration was headed by the President of the Foundation for Social and Cultural Initiatives Svetlana Vladimirovna Medvedeva. Under her leadership, the regulation on the holiday was developed and approved.
Chamomile is chosen as the symbol of Family Day - a wild flower, the most common at this time of the year in Russia, symbolizing purity and dreams of love and fidelity.
From year to year, the geography of celebrating the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity is expanding, and today almost every locality in Russia celebrates the holiday in its own way. Festive events are held on this day from Kaliningrad to Kamchatka, as well as in near and far abroad.
One of the common events that unites the celebration in all corners of Russia is the awarding of the Medal "For Love and Loyalty". Established by the Organizing Committee of the holiday, the medal is awarded annually to married couples who have been married for 25 years or more, setting an example of the strength of family foundations, raising children as worthy members of society. Since 2014, by decision of the Organizing Committee of the holiday, it has become possible to award the medal "For Love and Fidelity" to mixed marriages - those in which one of the spouses is a citizen of Russia, and the other is a foreign state.
The main events of the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity are traditionally held in the historical homeland of the holiday in the city of Murom. Theatrical performances, reconstructions of scenes from the life of Saints Peter and Fevronia, master classes in rare crafts are organized here. Guests and residents of the city visit fairs, attractions, participate in animation programs.
Pilgrims visit holy places and venerate the relics of Murom wonderworkers, asking them for help in finding their other half, or for harmony in families, respect and mutual understanding.
Russia has its own Valentine's Day! The holiday of lovers and lovers, those who go through life together, "in sorrow and in joy"!On July 8, Russia celebrates the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity, that is, all that beauty, to which this wonderful feeling of love actually leads.
The idea to celebrate the Day of Family Values in Russia arose in the city of Murom, Vladimir Region, back in the mid-1990s, but this holiday was added to the holiday calendar only in 2008 (thanks to Svetlana Vladimirovna Medvedeva (wife of Medvedev D.A.). Why exactly 8 July and what connects this holiday with Murom?
Since childhood, in fairy tales, we have met a touching statement: "They lived happily ever after and died on the same day." It is borrowed from a well-known story that children study in elementary school. The work, which has become a monument of ancient Russian literature, was written in the 16th century. It was based on oral Murom legends. The main characters in the story are Peter and Fevronia of Murom - the faithful spouses, who showed the main spiritual values with their lives. The story of their love passed through several centuries, was not lost among other works and was not forgotten. It was she who initiated the bright holiday - Day of Peter and Fevronia(Day of Family, Love and Fidelity).
Legend of Peter and Fevronia
The names of Saints Peter and Fevronia are associated by historians and researchers with Prince David Yurievich and his wife Efrosinya. Their history began in the ancient Russian city of Murom in the 13th century.
The Monk Peter (David Yurievich in the world) was the younger brother of Prince Paul, who ruled in Murom. A misfortune happened in Paul's family - a snake began to fly to his wife at the behest of the devil. In desperation, she told everything to her husband. He ordered his wife to find out from the villain the secret of his death. It turned out that only Peter could defeat this snake with the help of Agrikov's sword.
Prince Peter found out about this and immediately decided to punish the villain. Hoping for God's help, during a prayer he found out where Agrikov's sword was kept. He then tracked down the serpent and killed it. But before his death, the snake sprinkled him with his poisonous blood. After that, the prince was struck by a dangerous disease - his whole body was covered with ulcers. It is believed that it was leprosy, from which no one could cure him.
The prince no longer hoped to recover, but one day in a dream he saw a young girl Efrosinya, the daughter of a beekeeper, who lived near Ryazan, in the village of Laskovaya. He realized that only she alone could heal him. In her village, this girl was known as an herbalist and, thanks to her kindness, she cured everyone who came to her.
The prince turned to her for help. The girl promised to cure him if he would take her as his wife. The prince made a promise to marry her, but did not keep it when he was already healthy. He considered the commoner an unworthy bride. But the disease began to torment him with renewed vigor. The prince again asked for help from Efrosinya and this time he kept his promise - he took her as his wife.
After some time, the elder brother of the prince died, and David Yurievich took his place. He reigned in this city from 1205, for 23 years. But local boyars began to demand that the prince renounce the reign or from a simple wife. The boyars began to slander the young wife of the prince, but he did not believe them.
Peter loved his wife very much and stopped at leaving the throne. The young couple got into the boat and sailed along the Oka River. They lived simply, like ordinary people, and it was important that they were nearby. And at this time, chaos began in Murom. The city was left without a legitimate ruler, the majority wanted to seize the throne. A violent turmoil began in the city: unrest, murders. The people asked the prince and his wife to return.
The riches of the world were worth nothing to them compared to the true riches of love, fidelity, and the sanctity of marriage. Having gone through the difficulties of voluntary exile, these saints returned to Murom and received legal authority. The intelligent and pious princess helped her husband with advice and charitable deeds. Efrosinya soon managed to win the love and respect of the city nobility and ordinary people.
The pious spouses, already at an advanced age, decided to take monastic vows in different monasteries. After that, they received the names Peter and Fevronia. They prayed to God to die one day. They even prepared a coffin on purpose, in which there was a thin partition in the middle. For a long time Prince Peter and Princess Efrosinya lived in love and friendship. Their prayers were heard, they both died each in his cell in 1228 on the same day and hour - June 25 according to the old or July 8 according to the new style.
But people did not want to bury the monks in the same coffin, considering it impious. The will of the deceased was violated, and the next day their bodies were together again. Twice the bodies were carried to different temples, but twice they were nearby. Then they were nevertheless buried in the same coffin in the same grave, and a green bush was planted. Spring came, and white fragrant flowers bloomed on it. They say that bird cherry went from that bush on the ground.
At the end of the 18th century, the holy relics of Peter and Fevronia were placed in one tomb and now they are in the Murom Holy Trinity Monastery. Today, many people come here to venerate these relics. And the Orthodox Church canonized them as saints.
The meaning of the holiday
Such universal values as family, love, tenderness and fidelity are very important in our life. The family gives a person love, support, stability and joy. She needs to raise children. Unfortunately, in recent years, the value of the family has fallen significantly in the eyes of the younger generation, and it has lost its former significance. It is for this reason that we should strive even more towards the ideals that this holiday reminds us of. We should all follow the example of these saints, whose family life has become the ideal of marriage, love and fidelity.
Medal "For Love and Loyalty"
In honor of this holiday, a special commemorative medal "For Love and Loyalty" was created. It was established by the Federal Organizing Committee and is awarded on July 8 to spouses who have lived in a happy marriage for at least 25 years. Chamomile was chosen as the symbol of the All-Russian Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. This wild flower since ancient times in Russia was considered a symbol of love and fidelity.
The family is also an important social unit, which is protected by law. Article 38 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation states that:
1. Motherhood and childhood, the family are under the protection of the state.
2. Caring for children, their upbringing is an equal right and duty of parents.
3. Able-bodied children who have reached the age of 18 must take care of disabled parents.
Events and traditions for the holiday
Every year the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity is becoming more and more popular in Russia. Life since those times has changed in our country beyond recognition. But there are also eternal, non-emerging values, which include love and family. And today people dream of such a strong family as Peter and Fevronia had. The holiday can be a good alternative to the Catholic St. Valentine's Day, which is celebrated on February 14th.
All-Russian day, family, love and fidelity should be spent with your family or with your loved one. On this holiday, it is not customary to give greeting cards, chocolate and various souvenirs. The best gift for a loved one on this day can be a bouquet of field or garden daisies.
In many cities, various festive and festive events are held by local authorities and public organizations: congratulatory concerts, exhibitions, fairs, charity events, as well as honoring large families and spouses who have lived together for more than 25 years.
Services are held in churches. A huge number of weddings are played. For many centuries in Russia there was a tradition to arrange an engagement on July 8th. In modern Russia, this day is now considered one of the most successful for the wedding ceremony and marriage. Young people have a belief that it will be long and happy.
It has already become a tradition to hold in Russian cities and regions the “Give me life!” information and educational campaign dedicated to this holiday, which is aimed at reducing the number of abortions in Russia and preserving family values. All events are widely covered in the media.
The holiday "All-Russian Day of Family, Love and Fidelity" received wide support from the press and public organizations. It is celebrated throughout Russia, but the city of Murom becomes the main center of celebrations every year.
This holiday is a wonderful occasion to get together with the whole family, to show special care for their relatives and friends. This warm holiday is welcome in any home, which is why it is so easy for him to walk - leaving the church calendar, he is ready to knock on every door.
I drink you with the Day of family, love and fidelity!
On this day, remember your parents, spouse, children, brothers, sisters ... Tell them the warmest and most tender words of love, because in this world there is nothing more expensive than close and dear people! Take care of them!
