Wonderworkers in Christianity have been from time immemorial. There are monks, priests, ordinary people among them. Saint Peter went from a boyar son to the Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia. His life will be interesting to learn not only for believers, but also for everyone interested in the history of the Russian state and the fate of famous people.
The birth of Peter and the beginning of his studies
Once in Volyn (now the northwestern part of Ukraine) in a noble boyar family, the mother of the future saint, shortly before his birth, saw in a dream that she was holding a lamb in her arms. Between its horns grows a wonderful tree with fruits and flowers, as well as burning candles. Soon, around 1260, her son was born - this was the future Metropolitan Peter. When the boy was seven years old, he was taught to read and write and the Holy Scriptures, but this did not bring the expected result. He did not manage to master anything, until one day, in a dream, Peter's lips were touched by someone in hierarchal robes. Right from that momentthe future Metropolitan Peter began to study well. Soon he managed to become the best of all students and studied all the Holy Scriptures.
The Righteous Path
At the age of twelve, the future Saint Peter (Metropolitan of Moscow) became a novice in a nearby monastery. In addition to doing all kinds of work, which he always did with humility, Peter was the very first to come to the church service. Throughout the liturgies, he stood, listening to the Divine Scriptures with attention and humility and praying, and he never even leaned his back against the wall for all the time. Seeing Peter's efforts in obedience, looking at his humility, the abbot of the monastery promoted the saint to a deacon, and later to a presbyter. In addition, the saint became an icon painter, moving away from everything earthly during the moments of work on the image, imbued with divine thinking and with all his soul striving for a virtuous life. The future Metropolitan Peter of Moscow and All Russia spent a very long time in the monastery. Then he was blessed by the abbot and left the walls of the refuge in order to build a monastery on the river called Rati in a deserted place. The saint built the Church of the Savior Jesus Christ there, and then, next to it, a monastery called Preobrazhensky. The brethren gathered there, Peter taught with meekness, considering himself the least of all. He was kind and never let go without alms or the help of beggars and wanderers. Even the prince heard about him, because he was revered by everyone, and everyone gladly accepted from the holy instruction.
Metropolitan Peter
Metropolitan Maxim, who arrived from Constantinople, at that time taughtpeople in Russia. Peter presented him with an icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of his own work (named Peter's), and also asked for blessings for himself and the brethren. Having given it, the Metropolitan respectfully accepted the image and kept it with him. Subsequently, the icon was in the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin in Moscow. The hour of the death of Metropolitan Maxim has come. After that, they began to look for a candidate for his most holy post. There were two candidates: Yuri Lvovich, Prince of Galicia-Volynsky, persuaded Peter to go to become a metropolitan, and the Prince of Tver and Vladimir proposed Gerontius, hegumen of Tver, to the post of saint. The second candidate went by sea to Constantinople, but a storm overtook him on the way. Then the Most Holy Theotokos told Gerontius in a vision that Peter should be the metropolitan. Patriarch Athanasius of Constantinople was also revealed to be the destiny of Peter. When the saint entered the temple, the fragrance filled everything around. This was a sign for the patriarch, who happily blessed Peter. But, as expected, there was a meeting of saints who considered a candidate for the post of metropolitan. It recognized that Peter was worthy of this post, which was destined for him long before his birth. During the dedication, all those present realized that he was the chosen one of God, who had come here at the command of the Heavenly Father, as his face shone.
Intrigues against Peter
The newly minted Saint Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow, received instructions from the patriarch for several days after his consecration, and then left Constantinople to begin hisduties. But meek and gentle when it came to himself, and firm, strict in church matters, he caused discontent on the part of some people. Among them was the envious Bishop of Tver Andrey. He slandered the saint, wrote to His Holiness Patriarch Athanasius such accusations against the metropolitan that he did not even believe in them, but nevertheless sent the church clergyman. The Russian Church convened a council in Pereyaslavl. The investigation exposed false evidence against Peter, and the instigator was put to shame. The saint harbored no malice towards Bishop Andrew and, having forgiven him, dismissed the council. This earned Metropolitan Peter even more respect and veneration.
Acts of the Saint
Peter traveled all over Russia for the good of the people. In the Golden Horde, he achieved benefits for the clergy. With all his might, the metropolitan tried to appease the warring princes. Their feuds bothered Peter the most. Arriving in Bryansk in order to smooth out another conflict, the metropolitan almost became a victim of murder. Realizing and foreseeing that the unification of Russia was possible through Moscow, Peter often visited this then still small and insignificant town. At that time, George Danilovich was the prince there, but he was often not in the city. In his absence, the prince's brother John was a very kind ruler. He always helped the poor and the disadvantaged. It was with John that Peter often talked about the affairs of the church and the future of the city of Moscow. The metropolitan predicted greatness and prosperity for the family of the prince. St. Peter wanted to transfer his cathedra to Moscow, for which a cathedral was needed. The Russian Church is obligedthe construction of the Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin was dedicated to St. Peter, according to whose idea it was founded in 1326. At the base of the structure, at the altar, Metropolitan Peter of Moscow arranged his coffin.
Predicting the death of a saint
Prince John after some time saw in a dream a very high mountain in the snow. The snow melted, and the mountain disappeared after it. Saint Peter explained what this meant. The melted snow is the death of the metropolitan, and the missing mountain is the death of the prince. Peter himself received a revelation about his own death, but no one knows exactly what. On December 21, 1326, during the evening service, Metropolitan Peter died at a prayer. His grave is in the Assumption Cathedral. Prince John was not in the city when the saint died. When he returned, he saw people grieving for the saint. During the funeral procession, one of little faith doubted the holiness of the Metropolitan and immediately repented of his unbelief, seeing Peter sitting in a coffin and blessing the people.
The Miracle Worker Peter
Healings and miracles began to happen almost immediately after the burial. Some young man, who had motionless hands from birth, prayed with tears and faith at the tomb of the saint. In the same hour he recovered, and his hands were strengthened. Saint Peter also healed one crouched man, and he opened the ears of the deaf man, and he began to hear. The blind man who came to the tomb with a prayer received his sight. Thus began the miracles performed by the saints. And today, Metropolitan Peter helps those who come running with faith and prayer to his mercy.
The reckoning of the miracle worker to the canon of saints
Assumption Cathedral was built and consecrated in 1327. Metropolitan Theognost, who came to replace Peter, did not change the instructions of his holy predecessor. He settled in Moscow, prayed at the tomb of the saint, and himself saw many miracles taking place there. Having transferred everything to the patriarch, Theognost received a command and canonized Peter the Wonderworker among the saints. Three times the relics of the saint were found incorrupt. For the first time, during the invasion of Khan Tokhtamysh in 1382, the coffin of the saint was burned. Then, when in 1477 the walls of the cathedral collapsed. And for the last time, when Aristotle Fioravanti, an Italian architect, rebuilt the Cathedral of the Assumption, in 1479. It remains in this form to this day. The life of Metropolitan Peter was written by Bishop Prokhor of Rostov, who was ordained by the saint himself. The feast days of Saint Peter are December 21 (or January 3) and August 24 (or September 6).
Temple of Metropolitan Peter
In 1514, by decree of Prince Ivan III, the first stone church in honor of the saint was erected in Vysoko-Pokrovsky Monastery. It has undergone several renovations. Therefore, in our days, parishioners visit the church of Peter the Metropolitan of Moscow. The saint was and is revered not only in Moscow. There are churches in his honor in other cities of Russia. So, in St. Petersburg in 1991-2001, the wooden church of Peter the Metropolitan was built. In that place stood a temple erected by decree of Peter I in the name of the saint in memory of the victory over the Swedes.
It is difficult to overestimate the contribution to the strengthening of faithin Russia and its association of St. Peter. The Metropolitan can be compared with such prominent Christian saints as Gregory the Theologian, Basil the Great, John Chrysostom. His life is a vivid example of selfless love for God, people and Motherland. I wish every Christian had at least a little bit of Saint Peter.
