August: Day 24: Teaching 2: Translation of the Honorable Relics of our Holy Father Peter, Metropolitan of Kiev, and Wonderworker of All Russia

August: Day 24: Teaching 2:
Translation of the Honorable Relics of our Holy Father Peter, Metropolitan of Kiev, and Wonderworker of All Russia
 
(Lessons To Follow From His Holy Life: 
a. Mercy, 
b. Meekness, and 
c. Love for the Fatherland)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. St. Peter, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia, whose memory of the transfer of his holy relics from the former Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos to the present Dormition Cathedral in Moscow is now celebrated, was born in the Volyn of pious parents. Even from birth, his mother had a vision that Saint Peter would shine with virtue in the Russian land. Having begun his studies, Peter, although he studied diligently, did not keep up. He prayed fervently, and then one day he saw in a dream that some Saint approached him and, ordering him to open his lips, touched his tongue with his hand and blessed him. And from that time Peter became a most capable student. 

At the age of 12 he went to a monastery, was soon tonsured and then, for his exemplary life, was ordained a deacon and then a priest. In his free time, Peter loved to paint icons. After many years of exploits in the monastery, with the blessing of the abbot, he retired to solitude, near the river Rati. Soon, many brethren gathered around Peter, and he established a monastery named after the locality of Dvorts, known as Spassky-Dvorts or Novodvorsk. Gentle and uncontentious, he never grew angry with those who erred, but corrected them with kind words. A poor person or a wanderer always found shelter and assistance in his cell. Prince Yuri Lvovich of Volyn and Galicia took a great liking to Peter and asked the Patriarch of Constantinople to appoint him as bishop. The Patriarch designated Peter as the Metropolitan of All Russia. Initially, Peter lived in Kiev, but in 1309 he moved to Vladimir. 

Against Saint Peter arose Andrei, the Bishop of Tver, who wished to acquire the rank of Metropolitan and accused him before the Patriarch. The Patriarch convened a synod. At the synod, the accusation was proven to be false. "Peace be upon you, my child," said the holy man to his slanderer. "It is not you who are guilty, but the ancient envier of the human race. From now on, beware of lies, and may God forgive you for the past."

Saint Peter traveled to the Tatar Horde and received many privileges for the clergy from the khan. The Moscow prince Ivan Kalita became especially close to him and convinced him to move his see from Vladimir to Moscow. The Saint agreed and moved. This was in 1325. The Saint asked the prince to build a cathedral church of the Dormition in Moscow. "If you listen to me, my son, then you yourself will become more famous with your family than other princes, and your city will be famous among Russian cities," he spoke prophetically to the prince. "The saints will live in it, and its hands will rise against enemies." The prince, with love and zeal, laid the foundation of the cathedral in 1326. 

The Saint prepared a stone coffin for himself near the altar with his own hands and did not live to see the completion of the church. Having been informed of his death by a special vision, he died in 1326. Under his successor, Theognost, Saint Peter, with the blessing of the Patriarch of Constantinople, was included in the choir of saints of the Russian Church. 

In 1472, during the construction of the new Dormition Cathedral, the incorrupt relics of the Saint were discovered and transferred to a new reliquary. But the temple soon collapsed. Then an architect called from Italy by Ivan III built a new cathedral, which still exists today. The relics of the Saint were transferred to it, and this transfer began to be celebrated on August 24.

II. May the today celebrated Saint Peter serve as an example to us of exalted Christian life.

a) His lack of success in his adolescent years, overcome by the strength of holy prayers and gracious assistance, may solidify in both parents and children the thought of the necessity of turning to God in prayer, the source of all truth, goodness, and beauty. Let parents not despair in the lack of success of their children, but, by uniting their prayers with those of their children, let them ask with faith for divine help, which they will receive according to their faith.

b) Let the mercy of Saint Peter towards the poor, the wretched and the stranger remind us of the need for Christian mercy for all, which is a condition for pardoning us at the terrible and righteous Judgment of God: “ Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

c) Let his meekness and gentleness towards slanderers teach us the spirit of Christian forgiveness; let not only our lips, but also our hearts pronounce the words of the Lord's Prayer: "and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Let us remember, brethren, the great truth of our salvation: we will not be forgiven by God, nor heard in our prayers, if we do not forgive our enemies with all our hearts. Let us firmly remember that slanderers are the pitiful instruments of the original enemy of our salvation - the devil, and therefore deserve indulgence towards themselves, forgiveness and prayers for their salvation from the terrible captivity of the devil, who roars like a lion, seeking to destroy someone.

d) The ardent love of Saint Peter for the fatherland may awaken in the hearts of all a similar love for the fatherland, dear and beloved to all. May the misfortunes of the fatherland, if it pleases the Providence of God to test us with them, be our personal misfortunes, and may its joy be our personal joy. Peace, love, unanimity, prayer for one another, active assistance to unfortunate fellow citizens, strict fulfillment of one's duties, reverence for the laws of the fatherland, selfless love for the supreme head of the state, the Sovereign chosen by God and protected by God, and strict piety, in the spirit of the Orthodox Church, in private and family life - these are the most important forms of manifestation of our true love for the fatherland.

III. Through the prayers of Saint Peter, may the Lord strengthen these virtues in us and may He grant us the strength to imitate His holy servant, the today celebrated Saint Peter.

 

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.