Peter and Fevronia of Murom are Russian Orthodox saints who are revered as patrons of the family and marriage. Their marriage in Orthodoxy is considered exemplary. Holy Blessed Prince Peter, in monasticism David, and Holy Blessed Princess Fevronia, in monasticism Euphrosyne, Miracle Workers of Murom. Blessed Prince Peter was the second son of Prince Yury Vladimirovich of Murom. He ascended the throne of Murom in 1203. A few years earlier, Saint Peter fell ill with leprosy, from which no one could cure him. In a sleepy vision, it was revealed to the prince that the pious maiden Fevronia, a peasant woman of the village of Laskovaya in the Ryazan land, could heal him. Saint Peter sent his people to that village. When the prince saw Saint Fevronia, he loved her so much for her piety, wisdom and kindness that he vowed to marry her after the healing. Saint Fevronia healed the prince and married him. The holy spouses carried love for each other through all trials. The proud boyars did not want to have a princess from a simple title and demanded that the prince let her go. Saint Peter refused, and the couple were expelled. They sailed on a boat along the Oka from their native city. Saint Fevronia supported and consoled Saint Peter. But soon the wrath of God overtook the city of Murom, and the people demanded that the prince return with Saint Fevronia. The holy spouses became famous for their piety and mercy. They died on the same day and hour on June 25, 1228, having previously taken monastic vows with the names David and Euphrosyne. The bodies of the saints were laid in one tomb. There is another version of this story. She is described by D. S. Likhachev as follows: “The heroine of the story is the maiden Fevronia. She is wise with folk wisdom. She makes wise riddles and knows how to solve life’s difficulties without fuss. She does not object to enemies and does not offend them with open teaching, but resorts to allegory, the goal which - to teach a harmless lesson: her opponents themselves guess their mistakes. She works miracles in passing: she makes the branches stuck for a fire blossom in one night into a large tree. Her life-giving power extends to everything around. The crumbs of bread in her palm turn into grains of fragrant incense "Prince Peter tries to deceive her only once, at the beginning, when he decides not to marry her, contrary to his promise. But after the very first lesson taught to him by Fevronia, he listens to her in everything and, having married, lives with her in harmony, their love crosses the threshold of death." The essence of this story, apparently, is the same. Which of them was in reality is unknown, since the Tale of Peter and Fevronia was written down by the Chronicler Yermolai the Sinful by order of Metropolitan Macarius in the 16th century. Peter and Fevronia were canonized in 1547. The day of remembrance of the saints is June 25 (July 8, according to a new style).

On July 8, the Church honors the memory of the saints Petra And Fevronia of Murom whose married life seems to be the ideal Orthodox marriage. These saints in Rus' were considered the patrons of the hearth, love and fidelity. They were prayed for well-being in family life asked for blessings for marriage. Since 2008, on the day of memory of Peter and Fevronia, Russia has celebrated the Day of Love, Family and Fidelity.

Life of Peter and Fevronia

"The Tale of Peter and Fevronia of Murom" was written in the 16th century in Russia on the basis of oral traditions that circulated in Murom. It mentions that Peter (son Prince of Murom Yuri Vladimirovich) defeated the snake, but could not dodge the drops of its blood. As a result, the prince became covered with scabs and ulcers, and none of the doctors could cure him. The prince sent his servant to the Ryazan land, where, according to rumors, there were many doctors. There the servant found the girl Fevronia, the daughter of a beekeeper. She agreed to cure Peter - on the condition that the prince would take her as his wife. Peter promised that it would. The girl cured him, but the prince did not fulfill his promise, since Fevronia was a commoner. Instead, Peter gave her gifts, which she did not accept.

Fevronia knew in advance that her destiny was to become the wife of Peter, she also knew about the future deception. Soon Peter fell ill again and again turned to her for help. Fevronia cured him, and this time Peter kept his promise.

The boyars at court were hostile to the princess, who did not belong to a noble family. They set a condition for Peter - either to part with his wife, or leave Moore. Peter decided to go into exile with Fevronia. After that, a struggle for power and unrest began in the city, and the boyars themselves asked the prince to return.

Icon "Peter and Fevronia return to Murom". Artist Irina Lvova. Photo: Public Domain

With the return of Peter and Fevronia, life in Murom improved, the inhabitants of the city eventually fell in love with the princess. The princely couple led a righteous life, and at the end of their lives, Peter and Fevronia took the tonsure: he - under the name of David, she - under the name of Euphrosyne. The saints bequeathed to bury themselves together, but the spouses were placed in different coffins. Then a miracle happened: the next morning people found their bodies in one coffin. Twice their bodies were carried to different temples, but twice they miraculously ended up nearby.

The saints were buried in the cathedral church of the city of Murom in honor of Christmas Holy Mother of God. Now the relics of the saints are in the Church of the Holy Trinity of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Murom.

Who else from the Orthodox saints patronizes the family, love and fidelity

Saints Adrian and Natalia

Roman saints Adrian And Natalia married young people and lived together for only one year. They were destined to witness the persecution of Christians: Emperor Maximian Galerius(293-311 AD) promised rewards to those who would denounce Christians and bring them to court. Adrian was the head of the judicial chamber. When he saw the courage with which Christians endure suffering for their faith, he believed in Christ myself. The emperor tried to reason with Adrian, but he insisted on his own, and Maximian ordered to put his official in prison.

Fragment of the icon "Martyrs Adrian and Natalia". Photo: Public Domain

The life of Adrian and Natalia tells that cruel tortures fell to the lot of the saint, but his faithful wife Natalia was next to the martyr. Fearing that her husband, seeing the suffering of other martyrs, would be shaken in spirit, she begged the executioners to execute him first. After the death of the martyrs, it was decided to burn their bodies, but a severe thunderstorm began, and the furnace went out. Then Saint Natalia took her husband's hand and kept it in the house, deciding to end her days in voluntary seclusion. But soon one of the commanders asked the emperor for permission to marry a young and rich widow. Upon learning of this, Saint Natalia fled to Byzantium, where her husband appeared to her in a dream and promised that the Lord would soon give her rest, which happened soon after.

Saints Joachim and Anna

Saints Joachim and Anna, the parents of the Most Holy Theotokos, did not have children until they were very old, and they grieved over this all their lives. They had to endure contempt and ridicule, but they never grumbled and only fervently prayed to God. Once, during a great feast, the priest in Jerusalem did not accept gifts from Joachim, which he brought to the temple. He considered that a childless husband was not worthy to offer sacrifice to God. After that, the saddened Joachim decided to settle in a deserted place, devoting himself to fasting and prayer. Anna, learning about this, began to pray fervently for the child. The prayer of the holy spouses was heard: the Orthodox tradition tells that the Archangel Gabriel appeared to both of them and announced the birth of a daughter who would bless the entire human race.

Saint Paraskeva

in Rus' was revered as the patroness of women, marriage and family happiness. married women considered her their intercessor and protector, and the girls prayed to her for a speedy marriage and good suitors.

Saint Paraskeva (Friday). Photo: Public Domain

The Holy Martyr Paraskeva lived in the 3rd century during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in Iconium. While still a girl, she was orphaned early. Paraskeva was distinguished by rare beauty, but did not pay any attention to the young men who asked for her hand, as she took a vow of celibacy. She wanted to devote her whole life to God and the enlightenment of the pagans - and she was martyred for her faith during the persecution of Christians.

July 8(June 25 according to the Julian calendar) The Russian Orthodox Church honors the memory of the Murom holy spouses Peter and Fevronia, who lived at the turn of the XII-XIII centuries. Their marriage is an example of Christian marriage. Saints Peter and Fevronia were revered in Rus' as patrons of married life; it was believed that with their prayers they bring down a heavenly blessing on those who marry.

The life story of Peter and Fevronia existed for many centuries in the legends of the Murom land, where they lived and where their 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. In the 16th century, the love story of Peter and Fevronia was described in detail and colorfully in the famous Old Russian "The Tale of Peter and Fevronia" by a talented writer, widely known in the era of John the Terrible, priest Ermolai the Sinful (monastic Erasmus). Researchers argue about which of the historical figures the life is written about: some are inclined to think 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 XIV century.

According to the Lives of the Saints, Prince Peter was the second son of Prince Yury Vladimirovich of Murom. He ascended the throne of Murom in 1203. A few years before his reign, Peter fell ill with leprosy, from which no one could cure him. In a dream, it was revealed to the prince that the beekeeper's daughter Fevronia, a peasant woman of the village of Laskovaya in the Ryazan land, could heal him. Fevronia was beautiful, pious and kind, besides, she was a wise girl, she knew the properties of herbs and knew how to treat ailments, wild animals obeyed her. The prince fell in love with Fevronia for her piety, wisdom and kindness and vowed to marry her after the healing. The girl healed the prince, but he did not keep his word. The disease resumed, Fevronia again cured the prince, and he married the healer.

After the death of his brother, Peter inherited the reign. The boyars respected their prince, but the arrogant boyar wives disliked Fevronia, not wanting to have a peasant woman as their ruler. The boyars demanded that the prince leave her. Peter, having learned that they wanted to separate him from his beloved wife, chose to voluntarily give up power and wealth and go into exile with her. Peter and Fevronia left Murom, sailing on a boat along the Oka River. Soon turmoil began in Murom, the boyars quarreled, seeking the vacant princely throne, blood was shed. Then the boyars, who came to their senses, gathered a council and decided to call Prince Peter back. The prince and princess returned, and Fevronia managed to earn the love of the townspeople. They ruled happily ever after.

In old age, Peter and Fevronia took tonsure in different monasteries with the names David and Euphrosyne, and prayed to God that they die on the same day, and bequeathed to bury themselves together in a specially prepared coffin with a thin partition in the middle.

Each of them died in his cell on the same day and hour - July 8 (according to the old style - June 25), 1228.

People considered it impious to bury monks in one coffin and violated the will of the dead: their bodies were laid in different monasteries. However, the next day they were together. Twice their bodies were carried to different temples, but twice they miraculously ended up nearby. So they buried the holy spouses together in the city of Murom near the cathedral church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Approximately 300 years after the death of Peter and Fevronia, they were included in the Russian Orthodox Church to the saints. Now the relics of Saints Peter and Fevronia rest in the Holy Trinity Convent in Murom.

On this day, it is customary for Orthodox believers, first of all, to visit churches. In their prayers, young people ask God for great love, and older people ask for family harmony. The day of Peter and Fevronia is considered by the people to be happy for love. Also, according to folk signs, forty hot days should be expected from this day.

On March 26, 2008, at a meeting of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy, the Federation Council unanimously approved the initiative to establish a new public holiday on July 8, the Day of the patron saints of the holy princes Peter and Fevronia - "All-Russian Day of Conjugal Love and Family Happiness". The first celebration will take place on July 8 this year in Murom, the homeland of Saints Peter and Fevronia.

Attention! Poll for women only! The men who joined him are easy to identify by the blue color!

Perplexity sounds in the diaries: “What now - to pick up an unwashed bum?”
Maybe so. When Prince Peter came to Fevronia for treatment, he hardly looked attractive and imposing. But the main thing is that it was still the prince whom Fevronia wanted to marry.

What was important to her? Why didn't she do the same for some peasant or soldier? As an option, we set aside the wealth, power and influence of the prince: Fevronia easily endured exile, and the attacks from the boyars against her, a commoner, were not pleasant.

What motives controlled this woman? Love for a handsome prince? Yes, how beautiful he is when he came painful ... The fact that he is a hero, and women love heroes? Maybe so, but it was hardly important for Fevronia.

The most precious thing that she herself voiced was her husband. And here comes the most important question for our ABC students: are you weak? Or will the husband be in second place after the cat, dog, child, mom and dad, apartment, car?

Is it weak to resist the temptation to play love with someone else's warrior while the husband does not see? And to whom did she say the words: “Draw water from the left side, and then from the right?” Surely Fevronia knew the correct answer. And she did not say this to the warrior, but to herself - most likely! Today, in the common people, in a swear language, it sounds something like this: “Changing something for something is only a waste of time!” I hope you understand what I mean?

The roles in the family of the prince and Fevronia were clearly distributed: he was engaged in men's affairs, she was in women's affairs. It is unlikely that Fevronia asked her husband to help her around the house, just as he did not call her to think about issues of national importance (then the principalities were separate states). In general, everyone in the family specifically played their role. And, as you can see, this was only good for the family, and the mess usually begins where everyone starts to interfere in their own business: the wife teaches her husband how to drive a car, and he instructs her how to cook cabbage soup.

Without a friend, or themselves next to someone - the spouses could not even imagine. And this is the most important thing! This is the meaning of the question published below, the answer to which is important for those men who came to the "ABC" to find a life partner. From what women write in the comments, the opinion of the men reading this depends entirely! Well… and vice versa, of course! We are chosen, we choose ... How often it does not coincide ...

Once again, I draw the attention of women: Fevronia was the first to offer Peter to marry her! The prince must have been stunned by such arrogance, but ... this is what played a decisive role! So, ladies, are there any of you capable of such a feat?

And, finally, are we, today's men and women, capable of loyalty, love, devotion to each other? Weak? Or how? Or, with a smartphone or laptop in hand, do we believe that the appearance of spouses in the same coffin after death is a fake? Are we so incredulous that we consider this a fairy tale? Is there anyone here who believes this - besides me?

Are we able to continue to love each other when we become wrinkled, gray-haired, bald, thin or fat, unsuitable for sexual relations?

Why Peter and Fevronia?

These saints are glorified by the Church not as saints, although they accepted the schema at the end of their lives, not as martyrs and confessors, although they were expelled from their city. Fasting and prayer were part of their family life, and they were subjected to humiliation and danger for being faithful to each other. Saints Peter and Fevronia gave an example of an ideal Christian family. It is for this that they were awarded church veneration, which is why their life for more than eight centuries has been an example of the proper attitude of spouses to church marriage and to each other.

The effectiveness of prayer to these saints, which has been created by the Church for 450 years, convinces us of the authenticity of the appearance of Peter and Fevronia, which was recreated by Yermolai-Erasmus in his Tale. They truly became patrons of Christian marriage.

It is they who should pray for the sending of peace into the family, for the strengthening of marital ties, for the achievement of family happiness. Thus, Saints Peter and Fevronia are included in the majestic picture of the history of the world understood in a Christian way, they are placed on a par with the apostles and martyrs and other great saints. And they were honored with such glorification “for the sake of courage and humility”, shown by them in keeping the commandments of God regarding marriage. In this way they fulfilled their calling as Christians. This means that each of those who labor in Christian marriage and follow their example can be placed in this rank and can acquire the crown that was awarded to Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom.

Priest's comment

Archpriest Andrey Efanov:

“We know very little for certain about the life of Saints Peter and Fevronia. It is known that this princely couple lived in the 13th century, they had three children, they died on the same day, having taken monasticism at the end of their life path. As a one-of-a-kind exception, the prince and princess are buried in the same coffin.

Probably, it was precisely these circumstances of their lives that caused Saints Peter and Fevronia to become patrons of the family and marriage. Indeed, what a beautiful end to life, like in a fairy tale: "they lived happily ever after and died on the same day." Who among the newlyweds does not dream of such a thing?

However, such a death must be deserved. To raise wonderful children: patriotic sons, a daughter - the wife of the Grand Duke. Do not betray each other in a time of trials, always stay together, in joy and sorrow. Firmly keep the Orthodox faith. Only then can one hope for the mercy that was shown to the saints of Murom.

There is a lot of beauty in the legend about Peter and Fevronia. I recalled the case when they wanted to separate the hater of the prince from his wife. However, the holy prince chose exile so as not to be separated from his beloved wife. How many are now ready to follow the example of the saint?

Today is the Day of Family and Loyalty our society needs like air, like water. Marriages are destroyed with ease, as never before, not everyone is ready to remember about marital fidelity. But still, when entering into marriage, most newlyweds dream of happiness, of love to the grave.

Choosing the patrons of the marriage of the Murom saints, the spouses lay in the foundation of their marriage, albeit one, but the cornerstone. If this house is based on firm faith, marital fidelity, love and mutual respect, if the children in this marriage are brought up in Christian traditions, then nothing can destroy such a marriage. Any hardships, trials, disasters can only shake such a house a little, but from this, each pebble will adhere even more tightly to the next one, and as a result, the house of such a marriage will only become stronger.

The Trinity Convent in Murom is not much different from other monasteries of this kind. But when you approach the relics of the marvelous saints of Murom, all this is completely forgotten. Here the worshiper is left alone with Eternity. But alone does not mean alone.

TV report about the celebration of the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity in Samara