The Monk Alexy was born in Rome into a family of pious and poverty-loving Euthymian and Aglaida. The couple were childless for a long time and tirelessly prayed to the Lord for the gift of offspring. And the Lord consoled the couple with the birth of their son Alexy.
At the age of six, the boy began to study and successfully studied secular sciences, but especially diligently read the Holy Scriptures. As a young man, he began to imitate his parents: he fasted strictly, gave alms, and secretly wore a hair shirt under rich clothes. The desire to leave the world and serve the One God ripened early in him. However, Alexy's parents were going to marry him and, when he reached adulthood, they found him a bride.
After the engagement, being left alone in the evening with his bride, Alexy took the ring off his finger, gave it to her and said: “Keep this, and may the Lord be with us, arranging a new life for us with His grace.” And he himself secretly left home and boarded a ship sailing to Mesopotamia.
Once in the city of Edessa, where the Image of the Lord Not Made by Hands was kept, Alexy sold everything he had, distributed the money to the poor and began to live at the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos on the porch and feed on alms. The monk ate only bread and water, and distributed the alms he received to the weak and elderly. Every Sunday he received Holy Communion.
Relatives searched everywhere for the missing Alexy, but to no avail. The servants sent by Euthymian to search also visited Edessa, but did not recognize their master in the beggar sitting on the porch. From strict fasting, his body dried up, his beauty disappeared, and his eyesight became weak. The blessed one recognized them and thanked the Lord for receiving alms from his servants.
The inconsolable mother of Saint Alexius shut herself up in her room, incessantly praying for her son. The monk lived in Edessa for seventeen years. One day, the sexton of the church where the monk labored had a revelation about him: the Mother of God commanded through Her holy icon: “Bring into My Church a man of God, worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven; his prayer ascends to God like a fragrant censer, and the Holy Spirit rests on him.” The sexton began to look for such a person, but for a long time he could not find him. Then he turned in prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos, asking Her to resolve his perplexity. And again there was a voice from the icon, announcing that the man of God was that beggar who was sitting on the church porch. The sexton found Saint Alexis and brought him into the church. Many learned about the righteous man and began to revere him. The saint, avoiding fame, secretly boarded a ship bound for Cilicia. But the Providence of God judged otherwise: the storm carried the ship far to the west and washed up on the coast of Italy. The blessed one headed to Rome. Unrecognized, he humbly asked his father for permission to settle in some corner of his yard. Euthymian placed Alexy in a specially constructed room at the entrance to the house and ordered him to be fed from his table.
Living in his parents' house, the blessed one continued to fast and spend days and nights in prayer. He humbly endured insults and ridicule from his own father’s servants. Alexy's room was opposite the windows of his bride, and the ascetic suffered greatly hearing her cry. Only immeasurable love for God helped the blessed one to endure this torment. Saint Alexy lived in the house of his parents for seventeen years and was notified by the Lord of the day of his death. Then the saint, taking the charter, described his life, asking forgiveness from his parents and bride.
On the day of the death of Saint Alexius, Pope Innocent (402 - 417) served the liturgy in the cathedral church in the presence of Emperor Honorius (395 - 423). During the service, a wonderful Voice was heard from the altar: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Everyone present fell to the ground in fear. The voice continued: “Find the man of God departing to eternal life, let him pray for the city.” They began to search all over Rome, but did not find the righteous man.
From Thursday to Friday, the Pope, performing an all-night vigil, asked the Lord to indicate a saint of God. After the liturgy, a voice was heard again in the church: “Look for the man of God in the house of Euthymian.” Everyone hurried there, but the saint had already died. His face shone like the face of an Angel, and in his hand was clutched a charter, which he did not let go of, no matter how hard they tried to take it. The body of the blessed one was placed on a bed covered with expensive bedspreads. The pope and the emperor knelt down and turned to the monk as if he were alive, asking him to unclench his hand. And the saint fulfilled their prayer. When the letter was read, the father, mother and bride of the righteous man with tears bowed to his honest remains.
The body of the saint, from which healings began to take place, was placed in the middle of the square. All of Rome gathered here. The Emperor and the Pope themselves carried the saint's body into the church, where it remained for a whole week, and then was placed in a marble tomb. Fragrant myrrh began to flow from the holy relics, providing healing to the sick.
The honorable remains of Saint Alexis, the man of God, were buried in the church of Saint Boniface. In 1216 the relics were found. The life of Saint Alexis, the man of God, has always been one of the favorites in Rus'.
Prayers
O great servant of Christ, holy man of God Alexis, stand with your soul in heaven before the Throne of the Lord, and perform various miracles on earth given to you by grace from above! Look mercifully at the upcoming holy icon of your people, tenderly praying and asking for your help and intercession. Extend your most honest hand in prayer to the Lord God and ask us from Him for forgiveness of our sins, voluntary and involuntary, healing for the afflicted, intercession for the afflicted, consolation for the grieving, ambulance for the needy, for all who honor your peaceful and Christian death and a good answer at the Last Judgment Christ. To her, holy of God, do not disgrace our hope, which we place in you according to God and the Mother of God, but be our helper and protector for salvation, so that through your prayers we have received grace and mercy from the Lord, let us glorify the love of mankind of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, glorified in the Trinity and the God we worship, and your holy intercession, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.
O servant of Christ, holy man of God Alexy! Look mercifully upon us, servant of God (names), and stretch out your honorable hands in prayer to the Lord God, and ask us from Him for forgiveness of our voluntary and involuntary sins, a peaceful and Christian death and a good answer at the Last Judgment of Christ. To her, servant of God, do not disgrace our trust, which we place in you, according to God and the Mother of God; but be our helper and protector for salvation; and through your prayers, having received grace and mercy from the Lord, let us glorify the love of mankind of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and your holy intercession, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Kontakion, tone 2
The house of your parents, as if it were alien, you settled in it like a beggar, and after the repose of the crown of glory, you appeared on earth, Alexey, the man of God, an angel and a joy to man.
Troparion to Saint Alexy
Troparion, tone 4
Having risen to virtue and purified your mind, you have reached the Desired and Extreme, having adorned your life with dispassion, and having received a fair amount of fasting with a clear conscience, in prayers as if you were disembodied, you have shone like the sun in the world, blessed Alexie.
Troparion, tone 4
As if a lamp of purity had shone, marvelous Alexie had appeared, for he had exchanged the corruptible palace for the incorruptible Kingdom of God, as if the worker was exceedingly chaste. For this reason stand before the Lord, the King of all. Pray to Him to grant us peace and great mercy.
Prayer
O great servant of Christ, holy man of God Alexis, stand with your soul in heaven before the Throne of the Lord, and perform various miracles on earth given to you by grace from above! Look mercifully at the upcoming holy icon of your people, tenderly praying and asking for your help and intercession. Extend your most honest hand in prayer to the Lord God and ask us from Him for forgiveness of our sins, voluntary and involuntary, healing for those who suffer, intercession for those suffering, consolation for the grieving, quick help for those in need, and for all who honor your peaceful and Christian death and a kind answer to The Last Judgment of Christ. To her, holy of God, do not disgrace our hope, which we place in you according to God and the Mother of God, but be our helper and protector for salvation, so that through your prayers we have received grace and mercy from the Lord, let us glorify the love of mankind of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, glorified in the Trinity and the God we worship, and your holy intercession, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.
O servant of Christ, holy man of God Alexy! Look mercifully upon us, servant of God (names), and stretch out your honorable hands in prayer to the Lord God, and ask us from Him for forgiveness of our voluntary and involuntary sins, a peaceful and Christian death and a good answer at the Last Judgment of Christ. To her, servant of God, do not disgrace our trust, which we place in you, according to God and the Mother of God; but be our helper and protector for salvation; that through your prayers we have received grace and mercy from the Lord, let us glorify the love of mankind of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and your holy intercession, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Life of St. Alexy, Man of God
The Most Reverend Alexy, the man of God, was born in Rome from noble and good families . His father Ev-fi-mi-an was se-na-to-rum. He was kind-hearted, he was kind-hearted towards the sick and suffering, he arranged for himself every day there are three hundred houses: for orphans and widows, for wayfarers and for beggars. Ev-fi-mi-a-na and his wife Agla-i-dy did not have children for a long time, and this marred their happiness. But the good Agla did not give up hope - and God heard her and sent them a son. The father named the baby Alexy (translated from the Greek “defender”). Saint Alexy grew up as a healthy child, did well and studied diligently. When he reached perfection, Ev-fi-mi-an and Agla-i-da decided to marry him. They chose for their son de-vush-ka of royal blood, very beautiful and god-like. Left alone with his young wife after the wedding, Saint Alexy gave her his gold ring and a clear buckle with the words: “Keep this, and may the Lord be between you and me, until He infuses us with His goodness.” -yes-tew.” Then he left the marriage chamber and left his father’s house that same night. Having boarded a ship, sailing to the East, the young man arrived in La-o-dikia of Syria. Here he stuck with the donkey drivers and went with them to the city of Edessa, where Nehru’s creation was kept The lord, sealed on the cloak. Having given the rest of his property, the young man dressed himself in rags and began to ask for mercy in the temple of the Most Holy Bo-go-ro-di-tsy. Every Sunday he communed the Holy Mysteries of Christ. At night, Alexy stayed awake and prayed. He ate only bread and water.
Meanwhile, the birth of Saint Alexy, saddened by his disappearance, was whether their servants are on-is-ki. Were they in Edessa, did they enter the temple of the Most Holy Bo-go-ro-di-tsy, and did they see the sweetness of the saint? to Alexy, without recognizing him.
After some time, the servants returned to Rome, without finding Saint Alexius. And none of the relatives had a revelation about him. Then they humbled themselves and, although they continued to grieve and yearn for him, they relied on the will of God.
The venerable Alexy spent time in Edessa, asking for the sweetness of the temple of Bo-go-ro-di-tsy, sem-na -twenty years. The Most Pure One, appearing in a dream to the church, revealed that the beggar Alexy was a man of God. When the people of Edessa began to honor him, the venerable Alexy secretly fled. He thought of going to the city of Tarsus (in Asia Minor, the birthplace of the Holy Apostle Paul), but the ship on which Then the venerable Alexy swam, in a strong storm he lost his course, wandered for a long time and finally landed on a beach. the din of Italy, not far from Rome. Saint Alexy, seeing God's providence in this, went to his father's house, for he was sure that he would not be recognized. Having met his father Ev-fi-mi-a-na, he asked him for help and mentioned his blood-relations, formerly va-yu-shchih in wanderings. He was glad to accept the beggar, gave him a place in the outskirts of his house, ordered him to bring him food from the owner's place. la and appointed a servant to help him. The rest of the servants, out of envy, began to insult the beggar, but the great Alexy saw through the devil in this -skoe-u-sche-nie and pri-n-mal from-de-va-tel-stva with peace and joy. He still drank bread and water, and at night he stayed awake and prayed. So another seven-ten years passed. When the hour of his death approached, the Reverend Alexy wrote his whole life, and that secret that was from I know from my father and my mother, and the words spoken to my wife in marriage peace.
On Sunday after the Divine Li-tur-gia, in the co-religion of the Holy Apostle Peter, something happened -before. A voice from above came from the holy throne: “Seek the man of God, so that he may pray for Rome and all -ro-de him.” The whole people fell on their faces in horror and delight. On Thursday evening in the apostle of Peter, may the Lord reveal to them the man of God - and with A voice came from the pre-sto-la: “In the house of Ev-fi-mi-a-na there is a man of God, look there.” In the temple there is the Roman im-per-ra-tor Go-no-riy (395-423), as well as the Roman pa-pa In-no-ken- tium I (402-417). They turned to Ev-fi-mi-a-nu, but he didn’t know anything. Then the servant, assigned to Saint Alexy, told Ev-fi-mi-a-nu about his righteousness. Ev-fi-mi-an hurried to the great Alexy, but no longer found him alive. The face of the blessed woman shone with an unearthly light. In his hand, the venerable Alexy held a tightly clenched sweatshirt. The body of Saint Alexy was carried with great care and lived on the bed. Im-pe-ra-tor and pa-pa Roman pre-klo-li-ko-le-na, ask the holy one to open his hand. And Saint Alexy fulfilled their request.
The book with the life of the saint was read by the reader of the temple in the name of the holy apostle Peter. The father, mother and wife of the saint Alexy, weeping, fell to the body of the saint and bowed to his honorable remains. At the sight of such an event, many cried. The box with the body of Saint Alexy was placed in the middle of the central square. People began to flock to him in order to be cleansed and relieved of their ailments. The dumb can-not speak, the blind can-see, the obsessive and mentally ill you-are-healthy. whether. Seeing such a blessing, im-pe-ra-tor Go-no-riy and pa-pa In-no-ken-tiy I themselves carried the holy body -th in the ballroom process. The honorable remains of St. Alexy, the man of God, are buried in the temple in the name of St. Vo-ni-fa- tia March 17, 411. In 1216, the saint's powers were discovered. His life was one of the most beloved in Russia.
See also: "" in the text of St. Di-mit-ria of Ro-stov.
Prayers
Troparion to St. Alexis, man of God, tone 4
Having risen to virtue and having purified your mind,/ you have achieved what you desire and the extreme,/ having embellished your life with dispassion,/ and having received a fair amount of mercy with a clear conscience,/ in prayers, as if you were incorporeal, you remained I,/ you have shone like the sun in the world,// Blessed Alexei.
Translation: Having risen in virtue and purified your mind, you reached the Desired and Highest (Christ), decorating your life with dispassion and with a clear conscience taking upon yourself the feat of a special fast, remaining in prayer as an incorporeal angel, you shone like the sun in the world, blessed Alexy.
Troparion to St. Alexis, man of God, tone 4
As the lamp of purity has shown itself,/ wondrous Alexie,/ for the corruptible palace/ has been changed for the imperishable Kingdom of God,/ as the worker of chastity has been surpassed./ For this reason, for the sake of the Lord, all To the Tsar. // Pray to Him to grant us peace and great mercy.
Translation: You appeared as a shining lamp of purity, amazing Alexey, since you exchanged the corruptible conjugal chambers for the incorruptible Kingdom of God, as a special chastity. Therefore you stand before the Lord, the King of all. Pray to Him to give us peace and great mercy.
Kontakion to St. Alexis, man of God, tone 2
The house of your parents, as if it were alien,/ you settled in it in a poor way/ and, upon the repose of the crown of glory,/ you appeared marvelously on earth, Alexie, man of God, // Angel and man joy.
Translation: Not considering your parents’ house to be your home, you settled in it under the guise of a beggar and after death received the crown of glory, you appeared amazing on earth, Alexy, man of God, joy to angels and people.
Prayer to St. Alexy, man of God
Oh, great servant of Christ, holy man of God Alexis, your soul stands in Heaven before the Throne of the Lord, and on earth given to you by various graces from above, perform miracles! Look mercifully at the people standing before your holy icon, tenderly praying and asking for your help and intercession. Stretch out your honest hands to the Lord God and ask Him for forgiveness of our sins, voluntary and involuntary, healing for the sick, intercession for the afflicted, consolation for the afflicted, First aid for the needy, and a peaceful and Christian death for all who honor you and a good answer at the Last Judgment Christ. To her, Holiness of God, do not disgrace our trust, which we place on you according to God and the Mother of God, but be our helper and protector for salvation, so that through your prayers we have received grace and mercy from the Lord. We see the love for mankind of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, glorified in the Trinity and the God we worship, and your holy intercession, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Canons and Akathists
Canon to St. Alexis, man of God
Song 1
Irmos: In the depths of the post, sometimes the Pharaoh's all-armed force was transformed into power, but the incarnate Word consumed all-evil sin, so that the glorified Lord became gloriously glorified.
Thou hast walked the narrowest path, an immaculate and reverend life, wisely, passing from youth, and thus my narrowness, broadened my mind, to praise thee, settled in the most heavenly latitude, Alexie.
Having laid it upon you very much to God, blessed, you were beyond the flesh and the world, and you preferred the present and abiding wealth of Heaven and the promised eternal city of Zion to the current wealth.
You are false, you resolved the infertility of mothers, you were born, like Samuel, rich, and fear was conceived in the womb of a pure heart, you gave birth to the spirit of salvation of the Divine virtues through faith.
Theotokos: God's Co-Original Son has brought You to us as a guilty person, the Virgin, the likeness, one, more than all creation, Pure, He has found You pure. With this we sing to Thee, give birth to all, and please.
Song 3
Irmos: The desert has blossomed like a desert, O Lord, a pagan barren one, the Church has flourished by Your coming, and my heart has been established in it.
We are pierced by the desire for purity, the palace that is on earth, the Heavenly One, who exchanged the sweetest angelic likeness for love, you and your wife.
You left the rumors of everyday life and the burden of wealth, and you were a prisoner of the fatherland, blessed Alexie, likened to Christ’s poverty.
Through tears, and illnesses, and abstinence, you sought all that is good when the light of reason comes, giving dispassion to your heart.
Theotokos: Mountain invisible by the Angel, Pure One, from You we give birth, a perfect Man is seen, renewing the perishing world.
Sedalen, voice 3.
Reverend, you left the beauty of the world, exchanging the impenetrable reality and abiding wealth for flowing wealth, Alexie. In the same way, with all the saints, we glorify you and triumph brightly in your memory, asking you to find through your prayers, blessed one, great mercy.
Glory, even now, to the Mother of God:
It is inconceivable and incomprehensible, O Lady, adored by God, that this terrible sacrament of God was performed for You, for You, having conceived the Unprecedented One, gave birth to the flesh of Your most pure blood. Always pray to Him, O Pure One, like Thy Son for the salvation of our souls.
Song 4
Irmos: You came from the Virgin, not an intercessor, not an Angel, but the Lord Himself, incarnate, and you saved all of me, a man. Thus I call to Thee: glory to Thy power, O Lord.
You endured poverty, you were a petitioner, you were poor, like Lazarus, for the Divine desire comforted, blessed is your heart, which desired the riches of Heaven.
Alexie, the only one poisoned in the week, desired a sorrowless and quiet life, with the desire of the not fleeting, all-blessed pleasure awaiting you.
Seek to make a temple to God in your heart, in your home you have loved the Mother of God, glorious, always gray and beholding the goodness of Heaven.
Theotokos: Having rewarded the Giver, the Virgin, the milk, my now hungry and oppressed heart to satisfy all reason and Divine tenderness, I pray to Thee.
Song 5
Irmos: Thou art an intercessor for God and man, O Christ God: through Thee, O Master, to Thy Father of Light, the Imams were brought from the night of ignorance.
Having soldered the sacred currents, you have always wept your soul, and you have made a class, truly historic, to observe the Doer of Immortal good.
You were seen on earth, imitating the life of the Bodiless, with your many abstinence, Father, and in diligence in prayer, through which, like light, you were enlightened.
With the fire of the prayers of sin, you burned a thing, wise, with vigils you quenched all voluptuousness, and having fallen asleep, you reposed in a non-evening radiance.
Theotokos: Who, in the Living Light, dwell in Thy holy womb, O Pure One, the world, which perished in the darkness of unreason, again edifying, pray to Him to enlighten all, singing to Thee.
Song 6
Irmos: Lying in the abyss of sin, I call upon the unfathomable abyss of Thy mercy: lift me up from aphids, O God.
Like the living temple of God, you, the former village of Christ, the Unartificed One, manifests the hiding and glorifies the hiding one who is careful.
Your prayers to God, like a blessed censer, were pleasant; hence, through your life, you have enriched the minds of the faithful with the grace of the Spirit.
We are adorned with sacred life, although Christ did not want it, more glorious, he gives to the fatherland, running away from the glory of time.
Theotokos: The laws of nature, Pure Lady, Creator, newly created creation, are ineffably born from You and adores me with immeasurable mercy.
Kontakion, tone 2
The house of your parents, as if it were alien, you settled in it like a beggar, and after the repose of the crown of glory, you appeared on earth, Alexey, the man of God, an angel and a joy to man.
Ikos
You adorned yourself with your life and words, and you exalted the Church of Christ with your life, making your father and mother, the king and people triumphant, and keeping your deeds in the image of God, Reverend Alexis, you shone in the world with your chastity. In the same way, the grace of your virtues shines all over those who celebrate with faith. Father, you have shown joy in your memory by Angel and man.
Song 7
Irmos: The ungodly command of the lawless tormentor rose high in flames. Christ spread spiritual dew to the Godly youth, He is blessed and glorified.
You have endured, venerable one, sitting before the gates of your parents, and being greatly unknown, and being raised up by the youth to be scolded, and reviled fiercely, and much insulted by poverty.
Having killed the wisdom of your flesh, in vain your parents, and these unknowable natures, you covered the need, reverend, and the contempt of your inexperienced youths who insult you.
Oh, miracle! How did you remain, always in poverty, in wealth, Alexy, of immeasurable humility? How did you endure scolding and reproaches from your wise youths, who did not know your life?
Theotokos: You were a great servant of the sacrament, the All-Immaculate One: You embodied God, who delivered us from great evils, You magnified, the Pure Blessed One, the One delighted with God.
Song 8
Irmos: Sometimes the fiery furnace in Babylon divided the action, scorching the Chaldeans by God's command, and watering the faithful, singing: Bless all the works of the Lord, the Lord.
Unknown to this parent before, at the time of your departure you reveal this secret, revealing it to the glory of our God, glorious, great and worthy of the glorified.
The Lord, with a great voice, reveals you to all of Rome, a hidden treasure, abundantly rich, lying in poverty, and all the gifts of healing that come to you through faith, enriching.
Princes of mankind, and kings, and priests, descended, blessed, to bury you by the wave of God and, seeing a great vision, marveled at the miracle, O Reverend One, who you did with the Divine power of the Spirit.
Theotokos: Having been corrupted of old by crime, renewing us, O Lover of mankind, incorruptible was incarnate from Thy incorruptible, O All-Immaculate, womb, and delivered all sinful aphids, O Blessed of God.
Song 9
Irmos: The Beginningless Parent, the Son, God and Lord, incarnate from the Virgin, appeared to us, darkened to enlighten, squandered by his fellow-creatures, thus we magnify the All-Sung Mother of God.
You exuded healing, carrying it to the grave, I glorify you, blessed God, the great one: for you saw the light of those who did not see and received the verb before the existence of nemia, all-glorious Alexie.
You were seen, lying before you and carrying you to burial, like the sun, Father, issuing glorious healings of the dawn, driving away dark passions, scorching demons, and enlightening the God-Wise.
I came to bury you, the first Patriarchs, the king, the greatest Christ-loving prince, the elders and youths and the monastic persons, sanctified by your touch by the Divine wave, blessed.
You were delighted, you carried virtues on a chariot, and you rested where the venerables, the council of the apostles and martyrs, the patriarchs and all the righteous, remember us with them, who honor you, Alexie.
Theotokos: We offer a voice to you Gabriel, O All-Immaculate One, Rejoice, saying, unmade; Rejoice, permission of oaths; Rejoice, source of living water, praise to the saints, Ever-Virgin Mother of God.
Svetilen
Oh, a miracle: how in the gates of your parents, for many years, like a certain adamant, you endured, you did not bow to your nature in need, nor to your parents and wife, Alexia, with bitter sobs.
Akathist to St. Alexis, man of God
Listen:
Kontakion 1
The chosen servant of Christ, the man of God named from above, Saint Alexis, we offer praiseful singing to you, who honor your deeds, patience and long-suffering with love, in whose image you pleased God and appeared equal to the angels on earth; But you, as if you have boldness towards the Lord, free us from all troubles with your prayers, and let us call to you:
Ikos 1
You were an earthly angel and a heavenly man, blessed Alexie, from your youth you preserved the purity of your soul and body and you followed Christ with zealous love. Seeking Him, you left all the red of this world and achieved spiritual perfection. For this reason, hear from us this praise due to you:
Rejoice, birth of ancient Rome; Rejoice, permission for childless parents of infertility.
Rejoice, fervent prayers are God-given fruit; Rejoice, from infancy you were chosen from above to please God.
Rejoice, brought up in the passion of God for goodness; Rejoice, you who were faithfully taught the Law of the Lord.
Rejoice, thinking about heavenly things rather than earthly things; Rejoice, you who showed wonderful self-sacrifice.
Rejoice, having preserved the virgin purity of Christ immaculately; Rejoice, betrothed, blooming with beauty, forsaken for Jesus' sake.
Rejoice, wise wanderer, seeking the high Fatherland; Rejoice, God's chosen one, victorious over all the evils of the world, the flesh and the devil.
Rejoice, man of God Alexie, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 2
Seeing the impermanence of the beauties of this world, those involved in corruption, Alexie, the wise God, loved the incorruptible and eternal blessings promised by Christ in the Gospel to His faithful servant; For this reason, you left your parents’ house and all their wealth, but you chose free poverty, so that you may please Christ and be able to sing to Him without restraint: Alleluia.
Ikos 2
You understood well, blessed Alexis, as if living in the world, in marriage and wealth, you have found salvation inconveniently; Having arrived at the wedding celebration, you suddenly turned away from marriage, preferring to please God in virgin purity. We marvel at this and call you in praise:
Rejoice, lover of Christ, uncaught by the deepest love for this world; Rejoice, follower of Jesus, having avoided pleasing the flesh.
Rejoice, you astonished the angels with the height of your feat; Rejoice, you have put to shame the demons by the strength of your will.
Rejoice, thou who has left the city of thy fatherland, that thou mayest find the inheritance of the Highest City; Rejoice, you have flown on a long and sorrowful journey, so that you will be a partaker of the path of salvation.
Rejoice, you who have internalized self-imposed poverty; Rejoice, many times tormented by hunger and thirst.
Rejoice, abiding in day-night prayers; Rejoice, your face is wet with tears of tenderness.
Rejoice, unshakable pillar of patience; Rejoice, strong adamante of faith.
Rejoice, man of God Alexie, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 3
Strengthened by the power of God, you completed a long journey and reached the city of Edes, Alexia, who is worthy of praise, in whom, as one of the poor, you remained in suffering and poverty, rushing to the temple of God and offering fervent prayers with many tears to Christ, the King and God, call: Alleluia.
Ikos 3
You, holy of God, had the sky as a covering and the earth as a bed of repose, but the rags and shabby clothes of your much-moving body, scorched by the heat and frozen by the frost, you did not allow the least to please, lest your flesh prevail over your spirit, flaming with love for the Lord. In such a labor of yours, you alone had the consolation of Christ, who also inspires us to cry out to you:
Rejoice, you who came from the west to the east to seek the Sun of Truth, the Everlasting Light; Rejoice, having found Him in the depths of your God-loving heart.
Rejoice, lamp of the Divine radiance, illuminating the ends of the world; Rejoice, having sanctified Edes with your Christ-following feet.
Rejoice, rule of true faith; Rejoice, image of spiritual poverty.
Rejoice, thou who hast grown in high virtue in thy soul; Rejoice, thou who has preserved the precious treasure of chastity.
Rejoice, good guardian of the Gospel of Christ; Rejoice, diligent fulfiller of the commandments of Jesus.
Rejoice, heavenly living on earth; Rejoice, completely pleasing to God.
Rejoice, man of God Alexie, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 4
You tamed the storm of youthful passions with abstinence, Saint Alexis, and with intense fasting you withered the beauty of your face; In the same way, the imperishable beauty of grace-filled dispassion has risen into your soul, pleasing to Christ, who is more beautiful than the sons of men, to whom in his mortified body you sang a sweet song of praise and thanksgiving: Alleluia.
Ikos 4
Having heard the cleric of the Church of Edessa in a vision, a voice from the icon of the Mother of God, calling you a man of God, worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, whose prayer, like a fragrant censer, rises before the Face of God, and commands you to be brought inside the church from the vestibule, where you dwelt in misery, greatly marveling at such holiness yours, blessed Alexie, and leading you into the Church of the Lord, pleasing you with these titles:
Rejoice, dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, adorned with purity; Rejoice, friend of God's grace, shining with virtues and beauty.
Rejoice, praised by the Mother of God; Rejoice, called Queen of heaven and earth by the Man of God.
Rejoice, you who received a new and mysterious name from the Lady of the world; Rejoice, high in humility, acquisitive.
Rejoice, thou who through poverty hath gained imperishable wealth; Rejoice, having received the honor of the highest title worthily.
Rejoice, auspicious censer of prayers; Rejoice, zealous seeker of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Rejoice, you who prayerfully accompanied your days and nights in the church vestibule; Rejoice, you were honestly brought inside the temple of God by the command of the Mother of God.
Rejoice, man of God Alexie, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 5
You became like a more godly star, O holy Alexis, when, always avoiding the glory of man, you withdrew from Edes to other countries, even though by God’s Providence the ship on which you sailed was brought to your native city of Rome. But you, having recognized the will of the Lord in this place for you to strive, you came to the house of your parents, and, as one from the poor, you settled at its gates, washing your face with tears and crying out to the Lord: Alleluia.
Ikos 5
Seeing you, your God-loving parent, Saint Alexis, strange and poor in a way, merciful for you, and commanded you to build a small hut at the gates of your house, feeding you in it for Christ’s sake, not at all recognizing your son in you; But you, living in poverty in your parents’ house, endured every wandering need and beggarly reproach, striving for us to praise you:
Rejoice, you who have shown great courage; Rejoice, you who have abounded in patience.
Rejoice, thou who art unknown in the house of thy parents; Rejoice, always contemplating their grief over your deprivation.
Rejoice, you who heard your father’s lamentations; Rejoice, you who saw your mother's tears.
Rejoice, having recognized the cry of your betrothed; Rejoice, your heart is so painfully vulnerable.
Rejoice, you who accepted reproaches and reproaches from your parents’ servants kindly; Rejoice, you who silently endured the beatings and beatings from them.
Rejoice, you who constantly begged God for those who offended you; Rejoice, truly self-willed martyr.
Rejoice, man of God Alexie, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 6
You were a preacher of evangelical meekness, Saint Alexis, by the image of your long-suffering life, show everyone that everything is possible for man through the strengthening God, by whose power in weak flesh you accomplished great feats and endured many sufferings for the love of Christ, worthily and righteously singing the seraphic hymn to the Most Holy Trinity : Alleluia.
Ikos 6
You shone in ancient Rome with your extraordinary deeds, O blessed Alexis, and with these you illuminated with grace the entire Church of Christ: who would not be touched, hearing your unnatural patience and much suffering, in the house of your parents, voluntarily accepted, and how, the heir of that house, from You joyfully bore his servants' reproaches and wounds. For this reason, we bring you from our zeal this hymn:
Rejoice, great servant of Christ, living most peacefully in the world; Rejoice, equal-angelic servant of the Lord, who spent your life through much pain.
Rejoice, thou who countest dishonor as glory unto thyself; Rejoice, you who patiently bore the wounds on your body.
Rejoice, you who do not shy away from blowing your cheeks; Rejoice, betraying your lashes to stress.
Rejoice, thou who Christ-like accepts spitting; Rejoice, answering reproaches with silence.
Rejoice, having only found consolation in Christ; Rejoice, you are delighted by the memory of the sufferings of Jesus on the cross.
Rejoice, generous and long-suffering one; Rejoice, good-victorious ascetic.
Rejoice, man of God Alexie, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 7
You, O man of God, had one desire, to please God; In the same way, you imputed all temporary things to your minds and, having become the heir of many riches, you left this behind, being poor and strange, in your parents’ house, unrecognizable and greatly humiliated, always sighing to the Lord and tearfully praying that in the land of eternal bliss you may be worthy to sing to Him with the saints : Alleluia.
Ikos 7
You have made a new and unusual course in your life, Saint Alexis, in the midst of the world, alien to worldly addictions and all kinds of sinful filth; In the same way, you received the perfect gift of knowledge of God in your soul and you were an animated temple of the Trisian Divinity, in which Christ, with the Father and the Spirit, created an abode for Himself, and taught us to call you:
Rejoice, more beautiful than angels and men; Rejoice, thou who hast whitened the robe of the soul of virginity with purity.
Rejoice, thou who has entered into the joy of thy Lord; Rejoice, exalted by voluntary poverty.
Rejoice, for your patience has become comparable to the long-suffering Job; Rejoice, thou who by thy humiliation imitated Lazarus of the Gospel.
Rejoice, thou who through many illnesses obtained health of the soul; Rejoice, having acquired the Kingdom of Christ through countless sufferings.
Rejoice, gracious renewal of ancient Rome; Rejoice, Divine fertilizer to the Church of Christ.
Rejoice, heir of the promises of Jesus; Rejoice, Mystery of the Most Holy Trinity.
Rejoice, man of God Alexie, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 8
You were a wanderer and a stranger in the city of your fatherland, holy, seeking the Most High City, Heavenly Jerusalem; When the time had come for your departure to God, you wrote out the secret of your life on the charter, so that your parents would know it, and you continued unremittingly in the labors of fasting and prayer, preparing for the exodus with a tender song to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 8
Being completely in God, O holy Alexis, the prayer that was on your lips, you gave up your righteous soul in the hand of God, peacefully and serenely, as if you had fallen asleep; Death is truly your repose from suffering and incessant exploits and the transition from worse to better. We, rejoicing, bring you these blessed verbs about such a blessed dormition:
Rejoice, holy one of God, having completed your earthly life holy and righteously; Rejoice, thou who rested in the sleep of death in the fragrance of the holy thing.
Rejoice, angels carried to Abraham's bosom; Rejoice, met with unearthly singing from the holy Celestials.
Rejoice, thou crowned with the crown of immortal life from the Lord; Rejoice, received with glory in the abode of paradise.
Rejoice, let me contemplate the Most Bright Face of the Lord Christ; Rejoice, silently proclaiming the Trisagion hymn to the Most Holy Trinity.
Rejoice, propitiate the Creator of things above and below with your prayers; Rejoice, embrace the whole Christian world with your intercession.
Rejoice, joy of angels and men; Rejoice, faithful intercessor who honors your holy memory.
Rejoice, man of God Alexie, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 9
All people came to trembling, hearing a voice in the cathedral church of their city, during the Divine Liturgy from above the altar speaking and commanding them to look for you, man of God, so that your prayers may be worthy. Moreover, in surprise and horror, they prayerfully cried out to the Lord, that He might reveal to them His chosen one, calling to the Lord wondrous in His saints: Alleluia.
Ikos 9
Human flamboyance does not suffice to praise you, Saint Alexis, who was praised from above by the Divine Voice, by whose notification people found you lying dead on a bed, with a charter on your face, shining with sun-like rays, and a great fragrance emanating from your many-moving body. The king, the saint and all the people rejoiced at your discovery:
Rejoice, bright ray of the Trisolar Light, enlivening the whole world; Rejoice, Lucifer, who has risen to enlighten the Church of Christ with many miracles.
Rejoice, fragrant tree of holiness and purity; Rejoice, treasure of Divine gifts.
Rejoice, thou who by thy parent hath manifested the charter unto thyself; Rejoice, their sorrowful cry was turned into sweetness.
Rejoice, thou who glorified the gray hairs of thy father by thy glorification; Rejoice, you who rewarded your mother’s tears with grace.
Rejoice, your honest betrothed, who has remained faithful to you, spiritually comforting; Rejoice, all the Roman people greatly rejoiced at your gain.
Rejoice, miraculous healing abundantly flowing from your holy relics; Rejoice, having deservedly received posthumous honor in heaven and on earth.
Rejoice, man of God Alexie, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 10
For those who want to be saved, your good life is an example, Saint Alexis, by whom you teach us all to renounce the vanities of the world, and seek the one need that is pleasing to God. Help us, man of God, to imitate you in this, strengthen our weak will, breathe into us spiritual courage, decorate us with virtues and become heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven, so that with you on the land of the living we will sing to our Creator: Alleluia.
Ikos 10
You were a faithful follower of the Heavenly King Christ, O blessed Alexis, whose terrible throne you now stand in heavenly glory, about which we, earthly and earthly, can think less; Instead, we are compelled by zealous love for you, we mentally contemplate you, praying for us in grief before the face of God, and with mortal lips we send up to you the following song:
Rejoice, thou who faithfully honor thee as a quick helper; Rejoice, you who prayerfully call upon you as your zealous intercessor.
Rejoice, O righteous One of the Lord, whose Truth has risen unwaveringly; Rejoice, salt of the earth, who will never again prevail.
Rejoice, thou who glorified God with thy good deeds and astonished men; Rejoice, through your life you have made the angels rejoice and the spirits of darkness have been put to shame.
Rejoice, decoration of the Mountain of the World; Rejoice, protection of the world below.
Rejoice, glory and praise to Rome; Rejoice, Christian exaltation.
Rejoice, you who shone forth in miracles; Rejoice, inexhaustible in mercy.
Rejoice, man of God Alexie, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 11
Having performed the funeral hymn with glory for you, Saint Alexis, the king, the saint and all the Roman people, your parent and your betrothed, who followed your honorable coffin, which was carried splendidly into the cathedral church, from whom you wrought many miracles: blindness to sight, weakness strengthened, sickness to health When I touched your holy relics, everyone who saw it shouted to God: Alleluia.
Ikos 11
Your burial was light and joyful, O man of God, you reclined with a bright face in the tomb and you released a sweet fragrance from your incorruptible body, thereby signifying the unshimmering lightness of your holy soul, into the stench of the fragrance of Christ flowing and filled with the Divine world, from its fullness and into Grant our souls a gift of grace, and with spiritual consolation we cry out to you:
Rejoice, unquenchable light, kindled in prayers to God; Rejoice, golden lamp, anointing the living with the oil of mercy.
Rejoice, dear Alavaster, who flows healing myrrh to the sick; Rejoice, river full of miracles.
Rejoice, teacher of good deeds to those who monk; Rejoice, you who live in the world as images of pleasing God.
Rejoice, pure mirror of righteous life; Rejoice, shelter of kindness in God for those who have placed their hope in you.
Rejoice, strong opponent of invisible enemies; Rejoice, good haste for those who seek spiritual salvation.
Rejoice, mercifully descend from the heavenly heights to the earthly; Rejoice, you will soon fulfill the requests of those who honor you.
Rejoice, man of God Alexie, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 12
Ask us for grace and mercy from Christ, our King and God, O most worthy of praise; We know that your prayer can do much before His Face, and He graciously bows to your prayer. In the same way, we earnestly resort to you and humbly ask: feed us through your intercession into the quiet refuge of Christ and make us worthy to enjoy the imperishable joy of the saints, who ceaselessly cry out the praises of the song of the Triune God: Alleluia.
Ikos 12
Singing the exploits of your long-suffering and wonderful life, man of God, we praise, glorify and please you with zealous love, as our heavenly, powerful representative; But you, holy one, by the grace given to you from above, sinners and dark ones, sanctify, enlighten and instruct us to cry out to you without condemnation:
Rejoice, thou of the never-ending East, bringing forth the dawn; Rejoice, having filled the universe with your miracles.
Rejoice, gloriously work wonders with your relics; Rejoice, create your wonderful likeness.
Rejoice, free doctor for those who are sick; Rejoice, good comforter of those who mourn.
Rejoice, gracious encouragement to those who are discouraged; Rejoice, sudden strengthening of those who are weary.
Rejoice, hasten to help those in need; Rejoice, show your powerful intercession to those who depart from life.
Rejoice, giver of spiritual joy to God-loving souls; Rejoice, for the blessings of the Lord, both temporal and eternal, are our zealous supplicants.
Rejoice, man of God Alexie, prayer book for our souls.
Kontakion 13
Oh, holy and God-glorified man of God Alexy! Woe to you, who prays for us before the Throne of the Lord of Glory, we are sinners, living in the depths, we offer this little song, we pray with all our souls and with all our thoughts: with your prayers ask us from Christ God for forgiveness of sins and, at the end of our lives, acceptance into the blessed abode of the Heavenly One Kingdom, may we sing to Him with you forever: Alleluia.
This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos “Earthly Angel...” and the 1st kontakion “The Chosen Servant of Christ...”.
Prayer
Oh, great servant of Christ, holy man of God Alexis, stand with your soul in Heaven before the Throne of the Lord, and perform various miracles on the earth given to you from above by grace! Look mercifully at the people standing before your holy icon, tenderly praying and asking for your help and intercession. Stretch out your honest hand in prayer to the Lord God and ask Him for forgiveness of our sins, voluntary and involuntary, healing for the afflicted, intercession for the afflicted, consolation for the grieving, quick help for the needy, and for all who honor you, a peaceful and Christian death and a good answer to the terrible Judgment of Christ. To her, saint of God, do not disgrace our hope, which we place in you according to God and the Mother of God, but be our helper and protector for salvation, and, having received grace and mercy from the Lord with your prayers, let us glorify the love of mankind of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit in the Trinity glorified and worshiped God, and your holy intercession, now and ever, and forever and ever. Amen.
Reverend Alexy born in Rome into the family of pious and poverty-loving Euthymian and Aglaida. The couple were childless for a long time and tirelessly prayed to the Lord for the gift of offspring. And the Lord consoled the couple with the birth of their son Alexy. At the age of six, the boy began to study and successfully studied secular sciences, but especially diligently read the Holy Scriptures. As a young man, he began to imitate his parents: he fasted strictly, gave alms, and secretly wore a hair shirt under rich clothes. The desire to leave the world and serve the One God ripened early in him. However, Alexy's parents were going to marry him and, when he reached adulthood, they found him a bride.
After the engagement, being left alone in the evening with his bride, Alexy took the ring off his finger, gave it to her and said: “Keep this, and may the Lord be with us, arranging a new life for us with His grace.” And he himself secretly left home and boarded a ship sailing to Mesopotamia.
Once in the city of Edessa, where the Image of the Lord Not Made by Hands was kept, Alexy sold everything he had, distributed the money to the poor and began to live at the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos on the porch and feed on alms. The reverend ate only bread and water, and distributed the alms he received to the weak and elderly. Every Sunday he received Holy Communion.
Relatives searched everywhere for the missing Alexy, but to no avail. The servants sent by Euthymian to search also visited Edessa, but did not recognize their master in the beggar sitting on the porch. From strict fasting, his body dried up, his beauty disappeared, and his eyesight became weak. The blessed one recognized them and thanked the Lord for receiving alms from his servants.
The inconsolable mother of Saint Alexius shut herself up in her room, incessantly praying for her son. His wife grieved along with her mother-in-law.
The monk lived in Edessa for seventeen years. One day, the sexton of the church where the monk labored had a revelation about him. The Mother of God commanded through Her holy icon: “Bring into My Church the man of God, worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven; his prayer ascends to God like a fragrant censer, and the Holy Spirit rests on him.” The sexton began to look for such a person, but for a long time he could not find him. Then he turned in prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos, asking Her to resolve his perplexity. And again there was a voice from the icon, announcing that the man of God was that beggar who was sitting on the church porch. The sexton found Saint Alexis and brought him into the church. Many learned about the righteous man and began to revere him. The saint, avoiding fame, secretly boarded a ship bound for Cilicia. But the Providence of God judged otherwise: the storm carried the ship far to the west and washed up on the coast of Italy. The blessed one headed to Rome. Unrecognized, he humbly asked his father for permission to settle in some corner of his yard. Euthymian placed Alexy in a specially constructed room at the entrance to the house and ordered him to be fed from his table.
Living in his parents' house, the blessed one continued to fast and spend days and nights in prayer. He humbly endured insults and ridicule from his own father’s servants. Alexy's room was opposite the windows of his bride, and the ascetic suffered greatly hearing her cry. Only immeasurable love for God helped the blessed one to endure this torment. Saint Alexy lived in the house of his parents for seventeen years and was notified by the Lord of the day of his death. Then the saint, taking the charter, described his life, asking forgiveness from his parents and bride.
On the day of the death of Saint Alexis, Pope Innocent (402-417) celebrated the liturgy in the cathedral church in the presence of Emperor Honorius (395-423). During the service, a wonderful Voice was heard from the altar: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (). Everyone present fell to the ground in fear. The voice continued: “Find the man of God departing into eternal life, let him pray for the city.” They began to search all over Rome, but did not find the righteous man. From Thursday to Friday, the Pope, performing an all-night vigil, asked the Lord to indicate a saint of God. After the liturgy, a voice was heard again in the church: “Look for the man of God in the house of Euthymian.” Everyone hurried there, but the saint had already died. His face shone like the face of an Angel, and in his hand was clutched a charter, which he did not let go of, no matter how hard they tried to take it. The body of the blessed one was placed on a bed covered with expensive bedspreads. The pope and the emperor knelt down and turned to the monk as if he were alive, asking him to unclench his hand. And the saint fulfilled their prayer. When the letter was read, the father, mother and bride of the righteous man with tears bowed to his honest remains.
The body of the saint, from which healings began to take place, was placed in the middle of the square. All of Rome gathered here. The Emperor and the Pope themselves carried the saint's body into the church, where it remained for a whole week, and then was placed in a marble tomb. Fragrant myrrh began to flow from the holy relics, providing healing to the sick.
The honorable remains of Saint Alexis, the man of God, were buried in the church of Saint Boniface. In 1216 the relics were found.
The life of Saint Alexis, the man of God, has always been one of the favorites in Rus'.
Iconographic original |
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Cyprus. XVI.St. Alexy. Fresco of the cathedral of the monastery of St. Neophyte of Cyprus. Cyprus. XVI century |
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Byzantium. XI.Repose of St. Alexia. Miniature Minology for February and March. Byzantium. 2nd quarter of the 11th century. State Historical Museum. Moscow. |
Since ancient times, Saint Alexei has been revered. This is a man of God who was not tonsured a monk, but was canonized.
“O Great Saint of Christ, holy man of God Alexei, pray to God for us!” - this may sound like a short prayer that can be read daily to any person about the protection of his home, family, city and state as a whole. You can ask for help and protection in dangerous everyday situations, at sea and on land, in a war zone and just in the morning, for the coming day.
Name
Protection, reflection, prevention - all these words characterize Alexey. This name occupies a special position in Rus'. In the Orthodox calendar, the day of St. Alexis occurs more than once; there are several saints with that name. Orthodox believers especially revere the son of the Romanovs, Tsarevich Alexei. Tsarevich Alexei and the monk are connected by an invisible thread. After all, it was only under him that special services began to be held in churches and churches were built in the name of the saint.
For example, by order of Tsar Mikhail Romanov, a temple named after the saint was built in a village owned by Princess Trubetskoy. This village was called Kopytovo, and later renamed Alekseevskoye. Here the king spent a lot of time hunting and simply relaxing with his family. It was from this place that he went on pilgrimage to Over time, the wooden church fell into disrepair and was dismantled. The throne was moved to the built stone church of the Tikhvin Mother of God, where there is now the Alekseevsky chapel.
Roots
Saint Alexei himself has Roman roots. His parents were pious and had noble origins. The father's name was Euthymian, and the mother's name was Aglaida. The birth of the long-awaited son of a Roman couple occurred in the 5th century. Alexey was brought up in Christian traditions, following the example of his parents, who constantly helped the poor, widows, wanderers, orphans and everyone who needed their help. From a young age, he wanted to serve only one God, however, when he reached the age of majority, he was forced to become engaged to a young noblewoman.
But without living with her, the young groom immediately gave his ring to the bride. “Let the Lord be between us...” said Alexey, making it clear to his wife that she should keep the ring until God renews them with his grace. Having said this, he went to Asia, where he gave away everything he had and took the form of a beggar.
Now Alexey, a holy man, became a simple beggar begging for alms near the temple. He set aside nights for fervent prayer to God. This went on for seventeen years. The monk's food was only water and bread. It is impossible to describe the joy he experienced when accepting alms from his own servants, who were in search of the master’s missing son and, by the providence of God, ended up in these places.
The servants did not recognize the owner in the emaciated beggar asking for alms at the temple. Alexey was known as a man of God and a righteous man among the local population. So that fame would not touch his heart, he decided to leave this place and set off from Edessa, the city where he spent all this time (today it is modern Turkey), wherever his eyes look, boarding the first ship he came across, which was heading to Tarsus (the homeland of the Apostle Paul ).
Providence of God
But by God's providence Saint Alexey did not reach his destination. A strong storm changed the course of the ship, and he ended up back in Rome. Arriving at his home, he was not recognized by his parents, wife, servants... But they gladly accepted the stranger and provided him with a place in their possessions. So the righteous man spent another seventeen years, subjected to all sorts of mockery from the servants, who took away from him the food sent to the pilgrim from the master’s table. It cannot be said that the saint lived these years easily, watching from the sidelines his parents and wife, who were grieving for the missing Alexei...
Death
Feeling the approach of death, Saint Alexei, the man of God, described his life in detail. And at the same time, the people heard the voice of God in St. Peter's Basilica itself, which called to find a man of God capable of praying for Rome. People were at a loss as to how they heard God’s call a second time. This happened in the presence of Emperor Honorius himself. The voice pointed to the house of Mr. Euthymian, where the servants confirmed the presence of a beggar in it, who performs unceasing prayer and humbly endures all humiliation. Arriving at Euthymian’s house, people saw the righteous Alexei, who had died by death, whose face was shining, and in his hands was a scroll with a description of his entire life.
First miracles
The parents and wife wept for a long time at the body of the saint. They were amazed at his righteousness. And the scroll in Alexei’s hands was so clamped that no one could take it. And only after the emperor himself humbly knelt before the body of the righteous man and asked him to open his hands in order to take what was written, the scroll became available for reading.
After the body of the ascetic was transferred to the cathedral square, streams of pilgrims flowed to him, many of whom received miraculous healings. Even the emperor himself carried the remains of the saint. The pilgrim was buried on March thirtieth in the Church of St. Boniface. Now it's St. Alexis Day. It was here that he once married his wife. Thus, Saint Alexei, without taking monastic vows, achieved righteousness and is revered as a great ascetic who received the face of a saint.
Reverence
Until the tenth century, veneration of the saint spread mainly throughout the Orthodox East. Since the tenth century, his name appears in the calendar of Rome. In 1216 the relics of the saint were found. They are placed under the altar of the temple located on the Aventine Hill. Although the church itself, since 986, bore the name of St. Boniface and Alexei. Below is a photo of St. Alexis depicted in the icon. Today the relics of the saint are divided and kept in different parts of the Orthodox world. There are legends about the gift of the head of Alexei to the Greek monastery of Agia Lavra by Emperor Manuel II, about the abduction of the hand of the righteous man from Sofia by a Novgorod merchant, and others. In 2006, a particle of relics, donated by the Italian side, arrived at the St. John the Baptist Monastery.
In Western Europe, the name of the saint quickly gained fame thanks to the numerous missionaries and preachers who arrived here from the East. The first European work was a poem written in the Languedoan dialect of French, authored by Thibault Champagne.
Glorification of the image
In Russia, the image of the saint, his life and asceticism inspired artists and writers to create various kinds of works. His veneration came from Byzantium. In the Middle Ages, the book “Holy Tales,” the author of which was Jacob of Varaginsky, became very popular. This work is popularly known as “The Golden Legend”. These legends were known throughout Europe. The book described two hundred lives of saints, among whom was the righteous Saint Alexei. The works were copied in monasteries into different languages: from Catalan, German to Polish.
The Golden Legend was criticized more than once during the Reformation, but at the same time it was second only to the Bible in popularity. Until the seventeenth century, many icons, paintings, engravings, frescoes, oratorios, operas and other works of art were created based on tales from the Golden Legend. Among them, Saint Alexei occupies a significant place. In Rus' at this very time, during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, many songs, poems and tales dedicated to the righteous man were composed.
USSR times
But in subsequent years the name Alexey was glorified. For example, during the times of the Soviet Union there were a sufficient number of heroes named Alexei. The famous song “Alyosha” was even written, the authors of which were Eduard Kolmanovsky. Alyosha was a collective image, a national hero not only for Russians, but also for Bulgarians. The song “Alyosha” became the anthem of the city of Plovdiv, and private Alexey Skurlatov became the prototype for the eleven-meter monument. He was a participant in the 1944 military operation in Bulgaria, an intelligence officer and a telephone line operator between Sofia and Plovdiv.
Oblivion
Unfortunately, after certain events in 1989, the song “Alyosha” stopped playing every day on the radio station in the city of Plovdiv. The local community demanded that the monument be demolished as a sign of “Soviet occupation.” However, by decision of the Bulgarian Supreme Court, the monument was not touched and was left as a symbol of the Second World War. The name Alyosha is still very popular among the Slavic population, especially in Russia and Bulgaria. And in the famous city of Kharkov, an entire district is named after the saint - Alekseevka. There is also a source of the same name.
Iconography and church services
Regarding iconography, we can say that the first icon of St. Alexis dates back to the eighth century. He was depicted in the frescoes of the Roman Church of Saints Boniface and Alexios on the Aventine Hill. Russian icon painting is characterized by some similarities in the images of St. John the Baptist and the righteous Alexei. In Europe, icon painting mainly depicts scenes from the life of a pilgrim, according to legends described in various sources. Most often, the Pope is depicted kneeling before the deceased saint and servants pouring dirty water on the beggar Alexei.
At church services, the Orthodox Saint Alexei is mentioned in the studio edition of the Menaion and during the reading of a special canon compiled by Joseph the Songwriter. Unlike the Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church excluded the celebration of the saint from the new calendar.
This happened during the reform movement. Now this day is not obligatory for celebration, but has become memorable and solemn for monasteries and orders bearing the name of the righteous man. However, Saint Alexey lived his life this way not for glorifying himself, but for the opportunity to unite with his Heavenly Father, the creator of everything visible and invisible, the giver of life and light, love and goodness.
Prayerful sighs
Throughout the Christian world, sighs to God and requests addressed to the saint are heard. In Orthodoxy, this is a special righteous person to whom believers turn daily. There are many known cases of healing and other miracles that God shows in relation to people, in whose hearts and lips there is a prayer to Saint Alexei, requests for help addressed to the righteous man, who has acquired great grace from God through his ascetic life.
This prayer is described in many Orthodox prayer books and other sources. They can be purchased in church shops, Orthodox churches, and can be found on electronic resources on the Internet. However, even if you do not have it at hand, you can always, in the depths of your soul, in heartfelt prayer, turn to the saint for help. Say in your own words everything that hurts, turn to him as a friend and a living primate before the Almighty. Be sure: your request will definitely be heard, and if it does not contradict God’s law, if it is not aimed at harming others or yourself, God will definitely answer St. Alexei’s request for your need.
[Greek ̓Αλέξιος ὁ ἄνθρωπος τοῦ Θεοῦ] († c. 411), venerable (comm. March 17, w. July 17, sire. November 3). The legend of Alexy the man of God, one of the most revered saints in the Orthodox world, began to take shape in the Christian East - in Syria, and then became widespread in the medieval European hagiographic tradition. The Syrian version of the life, now recognized as the most ancient, tells how an unnamed young man from a noble and wealthy Roman family left his bride before the wedding (without seeing her), fled from home and boarded a ship that took him to Syrian Seleucia.
Saint Alexy is a man of God. Fresco of the cathedral of the monastery of St. Neophyte of Cyprus, 16th century. Cyprus
From there he went to Edessa, the largest city in Northern Mesopotamia. There the young man gave away all his money, put on sackcloth and settled on the porch of the temple. The father's servants who arrived in the city, sent by him to search for his son to all corners of the world, did not recognize the young man as a wretched beggar. After spending 17 years in prayer and fasting, A. ch. B. died in a homeless shelter and was buried in a common grave. Soon after this, the sexton of the church where the saint labored told the bishop the story of the life of the “man of God,” which he had told him before his death. The bishop ordered the relics of such a great saint to be reburied with honor, but his body miraculously disappeared from the grave, where only a pitiful funeral sackcloth was found. Since Ravbula (412-435) is named Bishop of Edessa, it can be assumed that the life was written, probably on the basis of oral tradition, in the 2nd half. V - beginning VI century
Earlier than the 9th century. The Syrian legend became famous in Constantinople (possibly due to the resettlement of Syrian Akimite monks there), where an early Greek version of the life appeared. It was this that the Monk Joseph the Songwriter († 886) probably used when compiling a canon for the saint, in which his name, Alexy, was first mentioned. According to this version, the saint, trying to hide from the fame that had spread in Edessa about his righteous life, left the city. Arriving in Laodicea, he boarded a ship bound for Tarsus, but on the way he was caught in a storm and ended up in Rome. Realizing that this was a sign of God, he asked for shelter in the house of his parents (their names are given: Euthymian and Aglaida), but did not reveal himself to them. For 17 years, A. ch. B. labored under the guise of a beggar, being in constant fasting and prayer, enduring bullying from servants and hearing the sobs of his mother and bride (with whom, according to this version, he managed to get married before his flight). Feeling the approach of death, the saint outlined in detail in a letter everything that happened to him. At this time, in the church, where a service was going on in the presence of “the archbishop and both emperors” and there were many people, a voice was heard from the altar: “Look for the man of God! Let him pray for the city.” After a two-day search, the same voice pointed to Euthymian’s house, where the body of A. ch. B. was found. After reading the biography he left behind, the relatives indulged in inconsolable sobs. By imperial order, the venerable relics were transferred to the temple for veneration, and miraculous healings began throughout the city. According to one hypothesis, by Rome, Byzantine hagiographers could mean “New Rome” - Constantinople.
Based on the early Syriac and Greek hagiographies, a 2nd Syriac version was created (probably around the 10th century), in which the mechanical combination of the Edessa legend with the Syriac translation of the Byzantine hagiography led to the “double death” of the saint: first in Edessa, then in Rome , in explanation of which a miracle was pointed out with an empty grave (unknown in the Constantinople tradition). In the 1st Arab. (karshuni) version an attempt is made to reconcile both traditions by removing or smoothing out noticeable contradictions, while the 2nd Arab. the edition goes back exclusively to the Constantinople version and completely ignores the original Edessa. In the 10th century Greek appeared. adaptation of the life in the collection of Simeon Metaphrastus. In addition, several Greek versions are known, as well as a number of Latin editions of the life, in which, in addition to the names of A. ch. B. and his parents, the names of the saint’s bride (Adriatic), the archbishop (Pope Innocent I) and the emperors (Arcadia and Honorius) are named.
In the West, the veneration of A. ch. B. is not attested in ancient hagiographical and liturgical monuments, but undoubtedly already existed by the 10th century. Its wide spread is associated with the arrival in Rome in 977 of Metropolitan, who was expelled from his see. Sergius of Damascus. Having received from the pope the Church of St. Boniface on the Aventine Hill (where, according to one version of his life, A. Ch. B. was married on the eve of his flight from home), Metropolitan. Sergius founded a monastery there for the Greeks. and lat. monks, mentioned in sources since 987 under the name of Saints Bonifatius and A. Ch. B. (Nerini F. De templo et coenobio sanctorum Bonifacii et Alexii historica monumenta. R., 1752. P. 378, 381). In 1216, the discovery of the relics of A. Ch. B. was announced here and they were solemnly transferred to the upper church, which led to a dispute with the canons of the Cathedral of St. Peter, where, according to one version of his life, the saint was buried.
In medieval Rome, pilgrims were shown the “chambers of Euthymian,” as reported in the “Note on Rome” by an unknown Russian participant. delegation at the Ferraro-Florence Council (SKKDR. Issue 2. Part 2. P. 150) (the building has not survived). In Greek The monastery of Agia Lavra in Kalavryta (Peloponnese) contains the head of A. ch. B., according to legend, donated to this monastery by the imp. Manuel II Palaiologos in 1414; A. ch. B. was revered here as a protector against epidemics. In 1773, the Albanians plundered the monastery and sold St. the head to Larisa, where, after several years, the abbot of the Lavra, Anfim, found her and returned her to the monastery (ΘΗΕ. Τ. 2. Στλ. 132). In Rus', in the Novgorod Cathedral of St. Sophia, there was the hand of A. ch. B., stolen from Rome by a Novgorod merchant, according to a legend of the 17th century. In the inventory of the St. Sophia Cathedral of 1749, there is a silver gilded ark with the relics of A. ch. B., located in front of the main iconostasis of the cathedral, on the left side of the royal doors (Inventory of the property of the Novgorod St. Sophia Cathedral of the 18th - early 19th centuries. Novgorod, 1993. Vol. 2. pp. 36-37). Currently time the relics of A. ch. B. are not in the St. Sophia Cathedral.
The study of the hagiographic tradition associated with A. ch. B. began with the first scientific publication of lat. Lives of the Bollandists in ActaSS (Iul. T. 4. 1725. P. 238-270). Then it was noticed that in the lat. Arabic translation version (Ibid. P. 262) the part with the return to Rome is missing, and the saint is not named by name, but Mar Risha (Sir. - Mr. Prince). G. Massman and D.V. Dashkov proceeded from the fact that the legend about A. Ch. B. is of Constantinople origin and its source is the canon of St. Joseph the Songwriter. The now recognized opinion about the primacy of the ancient Syrian version of the life was first expressed in 1889 by G. Pari and A. Amiot. As H. Drivers later showed, the image of the nameless “man of God” is highly characteristic of the sir. understanding of holiness.
A special problem is the relation of the Byzantine legend about A. Ch. B. to the legend about St. John Kushchnik. The main events of the legend about this saint, who lived in K-pol in the 1st half. V century, coincide with the life of A. ch. B. - escape on the wedding day, return and life in his home unrecognized. A number of scientists consider these saints to be one and the same person, however, the life of A. Ch. B. does not coincide in everything with the history of St. John.
Repose of St. Alexia. Miniature Minology for February and March, 2nd quarter of the 11th century. Byzantium
There are many known translations of the life of A. ch. B., dating back either to the Latin version (German, Old French, Provençal, Old Norse), or to the Greek version of Metaphrast (ancient Georgian and ancient Armenian). The “songs” of A. ch. B., which probably appeared in the 11th century, are closely connected with the Western hagiographic tradition. in Normandy and passed from there to England and Germany (Conrad's poem from Würzburg, etc.). In the West, A. Ch. B. was considered the heavenly patron of the brotherhood of Alexians (Zellites), who were involved in caring for the poor and their burial (see also Lollards).
The oldest Slavic lengthy version of the life (RNB. F. n. I. 46, 12th century; BAN 34.3.27, mid-17th century), dating back to the Greek edition, which contains elements of both Byzantine and Latin traditions (BHG , N 51), was translated by the end of the 11th century. and soon became widespread in Rus'. The 2nd Slavic edition (RGB. Trinity No. 9, XIV-XV centuries) was made using a more extensive Greek version. A short life of A. Part B. was translated in the 12th century. as part of the Prologue of Constantine of Mokisia, translated for the second time into the 1st half. XIV century (apparently by the Serbs on Mount Athos) as part of the Stishnoy Prologue. In the 16th century the oldest Slavic extensive life, corrected according to Greek texts (BHG, N 51 and 52), as well as a short life, are included under March 17 in the VMC. A new translation of the life from Greek, made in 1659 by Arseny the Greek, was published in the Anthologion (1660) and Prologue (from 1660).
In the “Lives of the Saints” of St. Demetrius of Rostov, the narrative of A. Ch. B., based on the VMC, is supplemented by translations by Arseny the Greek, Peter Skarga (Skarga P. Żywoty świętych. Kraków, 1610. T. 17. S. 629-631) , texts from ActaSS and L. Suria were also used (Surius. Historiae, seu Vitae sanctorum. Augustae Taurinorum, 18775. T. 7. P. 276-280). The “Lives of the Saints” of St. Demetrius tells that during the time of the emperors Arcadius and Honorius (beginning of the 5th century), a son, Alexius, was born to the wealthy Roman patrician Euthymian and his wife Aglaida. On the wedding night, he left his bride and ran away from home. Having reached Edessa, A. ch. B. settled on the porch of the Church of the Virgin Mary, where he spent 17 years. One day, a miraculous voice emanating from the image of the Mother of God pointed to A. ch. B. to the sexton of the church where the saint labored, commanding that “a man of God, worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven,” be brought into the temple. Wanting to avoid honors, the monk set sail and ended up in Rome. After spending 17 years in his home under the guise of a beggar, A. ch. B. died, leaving a description of his life. The honorable relics of A. Ch. B., by order of the emperor, were transferred for veneration to the church of St. Peter, and miraculous healings began from them. On the 7th day, the saint’s body was placed in a precious shrine, which was immediately filled with healing myrrh. There are also south-west Russians. translations and adaptations of the life of A. ch. B. (the oldest list - NLR. Q.I.391, late 15th century), dating back to lat. to the originals. In the XVII-XVIII centuries. translations of the life of A. ch. B. into Ukrainian appeared, made on the basis of Skarga’s publication.
As in Europe, in Rus' A. Ch. B. was the hero of numerous spiritual poems. The veneration of the saint was especially noticeable during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, whose heavenly patron was A. ch. B. In 1662, the publication of the 4th edition was timed to coincide with the saint’s memory day. Prologue, in the afterword to which Alexei Mikhailovich was spoken of as an imitator of A. ch. B. During the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, the service of A. ch. B. was written and published (1671-1674) (Zernova A. S. Books of the Kirillov press, published in Moscow in the XVI-XVII centuries. M., 1958. No. 339).
Despite the widespread veneration of A. ch. B. in Rus', not many churches are known that were consecrated in his honor. In Moscow approx. 1358 Moscow was founded in the name of Alexy, the man of God, women. the monastery, which was originally located on Ostozhenka, was transferred in 1547 “to Chertolye” (where the Cathedral of Christ the Savior is now located), in 1837 - to Krasnoe Selo (the building of the church in the name of A. Ch. B. 1853-1858. preserved, returned to believers in the spring of 2000). In 1642, in the village near Moscow. Alekseevsky (now within Moscow, next to the VDNKh and Alekseevskaya metro stations) a temple was erected in the name of A. Ch. B.; There, by order of Alexei Mikhailovich, a travel palace was built, in which the tsar stopped on his way to a pilgrimage to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. In 1682, next to the traveling palace, a temple was erected in the name of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God; subsequently, the dilapidated Alekseevskaya Church was dismantled, its altar was moved to the Tikhvin Church (1824), which has survived to this day; it contains the revered image of A. Ch. B. (late XIX - early XX centuries). In 1855, on the 2nd tier of the bell tower of the Moscow Passion Monastery, a church was consecrated in the name of A. Ch. B. Currently, in several Moscow churches there are chapels in the name of A. Ch. B. In Novgorod, the chapel of the Great Martyr Catherine and A. is known. part B. at the Church of the Assumption on Torg (1399) and the Alekseevsky Church behind the ramparts of the Okolny town near the Lyudin (Goncharny) end in Tonaya Sloboda, mentioned in chronicles from 1340 (NPL. P. 351, 384, 460); in Pskov - a temple in the name of A. Ch. B. in the Middle City (built before 1697); in Tver - the gate temple of Zheltikov in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God of the monastery (1609); in Vologda - the gate temple of the Gorny Assumption Convent (no later than the beginning of the 18th century); in Suzdal - a chapel of the Peter and Paul Church near the Intercession Monastery (see Suzdal Monastery in honor of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos), built at the expense of the disgraced queen Evdokia Lopukhina. In the Kursk diocese there is Alexia, a man of God, a convent.
