Peter of Moscow, the Metropolitan of Kiev and All Russia, wonderworker, holy hierarch

Dates of commemoration

Jan 03
(Church calendar - Dec 21) Day of repose in 1326
Jun 25

(Church calendar - Jun 12) Synaxis of Saints of Galicia (movable feast on the 3rd Sunday of Pentecost)

Jul 28
(Church calendar - Jul 15) Synaxis of All Saints of Kiev
Sep 03

(Church calendar - Aug 21) Synaxis of all saints of Moscow (movable feast on the Sunday before August 26th)

Sep 06
(Church calendar - Aug 24) Translation of the relics in 1479
Oct 18
(Church calendar - Oct 5) Synaxis of holy hierarchs of Moscow
Oct 23
(Church calendar - Oct 10) Synaxis of Saints of Volhynia

Life

Peter was born in Halych-Volynia of pious parents, Theodore and Eupraxia. At the age of twelve, Peter entered a monastery. He successfully studied the book sciences of those times and eagerly fulfilled his monastic obedience. Because of his virtuous and ascetic life, the igumen of the monastery had St Peter [[ordination}ordained]] as a hieromonk. After years of ascetic labors at the monastery, the Hieromonk Peter, with the blessing of the igumen, left the monastery in search of a solitary place.

He founded a monastery on the Rata River (Western Bug's tributary) and began to pursue asceticism in silence. Afterwards, at the place of his ascetic exploits, a monastery was formed, called the Novodvorsk. A church dedicated to the Savior was built for the monks who came to him. Chosen as igumen, St Peter guided his spiritual children, never becoming angry with a guilty monk. In 1308 King George of Galicia nominated him, and the patriarch of Constantinople appointed him, to the vacant see of Kiev and all Rus.

Mikhail Yaroslavich, Grand Prince of Vladimir and Tver, wanted to advance his own candidate for this position. Peter's nomination caused prolonged animosity between Mikhail and Peter, to the point that the latter had to ask for protection from the Muscovite princes.

Peter's alliance with Moscow helped assert his own authority and contributed to the rise of the House of Moscow. Peter transferred his metropolitan's duties from Vladimir to Moscow, where he received property and estates. The move strengthened the political position of Moscow and established it as the spiritual capital of a defragmentated Russia.

After Peter's move to Moscow, the Cathedral of the Dormition and several other stone churches were built by Ivan Kalita in the Moscow Kremlin. The foundation of the Vysokopetrovsky Monastery in Moscow is ascribed to St Peter. He also authored a few sermons and epistles.

After his canonization by Metropolitan Alexis, his veneration was propagated all over Moscovy. Accordingly, many churches were dedicated to Peter the Metropolitan in Moscow and other cities of Russia. The Russian Chronicles mention him frequently, and no significant state undertaking was initiated without prayers at the grave of St Peter. The relics of St Peter were transferred in 1472 and 1479. 

Source:
https://orthodoxwiki.org/Peter_of_Moscow

Holy relic type

unless specified otherwise below, "holy relic" means a fragment of a bone of the saint

Holy relic

Location of the holy relic in the Cathedral:

Relics cabinet in the Altar sacristy, reliquary #13

Icon

Troparion

Тропарь святителя Петра, глас 4
Яже прежде безплодная, земле,/ ныне веселися:/ се бо Христос светильника в тебе показа,/ яве сияюща в мире/ и исцелевающа недуги и болезни наша./ Сего ради ликуй и веселися со дерзновением:// святитель бо есть Вышняго сия соделоваяй.

Тропарь святителя Петра, глас 8
Ликуй светло, благославнейший граде Москва,/ имеяй в себе архиерея Петра, яко зарю солнца,/ всю Россию чудодеянии озаряюща,/ той бо немощи врачует/ и недуги, яко тьму, прогонит от вопиющих ему:/ радуйся, иерарше Бога Вышняго,// тобою сия пастве твоей соделовающаго.

Ин тропарь святителя Петра, глас 4
Благоверно пожив в мире,/ житием чистым просветився,/ учением святительства приим паству,/ апостолом наследниче./ Тем прием дар чудес от Бога, отче Петре,/ моли Христа Бога/ да спасет души наша.

Тропарь святителя Петра, глас 4
Наста днесь всечестный праздник/ пренесения честных мощей твоих, святителю Петре,/ веселя изрядно твое стадо,/ и верное отечество, и люди,/ о нихже не оскудевай, моляся Христу Богу,/ еже от Него дарованней ти пастве сохранитися от враг ненаветованней// и спастися душам нашим.

Kontakion

Кондак святителя Петра, глас 8
Взбранному и дивному нашея земли чудотворцу,/ днесь любовию тебе притекаем, песнь, богоносе, плетуще,/ яко имея дерзновение ко Господу,/ многообразных избави нас обстояний, да зовем ти:// радуйся, утверждение граду нашему.

Ин кондак святителя Петра, глас 4
Явися днесь пресветлая память твоя, святителю преблаженне Петре,/ в мире светло сияющи/ и являющи всем Божественное сияние.

Кондак святителя Петра, глас 8
Яко врача преизрядна и источника чудесем обильна,/ днесь сошедшеся любовию, духовная твоя чада,/ в пренесение честных мощей твоих,/ архиерею Петре, молим тя:/ моли Христа Бога даровати честным твоим пренесением/ верному воинству нашему на враги победительная,/ да твоими к Богу молитвами находящих зол избавльшеся,/ радостною душею и веселием сердца/ благодарная ти воспоем, глаголюще:// радуйся, отче Петре, архиереев и всея Российския земли удобрение.

Address of our Cathedral

  • 4001 17th St. N.W.,
  • Washington, D.C., 20011

Phone  (202) 726-3000

Email        webmaster@stjohndc.org

 

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