Holy Right-believing Prince Dimitry Donskoy (+1389)
The holy right-believing Dimitry Donskoy (+1389) was born in 1350. The holy Metropolitan Alexis took on the care of the boy, who was orphaned early, and brought up the heir to the throne in the fear of God. Dimitry received the title of Grand Prince in 1362, and from then on laboured tirelessly to unite the Russian lands and free the country from the Tatar yoke. The saint took no important decision of state without the blessing of the Church. According to the chroniclers, he lived an angelic life. He kept the fast days in holiness and received the Holy Mysteries every Sunday.
The blessed Dimitry fought many wars with enemies within and without, but the most important of them was the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380, where the Russian army faced the Tatar horde led by Mamai.
Before the battle the Venerable Sergius of Radonezh (commemorated 5 July and 25 September) blessed the holy prince and sent two monks with him, Alexander Peresvet and Andrew Oslyabya.
The valiant warrior of Christ addressed the army drawn up for battle thus: “My fathers and brothers! Fight for the name of the Lord, for the holy churches and the faith of Christ. Think of nothing earthly. And then Christ our God, the Saviour of our souls, will crown us with the crown of victory.” He prayed fervently before the image of the Saviour not made by hands depicted on the banner. He took off his royal armour and rushed into battle like a common soldier.
A fierce battle broke out. In the sky the host of angels could clearly be seen, led by the Archangel Michael, and the company of martyrs too, among them the holy warriors George the Victory-bearer, Demetrius of Thessalonica, Boris and Gleb. They showered fiery arrows on the enemy; then a cloud of light stood over the Russian army, and from it shining crowns came down on the heads of the Orthodox warriors.
The Tatars suffered a shameful defeat, which shook the foundations of their rule over Russia. After the battle Dimitry Donskoy was found covered with wounds and barely alive, but the news of the victory restored the strength of life to the dying man.
The Venerable Sergius of Radonezh beheld in spirit the course of the Battle of Kulikovo, and the name of every fallen warrior was revealed to him by God. A special day was established for their commemoration, Demetrius Saturday, which later became a general day for commemorating departed forebears.
