Holy Right-believing Princes and Martyrs Boris and Gleb, in Holy Baptism Romanus and David (+1015)
The holy martyrs, the right-believing Princes Boris and Gleb (in holy baptism Romanus and David), were the sons of Prince Vladimir, Equal to the Apostles (commemorated 15 July). From their youth they were distinguished by piety. In his own lifetime Vladimir divided his lands among his sons: Boris received the principality of Rostov, and Gleb that of Murom. The brothers laboured tirelessly to spread the Christian faith.
In 1015, after the blessed end of Saint Vladimir, the grand principality was seized by his adopted son Svyatopolk, who has gone down in Russian history under the name of “the Accursed”. He decided to kill the holy brothers. At that time Saint Boris, returning from a battle against the invading Pechenegs, was encamped with his retinue by the river Alta. Svyatopolk sent envoys to Boris, told him of their father’s death and called him to mutual love, while at the same time he hired murderers to remove him from his path. On the night of 24 July the evil-doers crept up to the holy prince’s tent, but they heard the singing of psalms from inside and decided to wait until Boris lay down to sleep.
The murderers fell upon the saint and, having wounded him with swords, took him to Svyatopolk. When the latter learned that his brother was still alive, he sent men to kill him. The holy prince’s body was secretly carried to Vyshgorod, fifteen versts from Kiev, and buried in the church of Saint Basil.
After Boris’s murder Svyatopolk sent swift messengers to Gleb, who was then near Smolensk, and summoned him to their father, supposedly gravely ill. Gleb set off at once to receive his parent’s last blessing. On the way the murderers overtook the blessed one and cut short his life with swords; his body they threw down right there, on the bank of the river Smyadyn, and covered it with brushwood. The place where the holy remains of the Lord’s chosen one lay was revealed by a heavenly sign: sometimes a pillar of light stood over it, and sometimes passers-by and shepherds heard the sweet singing of angels. The people of Smolensk paid attention to this, found Gleb’s body, and translated it with honour to their city.
Yaroslav translated Gleb’s holy remains to Vyshgorod and buried them beside Boris, in the church of Saint Basil. Later Yaroslav’s son Izyaslav built a new church dedicated to the holy princes, and on 2 May 1072 translated their incorrupt relics there (see the reading for 2 May).
