Sainted Michael, First Metropolitan of Kiev and All Rus'
Commemorated on June 15 and September 30
Sainted Michael, the first Metropolitan
of Kiev, according to the Joakimov chronicle was a Syrian by birth, but
according to the account of other chronicles – he was a Bulgarian or Serb. In
the year 989 he arrived at Korsun together with other clergy for holy
Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir (Comm. 15 July), not long after
Vladimir's acceptance of Baptism (988). To the lot of the first metropolitan of
the Russian Church felt a difficult, but graced service. He zealously made the
rounds of the newly-enlightened Russian Land, preaching the Holy Gospel,
baptising and teaching the newly-illumined people, founding the first churches
and religious schools. In Rostov he established the first wooden church in
honour of the Uspenie-Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God and installed
there as bishop Theodore the Greek. Saint Michael was a wise and gentle, but
also strict hierarch. The Russian Church has preserved the memory of the meritorious
deeds of the saint: in the synodikon-lists of the Novgorod and Kiev Sophia
cathedrals he is rightfully called the initiator.
Saint Michael died in the year 992
and was buried in the Desyatin-Tithe church of the Most Holy Mother of God in
Kiev. In about the year 1103, under the hegumen Saint Theoktist (afterwards
Bishop of Chernigov, Comm. 5 August), his relics were transferred to the
Antoniev Cave, and on 1 October 1730 into the Pechersk Great Church (Uspenie
temple). In connection with this his memory was established under 30 September,
and also 15 July – the day of his repose. Earlier, his memory was noted also
under 2 September, together with the Monks Antonii and Theodosii of Pechersk.
Evidence for this is contained in the service to him: in the 2nd verse of the
"Praises" about Saint Michael it speaks thus: "The first
passages of the new year having begun, we do offer unto thee first songs, O
blessed one, for having been the first beginning of the hierarchy in the
Russian land".
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
