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Commemorated on June 20
Holy Nobleborn
Prince Gleb of Vladimir, named Georgii in holy Baptism, was a younger son
of nobleborn prince Saint Andrei Bogoliubsky (Comm. 4 July). Under the
influence of his pious parents he grew up deeply believing and from twelve
years of age he led a solitary spiritual life. The parents did not hinder their
son and even assisted him in spiritual growth. The prince especially loved the
reading of holy books, he esteemed the clergy and he was charitable to all.
Despite his young age, he chose for himself the exploit of strict fasting and
prayerful vigilance. Nobleborn prince Gleb died in the year 1174, at age
nineteen.
His undecayed relics
were preserved and glorified by miracles. In the year 1238, during the time of
the incursion of Batu upon the Russian Land, the Tatars burned the cathedral at
Vladimir. In this conflagration perished Bishop Mitrophan, Great-princess Agathia
– spouse of Great-prince Georgii Vsevolodovich (+ 1238), and many an
inhabitant of the city of Vladimir, locked in the cathedral church. The fire
however did not even touch the tomb of Saint Gleb. Years later in July 1410,
Tatars again descended upon Vladimir. In their plundering of the city, they
began to sack the cathedral church treasury, having murdered the door-keeper
Patrikii. And supposing that within the saint's tomb was hidden away treasure,
they set about to break it open. But just as the Tatars touched the stone crypt
of Saint Gleb, flames shot forth from it, and the Tatars in terror quit the
city.
Through the prayers
of the holy prince the city was saved from an incursion of Polish-Lithuanian
plunderers in 1613.
The celebration of
Saint Gleb was established in the year 1702, and then also a service was
written to him, and somewhat later – a vita (life). His relics rest in the
Uspensky cathedral in Vladimir. In the year 1774 the south chapel of the
cathedral was dedicated in honour of his name. Nobleborn prince Gleb is revered
as an especial patron and defender of the city of Vladimir.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
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