Lives of the Saints of Rus’ A Legacy of Holiness

A Legacy of Holiness - Volume 1

As a beautiful fruit of the sowing of Thy salvation, the land of Rus’ offers to Thee, O Lord, all the saints that have shone in it. By their prayers keep the Church and our land in deep peace, through the Mother of God, O Most Merciful One. – Troparion for the Sunday of All Saints of Rus’

Royal princes and fools for Christ. Holy hierarchs and secluded hermits. Missionaries and martyrs. The choir of saints of Holy Rus’ represents the fruit of the Holy Spirit brought forth over a millennium of Christian life, even before the 10th century conversion of the Great-Prince Vladimir of Kiev. This inheritance has enriched and edified not only the saints’ own kinsmen, but the whole world through the zealous missionary efforts of the Russian Church in Siberia, North America, Japan, and beyond.

This first volume contains the lives of a multitude of the saints of Rus’ by their days of commemoration covering the months of January to June, according to the Church calendar. Also included is an alphabetized index of saints, maps, an historical timeline, and fifty illustrations.

This two-volume work was compiled to strengthen the Orthodox faithful, whether in exile or suffering under Communist persecution. We now offer this English translation for the first time as a furtherance of that mission to inspire and exhort all the faithful of the Orthodox Church to preserve the memory of these spiritual beacons. 

A Legacy of Holiness - Volume 2

“Rejoice, O faithful realm of Rus’! Rejoice, O right-believing Prince Vladimir, most rich! Rejoice, O chosen Olga! For ye were our first mediators before the master of all, the initiators of Orthodoxy, and guides to the True Faith! Rejoice, every place and land and city nurtured by the citizens of the kingdom of heaven! These saints have been shown to be beacons for our souls! With the radiance of miracles, and by deeds and signs, they have shone forth mystically upon all the ends of the earth. And they now entreat Christ for the salvation of our souls.” – Doxasticon to All the Saints of Rus’

Royal princes and fools for Christ. Holy hierarchs and secluded hermits. Missionaries and martyrs. The choir of saints of Holy Rus’ represents the fruit of the Holy Spirit brought forth over a millennium of Christian life, even before the 10th century conversion of the Great-Prince Vladimir of Kiev. This inheritance has enriched and edified not only the saints’ own kinsmen, but the whole world through the zealous missionary efforts of the Russian Church in Siberia, North America, Japan, and beyond.

This daily synaxarion organizes the lives of a multitude of Russian saints by their days of commemoration according to the Church calendar, with those commemorated from July to December in this second volume. Also included is an alphabetized index of saints, maps of Rus’ and medieval Russia, and an historical timeline.

This two-volume work was compiled to strengthen the Orthodox faithful, whether in exile or suffering under Communist persecution. We now offer this English translation for the first time as a furtherance of that mission to inspire and exhort all the faithful of the Orthodox Church to preserve the memory of these spiritual beacons.