Көне Ресейдің қасиетті Борис және Глебтері

Russian saints

Boris and Gleb , respective Christian names Roman and David , were the first saints canonized in Kievan Rus' after its Christianization. Their feast day is observed on July 24 (August 6).

According to the two 11th century Lives of Boris and Gleb, ascribed to Nestor the Chronicler and Jacob the Monk, they were younger children of Vladimir the Great, who favored them over his other children. The Primary Chronicle claims that their mother was a Bulgarian woman. Most modern scholars, however, argue that Boris and Gleb had different mothers and were of different ages. Boris, the elder, who was already married and ruled the town of Rostov, was probably regarded as heir apparent to the Kievan throne. Gleb, who was still a minor, ruled the easternmost town of Murom. Both brothers were murdered during the internecine wars of 1015–1019. The Primary Chronicle blames Sviatopolk the Accursed for plotting their assassinations. Boris learns of his father's death upon his return with the Rus' army to Alta. Informed of Sviatopolk's accession to the throne and urged to replace him, Boris replies: "Be it not for me to raise my hand against my elder brother. Now that my father has passed away, let him take the place of my father in my heart." The Life contains many picturesque details of Boris and Gleb's last hours, such as their sister's warning about the murderous plans of Sviatopolk. The narrative is a masterpiece of hagiography that weaves together numerous literary traditions. The factual circumstances of Boris and Gleb's lives and deaths cannot, however, be extrapolated from their hagiography. Perhaps the crucial evidence comes from several unbiased foreign sources, which mention that Boris succeeded his father in Kiev and was not lurking in Rostov as the Russian Primary Chronicle seems to imply. The Norse Eymund's saga relates a tale of the Varangian warriors who were hired by Yaroslav I the Wise to kill his brother Burizleif. Some historians trust the saga more than sources from Rus', claiming that it was Yaroslav and not Sviatopolk who was interested in removing his political rivals and was guilty of his brothers' murder. Others consider "Burizleif" a misreading of Bolesław, the Polish ruler allied to Sviatopolk.

Boris and Gleb received the crown of martyrdom in 1015. The brothers became known as "Strastoterptsy" (Passion Bearers), since they did not resist evil with violence. Boris and Gleb's relics were housed in the Church of St. Basil in Vyshhorod, later destroyed. Boris and Gleb were glorified (canonized) by the Orthodox church in Rus' in 1071. They were interred at the Vyshhorod Cathedral, which was reconsecrated in their name. Many other Ukrainian and Russian churches were later named after them. In 1095, parts of the relics of both saints were moved to Sázava Monastery in Duchy of Bohemia and inserted into one of the altars. The Catholic Church canonized the brothers in 1724, during the papacy of Benedict XIII. In 2011 a monument to Boris and Gleb was erected in Vyshhorod, Ukraine. The authors of the monument are Boris Krylov and Oles Sydoruk.

Synaxis of All Saints of Smolensk – movable holiday on the Sunday before July 28.