At the beginning of the sixteenth century, even during the time of Tsar John the Terrible, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia Makarii instructed his monastery assistants and scribes to search in all Russian cities and villages for stories about righteous people who became famous for their pious life. One of such ancient beautiful and romantic stories turned out to be "The Tale of Peter and Fevronia of Murom." Analysis of the actions of the main characters suggests that they were righteous, who became the spiritual symbol of the Christian family. And therefore, with the consent of the Church Council in 1547, they were canonized. The priest Yermolai was entrusted with writing a detailed essay on the life and love of Peter and Fevronia.
Peter and Fevronia. Summary of the plot
In the city of Murom, Prince Paul ruled. And suddenly his wife began to fly to the fornication Serpent in the guise of Paul. She immediately told her husband about this. He immediately asked her to, at the next meeting with the Serpent, flatteringly flaunted from him, from which he expects his death. The humble wife did so. Seduced by her beauty and gentle speeches, the Serpent revealed to her the secret of his death, which consisted in the fact that Peter would kill him with the help of Agrikov’s sword. Concerned about this news, Paul calls his brother Peter to himself and tells him everything. And he was ready to fight the enemy, though he did not know where to get Agrikov's sword.
Agric sword
At the same time, it is impossible not to mention the fact that Agric, the son of the cruel tyrant Herod, known from biblical texts, forged this sword. This mighty sword had supernatural powers and emitted a bluish glow in the dark. He easily dealt with any military armor. By the way, he was also called the sword-treasure - the weapon of the epic heroes. But how did he get to Ancient Russia? There is reason to believe that the Templars, participating in the excavations of the temple of Solomon, most likely found the main Christian relics: the Holy Grail, the shroud, later called Turinsky, and Agrikov's sword. They presented it to the fearless military leader Vladimir - Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky - as a special reward when he decided to return to Russia. But with the outbreak of civil wars, the prince was killed. And the sword began to pass from one hand to another. In the end, he was hidden in the walls of the monastery of the glorious city of Murom.
Continuation of the plot
So, after some time, Peter, praying in the church of the monastery, the lad points to the treasure in which Agrikov’s sword was kept. He took a weapon and went to his brother. Prince Peter almost immediately realized that the serpent of Brother Paul sits in his witching guise. Then he dealt him a mortal blow, and he instantly died, sprinkling it with his blood, after which the prince became very sick and covered with scabs. Not a single doctor undertook to treat Peter. But once there was such a village healer by nature, a wise virgin named Fevronia, who healed the prince and became his faithful wife. After the death of Brother Paul, Peter took the throne. But the insidious boyars decided to expel the commoner, she did not like their wives. And Fevronia was ready to leave the city, but only with her husband, who decided to go with her. The boyars were at first very happy to let them go, but after some time, after internecine abuse and murders for the throne, they decided to return the conjugal princely couple. And after that, everyone healed happily and happily.
Main interchange
And when the time came, Peter and Fevronia took monastic tonsure and received the names David and Euphrosyne. They even prayed to God to send them death on the same day, and even prepared a double coffin with a partition. And so it happened - they rested on the same day, but the priests were afraid of the wrath of God and did not bury them together. Having placed their dead bodies in different churches, in the morning they found them together in their special coffin. This was repeated twice. And then it was decided to bury them together, never again separating them.
Now, always together are the holy beloved Peter and Fevronia. A summary of this story revealed only a small part of their righteous life. These miracle workers became patrons of marriage and love. Now any believer has the opportunity to pray over the holy relics in the Holy Trinity Monastery of Murom.
Wise Fevronia
The characterization of Peter and Fevronia surprises them with endless humility, tranquility and serenity. Possessing tremendous inner strength, the chaste and insightful Fevronia is very stingy in its outward manifestation. She defeated her passions and was ready for anything, even the feat of self-denial. Her love became invincible externally, because inwardly she obeyed the mind. The wisdom of Fevronia lies not only in her extraordinary mind, but in feeling and will. And there is no conflict between them. Hence such a penetrating "silence" in her image. Therefore, it is not surprising that Fevronia possessed a life-giving force, so great that it even revived felled trees, which after that became even larger and greener. Possessing a strong spirit, she was able to unravel the thoughts of travelers. In her love and wisdom, she even surpassed her ideal missus Peter. The love of Peter and Fevronia found its echo in the hearts of millions of people who will certainly pray to these holy images.
Brave Peter
Characterizing Prince Peter, you can see his unprecedented heroism and courage in the victory over the insidious diabolical Serpent. It is immediately clear that he is a deeply religious person, otherwise he would not have been able to defeat such an insidious tempter. However, nevertheless, he once deceived Fevronia when he promised that after his recovery he would marry her. He never fulfilled it until he again covered himself with fetid scabs. The lesson taught by Fevronia, the prince quickly learned and then began to listen to her in everything. Soon they got married and began to live like true Christian families in love, fidelity and harmony. Prince Peter never indulged his wife. He was truly pious, not for nothing that he was loved by the boyars and the people.
The characteristic of Peter and Fevronia is unique in its own way. These were really people from God. And you are often surprised at how strong their mutual understanding and love were. After all, they perfectly complemented each other, and therefore became the image of an ideal married couple.
Genres of Old Russian Literature
In addition to this famous story, there were other examples of Old Russian literature. In general, the Old Russian scribes, mastering the Slavonic literature, mainly engaged in Greek translations and then turned to the creation of their original works, performed in various genres: life, annals, teachings, military novels. It is precisely impossible to indicate exactly when the first records of various historical legends arose, but vivid examples of Old Russian literature appeared already in the middle of the XI century. It was then that Russian chronicles were created, which are a detailed record of some very important historical events in Russia. A special place is occupied by the tales of ancient Russian literature - this is something in between the novel and the short story. But now it’s mainly stories - short narratives about an event. Thus, contemporaries especially appreciate folklore and ancient Russian literature.
Monuments of Old Russian Literature
One of the first known ancient chroniclers was the Monk Nestor (his holy relics rest in the caves of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra) with his annals "The Tale of Bygone Years", dated to the XI century. Behind him, the Grand Duke of Kiev Vladimir Monomakh wrote the book "Preaching" (XII century). Gradually, such works as The Tale of the Life of Alexander Nevsky began to appear, the author of which, most likely, was the scribe of Vladimir Metropolitan Kirill at the turn of the end of the 12th and beginning of the 13th century. Then another monument of Old Russian literature was created, dated to the beginning of the XII century, under the name "Word about Igor's Regiment", where the author's name remained unknown. I certainly want to note the great work about the Mamaev massacre “Zadonshchina”, created at the turn of the late XIV and early XV centuries, presumably the author was Ryazan priest Sofroniy.
"The Tale of Peter and Fevronia of Murom." Analysis
Gradually, the list of Old Russian literature expanded. It included the "Tale of Peter and Fevronia of Murom." An analysis of this work of the 16th century calls it the anthem of conjugal love and fidelity. And that will be right. Here he is an example of a true Christian family. True love and devotion is demonstrated in The Tale of Peter and Fevronia of Murom. An analysis of the artistic features of the work suggests that it combines two folklore plots. In one of them, the insidious Snake-seducer is narrated, and in the other, about the wise virgin. It is distinguished by its simplicity and clarity of presentation, the gradual unhurriedness of the development of events, and, most importantly, the calmness of the narrator in the malice of the description of the characters. That is why it is easily perceived and read, which means that it teaches us to love truly, humbly and selflessly, as did its main characters - Peter and Fevronia.