Eastern Rite - Feasts of 15 July AM 7530

Today is the Feasts of the Holy Great Prince Volodymyr, Equal to the Apostles and Enlightener of the Rus' Lands, Named Basil at Holy Baptism and of the Holy Martyrs Cyricus and Julitta, His Mother.

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Great Prince of Kyiv and All Rus', grandson of St. Olha, and the first Kyivan Rus' ruler to embrace Christianity, b. 956; d. at Berestova, 15 July 1015. St. Olha could not convert her son and successor, Sviatoslav, for he lived and died a pagan and brought up his son Volodymyr as a pagan chieftain. Sviatoslav had two legitimate sons, Yaropolk and Oleh, and a third son, Volodymyr, borne him by his court favourite Olha Malusha. Shortly before his death (972) he bestowed the Great Principality of Kyiv on Yaropolk and gave the land of the Drevlani (now Galicia) to Oleh. The ancient Rus' capital of Novgorod threatened rebellion and, as both the princes refused to go thither, Sviatoslav bestowed its sovereignty upon the young Volodymyr. Meanwhile, war broke out between Yaropolk and Oleh, and the former conquered the Drevlanian territory and dethroned Oleh. When this news reached Volodymyr he feared a like fate and fled to the Varangians (Variags) of Scandinavia for help, while Yaropolk conquered Novgorod and united all Rus' under his sceptre. A few years later Volodymyr returned with a large force and retook Novgorod. Becoming bolder he waged war against his brother towards the south, took the city of Polotzk, slew its prince, Ragvald, and married his daughter Ragnilda, the affianced bride of Yaropolk. Then he pressed on and besieged Kyiv. Yaropolk fled to Rodno, but could not hold out there, and was finally slain upon his surrender to the victorious Volodymyr; the latter thereupon made himself ruler of Kyiv and all Rus' in 980. As a heathen prince Volodymyr had four wives besides Ragnilda, and by them had ten sons and two daughters. Since the days of St. Olha, Christianity, which was originally established among the eastern Slavs by Sts. Cyril and Methodius had been making secret progress throughout the land of Rus' and had begun to considerably alter the heathen ideas. It was a period similar to the era of the conversion of Constantine.

Notwithstanding this undercurrent of Christian ideas, Volodymyr erected in Kyiv many statues and shrines (trebishcha) to the Slavic heathen gods, Perun, Dazhdbog, Simorgl, Mokosh, Stribog, and others. In 981 he subdued the Chervensk cities (now Galicia), in 983 he overcame the wild Yatviags on the shores of the Baltic Sea, in 985 he fought with the Bulgarians on the lower Volga, and in 987 he planned a campaign against the Greco-Roman Empire, in the course of which he became interested in Christianity. The Chronicle of Nestor relates that he sent envoys to the neighbouring countries for information concerning their religions. The envoys reported adversely regarding the Bulgarians who followed (Mohammedan), the Jews of Khazar, and the Germans with their plain missionary Latin churches, but they were delighted with the solemn Greek ritual of the Great Church (St. Sophia) of Constantinople and reminded Volodymyr that his grandmother Olha had embraced that Faith. The next year (988) he besieged Kherson in the Crimea, a city within the borders of the eastern Roman Empire, and finally took it by cutting off its water supply. He then sent envoys to Emperor Basil II at Constantinople to ask for his sister Anna in marriage, adding a threat to march on Constantinople in case of refusal. The emperor replied that a Christian might not marry a heathen, but if Volodymyr were a Christian prince he would sanction the alliance. To this Volodymyr replied that he had already examined the doctrines of the Christians, was inclined towards them, and was ready to be baptised. Basil II sent this sister with a retinue of officials and clergy to Kherson, and there Volodymyr was baptised, in the same year, by the Metropolitan Michael and took also the baptismal name of Basil. A current legend relates that Volodymyrr had been stricken with blindness before the arrival of Anna and her retinue and had recovered his sight upon being baptised. He then married Princess Anna, and thereafter put away his pagan wives. He surrendered the city of Kherson to the Greeks and returned to Kyiv in state with his bride. The Russian historian Karamzin (Vol. I, p. 215) suggests that Volodymyr could have been baptised long before at Kyiv since Christians and their priests were already there; but such an act would have humbled the proud chieftain in the eyes of his people, for he would have accepted in a lowly manner an inconspicuous rite at the hands of a secret and despised sect. Hence he preferred to have it come from the envoys of the Roman Emperor of Constantinople, as a means of impressing his people.

When Volodymyr returned to Kyiv he took upon himself the conversion of his subjects. He ordered the statues of the gods to be thrown down, chopped to pieces, and some of them burned; the chief god, Perun, was dragged through the mud and thrown into the River Dnieper. These acts impressed the people with the helplessness of their gods, and when they were told that they should follow Volodymyr's example and become Christians they were willingly baptised, even wading into the river that they might the sooner be reached by the priest for baptism. Zubrycki thinks this readiness shows that the doctrines of Christianity had already been secretly spread in Kyiv and that the people only waited for an opportunity to publicly acknowledge them. Volodymyr urged all his subjects to become Christians and established churches and monasteries not only at Kyiv, but at Pereyaslav, Chernigoff, Bielegorod, Volodymyr in Volhynia, and many other cities. In 989 he erected the large Church of St. Mary ever Virgin (usually called Desiatinny Sobor, the Cathedral of the Tithes), and in 996 the Church of the Transfiguration, both in the city of Kyiv. He gave up his warlike career and devoted himself principally to the government of his people; he established schools, introduced ecclesiastical courts, and became known for his mildness and for his zeal in spreading the Christian faith. His wife died in 1011, having borne him two sons, Boris and Glib (also known as Sts. Roman and David, from their baptismal names). After this his life became troubled by the conduct of his elder children. Following the custom of his ancestors, he had parcelled out his kingdom amongst his children, giving the city of Novgorod in fief to his eldest son Yaroslav; the latter rebelled against him and refused to render either service or tribute. In 1014 Volodymyr prepared to march north to Novgorod and take it away from his disobedient son, while Yaroslav invoked the help of the Varangians against his father. Volodymyr fell ill and died on the way. His feast in celebrated on 15 July in the Russian Orthodox and Ruthenian Greek Catholic calendars, and he has received the name of Ravnoapostol (equal to the Apostles) in the title of the feast and the Troparion of the liturgy. 

Troparion — Tone 4

Holy Prince Volodymyr, / you were like a merchant in search of fine pearls. / By sending servants to Constantinople for the Catholic Faith, you found Christ, the priceless pearl. / He appointed you to be another Paul, / washing away in baptism your physical and spiritual blindness. / We celebrate your memory, / asking you to pray for all Catholic Christians and for us, your spiritual children.

Kontakion — Tone 8

Most glorious Volodymyr, in your old age you imitated the great apostle Paul: / He abandoned childish things, while you forsook the idolatry of your youth. / Together with him you reached the fullness of divine wisdom: / You were adorned with the purity of holy baptism. / Now as you stand before Christ our Saviour, pray that all Catholic Christians may be saved.

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The Holy Martyrs Cyricus and Julita lived in the city of Iconium in the province of Lycaonia in Asia Minor. Saint Julita was descended from an illustrious family and was a Christian. Widowed early on, she raised her three-year old-son Cyricus (Quiricus). During the emperor Diocletian’s persecution of Christians, Saint Julita departed the city with her son and two trustworthy servants, leaving behind her home, property, and servants.

Concealing her noble rank, she hid out first at Seleucia, and then at Tarsus. There around the year 305, she was recognized, arrested and brought to trial before the governor, Alexander. Strengthened by the Lord, she fearlessly answered the judge’s questions and firmly confessed her faith in Christ.

The governor gave orders to beat the saint with rods. During her torments Saint Julita kept repeating, “I am a Christian, and will not offer sacrifice to demons.”

The little boy Cyricus cried, seeing his mother being tortured, and wanted to go to her. The governor Alexander tried to sit him on his lap, but the boy broke free and shouted, “Let me go to my mother, I am a Christian.” The governor threw the boy down from the high tribunal and kicked him down the stone steps. The boy struck his head on the sharp edges and died.

Saint Julita, seeing her lacerated son, gave thanks to God that He had permitted her child to be perfected before her, and to receive the unfading crown of martyrdom. After many cruel tortures Saint Julita was beheaded with a sword.

The relics of Saints Cyricus and Julita were uncovered during the reign of Saint Constantine the Great (May 21). A monastery was built near Constantinople in honour of these holy martyrs, and a church was built not far from Jerusalem.

We pray to Saints Cyricus and Julita for family happiness, and the restoration of sick children to health.

Troparion — Tone 3

Your holy martyrs Cyricus and Julitta, O Lord, / through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God. / For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through their intercessions, save our souls!