Cyril and Maria of Radonezh - parents of St. Sergius

Cyril and Mary of Radonezh
(+ 1337), schema-monks, venerables, Khotkovo miracle workers, parents of the monks Sergius of Radonezh and Stephen of Moscow Commemorated on January 18, September 28, in the Cathedrals of the Radonezh and Rostov-Yaroslavl saints, on Thursday after the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee (local. [1])

There is no information about their parents, or about their childhood and adolescence, or about the time they entered into marriage. It is only known that they belonged to a noble boyar family. At the beginning of the 14th century, the righteous spouses of the boyars Kirill and Maria lived near Rostov the Great, in the small village of Varnitsa, where their estate was located. Kirill was in the service first of the Rostov prince Konstantin II Borisovich, and then of Konstantin III Vasilyevich.

More than once, boyar Kirill accompanied his prince on dangerous journeys to bow to the Golden Horde. Before leaving, they usually wrote a will and said goodbye to all their loved ones, since many Russian people there laid down their lives for the Orthodox faith. Mary, having seen her husband off, tearfully prayed to God for him and for their young son Stefan.

Saint Cyril owned a fortune sufficient for his position. The couple preferred a simple, secluded life on their estate to the bustle of the princely court. Living in the village, they did not neglect ordinary rural labor. Subsequently, in the place where, according to legend, the house of the Venerable Cyril and Mary was located, Rostov Archimandrite Ephraim founded the Monastery of the Life-Giving Trinity in 1427.

Once, during the Divine Liturgy, before the birth of her second son, righteous Mary and the worshipers heard the baby’s three exclamations before the reading of the Holy Gospel, during the Cherubic Song, and when the priest said “Holy to Holies.” Saints Cyril and Mary felt the great mercy of God; their piety demanded that feelings of gratitude to God be expressed in some external feat of piety, in a reverent vow. And righteous Mary, like Saint Anna, the mother of the prophet Samuel, together with her husband made a promise to dedicate their child to God.

The Lord gave them a son, who was named Bartholomew, the future Venerable Sergius of Radonezh. From the first days of his life, the baby surprised everyone with fasting: on Wednesdays and Fridays he did not accept his mother’s milk, but on other days, if she ate meat, the baby also refused milk. Noticing this, the Monk Mary completely abandoned meat food.

After Bartholomew, the righteous couple also had a third son, Peter. The couple raised their children in the Law of God, piety and chastity.

The righteousness of Cyril and Mary was known not only to God. Being strict guardians of all church statutes, they helped the poor, but especially sacredly kept the commandment of the Holy Apostle Paul about love of hospitable people (Heb. 13:2). They taught the same to their children, strictly instructing them not to miss an opportunity to invite a traveling monk or other tired wanderer to their home.

We have not received detailed information about the pious life of this blessed couple, but we can, together with Saint Plato, say that the very fruit that came from them - the great saint St. Sergius of Radonezh - showed better than any eloquent praise the kindness of the blessed tree.

Around 1328, the Monks Cyril and Maria moved from Rostov to Radonezh and settled there near the Church of the Nativity of Christ. Three versts from Radonezh was the Khotkovsky Intercession Monastery, which, given the lack of monasteries in the Moscow principality at that time, was both male and female. According to the widespread custom in Rus', simpletons, boyars, and princes accepted monasticism in old age. The spirit of monasticism was communicated from the son to the parents: at the end of their sorrowful life, the righteous Cyril and Maria wished to take on the angelic image themselves.

They directed their steps to this monastery, there to spend the rest of their days in the feat of repentance, preparing for another life. But the schema-boyars did not work for long in their new rank. In 1337 they departed to the Lord in peace. The children honored them with tears of filial love and buried them under the shadow of the same Pokrovsky monastery, which from that time became the last shelter and tomb of the Sergiev family. The youngest son of Saints Cyril and Mary, Peter and his wife Catherine, was subsequently buried here.

Reverence

Tradition says that St. Sergius commanded, before going to his relics at the Trinity Monastery, to go to the Intercession Monastery and pray for the repose of his parents.

Since the end of the 18th century, Saints Cyril and Maria were revered as locally revered saints. From that time on, they were already depicted with halos and a special prayer was read before the relics of the saints. The chronicle of the Intercession Khotkov Monastery provides evidence of how a prayerful appeal to St. Sergius and his holy parents saved people from serious illnesses.

On April 3, 1992, in the year of celebrating the 600th anniversary of the repose of St. Sergius, a church-wide glorification of Schemamonk Kirill and Schemanun Maria took place at the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church. The canonization crowned six centuries of veneration of the parents of the great ascetic, who gave the world an example of holiness and Christian family structure.

Mother of the little saint

In May 1314, Maria of Radonezh happily gave birth to her third son. After 40 days, his parents took him to church to be baptized. And the priest named the baby Bartholomew. And not only because on that day (June 11) the Church honored the memory of a saint with that name. "Bartholomew" means "Son of Consolation" (Joy). The priest also felt that this baby would serve as a comforter not only for his parents, but also for many other Christians. He predicted to the parents: “Rejoice, rejoice, for this is God’s chosen vessel, the abode of the Holy Spirit and the servant of the Trinity.”

Little Bartholomew, accustomed to fasting in the womb, did not want to give it up. The rich noblewoman wanted to give the child, like her first two sons, to a wet nurse. But the baby did not want to take the breast. Then Maria began to feed her son herself. And as she noticed, on Wednesdays and Fridays, the baby refused to suck milk, and on other days he drank it. Wanting to make her son's food more nutritious, Maria began to eat meat. But little Bartholomew immediately refused to take the breast. Because of him, the mother completely gave up meat.

Prayers

Troparion, tone 3

Participant in the beatitudes of Christ, / of honorable marriage and care for the children of the good image, / righteous Cyril and Mary, / the fruit of piety, St. Sergius revealed to us, / with him earnestly pray to the Lord / to send us a spirit of love and humility, / so that in peace and unanimity let us glorify the Trinity of the Consubstantial One.

Kontakion, tone 4

Today, faithfully, we have come together, / let us praise the blessed two, the blessed Cyril and the good-natured Mary, / for they pray together with their beloved son, the Venerable Sergius, / to the One God in the Holy Trinity / to establish our fatherland in orthodoxy, / to protect our homes with peace, / deliver youth from misfortunes and temptations, / strengthen old age and save our souls.

Cyril and Maria of Radonezh - parents of St. Sergius

Akathist to St. Cyril and Mary of Radonezh

Kontakion 1

Chosen miracle workers and great servants of the Lord, our monastery intercessor and dreamer of prayer for our souls, the Venerable Schema-Nun Kirill and Schema-Nun Mary! Bringing praise to you, we earnestly pray: for those who have boldness in the Lord, by your intercession free us from all troubles and make us heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven, so we joyfully call you: Rejoice, Venerable Cyril and Mary, intercessors for us before God.

Ikos 1

The angels of earth and the people of heaven truly appeared to the Reverend Cyril and Mary, from your youth having a clear conscience towards God, and living together in goodness in piety and purity, leaving us as an example of imitation of your godly life, to whom we marvel and illuminate your miracles, we call to you voices laudatory words:

Rejoice, you who have loved Christ from your youth and worked for Him with all your heart; Rejoice, guardians of chastity and guardians of mental and physical purity. Rejoice, having prepared your souls and bodies on earth for the abode of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, being filled with the wisdom and intelligence of the Divine. Rejoice, for you stand before the Trinity from earth to heaven and there from the Angels; Rejoice, for with disembodied faces you sing the thrice-holy hymn to Her. Rejoice, you have been glorified in heaven and on earth by the Lord; Rejoice, having found an eternal, all-bright resting place. Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.

Kontakion 2

Seeing the all-seeing eye of the Father of lights, your great life is pleasing to God, deign to choose you, blessed one, so that you may show the world’s bright lamp of the Venerable Sergius, so that about him your names will be glorified and all the faithful will sing to the Lord who glorified you: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Filled with Divine reason, Cyril and Mary worked tirelessly for the Lord, instructing their children in obedience and meekness. Make us wise, reverent ones, to constantly follow the justification of the Lord without falsehood, so that together with you we may find eternal salvation and bring you the following blessings:

Rejoice, blessed ones, who have lived in love of God and preserved good faith; Rejoice, you are filled with mercy and compassion. Rejoice, having acquired the Kingdom of Heaven through alms and prayers; Rejoice, having improved eternal bliss through humility and fasting. Rejoice, for your reward is abundant in Heaven; Rejoice, for through your prayers we too are not deprived of the hope of the Kingdom of Christ. Rejoice, for your joy is eternal in the light of the saints; Rejoice, for for your lordship’s sake we too are heirs. Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.

Kontakion 3

By the power of God, we protect St. Cyril to the Prince of Rostov with all zeal, serving and together with him in the Hagarian horde, for the sake of peace, walking, so that the Russian people weaken from their yoke and sing to God incessantly: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

The Venerables Cyril and Mary and the people had a thought about the threefold proclamation of fruit in Mary’s womb in the church and were amazed, realizing something glorious and wonderful was happening; and having now seen the joyful birth of his son, he rejoiced and made a joyful offering to you, saying:

Rejoice, most luminous two, united by God; Rejoice, unpretentious stars, who faithfully point out the path of married life pleasing to God. Rejoice, parents of good and chosen fruit; Rejoice, having fulfilled all the grace of God. Rejoice, Christian spouses, teachers of piety; Rejoice, you who teach good, God-fearing children the upbringing of their children. Rejoice, chastity and continence in conjugal life are the most excellent image; Rejoice, teachers of those who want to live a life pleasing to God. Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.

Kontakion 4

The storm of sorrows and misfortunes raised by the viceroy of the Grand Duke, do not weaken your strong love for God, Kirill and Blessed Mary, but moreover, teach you to better repel the kindled arrows of the evil one. Teach us, therefore, to bear all the sorrows of this world with meekness, crying out to God with joy: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Having heard, blessed Bartholomew, your wondrous child, who was once inexperienced in reading and writing, honoring God-inspired writings, you were greatly surprised, and the elder schema-monk, who bestowed wisdom on him, received into your home, keeping the commandment of the Apostle Paul: do not forget the love of strangers; Moreover, the Angels did not know how strange they were. Glorifying your virtue, we cry out to you:

Rejoice, faithful followers of Christ’s commandments; Rejoice, followers of the truth of the teachings of the Gospel. Rejoice, saints of God, as partakers of the lives of the great saints; Rejoice, imitators of the hospitable hospitality of the ancient forefather Abraham. Rejoice in the light of your pious life, like a divinely luminous luminary that shines forth; Rejoice, you have shown love and mercy to the poor and orphaned. Rejoice, a helper for the helpless; Rejoice, for you always help us and guide us to the Heavenly Fatherland. Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.

Kontakion 5

The godly stars are like the speedy, blessed Cyril and Mary, who came from the country of Rostov to the boundaries of the Principality of Moscow and settled in the city of Radonezh, where they amazed the people there with their piety, striving to sing: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Having seen, holy, the diligence of his son, the Venerable Sergius, towards monastic life, I pray to him that he will remain with you until your death. He, like a son of obedience, taught by you from childhood to fulfill the commandments of the Lord, submitted to your will, Cyril and Mary, as God did, teaching everyone to cry out to you like this:

Rejoice, partakers of the beatitudes of Christ; Rejoice, create an honest marriage and care for your good children. Rejoice, angelic people; Rejoice, venerable and righteous participants. Rejoice, faithful saint of the Most Holy Trinity; Rejoice, for you have taught your children to please Her. Rejoice, for this is why your son has built a wondrous abode for the Trinitarian Deity; Rejoice, for this reason your holy names are glorified throughout Rus'. Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.

Kontakion 6

Preachers of the Orthodox faith and zealots of piety, not only in words, but also in your life, quickly in the city of Radonezh, praise to Cyril and Mary: in the same way, the Holy Church worthily honors you, incessantly singing to the Wonderful God in Her saints: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

The light of your virtuous life appears in the city of Radonezh, blessed Cyril and Mary; When, having reached old age, she rushed to the Khotkovo monastery under the protection of the Mother of God, there she received the great image of the Angel in her nature, showing us the image of the highest humility, learning from it, with love we cry out to you like this:

Rejoice, for for the sake of love, for the sake of the Lord of this world, you have given up glory; Rejoice, for you have diligently accepted the monastic life of equal angels. Rejoice, having come to the ancient monastery and there finding peace for yourself; Rejoice, having entrusted your souls to the Most Pure Virgin Mary. Rejoice, having received the image of an angel and preserved it immaculately; Rejoice, show goodness to all monks and nuns. Rejoice, having mortified all passions through abstinence before your death; Rejoice, having received the holy schema into the armor of salvation. Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.

Kontakion 7

Although the Lord, the Lover of Mankind, showed in your life, Reverend Cyril and Mary, an image of edification, not only to the people of the world, but also to the monastic face, instill in you in old age the glory of leaving earthly glory and accepting the image of a monk, in which through fasting, vigil and prayer you labored for good, tirelessly chanting the Seraphim's hymn to the Triune God: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

New grace was shown to all by the Creator and Master through you, reverend ones, when nature passed from the temporary sowing vale of deplorable vale to the eternal abode. Your holy relics, even if hidden in secret, have produced many miracles and given healing to many sick people; Moreover, I will heal the babies brought to you. For this sake, O blessed healers of ours, accept this praise from us:

Rejoice, having come through temporary death to eternal life; Rejoice, from the Lord incorruptibility and glorified miracles. Rejoice, for your memory is with praise and your dormition is with the saints; Rejoice, for your names are honorable and blessed in your Fatherland. Rejoice, you who give healing to sick babies; Rejoice, you seriously ill girl, who came to you with love and saved you from her illness. Rejoice, O heavenly representatives who love and honor you; Rejoice, you who ever ask us from the Lord for the gifts of His goodness. Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.

Kontakion 8

A terrible and terrible disaster came to the land of Moscow, when many people in cities and towns were stung by the pestilence, and many of them died. Then the cathedral, consecrated with the nuns, offered prayers to you and through your intercession you received deliverance from trouble, crying out to God who benefits through you: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

All lovers of God were overcome with great sorrow, when in the days of hard times, those who came to the Russian land, the monastery of the Intercession of the Most Pure Virgin in Khotkovo, the atheists, were abandoned to ruin and desolation. But the memory of you, venerable one, is alive among people, and the children of Russia glorify your life and miracles of praise:

Rejoice, our wonderful wonderworkers; Rejoice, you who do not abandon us in days of sorrow. Rejoice, indestructible fence of the city of Khotkov and our monastery; Rejoice, fortresses, visible and invisible, are our supporters against enemies. Rejoice, you who shower us with many blessings; Rejoice, the mercy of your compassion embraces everyone. Rejoice, you have dreamed of the intercessors of salvation for all of us; Rejoice, guardians of the persistent city of Khotkov and our monastery. Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.

Kontakion 9

All the angels and saints rejoiced with great joy, when your monastery, Reverend Cyril and Mary, was returned to the Church and your honorable relics, hidden by God from the ancient years, were placed in the cathedral church. And the lamp was lit by the prayer and all the people, seeing its light, were greatly surprised, they came running to you in times of misfortune and received help from you; and also make us worthy of veneration, who cry out to God for you: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

Human infamy does not suffice for the worthy glorification of the miracles from your relics that are still being performed, the blessed Cyril and Mary: the old woman, for the weak nun, who underwent bone refraction and was not consoled by the doctors, came to you, reverend, and with tears I pray to you. Soon after receiving the complete healing, I hurried to you with tenderness of heart:

Rejoice, vessels of election of the grace of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, blessed intercessors of eternal joy to us. Rejoice, you who quickly healed the old woman who was weak from her illness; Rejoice, having surprised the skilled doctors with this healing. Rejoice, imperishable fragrant flowers; Rejoice, unflickering rays of immortality. Rejoice, you who shine on earth with the greatness of miracles; Rejoice, angels in heaven glorifying God. Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.

Kontakion 10

Having inherited eternal salvation, blessed Cyril and Mary, your souls in the heavenly abodes abide inseparably in God, and with your holy relics in the monastery of the Immaculate Virgin you rest incorruptibly and exude abundant healing, leading us to the Heavenly Jerusalem, crying out to the Ruler of that City: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

You are a wall and a refuge for all those who come to you, reverend. Because your monastery has been revived to a life of monasticism, many people seeking salvation have gathered together, you will save them from temptations and seductions, bliss, and teach them monastic work, so that, having improved what they want, they will bring you the following words of gratitude:

Rejoice, our child-loving representatives; Rejoice, you who lead us to Christ God. Rejoice, you who teach us to walk according to the commandments of the Lord; Rejoice, you who teach us to patiently bear our cross and follow our Master. Rejoice, for with our venerable father Sergius you have boldness towards Christ our God and towards His Holy Mother of God; Rejoice, for you are intercessors for us unworthy, who live in our holy monastery, and you are its rulers. Rejoice, for you are helpers, intercessors and prayer books to this squad gathered by God; Rejoice, for through your prayers we are preserved unharmed from demons and from evil people. Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.

Kontakion 11

Prayer singing is brought to you, Most Blessed Kirill and Mary, not only in the Khotkovo monastery, but also in Vysotskaya, your son founded, the multi-healing relics of your part, glorify the miracles you perform: a baby has an incurable illness, receives healing from you, parents receive immeasurable joy fulfilling crying healings to the giver of God: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

Illuminated by the tri-radiant light, Cyril and Mary, the all-blessed, with all the saints, you now stand in Heaven at the Throne of the King of Kings, and from there, like the luminaries of light, you ever enlighten the souls of your relics flowing to the race and teach true repentance. For this reason, glorifying you, we say:

Rejoice, for you have ended your natural life in body, but do not depart from us in spirit; Rejoice, you who come to the race of your relics with faith, sanctifying them with grace. Rejoice, shining beads who enlighten people with grace; Rejoice, shine upon your minds, illuminating with the dawn of the Holy Spirit. Rejoice, you who have known the propitiators of the Heavenly King; Rejoice, those who call upon the prayerfully honest names of your speedy hearers. Rejoice, because God has placed hope in you as a helper; Rejoice, to all the faithful, you fulfill every request in their favor. Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.

Kontakion 12

The grace from God given to you is knowing, we diligently pray now, the most praised schemamonas: pour out a warm prayer for us to the Lord, may He keep our monastery undamaged from misfortunes and disturbances, and may He have mercy and save us, crying out to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing your God-pleasing life, reverend, and glorification from God in heaven, we bless your righteous repose, we magnify the countless miracles from your holy relics flowing, and trusting in your unceasing prayers, we cry out to you:

Rejoice, your earthly life is more pious than those you passed away; Rejoice, you have received crowns of glory from the Heavenly King. Rejoice, having been clothed in the robe of grace-filled incorruptibility; Rejoice, you who rest incorruptibly in the fragrance of the holy thing. Rejoice, girded with the power of many miracles; Rejoice, for your honest physician has revealed cancer as a human disease. Rejoice, for from her everyone who comes with faith receives healing gifts; Rejoice, for the monastery of our relics for your sake is glorified throughout the Russian land. Rejoice, Reverend Cyril and Mary, blasphemous intercessor for us before God.

Kontakion 13

Oh, glory to the wonderworkers and saints of the Lord Kirill and Mary! Accept this prayer of ours with all our souls, which is now offered to you, and make us worthy, through your intercession in the rank of angels, to reach the Heavenly Kingdom, where all saints, angels and men sing with unceasing voices the praise of the Most Holy Trinity, our God: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

This kontakion is read three times, and then ikos 1st and kontakion 1st

Used materials

• Pravoslavie.Ru
  portal calendar page :
• Life and Akathist to St. Cyril and Mary of Radonezh, Khotkovo Wonderworkers
  , Holy Intercession Khotkovo Monastery, 1998, p. 3-4, 7, 14-15, 18-19, 21.
• Complete Troparion
  , Publishing House "Trinity", 2006, vol. 1, p. 83.

[1] Andronik (Trubachev), abbot, “Canonization of saints in the Russian Orthodox Church: 7. Canonization of saints after 1988,” Orthodox Encyclopedia

, volume “Russian Orthodox Church”,

Religious exploits of Mary herself

It seems that to bear in the womb of a future saint, who, moreover, announced himself so early, is already a great merit before God. But Saint Mary of Radonezh, as the author of the life of the founder of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra writes, stayed away from all uncleanness and defilement. She treated the child she carried as “some priceless treasure.” While other pregnant women annoyed their husbands with their whims, Maria was very restrained in food.

She strictly kept fasts and generally refused any fast food. When she was pregnant, she excluded fish from her diet. She ate only boiled vegetables and cereals, and drank only spring water, and even then in small quantities. She very often prayed alone to God, asking Him to protect her and the baby. She also often mentioned that if he were born male, she would dedicate him to the Church, that is, make him a monk, as soon as he reached the age of understanding good and evil.