Prince
Igor of Chernigov's Icon
Икона
Святого Благоверного князя Игоря Ольговича
Ігор Ольгович (у св. хрещені - Георгій) (р. н. невід. – 19 вересня 1147) — Святий, мученик, Великий князь Київський (1146). http://days.pravoslavie.ru/Images/ii907&1788.htm
Saint Igor II
Prince de
Kiev (+ 1147)
Prince de Kiev et
Tchernigov, il dut abandonner ses droits dynastiques sous la pression des
habitants. Devenu moine au monastère de Saint Théodore de Kiev, il n'en fut pas
moins poursuivi par la haine du peuple contre la dynastie des Olgovitch et il
fut sauvagement assassiné un jour qu'il priait devant l'icône de la Mère de
Dieu.
St Igor, Prince de
Tchernigov et de Kiev
Igor était prince de
Chernigov et Kiev. Persécuté par sa parenté, il se retira du monde et fut
tonsuré moine. Les habitants de Kiev, mécontents de la dynastie Olgovitch,
voulurent l'exterminer. Ils envahirent le monastère, capturèrent l'innocent et
jeune Schemnik Igor, et le tuèrent. Suite à ce crime, nombre de malheurs
s'abattirent sur les habitants de Kiev, et on vit régulièrement sur la tombe de
ce saint moine des cierges s'allumer spontanément, et une colonne de feu fut
aperçue au-dessus de l'église où il était enterré. Ceci eut lieu en 1147.
SOURCE : https://www.crkvenikalendar.com/zitije_fr.php?pok=0&id=DEA
Igor II Olgovich , Prince
of Chernigov and Grand Prince of Kiev.
Background
Son of Oleg Svyatoslavich
of Chernigov (modern Chernihiv).
Career
Saint - feast day: 5
June. The chroniclers accused Igor of being dishonest, greedy, scheming, and
violent. Sviatoslav escaped, but Igor got bogged down in some marshes and was
unable to flee because of an infirmity in his legs.
He was captured, and Iziaslav had him thrown into a pit.
He languished in the pit until autumn 1146, when, desperately ill, he requested
permission to become a monk. Iziaslav released him, but Igor was so weak he had
to be carried from the pit and nearly died of illness.
He became a monk at the monastery of Saint Feodor in Kiev under the name
Ignati. In 1147, a mob attacked Igor under the mistaken impression that he
intended to usurp Iziaslav"s throne.
Iziaslav"s brother, Vladimir, tried to rescue Igor, but the mob tore down
a balcony on which Igor had sought sanctuary, and thus killed him.
His body was dragged behind a cart and exhibited in a market before it could be
salvaged by Vladimir. Miracles were alleged to have occurred around Igor"s
body, and he was proclaimed a saint-martyr. Eventually his remains were sent to
Chernigov.
SOURCE : https://prabook.com/web/igor.igor_ii_of_kiev/2360925
Saint Igor,
Prince of Chernigov and
Kiev
June 18th (June 5th old
calendar).
The Right-believing Igor
prince of Chernigov accessed the throne in 1146. The citizens of Kiev not
loving the dynasty of Olgovitch proved false to him and delivered him to
Izyaslav prince of Pereyaslav who was originally proclaimed Grand Duke . Saint
Igor renounced the earthly way of life and became a monk in the Theodore
Monastery and received the ascetic name of Ignatius. On Septembe 19th, when a
mob rebels removed him from the monastery while he was praying before the icon
of The Mother of God, killed him brutally and dragged his body through the
streets of Kiev. For this evil-doing, much misfortune fell on the inhabitants
of Kiev, but candles were several times seen to light of themselves on the
grave of this blessed monk, and a fiery column appeared over the church were he
was buried. This was in 1147.
Following June 5th 1150,
when the relics of the Saint prince Igor, lauded for their wonderworks, were
transported from Kiev to Chernigov and placed in the Church of the
Transfiguration, "From that time on - according to notations of
chroniclers - they began to celebrate the memory of the Right-believing prince
Igor." In the "original draught on icon paintings" it is said
that prince Igor was of medium height, cold, swarthy, sported long hair and his
beard was short and sparce. The Saint prince Igor is revered on the same level
with Boris and Gleb as a bearer of sufferings.
SOURCE : https://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/saints/igor_prince.htm
Right-believing Great
Prince Igor of Kiev and Chernigov
Commemorated on September 19
The Holy Prince Igor of
Chernigov: The mid-twelfth century was a grievous time of incessant internecine
strife over the Kiev principality between two princely factions: the Olegovichi
and the Mstislavichi. They were all close relatives, they were all
great-grandsons of Yaroslav the Wise. The Mstislavichi were called after their
father, Saint Mstislav the Great (April 15), son of Vladimir Monomakh (from
whence their other name: “Monomashichi”). The Olegovichi were called after the
name of Oleg Sviatoslavich (+ 1115), known as “Gorislavich” because of his
bitter [“gore”] fate. Oleg Gorislavich was the son of the Kievan prince
Sviatoslav (+ 1076), who participated in the Transfer of the Relics of the holy
Passion-Bearers Boris and Gleb in the year 1072 (May 2). Sviatoslav was the
owner of two of the most remarkable theological collections of this time -- the
“Sviatoslav Izbornik [selections from the holy Fathers] of 1073” and the
“Izbornik of 1076.”
In certain old
Mesyateslovs [Menaia], Prince Sviatoslav himself was esteemed as a saint of
God, but particularly famed were his two grandsons: Saint Nicholas Sviatosha
(October 14), and Nicholas’s first cousin, the holy Martyr Prince Igor
Olegovich, the son of Oleg Gorislavich.
Saint Nicholas Sviatosha
and Saint Igor Olegovich represent two different paths of Christian sanctity in
ancient Rus. Saint Nicholas forsook the world and his princely duties to become
a simple monk. He died in peace, after nearly forty years at the monastery.
Saint Igor, involved in the struggle for the Kiev principality by God’s will,
would blot out the sin of princely strife by his own martyrdom.
In the year 1138 the
Great-principality of Kiev was assumed by Igor’s elder brother, Vsevolod
Olegovich (great-grandfather of Saint Michael of Chernigov). Although his rule
lasted only a few years and was filled with constant wars, Prince Vsevolod
considered Kiev as his own dominion to bequeath [a view partly in conflict with
the complex “appanage” system, rotating princes on the basis of seniority], and
he decided to bequeath it as an inheritance to his brother Igor. For this he
cited the example of Prince Vladimir Monomakh and said, almost as if
intentionally provoking the Monomashichei: “Vladimir appointed Mstislav, his
son, to follow after him in Kiev, and Mstislav designated his brother Yaropolk.
‘And herewith I declare that if God should take me, I give Kiev over to my
brother Igor.’”
The haughty words of
Vsevolod, whom the Kievans did not love, became a pretext for inciting enmity
against his brother Igor and all the Olegovichi. “We do not want him to
inherit,” resolved the Kievan council. The ill-will and arrogance of the prince
provoked the ill-will and arrogance of the Kievans. Saint Igor, dragged into
the very center of events against his will, became an innocent victim of the
growing hatred.
On August 1, 1146 Prince
Vsevolod died, and the Kievans kissed the cross, accepting Igor as their new
prince. Igor kissed the cross and promised he would rule the people of Kiev
justly and defend them. But the Kievan nobles violated their oath of fidelity
when they kissed the cross, and immediately invited the Mstislavichi to Kiev
with their forces. Beneath Kiev a battle raged between the forces of Prince
Igor and those of Izyaslav Mstislavich. Once again breaking their oath, the
Kievan forces went to Izyaslav’s side during the battle. For four days Igor
Olegovich hid himself in the marshes about Kiev. Then they took him captive,
and took him to Kiev and put him in the “blockhouse.” This was on August 13.
His princely rule lasted only two weeks.
In order to free a
prisoner from the “blockhouse,” a dank log house without windows or doors, it
was necessary to “chop” him out of there. The much-suffering Igor fell
grievously ill, and they thought that he would die. Under these conditions the
enemies of the prince decided “to chop him out” of prison and have him tonsured
a schemamonk at the Theodorov monastery. With the help of God, the prince
recovered his health. As a monk at the monastery, he spent his time weeping and
praying.
The struggle for Kiev
continued. Incited by pride and blind hatred, neither side wanted to give in.
Determined to wipe out the line of the Olegovichi, and all its princes, the Kievan
council in the following year decided to kill the prince-monk.
The Metropolitan and the
clergy tried to reason with them and stop them. The prince ruling at Kiev,
Izyaslav Mstislavich, and in particular his brother Vladimir, tried to avert
this senseless bloodshed, and to save the holy martyr, but they themselves were
in danger from the vicious mob.
The mob rushed into
church during the Holy Liturgy and seized Igor, who was praying before the icon
of the Mother of God, and they dragged him out to kill him. Prince Vladimir
halted the mob at the gates of the monastery. Igor said to him: “Brother, will
you forsake me?” Vladimir jumped down from his horse, wanting to help, and
covered him with his princely cloak while saying to the Kievan people: “Brethren,
do not commit murder!” According to the Chronicle, “Vladimir led Igor to his
mother’s palace, and they rushed at Vladimir.”
Vladimir succeeded in
pushing Igor into the palace and locking the gates. But the people broke down
the gates, and seeing Igor “in the lofts,” they dragged the holy martyr down
and murdered him on the stairway. The vicious mob was so intense, that they
subjected the dead body of the sufferer to further beatings and abuse. Then
they dragged him by his feet to the Desyatina (Tithe) church. They threw him on
a cart, and then “hung him up in the marketplace.”
Thus did the holy martyr
surrender his soul to the Lord, “and he put off the perishable robe of mankind,
and was clothed in the imperishable and much-suffering robe of Christ.” When on
the evening of the same day the body of Saint Igor was transferred to the
church of Saint Michael, “God manifested a great sign, and the candles around
him lit by themselves.” On the second morning the holy sufferer was buried in
the monastery of Saint Simeon, on the outskirts of Kiev.
In the year 1150, Prince
Sviatoslav Olegovich of Chernigov transferred the relics of his brother, Saint
Igor, to Chernigov and put them in the cathedral of the Savior. The
wonderworking Igorov icon of the Mother of God, before which the martyr prayed
before his murder, is in the Dormition church of the Kiev Caves Lavra (the icon
is commemorated on June 5).
HOLY PRINCE IGOR CHERNIGOVSKY ICONS AND IMAGES - HISTORY
The Holy Prince Igor Chernigovsky was the son of Prince Oleg, great-grandson of Yaroslav the Wise. The middle of the 12th century was a time of sorrow for the Rus during the continuous internecine strife for the Kiev reign of two princely groups: Olegovichi and Mstislavich. Saint Igor, who by the will of God entered the struggle for the Kiev reign, had to atone for the martyrdom of the hereditary sin of princely feuds. Igor's elder brother Vsevolod Olegovich, who reigned in Kiev, decided to transfer the city to his brother Igor. This became a pretext for inciting hatred against Igor and all the Olegovichi. So Saint Igor, who was involved against the will in the very center of events, became an innocent victim of growing hatred.
August 1, 1146, Prince Vsevolod died, and the people of Kiev kissed the cross Igor as a new prince, and Igor kissed the cross of Kiev - rightly rule the people and protect it. But, breaking the cross kissing, the Kiev boyars immediately called Mstislavichi with the army. Under Kiev there was a battle between the troops of Prince Igor and Izyaslav Mstislavich. Once again breaking the cross kissing, the Kiev troops in the midst of the battle moved to the side of Izyaslav. Four days Igor Olegovich hiding in the swamps near Kiev. There he was taken prisoner, brought to Kiev and put in a chop. It was on August 13, all of his reign lasted two weeks.
In the "pore" (it was a cold log-house, without windows and doors, in order to free a man from it, it was necessary to "cut" it out), the long-suffering prince became seriously ill. They thought that he would die. In these conditions the opponents of the prince were allowed to "cut" him out of confinement and to shear in the schema in the Kiev Feodorovsky Monastery. With the help of God the prince recovered and, remaining a monk of the monastery, spent his time in tears and prayer.
The struggle for Kiev continued. Excited by pride and blinded by hatred, neither side wanted to yield. Wishing to take revenge on the family of Olegovich, and along with all the princes, the Kiev veche, a year later, in 1147, decided to crack down on the prince-monk.
Metropolitan and clergy tried to reason and stop them. Prince Izyaslav Mstislavich, who ruled in Kiev, and especially his brother Prince Vladimir, tried to prevent this senseless bloodshed, to save the holy martyr, but they themselves were endangered by a fierce crowd.
The rebels broke into the church during the holy liturgy, they grabbed the person praying before the icon of the Mother of God of Igor and dragged him to the massacre. At the gate of the monastery the crowd was stopped by Prince Vladimir. He managed to push Igor into the yard and shut the gate. But people broke the gate and, seeing Igor "in the passage", broke the canopy, stole the holy martyr and killed at the bottom steps of the stairs. The crowd was so bitter that the dead body of the sufferer was beaten and mocked, he was dragged with a rope by his legs to the Church of the Tithes, thrown there on a cart, taken and "staged for sale".
Thus, the holy martyr gave his spirit to the Lord "and put on the garments of a corruptible man, and put on the incorruptible and long-suffering garment of Christ." When in the evening of the same day the body of blessed Igor was transferred to the church of St. Michael, "God showed a sign above him, candles were all over him in that church." The next morning the holy sufferer was buried in the monastery of St. Simeon on the outskirts of Kiev.
In 1150 Prince Chernigov Svyatoslav Olegovich moved the relics of his brother St. Igor to Chernigov and put it in the Cathedral of the Savior.
The miraculous icon of the Mother of God, named Igorevskaya, before which the
martyr prayed before the killing, was in the Great Dormition Church of the
Kiev-Pecherskaya Lavra (celebrated on June 5).
SOURCE : https://www.vmikhailov.com/lp/holy-prince-igor-chernigovsky-icons-images
Sant' Igor Olgovich
di Russia Principe, monaco, martire
1095 circa - Kiev,
Ucraina, 19 settembre 1147
Etimologia: Igor =
Gregorio, in russo
Pronipote di s. Vladimiro, che introdusse il Cristianesimo in Russia, ascese al trono di Kiev nel 1146. Il popolo che non amava la dinastia degli Oljgovici, tradí Igor e lo consegnò al principe di Perejaslavlj, Izjaslav Mstislavic, che diventò dopo di lui granduca di Kiev. Igor fu prima incarcerato nella città di Perejaslavlj, poi, con il permesso di Izjaslav, poté farsi monaco. Fu trasferito dai superiori nel monastero di S. Teodoro di Kiev, dove fu ammesso al grande schima (professione solenne dei voti per la seconda volta).
Il 19 settembre 1147 la folla entrata nella chiesa dove Igor pregava davanti alla icona della Madonna, lo portò via e lo uccise crudelmente, trascinando il suo corpo per le vie della città.
Il 5 giugno 1150 il fratello, principe di Cernigov, ne fece trasportare il corpo da Kiev dove riposa nella chiesa della Trasfigurazione. Da questo momento cominciarono i miracoli e la venerazione di Igor presso il popolo.
Igor viene chiamato nella Chiesa russa col nome di Strastoterpec, cioè martire che non fu ucciso per la fede, ma per ragioni politiche, sopportando tuttavia le sofferenze con la pazienza di Cristo morente.
Il suo martirio è descritto nel libro Stepennaja.
Igor viene menzionato in cinque menologi di epoca piú recente (secc. XVII e XIX). Nei libri liturgici cattolici non è ancora inserito, ma potrebbe esserlo nonostante sia morto dopo la data ufficiale dell'inizio dello scisma (perché sopportò una ingiusta morte con lo spirito del "re dei martiri"), e tenendo anche presente che lo scisma si propagò in Russia assai lentamente.
La sua festa si celebra il 5 giugno.
Autore: Antonio Koren
