Monk of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, the hero of the Battle of Kulikovo - Alexander Peresvet. Extraordinary heroes. Peresvet and Oslyabya Alek sandr in front of the light

Alexander Peresvet is one of the most famous Russian heroes. Ranked among the saints by the Orthodox Church. His personality is steeped in legends and myths.

The streets and cities still bear the name of the Russian warrior monk, and his glory has not faded away even after almost 700 years.

Biography of Peresvet

Alexander's date of birth is not known for certain. A number of sources testify to the boyar origin. That is, belonging to the upper class. Boyars held leading positions and owned land. Each boyar studied military craft from childhood. Place of birth - Bryansk. Presumably, Alexander Peresvet participated in campaigns and wars. At some point, he was tonsured a monk. The ceremony was held in Rostov. Since there are practically no authoritative sources that could reliably report on certain events, historians to this day are debating about the biography of Peresvet. The problem also lies in the fact that ancient writers often resorted to allegories and elevations. That is, famous personalities were credited with feats and qualities that they did not really possess. And it is quite difficult for modern scientists to distinguish fiction from reality.

One way or another, we can safely say that by 1380 Alexander Peresvet was a monastic schema-monk. It was in this rank that he approached the Battle of Kulikovo, which brought him eternal glory.

Prerequisites

In the 14th century, Russia was exhausted under the Mongol-Tatar oppression of the Golden Horde. At the same time, the influence of the Moscow kingdom increased. Several Russian princes were able to win several victories over the Tatars, which gave strength to the resistance to the occupation. In 1376, Russian troops began to liberate their land, pushing the Horde to the south. During the retreat, the Mamai khans ravaged several principalities, but did not engage in open battle.
In mid-August, the Russian army arrives in Kolomna. Warriors are drawn together from all over Russia in different ways to repulse the Tatars once and for all. The leader of the Horde Mamai believes that Dmitry will be afraid to cross the Oka and hopes for an ambulance from the Lithuanians. But by the beginning of September, the Russians crossed the river and moved through the Ryazan lands to Mamai. Among the soldiers was Alexander Peresvet.

Such a maneuver by Dmitry was regarded as a rash move. Panic rumors about the imminent defeat of the coalition of princes spread throughout Russia.

Battle of Kulikovo

On September 8, the famous and duel between Peresvet and Chelubey took place. The day before, Russian troops crossed the Don River. Grand Duke Dmitry gathered under his banners from 40 to 60 thousand people. The Moscow regiment was the core. On the flanks were the arriving Lithuanians and Ryazanians. On the night of September 7, a review of the troops took place. Dmitry understood the enormous responsibility that was entrusted to him. Because in the event of a defeat, all the lands to Moscow would be open to the Tatars. Therefore, the review was carried out very carefully.

Alexander Peresvet was most likely in the central regiment with the court of the Moscow prince. In the middle of the night, scouts of both sides inspect enemy positions. Only in the morning do the first skirmishes occur. The Tatars led about 100 thousand people to the Kulikovo field. Since medieval sources tend to significantly increase the number of troops, it is rather difficult to determine the true number. Some sources indicate up to 40 thousand Russian soldiers and up to 60 thousand Tatars.
On the morning of September 8, the Russians lined up in battle formations. The legendary heroes of the ensuing battle made speeches. A thick fog lay on the field, and the Russians awaited the start of the battle for several hours in a daze. A few hours later the Tatars came out of the forest like a solid wall.

Duels

In the Middle Ages, general battles were often preceded by a duel between the best fighters from each army. This unwritten rule was respected inviolably. The fight continued until death and no one had the right to interfere. The origins of this custom go back to BC. Ancient legends indicate that instead of a battle between two troops, a battle of two people could take place. The losing side was retreating. Of course, in reality, most likely the battle began independently of the duel. But he had a very important psychological value for the fighters. For many, he was a kind of superstition.

The famous Chelubey came out from the side of the Tatars. According to ancient legends, he was famous for his enormous physical strength and military cunning. He was the best in fights. It was for these purposes that the Tatars hired him. Before the Battle of Kulikovo, he did not know defeat. In mounted battles, he used a spear a meter longer than usual, which allowed him to kill the enemy even before the collision. From the Tatar army, he departed on a white horse, dressed with gray clothes.
Alexander Peresvet was in crimson robes and stood under the "black" (red) Russian Orthodox banner. The troops froze in anticipation of the battle.

Peresvet and Chelubey dispersed and rushed towards each other with straightened spears. They collided at full gallop. Spears simultaneously pierced the combatants. Peresvet and Chelubey died at the same time. But Alexander managed to stay on the horse longer, which meant his victory. Inspired by the victory of their fighter, the Russians were furious. The foggy morning was shattered by the howling of trumpets, and the Russian army rushed into the attack.

Peresvet with Chelubey to another version

According to another version, Peresvet went to the cunning and self-sacrifice deliberately. The hero, who fought with Chelubey before the Battle of Kulikovo, knew about the long spear of the enemy. Therefore, he deliberately took off all his armor so that the spear of the Tatar favorite would pass through Alexander's body quickly and this would allow him to hit the enemy. A warrior monk put on a church attire with an Orthodox cross. The self-confident Chelubey pierced Peresvet, but he, with a spear in his body, reached out to the enemy and defeated him. In his death throes, the Russian warrior managed to gallop to his troops and only there fell.

Battle

Inspired by the victory and heroic self-sacrifice, the Russian troops shouted at the enemy. The parties clashed in a fierce battle. The Tatars outnumbered. But the Russians left the regiment of the commander of Serpukhov in an ambush. At the decisive moment, he struck in the rear of the Tatar troops. The horsemen cut from behind, the Tatars wavered. They fled in panic and almost all were killed.
The defeat of the Horde became the starting point for the liberation of Russia from the Tatar-Mongols. Inspired by the victory, the Russian princes decided to rally around Moscow.

Burial of a hero

The body of Alexander Peresvet was taken to Moscow. There he was buried with military honors near the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in his personal crypt. Legendary battle heroes such as were buried with him.

In the 18th century, builders found an ancient tomb under the bell tower, in which Alexander Peresvet was supposedly buried. Some historians consider this information to be implausible. After the restoration, the temple was supplemented with a tomb and a tombstone was erected. It lasted until the 20s of the 20th century. Now a new tombstone has been erected in the refectory of the church, which repeats the cast-iron sarcophagus of Peresvet. The tomb is open to visitors.

Memory

The hero of the Battle of Kulikovo was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. The day of memory of Alexander Peresvet is considered September 7. In the Moscow State Academy is stored which presumably belongs to Peresvet. During the Russian Empire, several warships were named after Alexander. Today there are several streets, as well as a city in the Moscow region, named after Peresvet.

In 2006, a special detachment of VV "Peresvet" was formed.

Everyone who did not miss school lessons about the Battle of Kulikovo knows about the duel between Peresvet and Chelubey. There will also be those who will remember the picture in which a Russian hero in a helmet and chain mail and a Tatar warrior in a rich silk dress met in a dashing battle.

However, not everyone knows that in fact the warrior of Peresvet was called Alexander and he had a brother, Andrei Oslyabya, and the legendary duel with Chelubey looked very different. What do we know about Peresvet and Oslyab?

Sources of

Alexander Peresvet and Andrei Oslyabya were monks of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. This is what explains, apparently, their double names. Peresvet and Oslyabey were called before monasticism, and during the tonsure they were given Christian names. Since both of them were glorified as saints, one of the most important sources for us is the Church Lives. In addition, Peresvet and Oslyab are mentioned in the "Short Chronicle Tale" and "Extensive Chronicle Tale" - the main sources about the Battle of Kulikovo - as well as such works of Old Russian literature as "The Legend of the Mamay Massacre" and "Zadonshchina".

In the monastery

Peresvet and Oslyabya were brothers, came from an old boyar family in the Bryansk region and were famous for their military skill. However, it is possible that they were not siblings, but their address to each other, "brother!" due to the fact that they were both monks.

All sources tell us that, shortly before marching towards the Don for the battle with Mamai, Prince Dmitry Ivanovich visited the well-known ascetic of St. Sergius of Radonezh at the Trinity Monastery. Hegumen Sergius blessed the prince to fight and predicted victory for him. Saying goodbye, Dmitry Ivanovich asked that the Monk Sergius let two monks go with him - Peresvet and Oslyabya. He immediately called both and ordered them to go with Prince Dmitry. Further in the "Legend of the Battle of Mamaev" it is said that "And he gave them, instead of an imperishable weapon, the cross of Christ, sewn on the schema, and commanded them to put it on themselves instead of gilded helmets." Some interpret this passage in such a way that Saint Sergius immediately performed vows over Perevet and Oslyabey into the great schema, while others say that both of them were already schema monks by that time, and the hegumen only indicated to them the need to rely more on the cross. than armor.

On the Kulikovo field

Often before the battle, according to an old custom, warriors emerged from the ranks of the opponents, who had to cross their weapons first. It was a ritual duel in which the victory of one and the defeat of the other was interpreted by both sides as a sign.

Before the start of the battle on the Kulikovo field, the hero Chelubei left the ranks of the Tatar army, Pecheneg by origin, as the Legend writes ... "Boasting in front of all his valor, his appearance is similar to the ancient Goliath: five fathoms its height and three fathoms its width." Peresvet accepted Chelubey's challenge, stepping out of the ranks, he said: "This man is looking for someone like himself, I want to transfer with him!" And on his head was a helmet, like an archangel, but he was armed with a schema at the behest of hegumen Sergius. And he said: “Fathers and brothers, forgive me, a sinner! My brother, Andrey Oslyabya, pray to God for me! " "Legend ..." tells that the combatants gathered in the middle of the field, knocked each other out of their saddles with spears, and both died on the spot.

However, church tradition tells about this fight in a completely different way. Peresvet saw that Chelubey's spear was very heavy and long, longer than usual. Converging with him, the warriors flew out of the saddle, not even being able to deliver a single blow to Chelubey. And then Peresvet refused military armor in the expectation that the spear of the Pecheneg would pierce him and then he would be at such a distance from Chelubey that he would be able to strike.

And so it happened. Having swooped down on the tip of Chelubey's spear, Peresvet managed to strike so that his opponent fell dead to the ground. And Peresvet himself, although mortally wounded, managed to return to his army and there give up the ghost in the hands of his comrades. Both died, but from the side it looked like Chelubey was knocked out of the saddle, and Peresvet returned to his own victorious.

Oslyabya, according to one of the legends, also died in the battle. However, there is another version. Monk Andrey Oslyabya was the first to rush into battle, seeing that his brother Peresvet was killed. It was he who carried Dmitry Donskoy, wounded in the battle, to the side under the birch, where they found the prince after the battle. Finally, a number of sources report that after the battle on the Kulikovo field, Andrei Oslyabya served for some time under Metropolitan Cyprian and even was part of the embassy to Constantinople in 1398.

After the battle

Alexander Peresvet was buried in Moscow, next to the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Stary Simonov (Simonova Sloboda). Andrei Oslyabya was also buried there. Both warrior monks were canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. The day of their memory is celebrated on September 7 (20).

Alexander Peresve? T (? - September 8, 1380) - a legendary warrior monk, a monk of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. Together with Rodion Oslyabey participated in the Battle of Kulikovo and fell in single combat with the Tatar hero Chelubey. In the Russian Orthodox Church canonized.
Some sources indicate that Peresvet was born in Bryansk and was a boyar before being tonsured a monk. Perhaps he took part in a number of campaigns and battles. There is a legend that Peresvet took monastic vows in the Rostov Borisoglebsk Monastery, which stands on the Ustye River. Later, apparently after Dmitry Olgerdovich, reigning in Bryansk, went into the service of Dmitry Ioannovich and moved with the entire court to the city of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, the monks Peresvet and Oslyabya ended up in the Trinity-Sergius Monastery (then he was not yet a lavra ). It is only known for certain that in 1380 the monks were already novices of this monastery. According to another version, Peresvet became a novice of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery after his move to Pereyaslavl-Zalessky.
Before the Battle of Kulikovo, Prince Dimitri, in search of spiritual support, went to the monastery to the Monk Sergius of Radonezh for a blessing. The Tatars at that time were considered invincible, and the name of the Monk Sergius, as a righteous man and a miracle worker, was glorified throughout Russia. The blessing of such a person should have instilled hope in all the warriors. The Monk Sergius not only blessed the prince, but also sent with him two monks of the princely family, who were good at weapons. These monks were Alexander Peresvet and Andrei (name in monastic tonsure) Oslyabya, whom the Monk Sergius had before tonsured into the Great Schema (the highest angelic order).
According to legend, before the battle, Peresvet prayed in the hermit's cell at the chapel of the holy warrior, the great martyr of the 4th century Dimitri of Thessaloniki, where the Dimitrievsky Ryazhsky monastery was later founded, which is 7 km from the town of Skopin. Having prayed, Peresvet left, leaving behind his apple-tree staff. After the revolution, this staff was kept in the regional museum of Ryazan.
According to the most common version, before the start of the battle, Peresvet took part in the traditional "duel of heroes". From the side of the Tatars, he was opposed by the hero Chelubey (according to other versions - Temir-Mirza or Tavrul). According to legend, Chelubey was not only distinguished by tremendous strength, but also by his special skill in military training. Some sources indicate that Chelubey was an invincible warrior-combatant who was hired by the Tatar troops specifically for such fights. Both opponents were on horseback, their weapons were spears. After the first collision, the spears of both broke, after which both fighters fell to the ground and died.
There is also another version of the duel, according to which Peresvet and Chelubey pierced each other with spears. According to this version, the spear of the horse duel master Chelubey was one meter longer than usual. Entering into battle with him on spears, the enemy could not even strike, as he was already defeated and fell out of the saddle. Alexander Peresvet went against the logic of the duel - having taken off his armor, he remained in only one Great Schema (a monastic cape with a cross, put on over a monk's clothes). He did this so that the enemy's spear, passing through the soft tissues of the body at high speed, did not have time to knock him out of the saddle and then he could strike himself, which happened in battle. Having received a mortal wound, he continued to remain in the saddle, was able to reach the formation himself and only there died.
Immediately after the death of the combatants, the battle itself began - the Tatar cavalry attacked the Advanced Regiment of Russian troops.
After the battle, the body of Peresvet, along with the body of Oslyabi, was taken to Moscow and buried next to the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Old Simonov (then still wooden) in a “stone tent”.
According to one version, the sarcophagi of Peresvet and Oslyabi were discovered in the 18th century, when the old bell tower of the temple was disassembled. During the work, the builders came across a brick crypt, the floor of which was completely covered with gravestones without inscriptions (burials of monks or warriors). Having removed them, the builders saw the sarcophagi of Peresvet and Oslyabi. During the construction of the new refectory of the temple, the tomb was closed, and the stones from it were placed in the northwestern corner of the refectory of the temple. Later, a cast-iron tombstone with a canopy was erected over this place, destroyed in the 1920s.
However, according to a number of data, the bodies of Peresvet and Oslyabi have never been found and are now buried in the refectory of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Stary Simonov “under wraps,” that is, the exact location of the burial has not been identified. Now at the supposed burial place of Peresvet and Oslyabi in the refectory of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Stary Simonovo, a wooden tombstone has been installed, copying the shape of the first cast-iron one. The grave is open to the public.
Alexander Peresvet and Rodion Oslyabya are canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church. Memorial Day is celebrated on September 8, as well as on the Week of All Saints Who Shone in the Land of Russia (2nd Sunday after the Holy Trinity), on the Day of All Moscow Saints (Sunday before September 8), All Tula Saints (September 22), All Bryansk Saints (October 3) and All Saints of Radonezh (July 19).

Free Encyclopedia "Wikipedia"

Some sources indicate that Peresvet was born in Bryansk and was a boyar before being tonsured a monk. Perhaps he took part in a number of campaigns and battles. There is a legend that Peresvet took monastic vows in the Rostov Borisoglebsk Monastery, which stands on the Ustye River. Later, apparently after Dmitry Olgerdovich, who reigned in Bryansk, went into the service of Dmitry Ioannovich and moved with the entire court to the city of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, the monks Peresvet and Oslyabya ended up in the Trinity-Sergius Monastery (then not yet a Lavra) ... It is only known for certain that in 1380 they were both novices of this monastery. According to another version, Peresvet became a novice of the Trinity-Sergius monastery after his move to Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. According to the life of St. Sergius of Radonezh, before the Battle of Kulikovo, Prince Dimitri, in search of spiritual support, went to him at the monastery for a blessing. The Tatars at that time were considered invincible, and the name of the Monk Sergius, as a righteous man and a miracle worker, was glorified throughout Russia. The blessing of such a person should have instilled hope in all the warriors. The Monk Sergius not only blessed the prince, but also sent with him two monks of the princely family, who were good at weapons. These monks were Alexander Peresvet and Rodion (name in monastic tonsure) Oslyabya, whom the Monk Sergei had tonsured into the Great Schema (the highest monastic order) before this. the holy warrior the great martyr of the 4th century Demetrius of Thessaloniki, where the male Demetrius Ryazhsky monastery was later founded, which is 7 km from the town of Skopin. Having prayed, Peresvet left, leaving behind his apple-tree staff. After the revolution, this staff was kept in the regional museum of Ryazan. According to the most widespread version, before the start of the battle, Peresvet participated in the traditional "duel of heroes". From the side of the Tatars, he was opposed by the hero Chelubey (according to other versions - Temir-Mirza or Tavrul). According to legend, Chelubey was not only distinguished by tremendous strength, but also by his special skill in military training. Some sources indicate that Chelubey was an invincible warrior-combatant who was hired by the Tatar troops specifically for such fights. Both opponents were on horseback, their weapons were spears. After the first collision, the spears of both broke, after which both fighters fell to the ground and died. There is also another version of the duel, according to which Peresvet and Chelubey pierced each other with spears. According to this version, the spear of the horse duel master Chelubey was one meter longer than usual. Entering into battle with him on spears, the enemy could not even strike, as he was already defeated and fell out of the saddle. Alexander Peresvet went against the logic of the duel - having taken off his armor, he remained in only one Great Schema (a monastic cape with a cross, put on over a monk's clothes). He did this so that the enemy's spear, passing through the soft tissues of the body at high speed, did not have time to knock him out of the saddle and then he could strike himself, which happened in battle. Having received a mortal wound, he continued to remain in the saddle, was able to reach the formation himself and only there died. Immediately after the death of the combatants, the battle itself began - the Tatar cavalry attacked the Advanced Regiment of Russian troops. Before the battle, Sergius brings two experienced warriors to Dmitry, whom we know precisely by their pagan names (!) - this is the Bryansk boyar Peresvet and his friend Oslyab. These two were neither monks nor monks. According to "Zadonshchina", Peresvet fought on a horse in golden armor. Oslyab sees him still holding on to the saddle, but already mortally wounded, at the height of the battle, when many Tatars have already perished. Then the son of Oslyabya also died. Oslyab himself survived. From this it follows that Peresvet did not fight in a cassock, as the artist Ilya Glazunov portrayed, and did not die at all before the battle, in a duel with an iron murza. In the short version of the story, the name of Peresvet is found only in the list of the killed princes and boyars, and at the very end of the list. Now it can be considered proven that

this list reproduces the official state synodikon, and in one of its oldest copies of the mid-15th century. the name of Peresvet is absent, just as it is absent in the synodikon of the Trinity Monastery, in which Peresvet should have been entered if he was a Trinity monk. Oslyab had a son, i.e. was not a monk (!), but was a family man. In addition, it should be noted that there was no institution of warrior monks in Russia. Therefore, two friends - the warrior Peresvet and Oslyab, get to Dmitry through a third friend and, possibly, the spiritual mentor of Sergius. So Sergius did not bring monks to Dmitry at all, but warriors.

Together with Rodion Oslyabey participated in the Battle of Kulikovo and fell in single combat with the Tatar hero Chelubey. In the Russian Orthodox Church canonized.

Origin

Some sources indicate that Peresvet was born in Bryansk and was a boyar before being tonsured a monk. Perhaps he took part in a number of campaigns and battles.

There is a legend that Peresvet took monastic vows in the river Ustye.

Later, apparently after Dmitry Olgerdovich, reigning in Bryansk, went into the service of Dmitry Ioannovich and moved with the entire court to the city of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, the monks Peresvet and Oslyabya ended up in the Trinity-Sergius Monastery (then he was not yet a lavra ).

It is only known for certain that in 1380 the monks were already novices of this monastery.

According to another version, Peresvet became a novice of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery after his move to Pereyaslavl-Zalessky.

Participation in the Battle of Kulikovo

Before the Battle of Kulikovo, Prince Dimitri, in search of spiritual support, went to the monastery to the Monk Sergius of Radonezh for a blessing.

The Tatars at that time were considered invincible, and the name of the Monk Sergius, as a righteous man and a miracle worker, was glorified throughout Russia.

The blessing of such a person should have instilled hope in all the warriors.

The Monk Sergius not only blessed the prince, but also sent with him two monks of the princely family, who were good at weapons.

These monks were Alexander Peresvet and Andrei (name in monastic tonsure) Oslyabya, whom the Monk Sergius had before tonsured into the Great Schema (the highest angelic order).

According to legend, before the battle, Peresvet prayed in the hermit's cell at the chapel of the holy warrior, the great martyr of the 4th century. Demetrius of Solunsky, where the male Dimitrievsky Ryazhsky monastery was later founded, which is 7 km from the town of Skopin. Having prayed, Peresvet left, leaving behind his apple-tree staff. After the revolution, this staff was kept in the regional museum of Ryazan.

According to the most common version, before the start of the battle, Peresvet took part in the traditional "duel of heroes". From the side of the Tatars, he was opposed by the hero Chelubey (according to other versions - Temir-Mirza or Tavrul).

According to legend, Chelubey was not only distinguished by tremendous strength, but also by his special skill in military training.

Some sources indicate that Chelubey was an invincible warrior-combatant who was hired by the Tatar troops specifically for such fights.

Both opponents were on horseback, their weapons were spears. After the first collision, the spears of both broke, after which both fighters fell to the ground and died.

There is also another version of the duel, according to which Peresvet and Chelubey pierced each other with spears.

According to this version, the spear of the horse duel master Chelubey was one meter longer than usual. Entering into battle with him on spears, the enemy could not even strike, as he was already defeated and fell out of the saddle.

Alexander Peresvet went against the logic of the duel - having taken off his armor, he remained in only one Great Schema (a monastic cape with a cross, put on over a monk's clothes).

He did this so that the enemy's spear, passing through the soft tissues of the body at high speed, did not have time to knock him out of the saddle and then he could strike himself, which happened in battle.

Having received a mortal wound, he continued to remain in the saddle, was able to get to the formation himself, and only there he died.

Immediately after the death of the combatants, the battle itself began - the Tatar cavalry attacked the Advanced Regiment of Russian troops.

Burial

After the battle, the body of Peresvet, along with the body of Oslyabi, was taken to Moscow and buried next to the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Old Simonov (then still wooden) in a “stone tent”.

According to one of the versions, the sarcophagi of Peresvet and Oslyabi were discovered in the 18th century, during the dismantling of the old bell tower of the temple.

During the work, the builders came across a brick crypt, the floor of which was completely covered with gravestones without inscriptions (burials of monks or warriors).

Having removed them, the builders saw the sarcophagi of Peresvet and Oslyabi.

During the construction of the new refectory of the temple, the tomb was closed, and the stones from it were placed in the northwestern corner of the refectory of the temple.

Later, a cast-iron gravestone with a canopy was erected over this place, destroyed in the 1920s.

However, according to a number of data, the bodies of Peresvet and Oslyabi have never been found and are now buried in the refectory of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Stary Simonov “under wraps,” that is, the exact location of the burial has not been identified.

Now at the supposed burial place of Peresvet and Oslyabi in the refectory of the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Stary Simonov, a wooden tombstone has been installed, copying the shape of the first cast-iron one.

The grave is open to the public.