Chapter 13

St. Alexander Nevsky

ALEXANDER is a name well known. We read in history of warriors and statesmen who bear the name. But greater are the saints, who were glorified by God for their virtuous and self-sacrificing life, among whom are also several Alexanders. In the great Russian Empire it is almost impossible to find a family in which some one member is not named Alexander. Of all the emperors of Russia, the three Alexanders are among the greatest. When you read the life of St. Alexander Nevsky, you will understand why this name is so dear to the Russian. In the thirteenth century, Russia did not occupy as much country as she does at the present time; Finland belonged to the Swedes, Livonia was ruled over by the Germans; while, to the southwest, the fierce Lithuanians bordered on the Russian provinces. All of these neighbors were at enmity with Russia: the Swedes continually quarreled with the citizens of Novgorod; the Livonian Germans attacked the neighboring provinces, and especially the city of Pskov, with the intention of introducing the Latin religion; and the Lithuanians sacked the towns of the quiet Russians from their side. Besides this, there was no inward peace in Russia, among the different principalities, but more precisely between the ruling dukes. Each province had an independent prince. The most powerful one was the grand duke, or the great prince of Vladimir—the most important city. His influence, being the greatest, was of untold benefit to the kindred Russian tribes, nevertheless the princes quarreled, and seldom gave ear to his counsel. It was at this time that God permitted the horde of Tartars to overrun Russia. These Tartars passed through all Russia, burning and sacking the towns and villages, treading under foot and hoof, meadows and gardens; they took thousands of the inhabitants, together with their wives and children, into captivity; they laid waste the whole land as far as the city of Novgorod. The neighboring nations, whom we mentioned before, took as an opportunity this misfortune of Russia, and they renewed their attacks from on all sides. The Russian princes were compelled to defend their home against them. Among them was Alexander, the second son of the great prince Yaroslav II. Alexander was born in 1220; from his childhood, he was distinguished by his understanding, meekness, wisdom, and piety. He knew how to fulfill his duty sacredly, and deserve the love of the people. God who helped him in life, also glorified him by miracles after he passed into eternity. Devastating the land of the Russians, the Tartars went south, and occupied the steppes along the rivers Dnieper, Volga, and Ural, as far as the Black and Caspian Seas. Here Batee set up his golden horde, or empire, and built the city known as Sarai, not far from the mouth of the Volga. Henceforth the Russian princes must pay tribute to the Tartars. Batee, the new dictator of Russia, confirmed Yaroslav II (Vsevolodovicha) as great prince of Vladimir; Alexander was given him the country of Novgorod, which had remained free and unharmed by the Tartars.

Although Novgorod was not spoiled by the touch of the Tartars, still it suffered misfortune of another kind. Great fires destroyed churches and houses, and defaced whole streets of the city. From droughts and the failure of crops the inhabitants often suffered terrible hunger, as a result from which epidemic diseases also mutilated the populace. The Germans and Lithuanians were prepared to fall upon Novgorod any day. Having become the prince of Novgorod, Alexander endeavored to shield his people from misfortune and their enemies. He took care that the judges ruled their courts with justice; he taught the inhabitants to live in peace and help the poor; he built posts on the frontier for their defense against the Germans and Lithuanians. In the mean time the King of Sweden gathered a large force, which he sent on barges to the river Neva, under the command of his kinsman, Birger. The daring general, hoping to take Novgorod, sent the prince word: “Come against me, if thou art courageous.” The people were stricken with fear; they could not count on their small force against so numerous an enemy; but Alexander put his trust in God, and the justice of his cause inspired him with courage. He prayed earnestly in the church of St. Sophia, received the bishop’s blessing, and then cheerfully exclaimed as he set out with his men: “We are not many, and the enemy is strong; but the power of God is not in numbers, it is in the right.” At night they came near to the banks of the Neva, to the place upon which the city of St. Petersburg was built later, and here they camped for the night. In the morning, a warrior approached Alexander, and told him that, as he stood on watch during the night, in view of the sea, toward morning—when the sun was rising—he suddenly heard a loud voice come from the sea, and on turning in that direction, he saw a ship sailing; upon the deck of the ship he saw the holy martyrs, Boris and Gleb, who held each other in embrace while conversing; he heard St. Boris say: “Brother Gleb, let us go quickly to the help of our kinsman Alexander; a great danger threatens him.” After these words, the holy brothers and the ship disappeared. This vision raised the spirit of the soldiers. About noontime Alexander met the Swedes on the banks of the Neva. The battle was a long one. Alexander, personally, brought down Birger, with a spear, and toward evening, completely overcame the foe, who took to his ships and passed over to his own land, but not until after leaving many dead comrades. For this victory the people gave Alexander the name of Nevsky. Alexander returned to Novgorod in triumph but here a greater trouble awaited him. The Novgorodans revolted against their prince. Offended by their unfaithfulness, Alexander did not wish to remain any longer with them; and, taking his family and property, he went to Suzdal, his native place. As soon as the Lithuanians and Germans heard of Alexander’s departure, they fell upon the Novgorod and Pskov countries. Then it was that the Novgorodans thought of their behavior; they repented and sent their bishop to solicit Alexander’s pardon, and to petition him to return and deliver them from their enemy. Alexander had forgotten the wrong done him; he summoned his field companions, and came to Novgorod, from which the intruders fled. But the Germans did not give up their pretensions. After some time, they again raised an army to march on Novgorod. This time they had in their long columns many Germans, who came to them upon invitation from their native land. Their legions were many times greater than Alexander’s company; nevertheless, the brave prince sallied forth, and met the Germans on the ice of Lake Chudskoe, where he dealt them a severe blow. Many were slain on the enemy’s side, and many more were captured. This encounter is known as the “Ice Battle.” Still the Lithuanians and Germans continued to assault the Russians, and each time Alexander conquered or drove them away. God visibly helped the strictly religious prince. In the mean time, Alexander’s father (Yaroslav, the great prince of Vladimir), died while he was returning home from the Tartars’ horde. The Chan appointed his brother to succeed him, i.e. Sviatoslav, uncle to Alexander. But it was not long before the younger brothers of Alexander began to quarrel with the great prince, with the view of obtaining the throne of the province of Vladimir. Alexander advised them to decide the case by the Chan’s judgment. The princes agreed, and Alexander, with his younger brother, Andrew, went to the Tartars. They first came to the Golden Horde; but from here they were obliged to travel beyond the Volga, to the steppes of Mongolia, where Mengoo, himself, was reigning, to whom even Batee was subjected. After a long journey, the two princes came back again. Andrew was appointed great prince of Vladimir, and Alexander of Kiev. Sviatoslav, the old uncle, must, against his will, give the country of Vladimir to Andrew, yet he never made peace with him. He tried by all means to regain the throne of the great prince. With this intention, he reported to the Chan that Andrew was not faithful, and that he did not obey the Chan’s orders. The Tartars sent a numerous band of barbarians. Andrew met it with his force, but he was repulsed with great loss, and he himself fled to the Germans. The province of Vladimir was trampled over and robbed. Alexander knew that the Chan would punish all Russia for Andrew’s behavior. To save his people and their homes, he went to the capital of the horde to intercede for Andrew and the whole land of Russia. The Chan received Alexander graciously, and appointed him great prince of Vladimir, Kiev, and Novgorod. Having ascended the throne of Vladimir, Alexander’s labor and cares multiplied. Now he became the only defender of the orthodox faith, and the people before the Tartars. He was obliged to act with patience and submission, but not with saber in hand. He understood that his force could not withstand the great bands of Tartars, and that each opposition would bring greater trouble upon the people. Alexander was great prince for eleven years, and in that time, he succeeded in doing much good, both for the Church and the people. On his petition, the clergy, as the servants of God, were freed from paying tax to the horde; he also obtained a grant by which he could install an orthodox bishop in the capital of the Tartar Empire itself. Alexander gained for the Christian religion the respect of the Tartars. One of his greatest cares was to relieve the inhabitants somewhat in their tax-payments, and save them from poverty. Having conquered Russia, the Tartars left her to the rule of Russian princes, while they only demanded tribute. The people of Novgorod caused Alexander much anxiety. With great difficulty, he scarcely dissuaded them on several occasions from sending back and even killing the tax-collectors. He was mindful of the evil which endangered the whole land of Russia.

The prince was to accomplish one more laborious task; and it was his last. The Tartars took into their service, the Chozars, and sent them out as revenue assessors. These new collectors were more avaricious than the former ones; they spared no one, and they were also disrespectful before the altars and holy places. The people bore this for a long time, but at last they lost their patience. Such cities as Vladimir, Suzdal, Rostov, arose and destroyed their oppressors. Already great legions in the horde were preparing for the punishment of the disobedient. The great prince set out to journey to the horde. He decided to die for his country, or save it. God blessed with success this last undertaking of Alexander, and the Russian provinces were freed from another overrunning of Tartars.

Returning from the chief camp or capital of the Tartars, Alexander became ill on reaching the town of Gorodets, on the Volga (in the province of Nijni-Novgorod), and perceiving that his end was not far off, he desired to be tonsured a monk. Upon taking the vows, the name Alexis was given him. The dying prince called to his bedside the princes that could be summoned from the neighborhood, the noblemen who accompanied him on his journey, and a number of the people, and spoke to them of his last wishes; then blessing all present, he forgave all every offense, and asked in return to be forgiven himself. After this, he confessed before the priest, and partook of the holy mysteries, dying soon after, on the 14th of November, 1263, being about 44 years of age.

The inhabitants of Gorodets wept over the body of the holy prince. As yet no information of this event reached Vladimir. St. Kirill (Cyril) only, the metropolitan of Vladimir, during the church service felt a heavy sadness oppress his soul, and turning to the people said:

“The Russian nation’s sun has set.”

No one understood his words. Then his eyes streaming with tears, he said: “The great prince, Alexander, is now dead.”

The funeral procession moved from Gorodets to Vladimir. The metropolitan and the people met with it at a distance of ten versts from the city. It was a sad, weeping multitude. The burial service was held in the cathedral, after which the body was lain to rest in the large church of the monastery of Our Blessed Lady. The glory of the miracles of St. Alexander spread from hence throughout all Russia. Many sick and crippled ones came to his tomb, and were healed. During the reign of the Emperor, Peter the Great, the relics of St. Alexander were brought to St. Petersburg, on the banks of the Neva, and placed in the Alexandro-Nevskaia Lavra, which was erected to his honor, and where they lie to the present day. The Church celebrates St. Alexander Nevsky Day, on the 23d of November, and also keeps the memory of the day when his holy remains were carried from Vladimir, to St. Petersburg, which is the 30th of August.