Saints Boris and Gleb

Life story

Boris (baptised Roman) and Gleb (baptised David) were sons of Grand Prince Vladimir. According to the Primary Chronicle, Boris ruled Rostov and Gleb, then still young, ruled Murom. Some foreign sources suggest instead that Boris succeeded his father in Kiev, so historians still debate the point. Both died in 1015, at the start of a succession crisis that lasted until 1019.

The Chronicle and the eleventh-century Lives blame their elder brother Sviatopolk. In these accounts Boris was killed on the Alta river after praying for Sviatopolk and refusing to use arms against his brother. Gleb was lured by a false message that his father was ill and was killed in a boat near Smolensk, the story says by his own cook. These details of their last hours belong to hagiography and cannot be taken as secure history.

Because they did not resist, the Orthodox Church calls them passion-bearers. Britannica notes that their sanctity rests on pious passivity, in contrast to the ideal of their age. They are honoured as the first saints of Rus'; sources date their recognition variously from about 1020 to 1071, and their relics were solemnly moved in 1072.

Some historians suggest the traditional accounts reflect political struggles. A Norse saga even hints that Yaroslav hired the killers, though the value of that source is disputed. Their joint feast is 24 July.

Works and witness

• Sons of Grand Prince Vladimir; Boris held Rostov, Gleb held Murom
• Died in 1015 during the succession struggle
• Did not use force against their brother and are called passion-bearers
• Honoured as the first saints of Rus'; joint feast on 24 July

Saints from the same country

Saint Josaphat Kuntsevych, Blessed Omelyan Kovch, Blessed Theodore Romzha, Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky

References

• Orthodox Church in America, Martyrs and Passion-Bearers Boris and Gleb (oca.org)
• Orthodox Church in America, The Orthodox Faith: Eleventh Century, Kievan Russia
• Britannica, Boris and Gleb entries

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.