Right-believing (Ruler) 12th century

Saint Vsevolod-Gabriel Wonderworker of Pskov

c. 1103 – 1138

Also known as Vsevolod of Pskov · Gabriel in Baptism · Vsevolod-Gabriel of Novgorod

Grandson of Vladimir Monomakh, prince of Novgorod and later Pskov, who built churches, cared for the poor, and was beloved by the people of Pskov; reposed 1138 and glorified as a wonderworker.

Feast Day

February 11

Also Nov 27

Draft

Draft — pending review. Not yet verified for publication.

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Commemorated as

Holy Right-believing Prince Vsevolod-Gabriel, Wonderworker of Pskov

Come to them for

Protection from Danger

Life

Vsevolod-Gabriel was a prince of Rus' in the first half of the twelfth century, a grandson of Vladimir Monomakh and son of the prince later venerated as Saint Mstislav-Theodore the Great. Born at Novgorod and given the baptismal name Gabriel, he governed Novgorod for much of his life before becoming the first prince of Pskov, where he is remembered as a builder of churches and a benefactor of his people. He reposed in 1138 and was later glorified by the Russian Church as the Wonderworker of Pskov.

From 1117 Vsevolod administered Novgorod as vicar for his father, who in that year was effectively raised to co-rule the realm by Vladimir Monomakh. Sources record him as Prince of Novgorod through the 1120s and into the mid-1130s, with a brief tenure as Prince of Pereyaslavl in 1132. During his years at Novgorod he was an active patron of the Church, working alongside Archbishop Niphon (Nifont) to raise several churches and endowing existing ones with charters of land and privilege.

After an unsuccessful winter campaign against Suzdal in 1135-1136, the Novgorod veche (popular assembly) turned against Vsevolod and banished him in 1136, holding him for a time under guard at the archbishop's residence before installing another prince. He was afterward invited by the people of Pskov to rule them, becoming Pskov's first prince around 1137. He governed Pskov for only about a year before his death on February 11, 1138, reportedly at the age of forty-six.

Timeline 7 moments Read Hide

c. 1103 Born at Novgorod Born to Prince Mstislav-Theodore the Great, grandson of Vladimir Monomakh, and given the baptismal name Gabriel.
1117 Governs Novgorod Administers Novgorod as vicar for his father, who is raised to co-rule the realm.
1132 Prince of Pereyaslavl Holds Pereyaslavl briefly before returning to Novgorod.
1136 Banished from Novgorod After a failed campaign against Suzdal, the Novgorod veche expels him.
c. 1137 First prince of Pskov Invited by the people of Pskov to rule them; builds the first stone Trinity church.
1138 Repose Dies at Pskov on February 11, having ruled the city about a year.
Nov 27 Uncovering of relics His relics are uncovered and translated to the Trinity cathedral.

Contributions & Legacy

2 contributions Read Hide

Patron of churches

Vsevolod's reputation rests heavily on his church-building. At Novgorod he is credited with the cathedral of the Great Martyr George at the Yuriev monastery, built together with Archbishop Niphon, and the church of Saint John the Forerunner at Opoki, which tradition associates with the memory of a son who died young. Other foundations attributed to him at Novgorod include churches of Saint George and of the Dormition in the marketplace district.

He also granted charters of land and privileges to the cathedral of Holy Wisdom (Holy Sophia) and to other churches. To the merchants of Novgorod he is said to have given the charter of 'Ivan's Hundred,' which sources describe as the first Russian merchant guild. At Pskov he built the first stone church dedicated to the Life-Creating Trinity, replacing an earlier wooden structure on the site.

Relics and later veneration

Vsevolod was first buried at Pskov, in the church of the Great Martyr Demetrius. By tradition his relics were uncovered and translated to the Trinity cathedral, an event commemorated on November 27. A sword preserved with his memory bore a Latin motto rendered in the sources as 'I give away mine honour to no one.'

His veneration as a defender of Pskov endured into later centuries. During the 1581 siege of Pskov by Stephen Bathory of Poland, when the city's walls had been breached, his relics were carried in procession to the threatened point; the synaxarion relates that the besiegers withdrew. He is glorified by the Russian Church as the Wonderworker of Pskov.

Notes

Nov 27 = uncovering of his relics.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org)