Passion-Bearer 12th century

Right-believing Prince Igor of Kiev and Chernigov

died September 19, 1147

Also known as Igor II · Igor Olgovich

A prince caught in violent dynastic struggle who accepted monastic tonsure and was murdered during civil unrest, venerated as a passion-bearer.

Feast Day

September 19

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Commemorated as

The Holy Right-believing Prince Igor of Kiev and Chernigov, in Monasticism Ignatius

Life

Igor Olgovich, baptized George, was a prince of the Olgovich line of Chernigov who briefly held the throne of Kiev in 1146. The son of Oleg of Chernigov, he succeeded to the Kievan grand-princely seat after the death of his brother Vsevolod II, but the people of Kiev resisted his rule and within a short time invited his cousin Izyaslav to take the city instead. In the ensuing conflict Igor was defeated and, unable to escape because of an infirmity in his legs, was taken captive by Izyaslav and imprisoned.

Gravely ill in captivity and repenting of the violence of dynastic life, Igor asked to be tonsured a monk. According to the synaxarion, Bishop Euthymius of Pereyaslavl tonsured him on January 5, 1147, with the name Gabriel; recovering his health, he transferred to the Theodorov monastery in Kiev, where he received the great schema with the name Ignatius and devoted himself to the monastic life.

His withdrawal from political power did not protect him. When intrigue among the Chernigov and Kievan princes rekindled fear that Igor might be used to reclaim the throne, a Kievan mob seized the monk and killed him on September 19, 1147, dragging his body through the streets of the city. By tradition he was at prayer before an icon of the Mother of God when he was taken. Because he met death meekly, without resistance and bearing no political ambition, the Church venerates him as a passion-bearer rather than as a martyr for the faith in the strict sense.

Timeline 5 moments Read Hide

1146 Becomes Grand Prince of Kiev Succeeds his brother Vsevolod II, but is soon opposed by the Kievans and his cousin Izyaslav.
1146 Defeat and capture Defeated and taken captive by Izyaslav, who imprisons him.
January 5, 1147 Monastic tonsure Tonsured by Bishop Euthymius of Pereyaslavl with the name Gabriel; later takes the great schema as Ignatius at the Theodorov monastery in Kiev.
September 19, 1147 Murder Seized from the monastery and killed by a Kievan mob; venerated thereafter as a passion-bearer.
June 5, 1150 Translation of the relics Svyatoslav Olgovich transfers his relics to the Transfiguration cathedral in Chernigov.

Contributions & Legacy

1 contributions Read Hide

Burial and Translation of the Relics

With the blessing of Metropolitan Clement Smolyatich, the Igumen Ananias of the Theodorov monastery buried Igor in the church of the Kiev Simonov monastery. Tradition relates that signs appeared at his grave: candles were several times seen to light of themselves, and a fiery column was reported over the church where he lay.

On June 5, 1150, after the political situation in Kiev had shifted, the Chernigov prince Svyatoslav Olgovich solemnly transferred Igor's relics to Chernigov, his native region, where they were placed in the cathedral church of the Transfiguration (the Savior). This translation marks the establishment of his liturgical commemoration, and it is kept as a second feast on June 5 alongside the principal commemoration of his death on September 19.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints