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Hierarch12th century

Saint Martyrius Archbishop of Novgorod

d. 1199

Also known as Martyrius of Novgorod

Archbishop of Novgorod who founded the Transfiguration monastery in 1192.

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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Martyrius, Archbishop of Novgorod

Life

Martyrius was a twelfth-century hierarch of the Russian Church who served as Archbishop of Novgorod from 1193 until his death in 1199. A native of Stara Rus (Staraya Russa), he came to prominence as the founder of a monastery before his election to the Novgorodian see, and his episcopate is remembered chiefly for an intense program of church-building in and around the city.

He was elevated to the archiepiscopal rank in Kiev in December 1193, having been chosen by lot to succeed Archbishop Gregory. Over the following years he contracted for and consecrated a series of churches and monasteries, work that culminated in the stone church of the Transfiguration consecrated in 1198. He died the next year while travelling to Vladimir, and his relics were returned to the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Novgorod.

Troparion1 hymnReadHide
TroparionTone 4

In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,
an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;
your humility exalted you;
your poverty enriched you.
Hierarch Father Martyrius,
entreat Christ our God
that our souls may be saved.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline5 momentsReadHide
  1. 1192Founds the Transfiguration monasteryAt Stara Rus, on the northeast side of the city near the right bank of the Polista River, Martyrius founded a men's monastery dedicated to the Transfiguration.
  2. December 10, 1193Elevated to archbishop in KievChosen by lot at Novgorod following the death of Archbishop Gregory, he was raised to the rank of archbishop in Kiev.
  3. 1195–1197Program of church-buildingHe contracted for a church of the Mother of God (May 1195), consecrated a Resurrection church at Lake Myachina (September 13, 1196), and in January 1197 consecrated churches of Saint Cyril of Alexandria and of Saint Nikephoros and contracted a women's monastery dedicated to Saint Euphemia.
  4. August 15, 1198Consecrates the stone Transfiguration churchBegun in May 1198, the stone church in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord was consecrated by Martyrius the same year.
  5. August 24, 1199Death while travelling to VladimirHe died on the shore of Lake Seliger while travelling to Vladimir with representatives of Novgorod.

Contributions & Legacy

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Episcopate and church-building

Before his election Martyrius was already established as a monastic founder, having endowed the Transfiguration monastery at Stara Rus in 1192. After his elevation at Kiev in 1193 he became known as a tireless builder and consecrator of churches across the Novgorodian lands.

The sources record a concentrated burst of activity in the mid-1190s: a church of the Mother of God contracted at the city gates in 1195, the consecration of a Resurrection church at a women's monastery by Lake Myachina in 1196, and in January 1197 the consecration of churches of Saint Cyril of Alexandria and Saint Nikephoros together with the founding of a women's monastery dedicated to Saint Euphemia. The stone church of the Transfiguration, begun in May 1198, was consecrated that August.

Relics and Shrines

After his death on Lake Seliger his body was carried to Novgorod and laid in the so-called Martyriev Portico of the Cathedral of St. Sophia, which preserves his name. An icon of the saint is kept in the altar of the same cathedral. By tradition his canonization is dated to 1511.

Member ofReadHide
Synaxis of the Hierarchs of Novgorod
Commemorated together · Feb 10; Oct 4
Related Saints1 saintShowHide

Saints connected to his life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

The synaxis of the Novgorod hierarchs, in which he is numbered.
Synaxisof the Hierarchs of Novgorod

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