The main occupation of Ilya of Murom. The feats of Ilya of Murom
Everybody has heard about such a hero of the bylina Ilya Muromets. But not everyone knows about his difficult life, his exploits.
Who are the Russian heroes?
The very word "hero" was first mentioned inthe chronicles of Rus already in the 7th century and replaced the previously used word "khorobr", which means "daring". This word has its roots in the ancient Turkic language, and it originated from the root "batyr" (brave, strong).
At that time the Russian brave warriors constantly fought the nomads on the eastern border of Kievan Rus, it was their people who were called heroes.
The main differences between the warriors from simple warriorsare: an incommensurable love for the Motherland, loyalty to duty, inordinate strength and readiness to rush into the battle every second for the sake of the fatherland, weak, offended people and their honor.
In the picture below the magnificent Russian artist Vasnetsov depicts the three most famous heroes in the history of Russia. From left to right: Dobrynia Nikitich, Ilya Muromets, Alyosha Popovich.
Who is Ilya Muromets
But the most famous and most revered bogatyrin Russia was Ilya Muromets. They remember him not by words, but by deeds brave. The exploits of Ilya of Murom are described in fairy-tale form. However, it should be noted that every magical opponent of him (Nightingale the Robber, Idolishche Poganoy) personified a specific nomadic people (Pechenegs, Polovtsians), with whom at the time of writing epic wars waged Kievan Rus. In those days, these epics were absolutely understandable to the people of that time "chroniclers of the war".
The description of Ilya of Murom in the epics pays more attention to his character, tempered in many heavy battles and formed due to a difficult fate, however, his appearance is not enough.
The relics of the great Russian hero, who isalso saints, rest in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. Judging by the research, Ilya was about 180 cm tall. For those times he was just a huge man, besides, he had a powerful physique.
The photo below shows the cancer with the relics of St. Ilya of Murom (Pechersky).
The hard life of Ilya Muromets
Ilya was born in the village of Karacharovo under the townMurom that in the Vladimir region, that is why it is called Muromets. His father and his mother were simple peasants, working in the field tirelessly. However, their son was born with physical disabilities and could not move his arms and legs at all, and could only sit on the stove.
Until the age of 33 the hero was weak, however, histhe character has become from this incredibly strong, firm and calm. Often an important role in the life of the main characters of the world epic is played by a miracle. All the most significant moments in destiny are wonderful, whether it be a magical birth, healing, the acquisition of immortality or power. Ilya Muromets is no exception. Bylin about miraculous healing confirms this, now we will talk about it.
By the way, it was at the age of 33 that Jesus was crucified, and then Jesus Christ was resurrected.
The photo below: the hero Ilya of Murom on his horse, called Burushka Kosmatushka, performed by Vasnetsov.
Wonderful Healing
The Healing of Elijah of Murom is trulyfabulous. One day, when parents were working in the fields, old Kalki came to the house of Elijah. The editions of the Soviet era do not say exactly who they were. However, in the copies of the epics that were published before the revolution, it is said that the calipers were Jesus Christ and his two apostles.
So the Kalyks came to the house to Ilya. They immediately ask him to bring them water. To this Muromets responds that he is weak, he can not move with his feet and hands. After all, the main occupation of Ilya of Murom for the last 30 years is lying in bed.
In the painting, painted by Andrey Klimenko, Ilya Muromets is depicted in infirmity.
Then the elders, in spite of his words, again askbring water for them. Ilya is not from weak people, for many years of illness his character has become truly amazing, he sincerely wanted to bring water to the Kalikim, put his feet on the floor and immediately felt that they were holding him!
Incredible power came to the poor and infirmcripple, Ilya Muromets became healthy! Bylin continues, the hero gets up, goes to a container of water, fills a full glass and gives it to the elders. However, they ask him to drink the water himself. The water turns out to be holy, healing, and Ilya is completely cured. When he drinks the same water a second time, he feels Muromets absolutely unimaginable power, and one must even drink one more time to reduce such a huge force.
Since the healing of Elijah of Murom is an event indeedmiraculous, the hero must thank the elders for the gift. The Caliki send him to the service of Prince Vladimir and predict that Ilya will be the greatest warrior, and he will not die in battle from an enemy bullet or spear. And the main occupation of Ilya of Murom is henceforth a military undertaking and defense of the homeland. They say that with many heroes he will have to fight, but only with Svyatogor he should not fight, because Svyatogor is too strong.
How Ilya Muromets found armor and a horse
Then the elders tell Ilya that on the way to Kievhe will meet a heavy stone with an inscription. Muromets listens attentively. And then he gathers, says goodbye to his happy parents and moves on foot to the "degree to Kiev". On the way, he really stumbles upon a huge stone, on which it is written:
"Ile, Ilya, a stone from the place of motionless,
There is a hero's horse to you,
With all that armor and heroic.
There is a sable fur coat there,
There is a little silk pintle there,
There is something batting bulat "
With the help of newfound silk she moves himfrom the place, and under the stone the equipment detects, and then the horse runs up to him. Ilya asked him to serve the hero with "faith-and-truth". In response, the horse offers Ilya a unique test, but as soon as Muromets saddles his horse, the need for testing disappears, the horse fully recognizes the Russian hero as his eternal master.
However, there is another version. It says that the elders gave him advice on how to grow his stallion, which is ideal for a hero. To do this, it was necessary to go to the market, not choosing, to buy the first one to get, to care for three months after him, and then three nights to walk on fresh dew.
How Ilya Muromets Defeated the Nightingale the Robber
After Ilya last visited the churchin his hometown of Murom, he sets out on his way to Kiev. On the way, he makes his first feat: rescues the captured Chernigov from the nomads. The townspeople offer him to become a voivode, but he refuses, because he needs to get to Kiev. He asks for directions from the locals.
Townspeople tell him a terrible story about how,that on the road for many years already no one goes, that lives next to the river Smarodinoy in the damp oak Nightingale the robber. He screams and whistles so that he simply kills everyone who gets in his way. But the hero Ilya of Murom is not afraid of Nightingale and goes to that very river.
The Nightingale saw the robber of the brave bold,cried: "What kind of ignoramus is passing here, past my reserved oaks?", and whistled, snarled like an animal. Already the horse Ilya stumbled on the spot from the whirlwind created by the Nightingale.
But Ilya stood up, took out his bogatyr bow and fired a boared arrow into a foe of the worthless, saying:
"You whistle, my arrow is pounded,
Fall into Nightingale the robber! "
And really gets! The Nightingale rolls off the oak tree, and Ilya grabs him, tied him to his saddle and carries a captive wretch to Kiev, Prince Vladimir.
But Vladimir does not believe that someone finally killedThe nightingale is a robber, and when he brings wounded villain Ilya to the prince, he asks him to whistle at half strength. A Nightingale as a whistle! A lot of people died from his piercing cries. Then Ilya decides to take him to the field and cut off the Nightingale's head so that he does not bring more troubles.
By the way, the description of Ilya Muromets, his actions during this battle and the course of the battle itself has not yet been clarified, since there are more than 100 variants of describing what was happening.
Below we see an illustration of Chistyakov on the topic of this epic:
How Ilia met Svyatogor
Interestingly, all the exploits of Ilya of Murom and the eventsin his life can not be arranged in chronological order. Bylin about how the Murom of Svyatogor met, begins: "How not far away in the pure in the poly,
"We could not determine the date or place of the exact spot."
Once Ilya went to the Holy Mountains, just in timepossessions of the Svyatogor. And he sees a marvelous picture: a mighty warrior is sleeping right on the run, sitting on a horse, and this is Svyatogor himself! Do not lose the chance to strike a fatal blow and defeat our hero Ilya Muromets. Bylin reports, however, that Svyatogor continued to sleep peacefully on his horse. Ilya got angry, hit a second time, and then a third. And only then did the mighty warrior wake up. He grabbed Muromets with one hand, put it in his pocket and began to drive through the forest for two days.
Only now the horse Svyatogor tells him that hardTo him to carry already two heroes, the horse stumbles. The mighty warrior decides to go home with his burden. There two heroes talk about life. The good qualities of Ilya Muromets and his honesty inspire confidence in Svyatogor. Two heroes decided to fraternize. They have exchanged their crosses and are now the cross brothers.
Bottom of the illustration is Kotukhina, Ilya Muromets on the left, Svyatogor on the right.
A few minutes later asked his powerful heroThe cross brother open the lid, but it does not lend itself. Ilya takes out his sword and begins to try to cut the lid of the coffin, but without success. Then Svyatogor understands that his turn has come to die.
When Svyatogor dies, part of his strength passes to Ilya Muromets, which makes him even healthier and more powerful.
How Ilya Muromets Overcame the Idol
Once, a huge TatarThe army led by Idolishcha Poganoy! Idol came to the prince of Kiev, but Vladimir is frightened and invites the adversary to his feast. The enemy uses the opportunity and superiority in power, imprisons Prince of Kiev in captivity and rejoices in the halls of the princes.
The main occupation of Ilya Muromets is protectionVladimir and Rus, so he immediately goes to Kiev. On the way, he meets an old man traveler and changes his clothes to his own. Now the hero looks like a real pilgrim. He comes to the palace, becomes a member of the feast, begins a conversation with Idol.
Idolishche asks the disguised hero: "Do many Russian athletes drink and eat?" To which Ilya replies that the Tatar warriors eat and drink more. Idol is mocking the glorious Russian knights. Then the disguised Muromets intervenes in the conversation and says that the Tatars are like cows who ate a lot and burst from greed.
Idolis rushes to the "old man" with a knife, but in thismoment Ilya drops the mantle of the pilgrim, grabs Idolishche with one hand just on the fly and chop off the enemy's head. Then he goes out into the yard and straightens himself with the help of a crutch alone with all the Tatars and gets Prince Vladimir out of prison.
Ilya Muromets and Kalin-Tsar
Once Prince Vladimir was very angry andIlya Muromets was imprisoned for three years in the deepest cellar, he chained it with chains. However, the prince's daughter makes secretly forged keys and supplies the honored hero with hearty food and warm clothes.
At the same time, Kalin-Tsar is going tohis huge army to Kiev. He threatens to ruin the city, burn all the churches and cut out all the townspeople together with the princely family. To prevent this from happening, the prince must clear all the streets from people, place barrels with hops everywhere and let the Tatar army enter personally for entertainment in the city. Prince Vladimir asks Kalina-tsar exactly three years to fulfill the requirements.
And then the time comes. Kalin-tsar and his huge army right on the doorstep of Kiev! Vladimir in deep sorrow for the fact that he himself killed the defender of his Ilya of Murom, there is no one to stand up for Kiev-grad! However, the daughter, who all these years supplied Ilya with provisions, says that beloved warrior Ilya Muromets is alive. Bylina does not end there.
Ilya, inspired by his release from prison,dressed in armor, sits on a horse and one rides to fight the Tatar army in the open field, he asked to help him other Russian heroes, but they all refused, saying that they do not see anything good in the prince of Kiev and will not help him.
And, naturally, one is not a warrior in the field! Ilya interrupted most of the Tatar army, but alone he could not cope. And then he falls into a trap, not listening to his horse. The horse told him that there are three digging in the field, the first two horses will jump over, but after the third - no. Due to his self-confidence, Ilya is captured by Kalin-tsar.
Kalin-tsar offers the hero to serve with him, butproud and faithful to his country, Ilya refuses. He emerges from the tsar's tent, but the Tatars try to stop him and again shackle him, then he grabs one of them by the legs and, waving the Tartar like a club, breaks through the whole army.
Ilya's whistle comes to himBurushka-Kosmatushka, he visits the highest mountain and shoots in the direction of the priest Samson Samoilovich. He wakes from an easy scratch, realizes that this is a message from Muromets, and immediately orders all the heroes to saddle their horses and go to the rescue to the hero Ilya.
All together they disperse the army of the Tatars, take Kalina-tsar prisoner, and make him pay a great tribute to the Kiev prince.
Ilya Muromets and the Invader Bogatyr
Once the hero Ilya Muromets decided to take a walkin Russia, check all the boundaries. Ilya was riding and driving, and Ilya was traveling, and he saw far away a cloud of dust. Ilya of Murom rides there to check, and what a marvelous thing is happening there! And he sees that on the land of a Russian foreigner, the hero is having fun.
Two heroes met and got involved with themtalk about what kind of heroes are healthier and stronger. He began to praise himself by another's hero, and to torment our Muromets. Then the Russian hero became angry, took out his sword hero and rushed to his offender!
Silenus was a foreign hero, three days and three nightsthey fought on an equal footing and tirelessly. But on the third day the foreigner became tired, and then Ilya grabbed him, picked him up with his two powerful hands above the ground, and then simply slashed him to the ground!
The picture below is drawn by Shitikov.
The memory of the great hero
Like all of us, the hero Ilya of Murom is mortal. For about 40 years he felt that he was becoming weak, went to the monastery, prayed for days and practically did not sleep. So he finished his military life, and at the age of about 45 years he went to another world, to the Kingdom of Heaven. In 1643 he was listed as a saint, and since January 1, the Russian Church has celebrated his memory.
The main occupation of Ilya Muromets throughout the wholelife is a military matter, but Ilya - the only Russian hero was born into a peasant family. He combines the image of a simple Russian peasant, the greatest warrior and defender, a mythological hero and even a saint!
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