The Church commemorates St. Dimitry of Rostov

Icon of St. Dimitry of Rostov. Photo: open sources

On October 4 (September 21 according to the Julian calendar), the Church celebrates the uncovering of the relics of St. Dimitry of Rostov – one of the greatest spiritual teachers, author of the monumental collection of the Lives of the Saints, and the most prolific writer in the Church Slavonic language. Academician D. S. Likhachov called him “the last writer of Ancient Rus,” who had “enormous significance for the entire Orthodox East and South of Europe.”

The saint’s roots are inseparably connected with Ukraine. Danylo Tuptalo was born in December 1651 in the town of Makariv near Kyiv, into the family of a simple Cossack. He received his education at the renowned Kyiv Brotherhood Collegium of Petro Mohyla, where his exceptional talents were revealed – talents that would later earn him fame as a “golden-tongued teacher.”

Danylo took monastic vows at the Kyiv Cyril Monastery in Syrets, receiving the name Dimitry. His early ministry took place in Chernihiv, where under Archbishop Lazar Baranovych a powerful intellectual center was emerging to counter Latin influences. A significant part of the saint’s life was connected with the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, where he worked on his chief work – the complete collection of the Lives of the Saints.

St. Dimitry was also the founder of the first provincial theological school in Russia. He reposed on October 28, 1709, in Rostov, during prayer. Forty-two years later, his incorrupt relics were discovered, and in 1757 he was canonized.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that a chapel dedicated to St. Dimitry of Rostov was consecrated in his native town.

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