Vsevolod Chermnago's son, Prince Michael, was the great-grandson of Grand Duke Vsevolod Olgovich, the brother of the Holy Martyr Igor. Olgovichi constantly fought with the descendants of Monomakh for the Grand Duchy of Kiev. In the time of St. Michael, the house of Monomakh was already connected by marriage with the Olgovich family (the Grand Duke of Suzdal, St. George, married the sister of Michael), but, despite this, internecine strife broke out among many Russian princes. Angry at each other, they shamelessly ruined the fatherland, for which Russia suffered a terrible punishment - the Mongol yoke.

In 1206, Mikhail received the reign of Pereyaslavl from his father, but when Vsevolod was forced to flee Kiev, his son also retired to Chernigov. At this time, Genghis Khan's generals reached the Dnieper itself. The people, waiting for death, prayed in the temples - and this time God heard their prayer. The Tatars, finding no powerful resistance, suddenly turned to the East and hurried to join Genghis Khan in Great Bukharia, who decided to crush the then powerful Tangut king.

Russia has rested: a terrible cloud suddenly appeared over its borders, and disappeared. "Whom did God send in his wrath to the Russian land? - said the people. "Where did these dreadful strangers come from?" Where did they go?.." The villages that the Tartars had laid waste on the eastern banks of the Dnieper were still smoking in ruins: fathers and mothers mourned the slain, but many were completely reassured, for the past evil seemed to them the last.

The princes of southern Russia, who had experienced the onslaught of hordes of Asians, demanded help from Grand Duke George, but, not foreseeing the future, the people of Vladimir and Suzdal consoled themselves with the thought that God had saved them from the calamity that other Russians had suffered. George, who had once been humiliated by Mstislav of Galicia, could even see him in misery with secret pleasure: the long-term glory and victory of this prince aroused envy. The princes of Russia, on the contrary, seemed in a hurry to take advantage of the lull in order to spread the fresh wound of the fatherland with new civil strife. George and his brother Yaroslav threatened Novgorod by occupying Torzhok, because the Grand Duke was annoyed with many local officials for their self-will. Having entered into negotiations with the ambassadors, George relented, did not go with the sword to the brothers. At his command, Mikhail of Chernigov was sent to Novgorod to rule. The prince's reign was peaceful and happy. "Our whole region," says the chronicler of Novgorod, " blessed its lot without feeling any burden." George, when standing in Torzhok, seized the treasury: Mikhail, accompanied by noble officials, went to Vladimir and received George's consent to return the illegal loot. The people loved the prince, but Mikhail considered himself a stranger in northern Russia, he longed for his homeland, where peace and quiet reigned again. In vain did the zealous Novgorodians prove to him that the prince, beloved by the people, could not leave him: Michael said goodbye to them, saying that Chernigov and Novgorod should be like one land, and the inhabitants brothers and friends.

Michael, returning from Novgorod to Chernigov, found a dangerous enemy in Oleg of Kursk and demanded help from George, his son-in-law, who himself brought his army to him. Fortunately, Metropolitan Kirill was there. He did everything to prevent bloodshed, reconciled the enemies: after that, Michael reigned calmly.

In 1229, when the Prince of Chernigov learned of the arrest of the Novgorod ambassadors in Smolensk, he immediately went to Novgorod, where the people received him with unanimous joy. Asserting even greater love for himself, Mikhail swore not to violate the rights of liberty and letters of the great Yaroslav in anything: he released poor villagers who had fled to a foreign land for five years from tribute, and ordered others to pay a light tax established by the ancient princes.

Michael, having restored justice, suggested that the Novgorodians choose another saint to replace Anthony, who was unable to manage the diocese due to his health. Fate decided on a choice: three lots were drawn on the altar of St. Sophia: the infant, son Mikhailov, took two; the third-the monk and deacon Spyridon. Chernigov left the young son in Novgorod, having told citizens:

"May God grant that you may honorably return my son to me, and that I may be a mediator of truth and justice for you."

In 1235, Mikhail and his ally Izyaslav Vladimirovich, the grandson of Igor Seversky, captured Kiev and imposed tribute on all the gentiles who lived in the city. Izyaslav remained there to rule, and Mikhail led the squads to the Galician region and occupied its capital.

Having installed his son Rostislav as a prince in Halych (1239), he again took possession of Kiev, but the murder of Khan Mangu's ambassadors (1240), who offered peace to the Kievans, forced Michael to leave for Hungary. Son Rostislav managed to win the friendship of the Hungarian King Bela IV, having received his daughter as his wife. Mikhail thought to find a loyal ally in his relative and suggested that Bela jointly act against the Tatars: to rid the churches and the Christian people of the yoke of the Gentiles, but instead of cordiality, he met with a cold reception. The distressed prince returned to Chernigov, where the dignitaries of the khan then copied the poor remainder of the people and imposed a universal tribute on everyone. They told Mikhail to go to the Horde. It was necessary to submit to circumstances.

Many of the Russian princes had already gone to worship with Khan Batu in the Golden Horde, and there they were forced to observe the pagan custom of worshipping the bush and fire before appearing before the khan with gifts. The Magi did not allow anyone who did not pass through the purifying fire, in their opinion, to enter it. Those who placed the glory of men above the glory of God submitted to the magi, though with a secret reproach of conscience. The prince heard about this and was confused in spirit;

Before leaving Chernigov, he went to confer with his spiritual father John. "Our princes," said John, " who went to the Horde, were deceived by the glory of this light and lost their souls by passing through the fire and worshiping the sun; but you, my son, Prince Michael, if you want to go to the Horde, do not imitate them, but confess there the faith of Christ, which has commanded us to worship only one Lord To Jesus." The prince and his faithful boyar Theodore answered the elder: "Through your prayers, Father, as God praises , so be it. We would like to shed our blood for Christ God and the Christian faith." Then the confessor said to them:"If you do this, you will be new-born martyrs in the present age for the confirmation of the faithful." Both confessors received from the spiritual father, along with divine communion, additional gifts for the journey, and he blessed them, saying: "May the Lord God strengthen you and send you the help of the Holy Spirit, for you want to suffer for Christ and for the true faith."

The Prince and boyar with their young grandson Boris Rostovsky set off on their long journey. The arrival of the Grand Duke of southern Russia in the Horde was announced to the Khan, and he ordered his magi to perform all the rites over them, so that they could legally appear before his face. The magi called Prince Michael on behalf of the khan, and he took his gifts and went with the boyar Theodore after them, but when they wanted to lead the prince and boyar through the fire, Michael courageously said to them:

"No way! I can bow down to your king, for heaven has given him the fate of earthly princes, but a Christian does not serve either fire or deaf idols." Having heard about this from the magi, who were amazed at such boldness, Batu announced to him through his nobleman that he should choose life or death for himself: if he fulfills what he has been told, he will accept the great reign, but if he does not and does not bow down to the sun and idols, he will die a terrible death. "Let it be! the prince replied. "I desire only one thing - to suffer for Christ and shed my blood for the right faith." His young grandson, Prince Boris of Rostov, son of the martyr Vasilko, tearfully begged him: "Bow down, my grandfather, do the will of the khan." In vain did the nobles persuade Michael, and they took upon themselves sin and repentance. But the prince exclaimed, throwing off his mantle: "Away with the glory of this world! I don't want to be called a Christian just by name, but to do the works of pagans."

After that, the blessed prince and his faithful boyar began to sing psalms and recite the rule for divine communion, and partook of the spare gifts that their spiritual father had released with them.

At this sign, the murderers rushed at Mikhail, knocked him to the ground, beat him in the heart, trampled on his feet: the boyars were speechless with horror. Only Theodore stood calmly and encouraged the tormented prince. Perhaps, wanting to end the suffering of the prince, an apostate from the Christian faith, Doman, a resident of Putivl, cut off his head - "and cast him away from the body" (according to the chronicle) " another word I say: I am a Christian!" Batu himself was surprised at Mikhailova's firmness and called him a great husband.

Boyar Theodore suffered the same fate: torn apart by barbarians, he glorified the goodness of heaven and his share and accepted the crown of martyrdom. Their holy bodies were thrown to be devoured by the dogs, but although they lay in an empty place for many days, they remained unharmed by the goodness of God. God-fearing Christians preserved the incorruptible bodies and brought them back to their homeland. The church beatified both the magnanimous prince and his faithful boyar: they were killed on September 20, 1246 and buried in Chernihiv. In 1578, their relics were transferred to Moscow. Tsar John Vasilyevich the Terrible, with a reverent message to the face of the martyrs themselves, summoned them from their native Chernihiv to the Mother See of the capital, handing himself and the kingdom under the shadow of their prayers.

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