George of Chernigov

Holy Right-⁠Believing George of Chernigov, called in the sources George Vsevolodovich, was Grand Prince of Vladimir and fell on the battlefield against the Tatars on 4 March 1238. The link with Chernigov probably comes from his wife, a daughter of a prince of Chernigov.

He was born in 1189, the son of Grand Prince Vsevolod III. In 1211 he married Agafia, daughter of the Prince of Chernigov Vsevolod Chermny, and in 1212 his father named him heir, passing over his elder brother Constantine. The war between the brothers ended in George's defeat at Lipitsa (1216) and his exile to Gorodets. Constantine died in 1219, and George returned to the throne of Vladimir. In 1221 he laid the foundation of Nizhny Novgorod.

In 1238 Batu reached Vladimir; the city fell on 7 February, his wife and family perished in the flames, and his sons Vsevolod and Mstislav fell in battle. George prepared for a decisive fight and died among his soldiers on the Sit river. Bishop Cyril of Rostov found his headless body among the dead, recognised it by his princely clothing and laid it in the church of the Mother of God at Rostov; the head was found as well. In 1239 his brother Yaroslav moved the body to Vladimir, to the Dormition Cathedral. The relics were uncovered on 5 January 1645 and placed in a shrine. He is commemorated locally on 4 February, old style.