Martyrius of Novgorod

Holy Hierarch Martyrius of Novgorod, an archbishop, was born in Staraya Russa. In 1192 he founded, on the northeastern side of the city, near the right bank of the river Polist, the men's monastery of the Transfiguration. He was set on the throne of Novgorod by lot, after the death of the Holy Hierarch Gregory (died 1193; commemorated 24 May). On 10 December 1193 he was consecrated archbishop at Kyiv. He was renowned as a tireless builder of churches. In May 1195 he laid the foundation of a church of the Mother of God over the city gates, and on 13 September 1196 he consecrated the church of the Resurrection of the Lord in a new convent at Lake Myachino. In January 1197 he consecrated the church of Saint Cyril of Alexandria in the men's monastery of the same name, three versts from Novgorod. In 1197 he laid the foundation, in the Carpenters' quarter, of a convent of the Great Martyr Euphemia, built by a devout young woman of Gorodishche. In January 1197 he consecrated in the Transfiguration monastery of Staraya Russa the church of Saint Nicephorus, patriarch of Constantinople. In May 1198 he began a stone church of the Transfiguration and consecrated it on 15 August of the same year. In that year Princess Helen, wife of Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich, built on the merchants' side, at Molotkovo, a church of the Nativity of the Mother of God in the monastery founded by Saint Martyrius, in memory of a miracle: a devout Novgorodian went to church every day; one day, returning tired, he fell asleep and dropped the prosphora of the Mother of God. Dogs smelled the bread and ran to it, but sprang back, driven away by an invisible force.

The Grand Prince Vsevolod was displeased with the Novgorodians, and in 1199 Saint Martyrius set out with representatives of the townspeople for Vladimir. On the road, on the shore of Lake Seliger, he departed to the Lord on 24 August 1199. His body was brought to Novgorod and buried in the Martyrius porch of the cathedral of Saint Sophia, so called because the saint built it. His image is known in the altar of the Saint Sophia cathedral of Novgorod.

He is commemorated on the movable day around 11 July, in the new style, in the Synaxis of the Saints of Novgorod.