Attributed to Nestor the Chronicler · Complete work
1015, Part 2: In Praise of the Martyrs; Yaroslav against Sviatopolk
1015, Part 2: In Praise of the Martyrs; Yaroslav against Sviatopolk of 46. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
Open the complete readerOriginal Old East Slavic
Принесеся на жерътву Богови, въ воню благоухания, жерьтва словесная, и прия вѣнѣць, вшед в небесныя обители, и узрѣ желаемаго брата своего, и радовашеся с нимь неизреченьною радостью, юже улучиста братолюбьемь своимь. «Се коль добро и коль красно еже жити братома вкупѣ!» А оканни же вьзвратишася вьспять, якоже рече Давидъ: «Възвратишася грѣшници въ адъ». И пакы: «Оружье изьвлѣкоша грѣшници и напрягоша лукы своя истрѣляти нища и убога, заклати правыя сердцемь, и оружье ихъ вниде въ сердца ихъ, и луци ихъ скрушаться. Яко грѣшници погибнуть изьщезающе яко дымъ погибьнуть».
Онѣм же пришедшимъ, повѣдающимъ Святополку, яко «Створихомъ повѣленое тобою». Он же, се слыша, и вьзвеселися сердце его болма, и не вѣды Давида, глаголюща: «Что ся хвалиши о злобѣ, силный? Безаконье умысли языкъ твой, яко бритва изострена. Створилъ еси лесть, вьзлюбилъ еси злобу паче благостыня, неправду, неже глаголати правду. Возлюбилъ еси вся глаголы потопныя, языкъ льстивъ. Сего ради Богъ раздрушить тя до конца и вьстерьгнеть тя от села твоего и корень твой от земля живущихъ». Якоже и Соломонъ рче: «Азъ вашей погибели посмѣюся, порадую же ся, внегда грядеть на вы пагуба. Тѣмже снѣдять своего труда плоды и своея нечести насытяться».
Глѣбу же убьену и повѣржену бывшю на брезѣ межю двѣима кладома. По сем же вьземше и везоша ̀и, и положиша ̀и у брата своего Бориса у церькви святаго Василья.
Совокуплена тѣлома, паче же и душама, у владыкы всих цесаря пребывающа в радости бесконѣчнѣй и въ свѣтѣ неизреченьнемь, подающа ицѣления дары Руськой землѣ, инѣмь приходящимъ правою вѣрою даета ицѣление: хромымъ ходити, слѣпымъ прозрѣние, болящимъ цѣлбы, окованымъ разьдрѣшение, тѣмницамъ отверзение, печалнымъ утѣху, напастьнымъ избавление. И еста заступника Руськой земли, и свѣтѣлника сияюща воину и молящася воину ко владыци о своихъ людехъ. Тѣмже и мы долъжни есме хвалити достойно страстотерпца Христова, молящеся прилѣжно к нима, рекуще: «Радуйтася, страстотерпца Христова, заступьника Руськой земли, еже ицѣление подаета приходящимъ к вамъ вѣрою и любовью. Радуйтася, небесьная жителя, въ плоти ангела быста, единомысленна служителя, вьрьста единообразна, святымь единодушьна, тѣмь стражющимь всимъ исцѣление подаета. Радуйтеся, Борисе и Глѣбе богомудрая, яко потока точита от кладязя воды живоносныя исцѣления, истѣкають вѣрнымъ людемъ на ицѣление. Радуйтася, луча свѣтозарная и явистася, яко свѣтилѣ озаряюща всю землю Рускую, всегда тму отгоняща, являющася вѣрою неуклоньною. Радуйтася, недрѣманьная ока стяжавша, душа на свѣршение Божиихъ святыхъ заповѣдий приимша въ сердци своемь, блаженая. Радуйтася, брата, вкупѣ в мѣстѣхъ златозарныхъ, в селѣхъ небесныхъ, и въ славѣ неувядающей, еяже по достоянию сподобистася. Радуйтеся, Божьими свѣтлостьми явѣ облистаеми, всего мира обьходита, бѣсы отгоняюща, недугы ицѣляюща, свѣтелника предобрая и заступника теплая, суща сь Богомъ, божественами лучами разжизаеми воину, добляя страстьника, душа просвѣщающа вѣрнымъ людемь. Вьзвысила бо есть ваю свѣтоносная небеснаа любы, тѣмь красныхъ всих наслѣдоваста въ небеснемь житьи, славу, и райскую пищю, свѣтъ разумный, красная радости. Радуйтася, яко напаяющиа сердца, горести и болезнемь отгоняща, страсти злыя ицѣляюща, каплями кровныими, святыми очервивьша багряницю, преславная, ту же красно носяща съ Христомъ царствуете всегда, молящеся за новыя люди хрестьяньскыя и сродьникы своя. Земля Руская благословися ваю кровью, и мощьми положениемь въ церкви, духомъ божествнѣ просвѣщаете, в нейже с мученикы яко мученика за люди своя молита. Радуеться церквы свѣтозарное солнце, стяжавши вьсходъ, всегда просвѣщаеть въ страданьи въ славу ваю мученикомъ. Радуйтася, свѣтлѣи звѣздѣ, заутра вьсходящи. Но и христолюбивая заступника наша, страстотерпца, покорита поганыя под нозѣ княземь нашимъ, молящася ко владыцѣ и Богу нашему, и мирьно пребывати въ совокупьлении и въ здравьи, избавляюща от усобныя рати и от пронырьства дьяволя, сподобита же и насъ, поющихъ и почитающихъ ваю честное торьжество въ вся вѣкы до скончания.
Святополкъ же оканьный, злый уби Святьслава, пославь кь горѣ Угорьской, бѣжащу ему въ Угры. И нача помышляти, яко «Избью всю братью свою и прииму власть рускую единъ». Помысли высокоумьемь своимь, а не вѣды, яко «Даеть Богъ власть, емуже хощеть, поставляеть цесаря и князя Вышений, емуже хощет, дасть». Аще бо кая земля управить предъ Богомъ, поставляеть цесаря и князя правѣдна, любяща судъ и правду, и властеля устраяет, судью, правяща судъ. Аще бо князи правдиви бывають на земли, то много отдаються согрѣшения, аще ли зли и лукави бывають, то болшее зло наводить Богъ на землю ту, понеже глава есть земли […]. Тако бо Исая рече: «Согрѣшиша от главы и до ногу, еже есть от цесаря и до простыхъ людий». «Лютѣ бо граду тому, в немже князь унъ», любя вино пити со гусльми и съ младыми свѣтникы. Сяковыя Богъ даеть за грѣхы, а старыя, мудрыя отъемлеть, якоже Исая глаголеть: «Отъиметь Господь от Ерусалима крѣпость и крѣпкаго исполина, и человѣка храбра, и судью, и пророка, и смирена старца, и дивна свѣтника, и мудра хытрѣца, разумьна послушника. И поставьлю уношю князя имъ и ругателя имъ, обладающа ими».
Святополкъ же оканьны нача княжити в Кыевѣ. И созвавъ люди, и нача даяти овѣмь корьзна, а другимъ кунами, и раздая множьство. Ярославу же не вѣдущю отни смерти, варязи бяху мнози у Ярослава и насилье творяху новгородьцемь. И, вьставша на нь, новгородьци избиша варягы въ дворѣ Поромони. И разгнѣвася Ярославъ и, шедъ на Рокъмъ, и сѣде въ дворѣ. И пославъ к новьгородьцемь и рече: «Уже мнѣ сихъ не крѣсити». И позва к собѣ; нарочитая мужа, иже бяху исьсѣкли варяги, и обльсти я сице, исѣче их 1000. В ту же нощь приде ему вѣсть ис Кыева от сестры его Передьславы: «Отець ти умерлъ, а Святополкъ сѣдить в Киевѣ, уби Бориса и по Глѣба посла, а ты блюдися сего повелику». И се слышавъ, Ярославъ печаленъ бысть по отци, и по брату, и о дружинѣ.
Заутра же собравъ избытокъ новгородцевь и рече Ярославъ: «О, любимая дружино, юже избихъ вчера, а нынѣ быша надобѣ». И утре слезъ и рече имъ на вѣчѣ: «Отець мой умерлъ, а Святополкъ сѣдить в Кыевѣ, избивая братью свою». И рѣша новгородьцѣ: «Аще, княже, братья наша исѣченѣ суть, можемь по тобѣ бороти». И собра Ярославъ варягъ тысящю, а прочихъ вой 40 тысящь и поиде на Святополка, нарекъ Бога, рекъ: «Не азъ почахъ избивать братью, но онъ; да будеть Богъ отместьникъ крови брату моея, зане без вины пролья кровь Борисову и Глѣбову праведною. Еда и мнѣ си же створить? Но суди ми, Господи, по правдѣ, да скончаеться злоба грѣшнаго». И поиде на Святополка.
Слышавъ же Святополкъ идуща Ярослава и пристрои бе-щисла вой — руси и печенѣгъ — и изииде противу Любчю об онъ полъ Днѣпра, а Ярославъ обь сю.
Musean translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the Old East Slavic text of the Hypatian Codex (O. V. Tvorogov’s 1997 edition, pinned Russian Wikisource revision), covering the undated introduction and every annal from 6360 to 6625 (852–1117 CE). Worker drafts were checked against the source paragraph by paragraph before publication. Years keep the chronicle’s own reckoning from the creation of the world; subtract 5508 for the approximate year CE, as the chapter titles do.
He was offered up as a sacrifice to God, a sacrifice of praise, in the fragrance of sweet savor, and received a crown and entered the heavenly abodes; and he beheld his longed-for brother and rejoiced with him in joy unspeakable, which the two had attained through their love as brothers. “Behold how good and how lovely it is for brothers to dwell together!” But the villains turned back in retreat, as David said: “The sinners shall return to hell.” And again: “The sinners have drawn their weapons and bent their bows, to shoot down the poor and needy, to slaughter the upright of heart; and their weapons shall enter into their own hearts, and their bows shall be broken. For the sinners shall perish — they shall perish, vanishing like smoke.”
When they came and reported to Sviatopolk, “We have done what you commanded,” he heard it and his heart rejoiced greatly — not knowing what David says: “Why do you boast in wickedness, mighty man? Your tongue has devised lawlessness, like a sharpened razor. You have wrought deceit; you have loved evil more than goodness, falsehood more than speaking the truth. You have loved all words that swallow up, O deceitful tongue. Therefore God will shatter you utterly, will tear you up from your dwelling and root you out of the land of the living.” As Solomon also says: “I will mock at your perdition and rejoice when ruin comes upon you; therefore you shall eat the fruits of your labor and be sated with your ungodliness.”
Gleb was slain and cast on the shore between two logs. Afterward they took him up, carried him, and laid him beside his brother Boris at the church of St. Basil.
United in body and more still in soul, they abide with the Master of all, the Emperor, in joy without end and in light unspeakable, bestowing gifts of healing on the land of Rus'; and to those who come to them in right faith they give healing: to the lame, walking; to the blind, sight; to the sick, cures; to the chained, unbinding; to the imprisoned, the opening of their cells; to the sad, comfort; to the afflicted, deliverance. They are the defenders of the land of Rus', two lamps ever shining and ever praying to the Master for their own people. Therefore we too are bound to worthily praise the passion-bearers of Christ, praying fervently to them and saying: “Rejoice, passion-bearers of Christ, defenders of the land of Rus', who grant healing to those who come to you in faith and love. Rejoice, heavenly dwellers, who in the flesh were like angels, of one mind as servants, peers of one likeness, one in soul with the saints, granting healing to all who suffer. Rejoice, Boris and Gleb, wise in God: like a stream from a well you pour living water, healings flowing to the faithful people for their healing. Rejoice, radiant rays, who appeared as two lamps enlightening all the land of Rus', ever driving away the darkness, revealed in unwavering faith. Rejoice, who gained unsleeping eyes, O blessed ones, who took into your heart a soul set on the fulfilling of God's holy commandments. Rejoice, brothers, together in the golden-radiant places, in the heavenly dwellings, and in glory unfading, of which you were made worthy as was fitting. Rejoice, plainly lit about by the brightness of God: you circle the whole world, driving out devils, healing ills — most lovely lights and warm defenders, abiding with God, ever kindled with divine rays, good passion-bearers, enlightening the souls of the faithful people. For light-bearing heavenly love has exalted you both; therefore you have inherited, in the life of heaven, the beauty of all things: glory and the food of paradise, the light of understanding, the beauty of joy. Rejoice, who water the heart, driving away bitterness and sickness, healing evil passions; most glorious, who crimsoned the purple robe with drops of your holy blood and bear it fair, you reign forever with Christ, praying for the new Christian people and for your kin. The land of Rus' is blessed by your blood, and by the laying of your relics in the church, which you enlighten with the divine Spirit; there, among the martyrs, you pray as martyrs for your own people. The church rejoices in the radiant sun it has gained, whose rising always enlightens it — in your passion and in your glory, O martyrs. Rejoice, brightest stars, rising at dawn. And you, Christ-loving defenders of ours, passion-bearers, subdue the pagans under the feet of our princes, praying to the Master and our God that we may abide peacefully in concord and in health, delivering us from internecine strife and from the devil's cunning; and vouchsafe also to us, who sing and honor your noble triumph, this at all times, to the end.
The accursed Sviatopolk, the wicked one, killed Sviatoslav, sending men to the Hungarian Hill as he fled toward the Magyars. And he began to think: “I will kill all my brothers and take the power of Rus' alone.” He thought in his own proud mind, not knowing that “God gives power to whom he will; the Most High sets up emperor and prince, and gives it to whom he will.” For if any land is set right before God, he sets over it emperor and prince who are just, loving judgment and righteousness, and provides its ruler, a judge who renders judgment. For when the princes of a land are just, many sins are remitted; but when they are evil and cunning, God brings a greater evil upon that land, for the prince is the head of the land […]. So Isaiah said: “They have sinned from head to foot — that is, from the emperor to the common people.” “Woe to that city in which the prince is young,” loving to drink wine to the lyre with young counselors. God gives such men for sins, and takes away the old and the wise, as Isaiah says: “The Lord will take away from Jerusalem the strong man and the mighty giant, the brave man, the judge, the prophet, the gentle elder, the marvelous counselor, the wise craftsman, the understanding listener; and I will set young men as their princes, and mockers shall rule over them.”
The accursed Sviatopolk began to rule in Kyiv. And he summoned the people and began to give to some cloaks and to others kunas, and distributed a great quantity. Yaroslav, not yet knowing of his father's death, kept many Varangians about him, and they did violence to the men of Novgorod. And the Novgorodians rose against them and killed the Varangians in Poromon's court. And Yaroslav was enraged; he went to Rakom and sat down in his court. And he sent to the Novgorodians and said: “These men I can never bring back to life.” And he summoned to himself the notable men who had cut down the Varangians, and, deceiving them, cut them down — 1000 of them. That very night news came to him from Kyiv from his sister Predslava: “Your father is dead, and Sviatopolk sits in Kyiv; he has killed Boris, and has sent after Gleb — so guard yourself well.” Hearing this, Yaroslav grieved for his father, and for his brother, and for his retinue.
Next morning Yaroslav gathered the remnant of the Novgorodians and said: “O beloved retinue, whom I cut down yesterday — today you would have been needed.” And wiping away his tears, he spoke to them in the assembly: “My father is dead, and Sviatopolk sits in Kyiv, killing his brothers.” And the Novgorodians said: “If our brothers have been slain, prince, we can fight at your side.” And Yaroslav gathered 1000 Varangians and 40 thousand of the other troops and marched against Sviatopolk, calling on God and saying: “I did not begin to slay my brothers, but he. Let God be the avenger of my brothers' blood, for without guilt he shed the righteous blood of Boris and Gleb. Would he do the same to me also? But judge me, Lord, according to righteousness, that the malice of the sinner may come to an end.” And he marched against Sviatopolk.
Hearing that Yaroslav was coming, Sviatopolk mustered troops beyond number — Rus' and Pechenegs — and marched out toward Liubech on the far side of the Dnieper, and Yaroslav on this side.
Plain English translation
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from the same Old East Slavic text of the Hypatian Codex, paragraph for paragraph, and checked against the source before publication.
He was offered as a sacrifice to God, a spiritual sacrifice in the fragrance of a sweet smell, and he received a crown and entered the heavenly dwellings. He saw the brother he longed for and rejoiced with him with joy beyond words, the joy the two of them had won by their love as brothers. “See how good and how lovely it is for brothers to live together!” But the cursed men turned back, as David said: “The sinners shall return to hell.” And again: “The sinners drew their weapons and bent their bows, to shoot down the poor and the needy, to slaughter the upright in heart; and their weapons entered their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. The sinners will perish; vanishing, they will perish like smoke.”
When they came back and told Sviatopolk, “We have done what you ordered,” his heart was very glad when he heard it. He did not know what David says: “Why do you boast of evil, mighty man? Your tongue has devised iniquity, like a sharpened razor. You have practiced deceit; you have loved evil more than goodness, unrighteousness more than speaking the truth. You have loved every destructive word, you deceitful tongue. Therefore God will crush you utterly and cast you out of your tent, and your root from the land of the living.” As Solomon also says: “I will laugh at your destruction and rejoice when ruin comes upon you. Then they will eat the fruit of their labor and be filled with their own wickedness.”
Gleb had been killed and thrown on the bank between two logs. Afterward they took him up, carried him, and laid him beside his brother Boris, by the church of St. Basil.
The two of them are joined in body, and even more in soul, and they dwell with the Master of all, the emperor, in endless joy and in light beyond words. They give the gifts of healing to the land of Rus', and to others who come with the true faith they give healing: to the lame, walking; to the blind, sight; to the sick, cures; to those in chains, release; to prisoners, open doors; to the sad, comfort; to those in trouble, deliverance. They are the protectors of the land of Rus', bright lamps always shining and always praying to the Lord for their own people. So we too must worthily praise the passion-bearers of Christ, praying earnestly to them and saying: “Rejoice, passion-bearers of Christ, protectors of the land of Rus', who give healing to those who come to you with faith and love. Rejoice, inhabitants of heaven, angels in the flesh, like-minded servants, equal in rank and alike in form, one in soul with the saints; therefore you give healing to all who suffer. Rejoice, Boris and Gleb, divinely wise, like streams flowing from a wellspring of life-giving, healing water; it pours out to the faithful people for their healing. Rejoice, radiant beams who have appeared, shining like lamps over the whole land of Rus', always driving away the darkness, showing yourselves with unswerving faith. Rejoice, blessed ones, who gained an eye that never sleeps and took into your hearts the soul's resolve to fulfill God's holy commandments. Rejoice, brothers together in the golden-bright places, the heavenly dwellings, and in unfading glory, of which you were found worthy as was fitting. Rejoice, plainly radiant with God's light; you go around the whole world, driving out demons and healing sicknesses—most kindly lamps and warm protectors, standing with God, ever kindled by divine beams, good passion-bearers, giving light to the souls of the faithful people. The light-bearing love of heaven has raised you high; therefore in the heavenly life you inherited the beauty of all things: glory, the food of paradise, the light of understanding, the beauty of joy. Rejoice, who give drink to the heart and drive away bitterness and sickness, who heal evil passions; most glorious ones, with drops of your holy blood you reddened the purple robe, and wearing it you reign in beauty with Christ forever, praying for the new Christian people and for your own kin. The land of Rus' is blessed by your blood and by the laying of your relics in the church; you give it divine light, and in it, with the martyrs, you two, like martyrs, pray for your own people. The church rejoices in the radiant sun; it has gained its rising and is always lit by your suffering, to the glory of you, martyrs. Rejoice, bright stars rising in the morning. And now, our Christ-loving protectors and passion-bearers, subdue the pagans under the feet of our princes, praying to the Master and our God that we may live in peace, in unity and in health; deliver us from civil war and from the devil's cunning; and count us too, who sing and honor your noble feast, worthy, for all the ages, to the end.”
The cursed, wicked Sviatopolk killed Sviatoslav: he sent men to the Hungarian Mountain, where Sviatoslav was fleeing to the Hungarians. Then he began to think: “I will kill all my brothers and take the power of Rus' alone.” He thought in his pride, not knowing that “God gives power to whomever he wishes; the Most High sets up the emperor and the prince and gives it to whomever he wants.” For if a land stands right before God, God sets over it an emperor and a prince who is righteous, who loves judgment and righteousness, and he appoints a ruler and a judge who administers justice. When the princes of a land are just, many sins are forgiven; but when they are evil and cunning, God brings greater evil on that land, because the prince is the head of the land […]. So Isaiah said: “They have sinned from head to foot—that is, from the emperor to the common people.” “Woe to that city whose prince is a youth,” one who loves to drink wine with the lyre and with young counselors. God gives such princes for sins and takes away the old and wise ones, as Isaiah says: “The Lord will take away from Jerusalem the strong man and the mighty warrior, the brave man and the judge and the prophet, the gentle elder and the wonderful counselor and the wise craftsman and the understanding helper. And I will set a boy as their prince and a mocker as their ruler, one who lords it over them.”
The cursed Sviatopolk began to rule in Kyiv. He called the people together and began giving gifts: to some fur cloaks, to others kunas, and he gave out a great deal. Yaroslav did not yet know of his father's death. Many Varangians were with Yaroslav, and they did violence to the men of Novgorod. The men of Novgorod rose up against them and killed the Varangians in Poromon's courtyard. Yaroslav was angry, went to Rakom, and sat in the compound. He sent to the men of Novgorod and said: “I cannot bring these men back to life.” Then he called to himself the leading men who had killed the Varangians, tricked them, and cut down a thousand of them. That same night news came to him from Kyiv from his sister Predslava: “Your father has died, and Sviatopolk sits in Kyiv. He has killed Boris and sent men after Gleb. Guard yourself well against him.” Hearing this, Yaroslav grieved for his father, for his brother, and for his retinue.
In the morning Yaroslav gathered the remaining men of Novgorod and said: “O beloved retinue, whom I cut down yesterday—how I need them now.” He wiped away his tears and said to them at the assembly: “My father has died, and Sviatopolk sits in Kyiv, killing his brothers.” The men of Novgorod said: “Even though our brothers have been cut down, prince, we can still fight for you.” Yaroslav gathered a thousand Varangians and 40,000 other troops and marched on Sviatopolk, calling on God and saying: “I did not begin the killing of my brothers—he did. Let God be the avenger of my brothers' blood, for he shed the blood of Boris and righteous Gleb without cause. Will he not do the same to me? But judge me, Lord, in righteousness, so that the malice of the sinner may come to an end.” And he marched on Sviatopolk.
Hearing that Yaroslav was coming, Sviatopolk gathered countless troops—Rus' and Pechenegs—and came out against him to Liubech on the far side of the Dnieper, while Yaroslav was on this side.