Right-believing (Ruler) 13th century

Right-believing Great Prince George of Vladimir

1189 – 1238

Also known as Yuri of Vladimir · Georgy Vsevolodovich

Grand Prince of Vladimir (born 1189) who founded Nizhny Novgorod and fell in battle against the Mongol invaders at the river Sit in 1238.

Feast Day

February 4

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Commemorated as

Holy Right-believing Great Prince George (Yuri) of Vladimir

Life

George (Yuri) Vsevolodovich was Grand Prince of Vladimir in the early thirteenth century and is venerated in the Russian Orthodox Church as a right-believing ruler. Born in 1189, he was a son of the Grand Prince Vsevolod, known by the byname 'Big Nest.' He assumed the great princely throne of Vladimir in 1212 and held it, with one interruption, until his death.

George is remembered both for his governance and for the foundation of the city of Nizhny Novgorod at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers. His reign ended amid the Mongol invasion of the Russian lands under Batu Khan, when the principality of Vladimir-Suzdal was overrun and the prince's family perished in the sack of his capital.

He fell in battle against the Mongol forces at the river Sit on March 4, 1238. His body was first buried by Bishop Cyril at the cathedral in Rostov and afterward translated to the Dormition cathedral in Vladimir. He was glorified by the Russian Church in 1645 and is commemorated on February 4.

Timeline 6 moments Read Hide

1189 Birth Born a son of Grand Prince Vsevolod 'Big Nest' of Vladimir.
1212 Accession Assumed the great princely throne of Vladimir.
1221 Foundation of Nizhny Novgorod Founded Nizhny Novgorod at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers.
1238 Fall of Vladimir The Mongol host of Batu took Vladimir, and the prince's family perished in the city.
Mar 4, 1238 Battle of the Sit George fell in battle against the Mongols at the river Sit.
1645 Glorification Recognized as a saint by the Russian Church.

Contributions & Legacy

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Reign and the Founding of Nizhny Novgorod

George was the son of Vsevolod 'Big Nest,' Grand Prince of Vladimir, and succeeded to the great princely throne in 1212. According to the historical record his father had designated him over an elder brother, Constantine, a choice that occasioned dispute among the princes of the Vladimir-Suzdal lands.

During his reign George conducted a series of campaigns along the eastern frontier, chiefly against the Volga Bulgars and neighboring peoples. In 1221 he founded Nizhny Novgorod at the meeting of the Volga and Oka rivers, a position that secured the river approaches to his lands; a church dedicated to the Archangel Michael was established there.

The Mongol Invasion and the Battle of the Sit

In 1237 the Mongol (Tatar) host of Batu Khan descended upon the Russian land. George left his sons to defend the capital and moved north to gather forces with other princes. The city of Vladimir was taken, and the prince's wife and family died there; by tradition they perished when a church in which they had taken refuge from the fire collapsed during the sack.

On March 4, 1238, the army of the Great Prince met the Mongol force at the river Sit. The small company was destroyed and George himself fell in the fighting. Bishop Cyril recovered his body and buried it at the cathedral in Rostov; some years later the relics were translated with solemnity to the Dormition cathedral in Vladimir.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Feb 4