Saints of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Saint Volodymyr Monomakh and the English Connection

Saint Volodymyr Monomakh is another in this same category as Yaroslav and Svyatoslav II, all three of whom were venerated by their people as Saints and were even called such by historical writers, but who have yet to be Glorified.  When the Battle of Hastings was fought and lost by King Harold, his daughter, Gytha, emigrated first to Sweden where she received baptism at the hands of the English missionary, St. Sigfried, who also baptised St. Anna of Novhorod. St Sigfried was invited to come to Norway by St Volodymyr's relative, St Olave and he became well acquainted with the rulers of Kyivan Rus'. St Sigfried, whose Feast is February 15th (and his companion, St Eskill (Aeschilus) Bishop of Sweden and martyr (Feast: June 12), therefore deserve to be in the Ukrainian Calendar.

Gytha then moved to Kyiv where she became the wife of Volodymyr Monomakh!  Their son, Mstislav, received two baptismal names – Theodore-Harold after his English grandfather.  He is now St. Mstislav of Kyiv.  The English Orthodox today venerate Gytha’s father, St Harold of Hastings, King of England, together with those fallen in battle with him.

Saint Volodymyr Monomakh (of the Byzantine Imperial family of the Monomakhoi) stands as truly one of the greatest Princes and Kings not only of Rus’-Ukraine, but of Europe as a whole.  A number of western historical commentators who discuss Volodymyr often comment about his great holiness as a deeply Christian ruler.

In his “Pouchenniya Dityam” or “Teachings for the Children” written for the Royal Family of Rus’-Ukraine and for all its citizens, Volodymyr Monomakh discusses rules of prayer and behaviour.  He clearly enunciates the practice of the Jesus Prayer when he teaches that this prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner, may be said anywhere and at any time, while riding on one’s horse or when working – this is truly the very best of prayers!”