The Living of Saint Peter and Saint Fevronia - a
fascinating Russian cartoon retelling the saint story
The anime Living Story of Saint Peter and Saint Fevronia is
a modern story remake of an ancient Church living of two bright
Russian sain ts.
The official movie genre is orthodox christian kids animation
movie.
The 14 minutes cartoon re-tolds the living story of St. Pe ter
and st, Fevronia in a playful and entertaining way like for
kids or youngsters.
Nomatter the movie primary target audience is children, the cartoon
is great to see for adults people as well :).
The movie genre is orthodox christian kids animation
movie.
The plot is based on a true (historic record) story of two saints
venerated each year across Orthodox Churches around the
world.
The original story I watched was a Bulgarian translation from
Russian. But since I found it to be so valuable, I look for a
translated video an d got one in youtube. Take 14 minutes break and
watch it, I'm sure you will like it so much, that probably give it
a second time glimpse alone or with your wife, ch ildren or
girlfriend.
Unfortunately, the english title is mis-translated as it says
"Tale" and not "Story" and there is difference in meaning between
this two words.
It is not tale as tale is made up story and this is not a made
story but a story based on the two saints who lived in the end of
12 and beginning of the thirteen century.
Here is in short the real Church living:
The two saints were living in Murom Russia. Peter was prince and
Fevronia a poor maid a daughter of a beekeeper who made his family
living by collecting wild honey in the forest.
Prince Peter was striken by a severe sickness and in a vision it
was revealed to him, that the only one that can cure him is
Fevronia (a village maid living in the village of Laskovo Russia.
The prince went to her and since he saw she is a pious, good and
wisdom rich maid promised her, if she manage to heal him to take
her as a bride to his place.
By her warm prayers to God and herbs, Fevronia succeeded in healing
the prince sickness. Being fully restored st.Peter changed his mind
and wanted to break his promise to marry her, cause the young made
not part of the aristocratic Russian society. He didn't yet reached
his home and the sickness, came back. This time with a deep
repentance, he came back to Fevronia and she cured him again. Then
the prince merried her and made her a princess of
Murom
However there love in Christ had to went through high temptations.
Once the couple married, the prince proud boyars requested the
prince to leave his new bride, as they didn't wanted to accept a
simple girl as Fevronia will be governing them. Being in uneasy
situation prince Peter prefered to leave his governing power and
castle but to stay with his life. Together by boat by the near
river Oka they left the kingdom. Soon after Gods wrath came
Murom because of people's rebellion and the people requested the
chased prince family to be restored to power.
Pushed by the peasents, the boyars bringed back the couple to
power. The two saints governed their kingdom with great wisdom,
love and mercy to the people.
In their old age the decided to become monks in separate
monasteries. St. Peter received his new monk name David and
princess Fevronia took the nun name Evphrosia (Evfrosia). Even
living a sepate monk / nun life the couple continued having a deep
love to each other and asked God to take them from this earthly
life on the same date. God answered their prayer granting them to
depart this earth on the same day in the same hour!
Like in life even in death people tried to separate them.
Fevronia was put in a coffin in the nun monastery, where Peter was
prepared for a monk funeral in the man monastery and they put them
in separate graves.
In the morning the graves were empty and their bodies were found
buried together in one grave. People realized it is Gods will they
are buried together and left them buried together. Today the
incorruptable bodies of the two saints can be seen and venerated in
Holy Trinity's nun monastery in the town of Murom Russia.
St. Peter and St. Fevronia are considered patron of the
Christian marriage, couple's love and family happiness.
It is common that many young people are, asking for the two saints
prayer intercession in front of God for getting a good spouse in
life and good marriage.
Also the two saints are oftenly asked for prayer for improving a
marriege bindings.
The two saints feast day is like the Orthodox Antipode of the
Roman Catholic feast of couples in love - St. Valentine.
As you see, St. Peter and St. Fevronia living is full of wisdom
and true spirituality, and there is plenty we the modern
disbelieving people can learn from it.
Let God by the two saints holy prayers have mercy on
us.