Right-believing (Ruler) 13th century

Right-believing Prince Roman of Uglich

1235–1285

Also known as Roman Vladimirovich of Uglich

Prince of Uglich (born 1235) who, after the death of his wife, devoted himself to building churches, caring for the poor, and visiting the sick.

Feast Day

February 3

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Commemorated as

The Holy Right-Believing Prince Roman of Uglich, the Wonderworker

Life

Roman Vladimirovich, known as the Right-Believing Prince Roman of Uglich, was a thirteenth-century prince of the Russian appanage principality of Uglich. According to Orthodox tradition he was born on October 1, 1235, the son of Prince Vladimir of Uglich and Princess Photina, and a nephew of Saint Basil of Rostov. After the death of his father in 1248 and of his elder brother Andrew in 1261, Roman assumed the governance of Uglich at the age of twenty-six.

As prince, Roman became known for piety and works of charity. He established a poor-house and took in the destitute, built hospitals and hospice houses in Uglich and in its monasteries, and constructed fifteen churches throughout his principality; he is also credited with founding the town of Romanov on the Volga, the modern Tutaev. Following the death of his wife in 1280, which left him childless, he devoted himself increasingly to fasting, prayer, and works of righteousness. He died peacefully on February 3, 1285, and was buried in the Church of the Transfiguration in Uglich. His relics were found incorrupt in 1486, and in 1595 he was numbered among the saints; he is commemorated on February 3.

Timeline 7 moments Read Hide

1235 Birth Born, by tradition on October 1, son of Prince Vladimir of Uglich and Princess Photina.
1248 Death of his father Death of his father, Prince Vladimir of Uglich.
1261 Accession to Uglich Assumes governance of Uglich at age twenty-six after the death of his elder brother Andrew.
1280 Death of his wife Death of his wife leaves him childless; he intensifies his life of fasting, prayer, and charity.
1285 Repose Dies peacefully on February 3 and is buried in the Church of the Transfiguration in Uglich.
1486 Relics found incorrupt His relics are found to be incorrupt and transferred to the new cathedral church.
1595 Glorification With the blessing of Patriarch Job, the relics are witnessed by Metropolitan (later Patriarch) Hermogenes, and Roman is numbered among the saints.

Contributions & Legacy

3 contributions Read Hide

Rule and Works of Charity

Orthodox accounts describe Roman as a wise and merciful ruler who became, in the synaxarion's phrase, a father to his subjects. He established a poor-house and received the destitute who came to him from across the region, and he built hospitals and hospice houses both in the city of Uglich and in its monasteries. He is credited with constructing fifteen churches throughout his principality and with founding the town of Romanov on the high bank of the Volga, identified with the modern Tutaev. He is said to have attended divine services daily and to have conversed frequently with monks. By tradition his rule and prayers spared Uglich from devastation during the period of Mongol-Tatar domination.

Later Life and Repose

After the death of his wife in 1280, Roman was left without heirs and gave himself more fully to ascetic labors of fasting, prayer, and works of righteousness. He died peacefully on February 3, 1285, and was buried in the Church of the Transfiguration in Uglich. Because he left no heirs, his death allowed the principality to pass to Dmitry of Rostov.

Relics & Shrines

Roman was buried in the Transfiguration Cathedral in Uglich. In 1486 his relics were found to be incorrupt and were transferred to the new cathedral, and he was later reburied in a stone church. In 1595, on account of the fame of miracles reported at his tomb, the relics were examined by Metropolitan Hermogenes, afterward Patriarch of Moscow, with the blessing of Patriarch Job, and Roman was formally numbered among the saints. Orthodox tradition relates that a Polish invasion in 1609 destroyed both his relics and his written biography. He is venerated as a local saint, and liturgical sources call him a new wonderworker of Russia.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Feb 3