On July 19, one of the holidays of the Russian Orthodox Church is celebrated, which is called the Cathedral of Radonezh Saints. This holiday is relatively few years old - in 2012 it takes place for the 21st time. However, the events and saints in whose honor it was installed refer to the history of Russia six centuries ago.
When applied to people, not buildings, the word "cathedral" most often refers to an assembly - a group of people or the totality of the actions of one person. There are a number of church holidays designed to glorify the totality (council) of the good deeds of one saint (for example, the Cathedral of the Most Holy Theotokos) or to honor a group of saints. Such a group is united either by a common feat, or by a place of birth or service. The Cathedral of Radonezh Saints is a holiday in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh, his disciples, interlocutors, relatives and holy monks of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery.
Sergius of Radonezh was an Orthodox monk who lived in the 14th century and founded several monasteries, including the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. His disciples were also organizers of new monasteries and primates of more than four dozen monasteries. Sergius of Radonezh left a noticeable mark on the history of the unification of Russia, which helped to get rid of the Tatar-Mongol yoke. In addition, the description of the life and deeds of the saint mentions numerous miracles performed by him. The Monk Sergius is canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Cathedral of Radonezh Saints includes almost eight dozen names of saints directly related to the life of St. Sergius of Radonezh and the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. This list includes, for example, the icon painter Andrei Rublev, Grand Duke Dimitry Donskoy and Princess Evdokia, the schema-monk Kirill of Radonezh and the schema-nun Maria of Radonezh - the parents of St. Sergius of Radonezh, his brother - the Monk Stephen of Moscow, and others.
In the 17th century, the first of the surviving lists of the disciples of Sergius of Radonezh were compiled, and an icon of the Cathedral of Radonezh Saints was painted. And the first official celebration was carried out in 1981 with the blessing of the then Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Patriarch Pimen. The date of the new holiday was July 19 - the next day after the holiday in honor of the uncovering of the relics of St. Sergius.
