The holy Prince Dimitry, son of Prince Ivan the Beautiful and Princess Alexandra, was born on October 12, 1350 and was brought up in love for God and the Holy Church under the tutelage of the holy hierarch Alexis of Moscow. In the prince’s upbringing the hierarch was greatly assisted by Saint Sergius of Radonezh. Prince Dimitry’s Christian piety was combined with the talent of a prominent statesman. He dedicated himself to the cause of uniting Russian lands under the primacy of the Great Princes of Moscow and liberating Russia from the Tatar yoke. For all his activities the Great Prince obtained the Church’s blessing. While gathering his forces for the decisive battle with the Tatar hordes of Khan Mamay, St. Dimitry visited the Holy Trinity monastery near Moscow (at that time it was called the Home of the Holy Trinity), and shared with St. Sergius his doubts concerning the combat-worthiness of his small army in comparison with Mamay’s great host. The venerable saint prayed to God and then blessed the prince, prophesizing victory for his Christian army. The elder encouraged the prince and his soldiers by sending along with them two former great warriors and now Trinity schemamonks – Alexander (Peresvet) and Andrey (Oslyabya).