St. Peter and St. Fevronia are considered the patrons of the family and marriage. Details of their lives are mostly known from “The Tale of Peter and Fevronia,” which was written in the 6th century. It is a beautiful story of a prince marrying an ordinary girl against the will of the boyars. The story goes back to Peter’s terrible illness that no one was able to cure. In a dream, he had a vision that only Fevronia, the daughter of the forest bee-keeper, could rescue him. Fevronia, who was a capable healer and a highly intelligent woman, cured Peter of leprosy, but in return, she asked the prince to marry her. Although Peter vowed to marry Fevronia, he did not keep the promise because he believed he could not marry an ordinary peasant girl. However, when the disease came back and Fevronia cured Peter the second time, the young people got married.

Blessed at Saviour Cathedral in Moscow.