PI "SRCN "Harmony"
"Bogatyrs - defenders of the Russian land"
Educator: Chebanenko. O. A.
Goal: Introducing children to the spiritual, moral and patriotic values of society.
Progress of the event.
Organized children's activities are carried out in the music room, the windows are curtained, the room is decorated in the spirit of Ancient Rus', the walls are “wooden”, icons in the Red Corner, a spinning wheel, embroidered towels, etc... On the walls are hung images - symbols of the heroic era - a sword, shield, bow and arrows in a quiver, a mace, a club, elements of clothing and equipment of heroes .
The group includes a teacher in Russian national costume.
Educator: Hello, good fellows and beautiful girls!
Children say hello.
Educator: Now you will listen to the song and try to formulate the topic of our lesson.
The teacher sings a song to the tune of Three White Horses “Bogatyrs”
To the tune of three white horses
Cars are parked and honking loudly,
And don't get anywhere
there's a traffic jam in the city today
There's a traffic jam in every city today
oh trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble.
But the girth is jingling
And driving in the oncoming lane
Home to any region 2 times
Three strong horses
no three sharp horses
Dobrynya, Alyosha, Ilya.
What kind of transport is our bird troika?
Despite all traffic lights
The troika is rushing, try to move
She rushes merrily and is somewhat
No roads, no fear, no fools
And in the middle of night and day it’s hotter than fire
Flying over a huge country
Three fast horses, 2 times
Oh three stylish horses
Bay, black, breeding.
And for us any end of the world
Getting there brothers is not a question
We have no competitors in the market
We are not dependent on oil prices
But only for oats, oats, oats.
And it takes you away, and it takes you away,
Will dispel melancholy and sadness,
Such fate, oh such fate,
Throw hooves into the distance
And the ringing and fairy tale horses remain faithful
Friends rushing around
Three glorious horses, 2 times
three most important horses
Dobrynya, Alyosha, Ilya.
Now we will take a journey into the past, when foreign invaders attacked Russian lands, and our brave, courageous heroes became defenders.
Life is good in Mother Rus', our country is great and powerful, spread widely across fields and forests. There is a lot of wealth here, a lot of red fish, valuable fur, a lot of berries and mushrooms... It just became restless in the kingdom - our state. Dark forces and all sorts of evil spirits have gotten into the habit of attacking us...
The light goes out, the sounds of howling, whistling, and the trampling of horses are heard, Baba Yaga, the Nightingale the Robber, the Serpent-Gorynych and the Tatar-Mongol horsemen appear.
Educator:
Oh guys! What a disaster! Evil spirits have attacked us, they will chop down our fellows and impose tribute on us. Guys, did you find out who this is? Let me help you:
Nightingale whistle
Eagle's gaze
Not a beast, not a hunter
A ( nightingale the robber)
Because of the hills and fields
A certain beast appeared
He breathed fire into his nostrils
Night became like day
He stole the fun
Dragged into the oak grove
(Dragon )
Educator:
What do we do? Who will help us now?
A bell rings (musical accompaniment).
Let's ring the alarm now, we'll call the heroes. The bell has been helping people for a long time; when something bad happens, it immediately rings and calls everyone for help...
Bogatyrs appear in the hall, the evil spirits leave, and the heroes, together with the children, sing the song “Our Bogatyr Power”
“Our heroic strength”
It’s not the menacing sky that’s frowning,
Blades do not sparkle in the steppe, -
These are the priests of Ilya Muromets
The students came out to fight!
The winds pray for their victory,
Thorns and crowns await them.
Good fellows had a blast,
Well done guys had fun!..
Chorus:
Oh, yes, you need to live beautifully,
Oh, yes, we need to live separately!
Our heroic strength -
Strength of spirit and willpower.
Our heroic rule -
We need to help a friend in need,
To defend a just cause in the struggle,
Overcome the strong man with force.
Chorus.
The soul blossomed from the vastness
And my fields, and love...
The power of courage, the power of tenderness
Let's celebrate the beauty of the earth!
Chorus.
Educator:
And here are our defenders! Guys, do you know who this is?
Children: heroes...
Educator:
Who are the heroes?
Children:
These are the people who protect our Motherland from enemies.
Three heroes come out (three children in suits, bow low, introduce themselves:
Ilya Muromets: – I am Ilya, a Russian hero from the city of Murom. That’s why my name is Ilya Muromets. For thirty years I sat on the stove, I lived without grieving. When I heard that filthy infidels had come to our land, I hastened to help you
Nikitich:- And I – Dobrynya Nikitich – am smart, stocky and strong. We won’t let you offend us, we’ll show them that... .
Alesha Popovich: - I am Alyosha Popovich, the priest’s son, ready to faithfully and truly protect and protect from foreign invaders...
Educator:
That's right, guys. Bogatyrs are people of enormous strength, perseverance, and courage who perform feats. The heroes have always protected our Motherland from enemies, even a bird will not fly past them, an animal will not pass by... and the enemy will not even get past them... Guys, in kindergarten we read a lot of fairy tales and epics about warriors and defenders of the Russian land. Let's remember what these works are called?
Children:
- “Tugarin the Serpent”, “Nikita Kozhemyaka”, “Nightingale the Robber”...
Educator:
What other heroes do you know?
Children:
Mikhailo Potyk, Stavr Godinovich, Peresvet, Mikula Selyanovich, Volga Vseslavovich….
Educator:
Let's do a warm-up together with the heroes. (Children repeat the movements after the heroes) The music “Bogatyrskaya” plays (Appendix 3)
This is what a hero he is...
He is strong, he is healthy...
He shot from a bow...
He threw his club accurately...
On the border stood...
Watched vigilantly...
We'll grow up and look
Let's become like heroes!
Educator:
Well, it’s time to test our heroic strength! Let's play the game "Who can roll the car faster"
An outdoor game “Who can roll the car faster?”: children are divided into two teams and, at the teacher’s signal, begin to compete in speed and dexterity.
Educator:
Oh, guys, how strong and brave you are... Thank you everyone, take your seats.
Educator:
Ilyusha, hero, tell us what kind of clothes you are wearing so unusual.
Bogatyr Ilya - Murometsdescribes his clothes and explains their purpose
This is a shirt - it is pleasant to the body, warms in cold weather, cools in hot weather.
This is iron chain mail - it protects the chest and back from enemy arrows
These are armor - they protect the body from the enemy’s sword and ax
This is a helmet - it protects our heads
Educator:
Alyosha Popovich, what kind of weapon are you holding?
(The hero talks about the types of weapons and their purpose.)
Alesha Popovich:
This is a sword - to cut down the enemies of the Russian land.
This is a shield to repel enemy attacks
This is a thorny club - to cut off the heads of the infidels
This is a merciless brush - the enemy cannot escape unharmed...
And this is a bow and arrows. Beware, infidel! You can’t hide either in the forest or under the mountain!
Educator:
You tell it so well! The guys are very interested!
Tell us, Dobrynyushka, hero, how do you choose your horses?
Nikitich:
And we choose horses to match ourselves... strong and restive, hardy and brave. And if the horses were skinny and weak, how would they withstand us?
Educator:
Thank you for your story! Guys, let's help the hero get ready for his journey.
Didactic game “Gather the hero for the journey” Cards are distributed with images: a heroic helmet, a hat with earflaps, a Roman helmet, a German helmet, chain mail, a jacket, a tie, a shirt, iron armor and weapons: a saber, a sword, a mace, a flail, scissors , pistol, machine gun, dagger, etc. And children are asked to choose the correct option.
Educator:
Thank you guys! With such equipment, the enemy will never defeat us!
The heroes read poetry:
Three defenders, three brothers, three heroes
It’s not in vain that Rus' is rich in warriors!
There is no return from the battlefield, Rus' is behind us
Mother - earth, native huts
Hey, bravely go into battle guys!
Sword and bow, spear, mace,
Shield and faithful horse,
Enemy, do not touch your native state!
Protects Rus' by right
Bogatyrsky Russian glory
Combat fire!
The lights go out, the sounds of howling, whistling, stomping horses, screams are heard (musical accompaniment - Appendix 1, Baba Yaga, Nightingale the Robber, Serpent-Gorynych and Tatar-Mongol horsemen appear.
Educator:
Again, various evil spirits attacked the Russian land. Help us out, heroes!
A battle scene is played out between heroes and evil spirits. As a result, the heroes drive away the evil spirits outside the Russian land (the evil spirits leave the hall).
Educator:
Oh, you goys, Svyatorusich-heroes, you saddled the faithful horses, and you stood for the faith and the Fatherland. Low bow to you from all of Rus'!
The heroes bow and leave.
Educator:
Tell me guys, which famous artists, famous artists, glorified the exploits of Russian heroes in their paintings?
Children:
Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov in the film “Bogatyrs”.
Nicholas Konstantinovich Roerich in the film: “Fight with the Serpent”
and other answers... (the teacher accompanies the children’s answers by showing reproductions of paintings)
Educator:
And now I invite you to play.
The game “Say and Explain” is played. Children are divided into two teams: one team chooses a heroic proverb and explains its meaning, then the second team explains its meaning.
Think with your head, but fight with your strength.
Life is given for good deeds.
Die yourself - but help your comrade
To live is to serve the Motherland.
Not the hero who expects a reward, but the one who goes for the people!
If friendship is great, the Motherland will be strong!
Your own land is sweet even in a handful.
It is not the armor that makes the hero, but his deeds.
Educator:
Well done! They know everything, they can explain everything... Take a seat at the tables, a very exciting task awaits you.
You need to mold the weapon of heroes from plasticine, the one you like best.
Educator:
Well, our fascinating journey into the past has come to an end. Today we learned a lot about the life of our ancestors - the Slavs, we played - we managed to overcome all the difficulties and obstacles and even helped the heroes cope with by evil spirits. Everyone was great, they performed all the tasks well, they were attentive, smart, dexterous and brave.
And at the end of our lesson, our heroes will perform another song “Four heroes”
Lyrics of the song "Four Heroes"
Words and music by Sergei Yarushin
I just love history books -
Distant times, Kievan Rus...
Sometimes I fly in a time machine,
There I boldly fight for the Russian land.
Pechenegs and Polovtsians are prowling along the border,
Greedy hunters for other people's goods,
But a heroic force stands at the borders,
The four of us can do it easily:
Chorus. Dobrynya Nikitich, Muromets Ilya
Alyosha Popovich, and the fourth is me.
Following the Pechenegs and the formidable Khazars
Our cities are besieged by clouds.
Oh, you, epic Rus', serious times,
You have never lived in peace.
The horses beat their hooves, sensing a fierce battle.
Basurmans, where are you? Well, come on, be bold!
We will not spare our lives for the Russian land
Beware, uninvited guest, heroes!
Chorus.
The nomads will remember this battle forever,
How the club walked across thin bodies.
And Kyiv-grad greeted us with the ringing of a chime,
And the domes shone with gold.
Robber nightingales, ashes from a fire...
We will find good and evil power,
Well, it will be dashing for us, let’s call a comrade,
Let's call Zarubin Sasha.
Chorus.
Dobrynya, Alyosha, Muromets Ilya
And Zarubin Sashka. And Sashka is me.
Chorus.
And in conclusion for Good work I want to give you gifts - photographs of you dressed in hero costumes. I hope you will remember today's lesson for a long time. And I hope that in the future you will act like our defenders - heroes. Thank you for your attention.
Russian heroes are not just history. They reflect the essence of the Russian person, his attitude towards the Motherland. Ilya Muromets, Alyosha Popovich, Gorynya, Dobrynya Nikitich and many others dedicated their lives to serving Rus'. They fought against countless enemies of our people, protecting and protecting ordinary people. The exploits of Russian heroes will forever remain in memory - in the form of epics, songs and legends, as well as other epics written by eyewitnesses of those events. They are the ones who make us proud of our people and the land that raised such giants.
History of heroes in Rus'
Probably each of us at school or on TV heard stories about powerful and invincible heroes. Their exploits inspire, inspire hope and make us proud of our own people, their strength, dedication and wisdom.
Many historians divide Russian heroes into older and younger ones. If you follow the epic and epics, then you can clearly draw a line between Old Slavic demigods and Christian heroes. Russian ancient heroes are the all-powerful Svyatogor, the mighty Verni-Gora, Mikula Selyaninovich, the Danube and others.
They are distinguished by their unbridled natural power. These heroes are the personification of the deified forces of nature and its invincibility. In later sources they are given a somewhat negative connotation. They become heroes who cannot and do not want to apply own strength for the benefit of. Most often, these are simply destroyers, showing off their power to other heroes and ordinary people.
This was done in order to push people towards a new world - a Christian one. The heroic destroyers are being replaced by the heroic creators, the defenders of the Russian Orthodox land. These are Dobrynya Nikitich, Nikita Kozhemyaka, Peresvet and many, many others. One cannot help but recall the exploits of the Russian hero Ilya Muromets. This is a favorite image for many writers and artists. Having recovered from a serious illness, the knight went to protect own land, and then retired to become a monk.
The most famous Russian heroes and their exploits
Our history contains many famous names. Probably everyone knows the phrase: “And both glorious and strong heroes in the Russian land.” Although our people for the most part are not warlike and prefer to work on the land, from ancient times powerful heroes and defenders of the Fatherland have emerged from among them. These are Svyatogor, Mikula Selyaninovich, Danube Ivanovich, Peresvet, Sadko and many, many others. These heroes shed their own blood for their native land and stood up to protect peaceful people in the most troubled times.
It was about them that epics and songs were written. At the same time, over time, they corresponded many times. More and more facts and details were added to them. Even the character of the heroes underwent significant changes.
This process was especially influenced by acceptance. It divided our history and led to the denial and condemnation of everything old. Therefore, in the images of more ancient heroes one can now see negative traits. It's about about Svyatogor, Peresvet, Danube Ivanovich.
They were replaced by heroes of a new generation. And almost all of them served the princes, not the people. The most famous heroes of the Russian land are Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich. It was they who were praised in songs and epics. They show off in the famous painting by Vasnetsov. They are the ones children know best, thanks to numerous cartoons and fairy tales. What did they do? And why are they always depicted together?
According to many historians, these three famous Russian heroes never met. According to some sources, Dobrynya lived in the 15th century, Ilya in the 12th century, and Alyosha, the youngest of the heroes, in the 13th century.
Viktor Mikhailovich depicted them all together as a symbol of the invincibility and indestructibility of the Russian people. The exploits of the 3 heroes were accomplished at different times, but historians agree that most of them are quite real. For example, the same Nightingale the Robber, the war with the Pechenegs, the Tatar prince Tugarin actually took place. This means that it is logical to assume that great deeds were also performed.
Alyosha Popovich and his exploits
In Vasnetsov’s painting, this young man is depicted with a bow and arrows, and near the saddle you can see a harp, which speaks of his cheerful disposition. Sometimes he is reckless, like any young guy, and sometimes he is cunning and wise, like a seasoned warrior. Like many heroes of the Russian land, this is rather a collective image. But there is this character and a real prototype.
According to some reports, this is the son of the Rostov Orthodox priest Leonty. But the residents (Ukraine) also consider him a fellow countryman. Local legends say that he often visited local fairs and helped people.
According to another version, this is Rostov famous hero Alexander. He lived in the 12th-13th century and was prominent historical figure. Often his image is intertwined with another, no less noticeable character in epics, Volga Svyatoslavich.
The glorious exploits of Russian heroes will be incomplete without stories about how Alyosha fought with Tugarin himself in battle. This Polovtsian Khan is real historical figure Tugorkan. And in some epics Alyosha Popovich fought with him several times. Also, this hero earned fame in numerous internecine wars that time. And died in famous battle at Kalka (1223).
Ilya Muromets
This is perhaps the most famous and revered hero in Rus'. He embodies everything positive features There is very little confirmed information about him, but it is reliably known that he was canonized
This man spent his childhood and adolescence practically without movement, as he suffered from a serious paralytic disease. However, at the age of 30, Ilya was healed and fully returned to his feet. This fact was confirmed by many serious scientists who conducted research on the remains of the saint. Therefore, the exploits of the Russian hero Ilya Muromets begin at a fairly mature age.
This character became best known to all adults and children thanks to the epic, which tells about his battle with the Nightingale the Robber. This criminal controlled one of the main routes to Kyiv - the capital of ancient Rus'. Prince Mstislav, who ruled at that time, instructed the warrior Ilya Muromets to accompany the next trade convoy. Having met the robber, the hero defeated him and cleared the road. This fact is documented.
In addition to this, other victories of the Russian hero Ilya Muromets are known. The epics tell about the battle of the knight with the Poganous Idol. This may have been the name given to a nomadic rapist. There is also a story about the struggle with Baba Gorynka and her own son.
In his declining years, Ilya, having received seriously injured and tired of such a military life, he retired to a monastery. But even there he could not find peace. Researchers note that the hero-monk died in battle at the age of 40-55.
Great Svyatogor
This is one of the most famous and mysterious heroes. Even the victories of the Russian hero Ilya Muromets pale before his glory. His name fully matches his appearance. He is usually represented as a mighty giant.
We can say that there are quite a few reliable epics about this hero. And they are all connected with death. However, Svyatogor says goodbye to life not in an unequal battle with numerous enemies, but in a dispute with an irresistible and unknown force.
One of the legends says that the hero found a “saddle bag.” The hero tried to move it, but died without moving the thing from its place. As it turned out, this bag contained all the “heaviness of the earth.”
Another legend tells about the journey of Svyatogor with Ilya Muromets. This shows the change of “generations” of heroes. One day, friends find an empty coffin. The prophecy on it said: whoever is destined by fate will fall into it. It turned out to be great for Ilya. And when Svyatogor lay down in the coffin, the lid covered him, and he was never able to escape. Despite all the power of the giant, the tree did not succumb to him. Main feat Svyatogor the hero is that he transferred all his power to Ilya Muromets.
Nikitich
This hero, depicted together with Ilya Muromets and Alyosha Popovich, is one of the most revered and famous in Rus'. In almost all epics he is inextricably linked with Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich. At the same time, there is an opinion that the latter is his uncle. In history, Dobrynya is a prominent statesman, whose advice was listened to by many nobles.
However, in epics it is rather a collective image, which has the features of a mighty Russian knight. The exploits of the hero Dobrynya Nikitich consisted of fighting numerous enemy troops. But his main act is the battle with the Serpent Gorynych. The famous painting by Vasnetsov depicts the battle of the defender of the Russian land with a 7-headed dragon, but the plot was based on a real basis. The enemy used to be called “snake”. And the nickname “Gorynych” indicates his origin or habitat - the mountains.
There were also tales telling how Dobrynya found a wife. Historians note that she was a foreigner. Nastasya Nikulichna (in other versions - Mikulishna) had good physical characteristics. They began to measure their strength, and after the knight’s victory the girl became his wife.
Like all the exploits of epic heroes, the activities of Dobrynya Nikitich are connected with serving the Prince and the People. That is why they hold him up as an example, they compose fairy tales, songs and epics, portraying him as a hero and liberator.
Volkh Vseslavyevich: Prince-Wizard
This hero is known more as a sorcerer and a werewolf. He was the Prince of Kyiv. And the legends about him are like a fairy tale. Even the birth of the Magus is shrouded in mysticism. They say that his mother conceived him from Veles, who appeared to her in the form of an ordinary snake. The birth of the hero was accompanied by thunder and lightning. His childhood toys were a golden helmet and a damask club.
Like many Russian folk heroes, he often spent time with his squad. They say that at night he turned into a wild wolf and got food for the warriors in the forest.
The most famous legend about Volkhv Vseslavyevich is the story of the victory over the Indian king. One day the hero heard that evil was being planned against his Motherland. He used witchcraft and defeated the foreign army.
The real prototype of this hero is Prince Vseslav of Polotsk. He was also considered a sorcerer and a werewolf, he also took cities by cunning and mercilessly killed the inhabitants. And the snake did not play last role in the life of the prince.
Historical facts and legends are mixed into one. And the feat of Volkhv Vseslavyevich began to be praised in epics, like others glorious deeds Russian heroes.
Mikula Selyaninovich - a simple peasant
This hero is one of the representatives of the heroes. His image is a reflection of the legends about the god-plowman, protector and patron of the Russian land and peasants. It was he who gave us the opportunity to cultivate fields and use the gifts of nature. He drove out the Destroying Giants.
According to legend, a hero lived on the Drevlyansky land. Unlike other ancient knights who came from princes, Mikula Selyaninovich represented the peasant class. He devoted his entire life to working in the fields. While other heroes and defenders of the Russian land fought with a sword in their hands. This makes sense, because all the benefits of the state and people come precisely from hard and daily work.
The most famous works, which describe the character and life of Mikula Selyaninovich, are considered epics about Volga and Mikula, as well as about Svyatogor.
For example, in the story of the werewolf prince, the hero enlists in a squad assembled to resist the Varangian invasion. But before that, he laughs at Volga and his warriors: they can’t even pull out his plow, which is stuck in the ground.
The exploits of Russian heroes have always been sung by the people. But one can also find disdain for heroes who, having enormous power, cannot use it correctly. An example of such an attitude can be called the epic “Svyatogor and Mikula Selyaninovich.” Here two principles are contrasted - creative and destructive.
Svyatogor wanders around the world and does not know where to use his own strength. One day he meets Mikula with a bag that the warrior warrior cannot lift and breaks down. All the “heaviness of the earth” appears there. In this plot one can see the superiority of ordinary labor over military force.
Vasily Buslaev
This hero is not like the others. He is a rebel, always goes against the general opinion and order. Despite the superstitions of ordinary people, he does not believe in omens and predictions. At the same time, this is the image of a heroic protector.
Vasily Buslaev is from Veliky Novgorod. That is why there is so much local color in the epics about him. There are two stories about him: “Vasily Buslaevich in Novgorod” and “Vasily Buslaevich went to pray.”
His mischief and lack of control can be seen everywhere. For example, when choosing his squad, he arranges several extraordinary tasks. As a result, there are 30 young people who support Vasily in everything.
Buslaev’s deeds are not the exploits of Russian heroes, who followed the rules and obeyed the prince in everything, respecting the traditions and beliefs of ordinary people. He respected only strength. Therefore, his activity is a riotous life and fights with local men.
Peresvet
The name of this hero is closely connected with the Battle of Kulikovo Field. This legendary battle, in which countless glorious warriors and boyars perished. And Peresvet, like many other heroes, defenders of the Russian land, stood up to the enemy.
Scientists are still arguing whether it really happened. After all, according to legend, together with his brother Andrei, he was sent to help Dmitry Donskoy by Sergius of Radonezh himself. The feat of this hero was that it was he who inspired the Russian army to fight. He was the first to enter into battle with the representative of Mamaev’s horde, Chelubey. Practically without weapons or armor, Peresvet defeated the enemy, but fell dead along with him.
A study of earlier sources suggests the unreality of this character. In the Trinity Monastery, where Peresvet, according to history, was a novice, there are no records of such a person. In addition, it is known that Sergius of Radonezh could not meet with Prince Dmitry immediately before the battle.
But almost all the exploits of Russian heroes - one way or another - are partially invented or exaggerated by storytellers. Such stories raised morale, educated
We heard everything. But few know that he rested in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, where his incorruptible relics rest in the caves, among a quarter of all saints glorified in Russian Orthodox Church for a thousand years.
The very name “epic” means a song about what happened, that is, took place in life. The word “hero” appeared in Russian chronicles in the 12th century. It replaced the synonym “horobr”, that is, “daring man”.
At that time, Russian soldiers had to constantly fight for the freedom of the fatherland with hordes of nomads on the eastern borders of Kievan Rus. The people called them heroes.
Their main features are loyalty to duty, selfless love for the Motherland, readiness to always stand up for the offended and disadvantaged, and the ability to stand up for their dignity and honor.
These are the features that the epics give to Ilya Muromets:
"I'm simple peasant son, he says. “I didn’t save you out of self-interest, and I don’t need either silver or gold.” I saved Russian people, red girls, small children, old mothers. I will not come to you as a commander to live in wealth. My wealth is heroic strength, my business is to serve Rus', to defend it from enemies.”
Its numerous feats of arms are described in epics in a fairy-tale form. But the nicknames of the hero’s enemies (“Ilya Muromets and the Nightingale the Robber”, “Ilya Muromets and the Poganous Idol”) meant very specific nomadic peoples: Pechenegs, Polovtsians, with whom Kievan Rus fought. In the old days, these epics were a kind of “military chronicles” that did not require deciphering who they were talking about.
But the biography of Ilya Muromets in epics is presented very sparingly. Historians were able to establish details about the hero’s life as a result of lengthy, painstaking research.
Presumably Ilya was born on September 5, 1143 in the family of the peasant Ivan son Timofeev, who lived in the village of Karacharovo near Murom in Vladimir region(hence the name “Muromets”). From birth he was weak - “he had no use of his legs” - and until the age of thirty he could not walk.
One day, when his parents were working in the field, “walking men” came into the house. At that time, pilgrims to holy places were called kalikas. It was believed that they were not only not inferior to the heroes, but also superior to them in strength of spirit, and their “propaganda” feat was equated to a military one.
The Kaliki ask Ilya to get up and bring them water. To this he replied: “I have neither arms nor legs, but I have been sitting on a seat for thirty years.” They repeatedly ask him to get up and bring them water.
Years of illness cultivated in him great patience and an amazingly strong character. “Weak” Ilya sincerely wants to fulfill the will of the elders. You can imagine his amazement when, having lowered his legs from the bench to the floor, he tries to stand on them and suddenly feels that they are holding him! An unknown force sent from above takes possession of a helpless cripple...
After this, Ilya goes to the water carrier and brings water. The elders tell him to drink it himself. Ilya obeyed unquestioningly, drank and completely recovered. Furthermore: Having drunk the water a second time, he feels an exorbitant strength in himself, and then he is told to drink it a third time in order to reduce it.
Then the elders tell Ilya that, in gratitude for the healing sent down, he must go into the service of Prince Vladimir in order to protect Rus' from enemies. “You, Elijah, will be a great hero, and death in battle is not written for you,” they predict.
Scientific background
Now let's look at the miraculous healing of Ilya Muromets from the point of view modern science. In 1926, when the Kiev Pechersk Lavra was closed by the Bolsheviks and a museum was organized in its place, the incorruptible relics of the saints were opened and studied to explain the phenomenon of the preservation of their bodies in caves. A medical examination was also carried out on the remains of St. Ilya Muromets, which were dated to the 12th century.
Anatomists identified pronounced processes on the vertebrae in the lumbar region of his body, which caused pinched nerves spinal cord. And the doctors diagnosed him with polyarthritis suffered in his youth, which hindered his movements, from which he later recovered. So modern medicine has confirmed the evidence of the epics that “Elijah sat sitting and had no use in his legs.”
Obviously, the “passing Kaliki” who healed the “infirm” Ilya were not just wanderers, but psychic healers who cured him with the help of energetically charged water. In ancient recipes, in addition to various herbal infusions, there are also instructions on how to prepare and use “healing water.”
Research also showed that Ilya Muromets was head and shoulders taller than a man of average height at that time - 177 centimeters, but in the 12th century such a warrior was considered a giant. In addition, he had a very powerful physique and obviously possessed enormous physical strength.
"Heroic leap." Victor Vasnetsov. 1914.In the princely service
But let's return to the epic. The Kaliki tell Ilya that on the way to Kyiv there is a heavy stone with an inscription, at which he must stop.
Having said goodbye to his family, Ilya goes “to the capital city of Kyiv” and comes “to that motionless stone” on which it was written that he should move the stone from its place. There he will find a heroic horse, weapons and armor. Ilya moved the stone and found everything that was written there. And after that he rode to Kyiv.
There he finds himself at a princely feast at the Grand Duke Vladimir Monomakh (1113-1125), who gathers around him the most courageous and glorious people of Rus'. This is not an ordinary feast, but above all, spiritual communication, fraternal meeting.
The heroes gathered at the table are not lovers of having fun, but defenders of the Orthodox faith and the Russian land from enemies. It is not for nothing that in Rus' such a feast was called a brotherhood, since it marks the spiritual unity of its participants.
Judging by the epics and chronicles, at the fraternal table of Prince Vladimir sat heroes from different cities who guarded the borders of Rus': Ilya Muromets - a peasant’s son, Alyosha Popovich - the son of a priest from Rostov, Dobrynya Nikitich - a princely family, Stavr - a boyar, Ivan - a merchant’s son .
Ilya Muromets is the only Russian knight who is a peasant by birth. But it was he who was granted the greatest strength - both spiritual and physical. Therefore, a native of the distant Murom lands is honored not by class, but by deeds and exploits. He quickly learned to master a mace, club, sword and spear. Combined with enormous physical strength, this made him an invincible fighter.
While in the service of Prince Vladimir, Ilya Muromets participated in countless “battles” that constantly took place on the borders of Kievan Rus. He was not defeated in any of them, but he never exalted himself and released his defeated enemies in peace. Even before the battle with the Polovtsian Kalin, he spends a long time persuading him to leave voluntarily, without shedding blood in vain. And only having encountered the stubbornness and anger of the enemy, the Russian hero entered into mortal combat.
But Russian professional warriors, led by Ilya Muromets, not only successfully guarded the borders of Rus' from numerous enemies. Through their efforts, the struggle was transferred to enemy territory. The chronicles tell that the valiant squads drove the troops of Khan Otrok Sharukanovich “beyond the iron gates” in the Caucasus, “drank the Don with golden helmets, taking all their land.”
Russian heroes reached Sea of Azov, conquered Polovtsian camps on the Northern Donets, forced enemies to migrate beyond the Don and beyond the Volga, into the steppes of the Northern Caucasus and Southern Urals.
There is no doubt that Ilya Muromets invariably took part in all these glorious campaigns, and he was always ahead during the bloody battles, invariably defeating the enemy knights.
Ilya Muromets. Reconstruction of the appearance based on the relics. Sculptor S.A.NikitinInok of the Pechersk Monastery
In 1988, the Interdepartmental Commission of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine conducted an examination of his incorruptible relics. To obtain accurate data, the most modern techniques and ultra-precise equipment were used.
As a result of research, it was possible to establish that Ilya Muromets died at the age of no younger than 40-45 years. At that time, this was an age that few civilians, and almost never professional warriors, lived to see.
But the Murom hero survived. If we take into account that he took up military service after 30 years, and did not stay in the Pechersk Monastery for too long after his monastic tonsure, it turns out that his “military service” was more than 10 years. For the 12th century this was simply unthinkable.
Moreover, as a medical examination of the incorruptible relics established, Ilya Muromets received a serious wound in the heart area, which subsequently affected him throughout his life. He also had other wounds, for example on his left hand, received in battles.
Wounded and feeling that his physical strength was running out, Ilya Muromets took monastic vows and became a monk. But before that, the hero had a family, and after him there were sons, from whom the line of Kyiv nobles, the Chebotkovs, descended. And they got this surname from their father’s nickname.
The point is that in short life St. Elijah his nickname is indicated - “Chebotok”, that is, a boot. It appeared in Muromets after one memorable incident. Soon after his tonsure, a gang of robbers (probably Polovtsians) broke into the monastery. At that moment, in his cave cell, Elijah was putting on his shoes and only had time to put on one boot.
But, taken by surprise, the monk was not taken aback: straightening up to his full height, he began to hit the attackers with such force and fury with his second boot that he put them to flight.
In the Pechersky Monastery, Ilya Muromets went into seclusion, hardly slept, spending almost all day and night in prayer. Thus ended his military service to the Fatherland in earthly battles and began his prayer service to the Church and Holy Rus'.
***
Ilya Muromets departed to the Kingdom of Heaven on January 1, 1188. He was canonized in 1643, and his incorruptible relics rest in the Anthony Caves of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.
In the caves you can approach his tomb, which is noticeably larger than others, but the height of the deceased does not seem enormous. The fingers of Ilya Muromets’s right hand are folded in the same way as Orthodox Christians cross themselves: three fingers together, and two pressed to the palm.
His left hand retains the trace of a wound inflicted by a spear. It seems to testify to military service, and the right one - to the spiritual feat of an Orthodox monk.
Every New Year Orthodox Christians begin under the sign folk hero- Reverend warrior Elijah of Muromets. The Russian Church celebrates his memory on January 1.
People need heroes, or rather, not so much themselves as legends about them. After all, when life real person overgrown with myths, it is so easy to love and admire him. Or better yet, set an example. Such people are not humanly ideal - they are honest and selfless, and they do not die out of stupidity in a drunken fight, but only by performing a great feat, in the name of the common good. And although these are all fairy tales, they help those who believe in them to become better and work on themselves in the hope of reaching the level of their hero. Let's learn about one of the varieties of such ideals - about the heroes and knights of the Russian land. After all, although over the past centuries it is hardly possible to establish the truth about their lives, they were great people, since the memory of them has been preserved to this day.
Who are the heroes, and where did this word come from?
From time immemorial, this noun has been used to refer to warriors who have superhuman abilities usually physical strength and endurance. Most often, these valiant knights were heroes of folk medieval Slavic epics and legends. The main occupation of the heroes of the Russian land was to protect it from enemies, as well as measure strength and demonstrate prowess by performing feats.
Most linguists agree on the Turkic origin of the term “hero” (“brave”, “brave hero”). Probably, especially distinguished warriors began to be called this way with the beginning of raids on the lands of Rus' by steppe nomads. And among them, the word Bahādor meant a hereditary title, which was given to especially distinguished fighters, an analogue of the European knightly title. This noun was first mentioned in this meaning in a Chinese chronicle of the 8th century.
There are mentions of Mongolian knight-heroes in Italian chronicles of the 13th century, as well as in the famous Slavic document of the 13th-14th centuries. - Ipatiev Chronicle.
It is not known exactly when and why the Slavic knights, who specialized in protecting themselves from the steppe “heroes,” began to be called a foreign word. But already in the chronicles of the XV-XVI centuries. this term is used precisely in the sense of a Slavic hero-defender.
There is an opinion that, when faced with valiant Russians, the Mongols called them knights, that is, “heroes.” The Slavs liked this name because of its similarity with the word “God,” and they themselves began to call their own heroes this way, as if hinting at godlikeness. Moreover, some heroes of the Russian land were identified with ancient deities, for example Svyatogor. And although at the time this concept arose, Rus' had already been baptized, the process of full Christianization itself took several centuries, and Orthodoxy took root only because it absorbed a good half pagan rituals and beliefs.
The question of the cultural affiliation of the epic knights
Almost all legends, tales and epics about the heroes of the Russian land relate to the period of Kievan Rus, namely the time of Vladimir the Great. Because of this, debates about nationality Knights. After all, they are claimed by Belarusians, Russians and Ukrainians at the same time.
To understand why this happened, it is worth remembering where it was located Old Russian state. Under Prince Vladimir, it included the lands of modern Ukraine (except for its steppe part), Belarus and a small piece of Poland and the Russian Federation. Please note, according to the chronicles, during the times of Kievan Rus, the lands of Novgorod, Smolensk, Vladimir, Ryazan, Rostov and Galich were not considered Russian.
The spread of Christianity is closely intertwined with the concept of "Rus". By the 14th century In the chronicles, the lands where Orthodoxy was widespread began to be called Russian. And all of the above cities also began to be called as such. This is evidenced by the chronicle document “List of Russian cities far and near”, which lists these great Slavic trading cities, in addition to them, there are Bulgarian and Lithuanian ones. This is precisely what, according to historians, indicates that the concept of “Russian” was synonymous with “Orthodox” in the minds of people of that time.
In this way the name spread to the inhabitants of other Slavic territories, which were not initially considered as such. And then final collapse Of Kievan Rus, it was Novgorod, Smolensk, Vladimir, Ryazan and Rostov that were able to strengthen their influence in this region and took responsibility for protecting it from the steppe inhabitants. They became the core on the basis of which in the future arose and strengthened Muscovy, which years later turned into Russia. And its indigenous inhabitants, according to tradition, began to call themselves Russians. This name has stuck with them to this day.
This version is supported by the fact that the main occupation of the classical heroes of the Russian land, according to epics and legends, was not just the defense of borders from the Mongols and other steppe inhabitants, but also the defense of the Christian faith. This feature of them is emphasized more than once in legends.
Therefore, when talking about the heroes of the Russian land during the period of existence Kyiv State, then Ukrainians and Belarusians have every right to classify them as their own culture. After all, in those centuries it was these peoples who left Rus'.
On the other hand, the popularization of most epic heroes occurred in a later era precisely through the efforts of the inhabitants future Russia, who not only sang the exploits of the legendary knights of Rus', but also added many of their own to their pantheon. So its people also have the right to Slavic defenders from the steppes. Moreover, it was this literature that gave the world numerous beautiful poems about the heroes of the Russian land.
Disputes about cultural affiliation the legendary knights between the three nations are unlikely to ever cease. But they bring some benefit. The fact is that Belarusians, Russians and Ukrainians have their own views on the interpretation of the biography and the very image of the hero. The defenders of the Russian land in the epic of each nation are endowed with special features characteristic specifically of its mentality. It gives a lot interesting material for research by historians and linguists. And who said that truth is not born in disputes?
What categories are epic heroes and knights of the Russian land divided into?
Scientists also argue about how to classify the heroes of tales and legends. The most famous are 3 theories:
- Knights are divided into senior and younger generation.
- There are 3 heroic eras: pre-Tatar, Tatar and post-Tatar.
- The heroes of the Russian land are divided into those who lived in the pre-Christian and Christian periods. It is worth noting that pre-Christian knights are few in number. Their images are often close to ancient pagan deities.
While the heroes of the era after the baptism of Rus' are often more humane. Most of them accomplished their feats during the reign of Vladimir the Great. This is probably because this period was considered the most successful in the history of the Kyiv state. And although highest point development were the years of Yaroslav's reign; almost all events from the life of classical Christian heroes are associated with the era of the Red Sun. Possibly to distribute more successfully new religion Among the Slavs, the exploits of all the heroes they respected began to be associated with the era of its implementer. By the way, he himself was declared a saint, and yet he was a rapist and murderer, as mentioned in the chronicles.
Some historians believe that in fact there were fewer knights themselves. There were simply wandering stories about nameless heroes. In each locality, special names and biographies were invented for these nameless heroes of the Russian land in order to tie them to own history. That is why their exploits are often similar: to woo a bride, kill a snake, fight a horde, suffer from boasting.
Pagan heroes
Most famous hero of this period - Svyatogor. He is described as a knight of gigantic proportions, who, by the way, lived outside of Rus' - in the Holy Mountains.
This character hardly had one prototype and is a composite one, and, moreover, borrowed. Tales about him usually describe 3 fragments from his life:
- Death by boasting own strength.
- Finding the predicted spouse.
- Betrayal of his wife and acquaintance with Ilya Muromets, to whom Svyatogor transferred his sword and part of his power before his death.
Svyatogor, who is identified with a certain pagan deity, exists outside of the Kyiv or Novgorod epic cycles. While Mikula Selyaninovich and Ilya Muromets are among their brightest representatives. Therefore, probably, the legends about their meetings with Svyatogor are later (especially judging by the names) and were invented in order to show the continuity of these characters.
The bogatyr-plowman Mikula Selyaninovich also belongs to the pagan heroes from the Novgorod cycle. Judging by the structure of the name, to which a nickname was added, indicating its origin, this is an image later than Svyatogor.
All legends about Mikul emphasize his connection with the land and labor on it. She was the source of his strength. Subsequently, this plot element was borrowed from epics about other heroes.
It is noteworthy that there is no information about Mikula’s wife, but we know about two glorious daughters.
By the way, with the advent of Christianity, the character of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, as well as the holidays associated with him, were “borrowed” from Mikula.
The third cult superhero, that is, the legendary hero of the pagan era, is Volga Svyatoslavich (Volkh Vseslavyevich).
He was not only strong, but also knew how to understand the language of animals, birds and fish, and also transform into some of them.
It is believed that he was the son of Princess Marfa Vseslavyevna and the snake. Hence the werewolf abilities. If Svyatogor is considered a deity, then Volga is a demigod. In epics he is spoken of as a hero of noble birth, leading a squad by right of birth. At the same time, he takes the commoner Mikula Selyaninovich as his assistant for his valor and courage.
As for the nobility of the soul, Volga is hardly worth holding up as an example. The story of meeting Mikula describes the hero as a mediocre ruler who stifles the people with taxes.
The epics about Svyatoslavich's campaign against the Indian kingdom describe the hero not as a valiant warrior, but as a cunning and far-sighted commander who, turning into various animals, successfully led his soldiers through all difficulties and led to victory. On the conquered land, he raped the wife of the defeated ruler and, taking her as his wife, reigned there. He gave local girls to be torn to pieces by his own soldiers. So Volga is more of an anti-hero, especially in comparison with the noble plowman Mikula.
Some identify this character with the Prophetic Oleg. There are also those who compare him with Prince Vladimir. Agree, their destinies have a lot in common. In addition to the same patronymic, in Vladimir’s life there was an episode with the rape of the daughter of the Polotsk prince, who became the mother of Yaroslav the Wise. True, the mother of the future baptist of Rus' was a slave, and not a princess, like Volga’s.
Golden Trinity
Most of the remaining epic knights belong to the Christian period.
First of all, you should pay attention to the trio from Vasnetsov’s painting. Everyone can easily say the names of the heroes of the Russian land. These are Ilya Muromets, Dobrynya Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich.
Many epics tell about the biography of the first, often contradictory friends to a friend. They agree only in a few aspects. So, Ilya could not walk until he was 33 years old (perhaps this date is given as an analogy with Christ), but then wandering magicians heal him and punish him to go to Vladimir’s squad, where Muromets performs most of his feats. At the same time, the hero’s relationship with the ruler himself was not the best.
It is also known that the hero was married, which did not prevent him from often having fun on the side.
According to legend, in his old age, Ilya Muromets took monastic vows at the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, where he spent the last years of his life. After his death he was canonized. The declaration of Elijah as a saint contributed to the preservation of his remains to this day. Thanks to this, they were explored in the 80s. Scientists have confirmed that their owner suffered from leg paralysis in his youth, and died at the age of 40-55 due to a wound in the heart area.
Dobrynya Nikitich is the second most popular character. It is generally accepted that he existed during the same historical period as Ilya. Unlike him, he was close to Vladimir. The hero is identified with his maternal uncle.
Unlike Muromets, Nikitich is known not only for his strength, but also for his intelligence. He is well educated and even plays several musical instruments.
It is worth saying that in future centuries some features of pagan and Christian deities were attributed to the heroes of Vladimir’s era. Ilya Muromets is identified with the biblical prophet Elijah and the pagan god of thunder. Rumor equates Dobrynya with St. George the Victorious, who slayed the Serpent. This is reflected in the legends about the victory over the serpent who kidnapped the beautiful Zabava.
Unlike Ilya Muromets, this hero was faithful husband. In later centuries, in order to link the image of Dobrynya and Alyosha Popovich, a story was spread about the latter’s attempt to deceive himself into marrying the knight’s wife.
ABOUT recent years little is known about his life. According to legend, he died in the battle of Kalka. At the site of his grave, a mound was built, which still bears the name “Dobrynin”.
The positioning of Alyosha Popovich as younger arose not because of age or physical characteristics, but because of more late period his appearance. Thanks to Vasnetsov’s masterpiece, as well as modern cartoons, we get the impression that these heroes of the Russian land acted together. But they lived at different times, and the difference between Dobrynya, Ilya and Alyosha Popovich is 200 years. Despite this, the image of the latter has deeply penetrated most epics about heroes. In them he often plays a completely negative role and is distinguished by boastfulness and cunning, rather than daring. In this way he is close to Volga and, perhaps, “borrowed” several stories from him.
What do we know about his life from epics? He was the son of a priest and from childhood was distinguished by his intelligence and strength, although his lameness is sometimes mentioned. Like Dobrynya, he was a good musician.
Very few independent feats are attributed to him. The most striking is the fight with Tugarin on the road to Kyiv.
As for his heartfelt preferences, in addition to trying to deceive Nikitich’s wife, there are many stories about his relationship with Zbrodovich’s sister Alena. According to one version, because Popovich disgraced the girl, her brothers cut off his head. In other versions of this story, the hero manages to avoid death.
The real prototype of Alyosha is considered to be the Rostov boyar Olesha Popovich.
Seven popular knights with unusual stories
It is not only the heroes of Vasnetsov’s painting that folk epics are alive with. They often feature other characters. Let's look at the most famous of them and find out the names of the heroes of the Russian land who became famous in later periods.
Danube Ivanovich. This knight is known not for his exploits, but sad story love. Together with Dobrynya he went to to the Lithuanian prince marry his daughter to Vladimir the Great. In a foreign land, he meets her sister Nastasya, and love arises between them. The girl helps Danube escape from death by ransoming him from the executioners and releasing him to Kyiv.
During his next visit to Lithuania, the hero no longer pays attention to his savior. Taking offense, the girl changed into a man’s dress and, catching up with the Danube in the field, started a battle with him. The hero did not recognize her and, having won, almost killed her. However, old feelings prevailed, and the knight took her as his wife.
At the wedding, Danube boasted of his prowess, and his wife - of her accuracy. The newly-made husband decided to shame his wife and demanded to show her skills. Nastasya displays accuracy that would make even William Tell and Robin Hood cry in the corner with envy - she hits the thin silver ring on the head of the Danube hero three times. The disgraced husband decides to repeat her feat, but turns out to be not so good and accidentally kills his wife with an arrow. Before her death, he realizes that she was pregnant, so he also killed his child. In despair, the knight commits suicide.
Sukhman Odikhmantievich. This name, so unusual for the inhabitants of Rus', belongs to a hero who became famous for his fight against the Tatars. Perhaps he himself was a native of the steppes, but then went into the service of Prince Vladimir, who again played a bad role in this story. He ordered the knight to deliver him a white swan, either for the zoo, or this is an allegorical name for the bride.
Sukhman was unable to complete the assignment because he was seriously wounded in the battle with the Tatars. Overcoming the pain, he returned to Kyiv empty-handed, but spoke about his victories. The prince did not believe him and sent him to prison.
Dobrynya goes to foreign lands in order to find out the truth, and finds confirmation of the hero’s words. Vladimir is going to reward him, but the proud hero chooses death.
By the way, the prince’s distrust and the knight’s resentment testify in favor of the version that Sukhman was a stranger.
Another hero of the period of Vladimir the Great is Nikita (Kirill) Kozhemyaka, mentioned in The Tale of Bygone Years. According to it, this knight defeated the Pecheneg hero in a duel, and afterward popular rumor attributed to him the victory over the snake.
Perhaps the legends about him are partially borrowed from the Bible. Thus, the duel with the enemy is a clear reference to the story of David and Goliath. And victory over the serpent makes him similar to St. George the Victorious. Although, perhaps, a snake is a metaphorical description of the Pecheneg.
Duke Stepanovich. This is another hero from the time of Prince Vladimir. However, he can only be called a hero of the Russian land only reluctantly. Since he was originally from Galich, which, as we remember, did not belong to Vladimir’s Rus'. It is difficult to understand why this character is called a hero, because apart from wealth and boasting, there are no other special “feats” listed for him. According to legend, he comes to Kyiv and begins to actively criticize it and all its inhabitants. To prove that he is right, he has to take part in a marathon of boasting, in which he wins and, proud of his “achievement,” leaves the princely city.
Khoten Bludovich, a hero whose name bears an overt sexual context, became famous for his desire to get married. The epics say that, despite his strength and glory, he was very poor. Because of this, the mother of his beloved China Chasovaya (another “Slavic” name in this story) refused the noble knight. This did not stop the brave hero, who systematically dealt with all the relatives of his beloved, and at the same time destroyed the army of the local prince. In the finale, he married his charming lady, and at the same time took the wealth left behind by those killed.
However, not all heroes were associated by rumor with the period of Vladimir’s reign. After the collapse of Kievan Rus, other heroes of folk epics began to appear. For example, the defender of Ryazan is Evpatiy Kolovrat. Unlike the classical heroes, he was not a composite image, but was a real historical figure who risked giving an unequal battle to the Mongol-Tatar army in revenge for the destruction of the city. Unfortunately, he died, but his courage earned respect even from his enemies.
Also among the heroes is the monk-warrior Alexander Peresvet, who participated in the Battle of Kulikovo. Although he is positioned more as a monk and then a warrior. However, combat skills do not appear out of thin air, and, therefore, before taking monastic vows, Peresvet had its own heroic history. He, too, was canonized.
Belarusian asilki
These stand apart from other heroes epic heroes, like velets or asils. The most common stories about them are in Belarusian folklore.
Asilkas are the name given to pre-Christian giant heroes. They not only fought with snakes and other enemies, but created rivers and mountains. It is believed that for their pride they were cursed by God and turned to stone or went into the ground alive. Mounds appeared on the site of their graves.
Some researchers include Svyatogor in this category. Other scientists correlate the Velets with the ancient Greek titans or biblical giants (children of angels who rebelled against God).
Women knights
At all times, the Russian land was famous for its heroes. But these were not always men. People's memory also retained mention of several heroes, who were usually called “polenitsy”.
These women were able to withstand not only their enemies, but also seriously compete with the epic heroes, and sometimes even surpass them.
The most famous Polenitsa are the two daughters of Mikula Selyaninovich, Vasilisa and Nastasya.
The first became the wife of the Chernigov boyar Stavr Godinovich, whom she saved from prison by dressing in a man's outfit and winning a competition.
The second married Dobrynya, having previously defeated the knight in a duel.
The aforementioned wife of the Danube hero Nastasya also belongs to the Polenitsa.
Many stories about heroes are associated with Ilya Muromets. Apparently, before taking monastic vows, he loved many strong women. Polenitsa is considered to be his wife Savishna (who saved Kyiv from Tugarin), as well as his temporary lover Zlatygorka, who gave birth to his mighty son Sokolnik. Also a hero was the nameless daughter of Muromets - another accidental fruit of love, seeking revenge for her mother.
Marya Morevna stands apart from the others. She is considered one of the most popular female characters and is the prototype of Vasilisa the Wise and Marya the Princess. According to legend, this steppe warrior defeated Koshchei the Immortal. So modern feminists have someone to follow from domestic heroines.
Children-heroes
The glorification of heroes and their exploits was done not only in order to preserve the memory of them, but also in order to set them as an example for others. That is why the epic knights and their exploits were embellished and magnified. This was done especially actively when it was necessary to tell children about the heroes of the Russian land. Then these characters were turned into moral ideals, which you need to look up to.
Often the adult characters and their problems were too difficult to understand. Therefore, stories about the exploits of children were told especially for them. Such characters were called seven-year-old heroes.
Epics and tales about them were more often typical specifically for Ukrainian literature, but were also found among other peoples.
The characters could be either boys or girls, as well as twins.
One of the first stories about the youth knight concerns the period of Vladimir’s father, Prince Svyatoslav. In those days, a nameless boy got out of Kyiv, which was surrounded by the Pechenegs, and managed to bring help to his hometown.
So the tradition of setting examples of the heroes of the Russian land for preschoolers and schoolchildren has very deep roots.
Interesting facts
Worth paying attention:
- In Mikhail Lermontov’s poem “Borodino,” his hero-narrator compares the classic generation with the epic knights, not in favor of the former (“Yes, there were people in our time, Not like the current tribe: Bogatyrs - not you!"). But if we talk about physical data, the average height of the legendary heroes-defenders of the Russian land was 160-165 cm (except for Ilya Muromets, who was a real giant at that time and was 180 cm tall), while under Mikhail Yuryevich, such growth was clearly not heroic.
- According to legends, the father of Svyatogor is considered to be a supernatural creature that kills with its gaze. Many identify him with Gogol's Viy.
- Budenovka hat, which for a long time was part mandatory form a soldier of the Red Army, looked a little like a erikhonka helmet, in which artists often depicted knights. Therefore, among the soldiers she was often called the “hero.”
I'll tell you about old things,
Yes, about the old ones, about the experienced ones,
Yes about battles, yes about battles,
Yes, about heroic deeds!
Me as a teacher preparatory group, decided to devote one of her projects to the formation of patriotic feelings in children and, as part of the long-term project “Epic Bogatyrs - the First Defenders of the Russian Land,” to introduce preschoolers to the life of ancient Rus', its heroes, commanders, heroic events that took place in Russia. The formation of a person as a citizen, in my opinion, should begin with his small homeland. Love for big things must be instilled from small things. The feeling of homeland begins with admiration for what the child sees in front of him, what he is amazed at and what evokes a response in his soul. And although many impressions are not yet deeply understood by him, they play a huge role in the formation of the personality of a young patriot. Raising patriotic feelings in children preschool age- one of the tasks moral education. It includes nurturing love for neighbors and home, for kindergarten and hometown, to your country. This work cannot be fully realized without involving oral folk art into it.
Currently, life dictates the need to return to the priorities of love for the Fatherland. However, analysis current situation shows that children, starting from preschool age, suffer from a lack of knowledge about the outstanding defenders of the Fatherland, about the events military history our country, about the achievements and greatness of Russia’s historical past.
It is important to convey to children the idea: after many, many years, people remember historical events, the terrible war years, honor the memory of those who died, and surround with attention and love the people who defended our Motherland.
And I tried not only to introduce the children to epics, but also to play with them.
We'll start amazing trip, which I am sure the children will remember forever. Years will pass, children will become adults, but the heroes we will meet on our travels will accompany them throughout their lives.
So, I want to go on a journey through Russian epics. Epics are an echo of the past, the very one that we study and treat with care. The future is built on the basis of the past. This is a fairy tale and a true story at the same time, and a song, and a poem, and just a story.
The epics do not have one author. They were composed by the Russian people. He composed in those ancient times when our Motherland - Russia - was called Russia. It was a long time ago. There was no writing then, people could not write down what they wrote or saw, so epic stories were learned by heart and passed on from grandfather to father, from father to son, from son to grandson. The storytellers tried to convey what they heard word for word, so the epics have reached us through many, many times, almost unchanged. Through epics we learn how people lived in Ancient Rus', what events took place there.
Previously, epics were also called “old times,” that is, a story about what happened in the old days. People believed that these events were not fictitious, but real, only very long ago.
Epics appeared even when there were no books. Therefore, epics, or antiquities, were not read, but told and sung. While singing, they played along with themselves on the harp.
The performers of epics were called storytellers. Few knew how to tell epics. Storytellers were revered and given every respect. They walked from village to village and spoke in a sing-song voice (like a song) about heroic heroes and their exploits. They talked about how it “was.” About the deeds and victories of the heroes, about how they overcame evil enemies, defended their land, showed their bravery, courage, ingenuity, and kindness.
This is how the epic was composed. Among the Russian people for many centuries, epics about mighty heroes. The epics reflected the life of the Russian people, which was very difficult in Rus'. The heroes worked a lot and that is why they were powerful and strong. Epics told about the exploits of heroes - mighty and fearless warriors possessing enormous power. They ride around in an open field on heroic horses. The horses of the heroes are also not simple: they can sense danger and talk. If two heroes meet, they measure their strength with each other: this is their heroic fun. And then the earth shakes, as if two mountains collided.
But when their native land is in danger, the heroes go to battle with the enemy. No matter how strong the enemy is, no matter how countless hordes he brings with him, heroes invariably win in battle.
Thus, introducing children to epics is a means of forming their patriotic feelings and developing spirituality. As D.S. Likhachev noted, “we must not forget about our cultural past, about our monuments, literature, language, painting: National differences remain in the 21st century if we are concerned with the education of souls, and not just with the transfer of knowledge.” That is why the native culture, like father and mother, must become integral part the soul of a child, the beginning that gives rise to personality.
Epic "How Ilya from Murom became a hero"
In ancient times, the peasant Ivan Timofeevich lived near the city of Murom, in the village of Karacharovo, with his wife Efrosinya Yakovlevna.
They had one son, Ilya.
His father and mother loved him, but they only cried, looking at him: for thirty years Ilya had been lying on the stove, not moving his arm or leg. And the hero Ilya is tall, and bright in mind, and sharp-eyed, but his legs do not move, as if they were lying on logs, they do not move.
Lying on the stove, Ilya hears his mother crying, his father sighing, the Russian people complaining: enemies are attacking Rus', fields are being trampled, people are being killed, children are being orphaned. Robbers prowl along the roads, they do not allow people either passage or passage. The Serpent Gorynych flies into Rus' and drags the girls into his lair.
Gorky Ilya, hearing about all this, complains about his fate:
Oh, you, my weak legs, oh, my weak hands! If I were healthy, the days would not go like this, the months would roll by...
One day, father and mother went into the forest to uproot stumps, pull out roots, and prepare the field for plowing. And Ilya lies alone on the stove, looking out the window.
Suddenly he sees three beggar wanderers approaching his hut.
They stood at the gate and knocked iron ring and say:
Get up, Ilya, open the gate.
You, wanderers, joke evil jokes: I’ve been sitting on the stove for thirty years, I can’t get up.
Stand up, Ilyushenka.
Ilya rushed and jumped off the stove, stood on the floor and couldn’t believe his luck.
Come on, take a walk, Ilya.
Ilya stepped once, stepped again - his legs held him tightly, his legs carried him easily.
Ilya was overjoyed; he couldn’t say a word with joy. And the Kaliki passers-by say to him:
Bring me some cold water, Ilyusha.
Ilya brought a bucket of cold water.
The wanderer poured water into the ladle.
Drink, Ilya. This bucket contains the water of all the rivers, all the lakes of Mother Rus'.
Ilya drank and sensed heroic strength within himself. And the Kaliki ask him:
Do you feel a lot of strength in yourself?
A lot, wanderers. If only I had a shovel, I could plow all the land.
Drink, Ilya, the rest. In that remnant of the whole earth there is dew, from the green meadows, from tall forests, from grain fields. Drink.
Ilya drank the rest.
Do you have a lot of strength in you now?
Oh, you walking Kaliki, I have so much strength that if there were a ring in the sky, I would grab onto it and turn the whole earth over.
There is too much strength in you, you need to reduce it, otherwise the earth will not carry you. Bring some more water.
Ilya walked on the water, but the earth really couldn’t carry him: his foot was stuck in the ground, in the swamp, he grabbed an oak tree - the oak tree was uprooted, the chain from the well, like a thread, tore into pieces.
Ilya steps quietly, and the floorboards break under him. Ilya speaks in a whisper, and the doors are ripped off their hinges.
Ilya brought water, and the wanderers poured another ladle.
Drink, Ilya!
Ilya drank well water.
How much power do you have now?
I'm half strong.
Well, that will be yours, well done. You, Ilya, will be a great hero, fight and fight with the enemies of your native land, with robbers and monsters. Protect widows, orphans, little children. Just never, Ilya, argue with Svyatogor, the land carries him through force. Don't quarrel with Mikula Selyaninovich, his mother loves him - the earth is damp. Don’t go against Volga Vseslavyevich yet, he won’t take him by force, but by cunning and wisdom. And now goodbye, Ilya.
Ilya bowed to the passers-by, and they left for the outskirts.
And Ilya took an ax and went to his father and mother to reap the harvest. He sees that a small place has been cleared of tree stumps, and his father and mother, tired from hard work, are sleeping soundly: the people are old, and the work is hard.
Ilya began to clear the forest - only chips flew. Old oaks are felled with one blow, young ones are torn from the ground by their roots. In three hours he cleared as much field as the entire village could not clear in three days. He destroyed a great field, lowered the trees into deep river, stuck an ax into an oak stump, grabbed a shovel and a rake and dug up and leveled the wide field - just know, sow the grain!
Father and mother woke up, were surprised, delighted, kind words remembered the old wanderers.
And Ilya went to look for a horse.
He went outside the outskirts and saw: a peasant was leading a red, shaggy, mangy foal. The entire price of the foal is a penny, and the man demands exorbitant money for him: fifty rubles and a half.
Ilya bought a foal, brought it home, put it in the stable, fattened it with white wheat, fed it with spring water, cleaned it, groomed it, and added fresh straw.
Three months later, Ilya Burushka began to take Burushka out to the meadows at dawn. The foal rolled around in the dawn dew and became a heroic horse.
Ilya led him to a high tyn. The horse began to play, dance, turn its head, shake its mane. He began to jump over the tine back and forth. He jumped over ten times without hitting him with his hoof. Ilya laid a heroic hand on Burushka - the horse did not stagger, did not move.
“Good horse,” says Ilya. - He will be my faithful comrade.
Ilya began looking for his sword in his hand. As soon as he clenches the hilt of a sword in his fist, the hilt will crush and crumble. There is no sword in Ilya's hand. Ilya threw the swords to the women to pinch the splinters. He went to the forge himself, forged three arrows for himself, each arrow weighing a whole pound. He made himself a tight bow, took a long spear and also a damask club.
Ilya got ready and went to his father and mother:
Let me go, father and mother, to the capital Kyiv-grad to Prince Vladimir. I will serve Rus' with my native faith and truth, and protect the Russian land from enemy enemies.
Old Ivan Timofeevich says:
I bless you for good deeds, but I don’t bless you for bad deeds. Defend our Russian land not for gold, not for self-interest, but for honor, for heroic glory. Don’t shed human blood in vain, don’t shed your mother’s tears, and don’t forget that you come from a black, peasant family.
Ilya bowed to his father and mother to the damp ground and went to saddle Burushka-Kosmatushka. He put felt on the horse, and on the felt - sweatshirts, and then a Cherkassy saddle with twelve silk girths, and an iron girth on the thirteenth, not for beauty, but for strength.
Ilya wanted to try his strength.
He drove up to the Oka River, rested his shoulder on high mountain that was on the shore, and dumped it into the Oka River. The mountain blocked the riverbed and the river began to flow in a new way.
Ilya took a crust of rye bread, dropped it into the Oka River, and the Oke River himself said:
And thank you, Mother Oka River, for giving water and feeding Ilya of Muromets.
As a farewell, he took a small handful of his native land with him, sat on his horse, waved his whip...
People saw Ilya jump on his horse, but they didn’t see where he rode. Only dust rose across the field in a column.
Assignments for the epic “How Ilya from Murom became a hero”
Exercise “Who can guess?”
(Children answer questions about the epic they read, “How Ilya from Murom became a hero”)
- What was the name of the hero in the epic you read? (Ilya);
- How many years did it sit on the stove? (Thirty years);
- Who helped Ilya get up from the stove? (Three beggar wanderers);
- What kind of medicine helped the hero get stronger? (Icy water from a well);
- What was the name of Ilya Muromets's horse? (Buran-Burushka);
- What kind of weapon did the hero forge for himself? (three arrows, a tight bow, a spear, a damask club);
- Where was Ilya Muromets born, in what city? (city of Murom);
- What city did Ilya Muromets go to? (Kyiv-grad);
- Which prince did the hero go to serve? (to Vladimir)
Dynamic pause “We are now heroes”
Let's stand together one - two - three(children walk in place)
We are now heroes!(arms bent at the elbows, showing strength)
We will imagine a palm to the eyes, ( right hand bring the visor to the eyes)
Let's spread our strong legs,
Turning to the right, let's look around majestically.
And we also need to look majestically to the left.
Leaned left - right(hands on the belt, tilt left - right)
It turns out great!
Exercise “Pack the hero for the road”
Exercise “Who is who?”
(Bogatyrs: Ilya Muromets, Svyatogor, Mikula Selyanovich, Volga Vseslavevich )
Exercise: “What is a hero like?”
(Children stand in a circle, the leader throws the ball, the children return it (the ball) naming the character trait of the hero)
- wise,
- cunning,
- noble,
- strong,
- fair,
- fearless,
- brave,
- brave…
Exercise-game “Yes - no”
(Children answer YES or NO questions)
Our homeland is strong (yeah)
And we have one (yes)
There are heroes in Rus' (yes)
They are always praised and honored (yeah)
Ilya Muromets is a hero (yes)
He was the youngest (no)
He defeated the nightingale (yes)
Shot from a machine gun (no)
Alyosha Popovich is also a hero (yes)
He's strong, brave, young (yeah)
Karabas won in battle (yes)
The heroes fought the enemy on tanks (no)
They fought with sword and spear (yeah)
Dobrynya Nikitich was weak and frail (no)
He managed to defeat the snake with his strength (yes)
We are proud of our heroes (yes)
Do we want to be the same ourselves (yes)
Exercise “The Hero and the Faithful Horse”
(Children are divided into two teams and assemble a hero and a horse from the cut pieces).
Maze exercise “Defeat the dragon”
