Sergius of Radonezh (baptized Bartholomew or Varfolomey), a Russian monk, the founder of the Holy Trinity monastery in the Moscow’s vicinity (today know as the Holy Trinity – St. Sergius Lavra), was glorified as a saint and is revered in the Orthodox Church as a venerable, and is considered the greatest ascetic of the Russian Land.
He and his followers founded over 30 monasteries, which played a prominent role in the development of economic activities in the desolate lands of the northern part of the Volga region.
St. Sergius is commemorated not only as a person who greatly contributed to the development of the Russian Church, but also to the glorification of the Russian State. In 1380, before the famous battle of Kulikovo, Grand Prince Dmitriy Donskoy had come to ask for his blessing. On September 8, 1380 Russian forces defeated Tatar hordes at the Kulikovo Field. This victory was the beginning of the end of the Mongol yoke.
On September 14, 2011, Dmitry Medvedev, the President of the Russian Federation, signed Decree No.1197 “On the Celebration of the 700th Anniversary of the Birth of St. Sergius of Radonezh” to preserve cultural heritage and moral values, and to strengthen spiritual unity of the Russian nation.
An envelope depicts Venerable Sergius of Radonezh blessing of people, who is walking on a religious procession.
Design: S. Ulyanovsky.
Face value: letter "A".
Circulation: 1,000,000 envelopes.
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