July 19 marks one of the holidays of the Russian Orthodox Church, which is called the Council of Radonezh Saints. This holiday is relatively few years old - in 2012 it is held for the 21st time. However, the events and saints in whose honor it was established relate to the history of Russia six centuries ago.
With reference to people, and not buildings, the word "cathedral" most often means a meeting - a group of people or a set of acts of one person. There are a number of church holidays designed to glorify the totality (cathedral) of the blessings of one saint (for example, the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary) or to honor a group of saints. Such a group is united either by a common feat, or a place of birth or ministry. The Cathedral of Radonezh Saints is a celebration in honor of St. Sergius of Radonezh, his students, interlocutors, relatives and holy monks of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery.
Sergius of Radonezh is an Orthodox monk who lived in the 14th century and founded several monasteries, including the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. His students were also the organizers of new monasteries and the primates of more than four dozen monasteries. Sergius of Radonezh left a noticeable mark in the history of the unification of Russia, which helped to get rid of the Tatar-Mongol yoke. In addition, in the description of the life and deeds of the saint numerous miracles performed by him are mentioned. The Russian Orthodox Church reverend St. Sergius as a saint.
The Cathedral of Radonezh Saints includes almost eight dozen names of saints that are 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 Dimitri Donskoy and Princess Yevdokia, Scheme Cyril of Radonezh and Schema Nun Maria of Radonezh - the parents of the Monk Sergei Radonezh, his brother - the Monk Stefan of Moscow, etc.
In the XVII century, the first of the lists of disciples of Sergius of Radonezh that came to us were compiled, and the icon of the Cathedral of Radonezh Saints was also painted. And the first official celebration was held 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 appointed July 19 - the day after the holiday in honor of the acquisition of the relics of St. Sergius.
