Themes

Vision to the Warrior Pelgusiy In 1240 the Swedish army carried out a campaign against ancient Russia. It was a very difficult period in Russian history. The Mongolian yokes pressed Russian lands from the east and German knights who named themselves as crusaders acted on the offensive from the west. The Pope gave his blessing to crusaders and promised absolution to all participants of the campaign against Russia. The Pope intended to do away with Orthodoxy and to subdue the Russian Orthodox Church to the Roman Catholic Church. Crusaders were ready to raze Russia to the ground and kill peaceful citizens. Taking advantage of Russia's weakening after the Mongol invasion hordes of crusaders intruded into Russia. The first were Swedes. Novgorod, governed by the Great Prince Alexander Nevsky, had to defend against the Swedes with its own strength. Neighboring principalities destroyed by the Tatar army couldn't help. The young Prince Alexander Nevsky was informed about the aggression in advance by a warrior called Pelgusiy. Pelgusiy was the leader of the Finnish tribe called Izhory (the name of this tribe originated from the name of the Izhora River). The Prince managed to gather a small army and on July 15, 1240 the Russian army reached the banks of the Neva River. Before the beginning of the battle Pelgusiy helped the young Prince for the second time. He told Alexander about his vision. At deep night he was hiding himself behind bushes observing the Swedish army camp. While the sun was rising Pelgusiy suddenly heard a splash and then he saw a boat. In the middle of this boat stood the Russian martyr saints Boris and Gleb dressed in scarlet, and oarsmen were muffled in the haze. Then Pelgusiy heard the words of Boris: "My brother Gleb, order to row! Let's help in battle to our relative Alexander Yaroslavovich!" Alexander asked Pelgusiy to keep his mouth shut and forbade him to tell anybody about his vision. Then the Prince, encouraged by this miracle attacked the Swedish army that far outnumbered his own and defeated it. The people gave the young Prince the name Nevsky in reward for this heroic victory in the battle that took place in the banks of the Neva River.