Right-Believing Prince and Martyr Michael Vsevolodovich of Chernigov

IMPORTANT CORRECTION: the category has been corrected from "righteous" to "right_believing" — the entry's own title already contained "Right-Believing Prince," matching the precedent established in our database for princely martyrs (see the already-documented martyr_ludmila and martyr_wenceslaus_of_bohemia). The duplicate date (November 22/December 5), previously shared with the martyr_of_tver entry, has been removed as belonging to a different saint.

Right-Believing Prince Michael Vsevolodovich ruled at various times in Pereyaslavl (1206), Novgorod (1224/1225, 1229), Chernigov (from 1223), Galich (1235-1239), and was Grand Prince of Kiev (1238-1239, 1241-1243). He was married to Princess Theophania; their daughter was Venerable Euphrosyne of Suzdal. During the Mongol invasion he sought support from Western Christian powers but received none; in 1240 Kiev fell to the Mongols.

In 1246 Michael traveled to Batu Khan's camp on the Volga to obtain a patent confirming his princely rights. Before being admitted to the khan, visitors were required to pass between two ritual fires and bow to pagan idols as a sign of submission. Forewarned of this custom and having consulted his spiritual father, Michael, together with his boyar Feodor, resolved to refuse, declaring that a Christian worships only God the Creator, not created things. Both were subjected to brutal torture and killed on the spot; struck by their steadfastness, the Mongols allowed their bodies to be recovered.

The relics were returned and buried in the Transfiguration Cathedral of Chernigov in 1246. They were formally glorified at the Moscow Council of 1547 as martyr-confessors ("Wonderworkers of Chernigov"); the relics were later translated to Moscow (1578) and finally to the Archangel Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin (1774).

His feast is kept on September 20/October 3 (death) and February 14/27 (translation of relics).