MAY 21
Saints Michael and Theodore of Murom were sons of the holy Prince Constantine, and lived during the eleventh-twelfth centuries.
The prince sent his son Michael as emissary to the people of Murom, but the pagans murdered him. When Prince Constantine arrived in the city with his retinue, the people quieted down and accepted him, but for a long time they would not give up paganism.
Once, they went to the prince’s home, intending to kill him, but the prince came out to the crowd holding the Murom Icon of the Mother of God. The mutinous people unexpectedly quieted down and agreed to accept holy Baptism at the River Oka.
At the place of the murder of his son Michael, St Constantine built a church in honor of the Annunciation, and later on another church named for the holy Passion-Bearers Boris and Gleb. Prince Constantine zealously assisted his son, Prince Theodore in spreading the Christian Faith among the people of Murom. St Constantine died in 1129, and was buried in the church of the Annunciation beside his sons, Sts Michael and Theodore.
