In 1988, the Interdepartmental Commission conducted a study of the relics of the Monk Ilya of Murom. The results were amazing. He was a strong man who died at the age of 45-55 years old, tall - 177 cm. The fact is that in the XII century, when Ilya lived, such a person was considered quite tall, because the average height of a man was 165 cm.
Moreover, on the bones of Ilya, scientists found traces of many battles - multiple fractures of the collarbones, broken ribs, traces of the blow of a spear, saber, sword. This confirmed the legend that Ilya was a powerful warrior, a participant in fierce battles.
But what struck scientists most of all was something else: Ilya really couldn't walk for a long time! According to the $ IMAGE-right1 $ conclusion of the researchers, the reason for this was a serious illness - tuberculosis of the bones or poliomyelitis. This was the cause of the paralysis of the legs.
Ilya Muromets was born approximately between 1150 and 1165. And he died at the age of about 40–55 years, as it is assumed, during the capture of Kiev by Prince Rurik Rostislavich in 1204, when the Pechersk Lavra was defeated by the Polovtsy allied to Rurik. The cause of death was apparently a blow from a sharp weapon (spear or sword) in the chest.
Curse and miraculous healing
The people passed on such a story from mouth to mouth. As if the grandfather of Ilya Muromets was a pagan and, not recognizing Christianity, once cut an icon. Since then, the curse has fallen on his family - all boys will be born crippled.
After 10 years, Ilya was born, and it seemed that the curse was fulfilled: the boy could not walk from childhood. All attempts to cure him have been unsuccessful. But Ilya did not give up, he persistently trained his arms, developed muscles, becoming more and more strong, but, alas, he still could not walk. Years passed, and, probably, more than once it seemed to him that he needed to come to terms with fate: he would forever remain a cripple.
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But when Ilya turned 33, something inexplicable happened. The day came that abruptly and changed his life forever. The elders entered the house - pedestrian kaliki (beggar wanderers), and asked the boy to bring water. He explained that he could not walk. But the guests persistently repeated the request, which sounded like an order. And Ilya, suddenly feeling an unprecedented strength, for the first time got to his feet …
Ilya got to his feet after 33 years of immobility. And scientists who have conducted research on the relics confirm that the bone tissue of this person was miraculously restored. Moreover, according to their conclusion, after thirty years he led an active lifestyle, which is fully consistent with the epics.
The exploits of the Russian Hercules
After the miraculous healing, Ilya Muromets, as befits heroes and heroes, performs numerous feats. His most famous feat is the victory over the Nightingale the Robber.
Researchers believe that the Nightingale the Robber is not a fabulous monster, but also a real historical figure, a robber who hunted in the forests on the way to Kiev. And this robber was nicknamed the Nightingale because he announced his attack with a whistle (or, perhaps, whistled a signal to his gang to attack).
Later, Ilya Muromets performed many other feats, participated in battles, defending the Russian land from enemies. Contemporaries noted his incredible, inhuman strength, so in the memory of people he remained, probably, the greatest Russian hero. Suffice it to recall the painting "Three Heroes", in which Ilya Muromets is depicted in the center - as the strongest and most powerful.
In epics and legends, three heroes - Ilya Muromets, Alyosha Popovich and Dobrynya Nikitich - often perform feats together. But they never actually met. They were separated by centuries - Dobrynya Nikitich lived in the 10th century, Alyosha Popovich - in the 13th century, and Ilya - in the 12th century.
But when legends are passed from one generation to another for centuries, they acquire new details, famous characters begin to perform new feats, and the time frame is gradually blurred and shifted. Contrary to the legends, Ilya Muromets never served Prince Vladimir the Great. They simply could not meet, because they lived in different centuries. Ilya served Prince Svyatoslav, defending Russia from the Polovtsians.
The Orthodox Church, unlike scholars, never doubted the authenticity of the relics. Ilya Muromets was canonized already in 1643 and became one of 69 saints of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
The body of Ilya Muromets, like the remains of many other monks buried in the caves of the Lavra, is imperishable and is in a state of mummification. But, unlike the bodies of the Egyptian pharaohs, it became so not due to processing with special compounds, but for a reason unknown to science. In Orthodoxy, it is believed that if the body does not decompose, but turns into relics, this is a special gift of God, which is given only to saints.
From the relics of Ilya Muromets, healings of those who suffer from diseases of the spine and whose legs are paralyzed. Ilya continues his service to people even after his death …
