Holy Right-Believing Prince George of Vladimir

George (Yuri) was born in Suzdal in 1188, a son of Grand Prince Vsevolod the Big Nest. After years of war with his brother Konstantin he became Grand Prince of Vladimir, and in 1221 he founded the fortress of Nizhny Novgorod where the Oka meets the Volga.

When the Mongols invaded in the winter of 1237–1238, George left Vladimir to gather an army on the Sit River. The city fell in February 1238; his wife, sons and daughter died when the Dormition Cathedral, where they had taken refuge, was set on fire. On 4 March the Mongol commander Burundai surprised and routed his army; the prince was killed and beheaded. Bishop Kirill of Rostov found his body on the battlefield, and in 1239 it was laid in the Dormition Cathedral in Vladimir.