• ST.ANDREI RUBLEV: THE MAN & HIS ART
• THE LIFE OF ST. ANDREI RUBLEV
• ST. ANDREI RUBLEV & HIS EPOCH
• ST. SERJUS OF RADONEZH AND HIS MONASTERY
• THE ART OF ST. ANDREI RUBLEV
• SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES ABOUT ST. ANDREI RUBLEV'S ART

ST.ANDREI RUBLEV & HIS EPOCH

St. Andrei lived in an epoch of great historical events. He witnessed and, probably, participated in those events, many of which were very severe for Russia.

In 1380, a bloody fight on the Kulikov field took place, it began deliverance of Russia from the Tatar yoke. St. Sergius of Radonezh, who dedicated the monastery to the Holy Trinity, did not restrict himself to mere prayer in seclusion. St.Sergius had given every possible backing to Prince Dmitry Donskoy's policy towards the unification of the fighting Russian principalities into a single state and towards delivering the Russian people from the hateful Mongol Yoke. His policy became reality following the first significant victory of Russian army in the battle on Kulikovo Field (September, 1380). Because the river Don flows nearby from the Kulikovo Field, the prince Dmitry was titled Donskoy after this battle.

Two years later Moscow was ruined and burned by Tokhtamysh, the Khan of the Golden Horde. Those and other similar shocks might have affected St. Andrei's to turn a monk.

Obviously, much in Rublev's beliefs conformed to the beliefs of St.Sergius. This observation leads to an understanding of the painter's philosophy.

In 1395, Russia was invaded by the hordes of Tamerlan. Great Prince Vasily Dmitrievich was ready to repulse the enemy, however, there were little chances to win the enormous numerical superiority of the hostile army. The last hope was Mother of God's protection. The wonder-working icon "Our lady of Vladimir" was brought from Vladimir to Moscow. People led by Metropolitan Kiprian had met the sacred icon in a place where subsequently the Sretensky Monastery was built in memory of this event.

The church appealed to everybody for a pray, fast and penance. There was a miracle: Mother of God came to Tamerlan in his dream and sternly forbade him to go to Moscow. The army of Tamerlan reached Elets and turned back. It disappeared as suddenly as had appeared. Soon afterwards Metropolitan Kiprian blessed St. Andrei to make a copy of "Our Lady of Vladimir".

(Credits: the text is loosely based on
http://park.org/Guests/Russia/moscow/sergiev/rublev.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troitse-Sergiyeva_Lavra.
In some places, text was either changed or rearranged.)