Schemamonk
Saint Alexander of Radonezh, in the world known as Peresvet, was a boyar from Bryansk and an experienced warrior, who took monastic vows under the name Alexander. On August 18, 1380, Prince Dmitry of Moscow sought the blessing of the venerable Sergius of Radonezh for the Battle of Kulikovo and requested two warriors – the brothers Alexander-Peresvet and Andrei-Oslabya. The venerable Sergius gave them "instead of perishable weapons, the imperishable – the cross of Christ" and commanded them to fight for the Christian faith.
On the way to the battle, Alexander-Peresvet stopped at the cell of a hermit living at the site of the future Dmitrievsky Monastery and gave him his travel staff. On the day of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, before the start of the Battle of Kulikovo, he accepted the challenge of a hero from Mamai's army and entered into single combat with him. Both warriors perished, which became a spiritual sign for the Russian troops and a guarantee of their victory.
The body of the venerable Alexander-Peresvet was buried near the church in honor of the Nativity of the Theotokos. The feat of the saint became known in the tales of the Battle of Kulikovo, and his name entered the chronicles of those killed on Kulikovo Field. In the 17th century, his name was included in the saints' calendars, and by the end of the century – in the "Description of Russian Saints."
Gravestones were erected over the remains of the venerable Alexander and Andrei. In the 19th century, the saint's staff was shortened and transferred to a museum. In 1928, the church was closed, the gravestones were destroyed, but restored in 1989. In 2006, the staff of Peresvet was transferred from the Ryazan Museum to the church.
In 1981, the names of the holy monk-warriors were included in the assembly of the Radonezh saints, and their memory is celebrated on September 7, on the eve of the Nativity of the Theotokos.
