The equal-to-the-apostles feat was foretold by the uncle, Saint Boyan. The first years of Tsar Boris's reign were unsuccessful; the country suffered from wars, famine, and maritime disasters. Tsar Boris sought salvation in enlightening the country with the faith of Christ.
During the wars with the Greeks, the courtier Theodor Kufara was captured, who took monastic vows and sowed the seeds of the Gospel in the soul of the tsar. The tsar's sister, raised in the Orthodox faith, was also captured. After the death of Emperor Theophilus, Tsar Boris decided to take revenge on the Greeks, but the widow of the emperor, Theodora, proposed peace. Tsar Boris preferred a peaceful alliance, and the exchange of prisoners was carried out.
Later, the enlightener Methodius was sent to Bulgaria, who baptized Tsar Boris, his family, and many boyars. The pagans, learning of this, wanted to kill the tsar, but their conspiracy was thwarted. The Bulgarian people voluntarily accepted baptism. A peace was concluded between Byzantium and Bulgaria, based on the unity of faith.
In 867, preachers from the Roman Pope arrived in Bulgaria, which led to discord between the Greek and Roman Churches. The council in Constantinople in 869 put an end to the disputes, and on March 3, 870, Bulgaria joined the Eastern Church. Saints Gorazd and Clement of Ohrid became renowned in Bulgaria.
Tsar Boris adorned the country with churches and spread piety, establishing a patriarchal see. In his later years, he withdrew to a monastery, leaving the throne to his sons Vladimir and Simeon. Learning of Vladimir's apostasy, he donned royal robes again, punished his son, and imprisoned him. Entrusting the rule to Simeon, Boris returned to the monastery. He only emerged once to repel the invasion of the Hungarians. The holy Tsar Boris, in Holy Baptism Michael, reposed on May 2, 907.
