In the middle of the 12th century, Russia was in a time of internecine strife for the Kyiv principality. Saint Igor, having entered into the struggle for Kyiv by the will of God, became a victim of the growing hatred. On August 1, 1146, Prince Vsevolod died, and Igor, against his will, found himself at the center of events. On August 13, he was captured and placed in a "prison," where he fell gravely ill.
His enemies allowed him to be "released" from captivity, and he was tonsured into the schema at the Kyiv Theodorov Monastery. A year later, in 1147, the Kyiv veche, wishing to take revenge, decided to deal with the monk-prince. During the liturgy, the rebels burst into the church and seized Igor, dragging him to execution, where he was killed.
The body of the saint was transferred to the church of Saint Michael, where it became a sign. The next morning, he was buried in the monastery of St. Simeon. In 1150, Prince Svyatoslav Olgovich of Chernigov transferred the relics to Chernigov, where they were placed in the Spassky Cathedral. The miraculous icon of the Mother of God, before which the martyr prayed, came to be called Igor's, with the feast celebrated on June 5/18.
