Saint Moses the Hungarian served the Prince of Rus’, Saint Boris, as well as his brother George. When the prince was murdered, those who lived near him were persecuted. Saint Moses was the only one who managed to escape and go into hiding.
When Sviatopolk, the murderer of the prince, eventually entered Poland—where the saint had found refuge—he captured him and kept him imprisoned for five years.
During his imprisonment, Moses’ youth and physical beauty drew the attention of a wealthy and equally beautiful widow. Having lost her husband, she desired to make the young Moses her servant. She promised him his freedom if he would agree to remain at her side as her companion.
The saint, however, had decided to dedicate his life to monasticism, preserving his purity and avoiding every form of passion. He therefore refused her proposal. The woman persisted and attempted in every way to change his mind. When she realized that she would not succeed, she resorted to deceitful means, bribing a guard and securing the saint’s release.
From that time on, Moses lived near her, praying, fasting, and remaining distant from all passion. Enraged by the saint, the woman employed threats of every kind in an attempt to seduce him, until she finally ordered his brutal torture.
When a revolt broke out, the widow was killed. Saint Moses then departed for the Monastery of the Caves in Kiev, where he lived as a monk, worked miracles, and healed people from every kind of carnal passion.
He fell asleep in the Lord on June 26, 1043, and got buried with honor in the monastery where he had practiced his ascetic life.
