Yaroslav I, in Baptism George, was the Grand Prince of Kiev, born between 978 and 989, the second son of Saint Vladimir. In his childhood, he suffered from paralysis of the legs, which passed in 988, but he remained lame.
During the lifetime of Saint Vladimir, Yaroslav was placed in Rostov. In 1012, after the death of his elder brother, he became the Prince of Novgorod, striving for independence from Kiev. In 1014, he refused to pay tribute to his father, which angered Saint Vladimir.
After the death of Saint Vladimir, Yaroslav entered into a struggle for the Grand Prince's throne with his brother Svyatopolk the Accursed, who killed three brothers. Yaroslav, gathering an army, achieved victory over Svyatopolk in 1016 and occupied Kiev.
In 1021, Yaroslav successfully fought against his nephew Bryacheslav, and in 1024, he faced his younger brother Mstislav. In 1035, after the death of Mstislav, Yaroslav became the sole ruler of the Russian land.
Yaroslav conducted numerous campaigns against external enemies, including the Pechenegs. In 1036, he defeated the Pechenegs at the walls of Kiev, which ended their raids. He also conducted campaigns to the north against the Finns and to the west against Poland.
Yaroslav was known as a legislator, having developed the “Russian Truth,” the first written code of laws. He contributed to the spread of Christianity by inviting Greek masters and collecting books for the library of St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev.
He passed away on February 20, 1054, in Vyshgorod, and was buried in St. Sophia Cathedral. Before his death, he left a testament to his sons about love and unity.
Yaroslav the Wise became a symbol of the prosperity of Kievan Rus, and his name was included in the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church.
