Welcome to a slap shot edition of the Russian rulers podcast. I'm your host

Mark Schaus. Today's short podcast is on St. Sergio of Radinez.

Christened Bartholomew, the second of three brothers, Saint Sergius of Radanes, was to have a profound

effect on the land of Russia.

This holy man was to be a major factor in the expansion of the

holdings of the Grand Prince of Moscow.

He is certainly one of the most revered men of all old Russia.

His influence is still felt today.

Born of Boyar parents, basically a son of a nobleman.

His family fell upon hard times as the city they lived in, Rostov, was in the midst of being annexed by Moscow and its elite

citizens were heading downward on the socioeconomic path.

Ivan I, otherwise known as Ivan Moneybags, was offering tax exemptions to people who had moved to a new settlement, a new town named Radanez.

Bartholomew was a mere seven years old when his parents made the move.

This was to be one of a series of traumatic events that was to shape his life.

His time in the newborn city was physically trying, but the young boy was far more of a physical

child than an intellectual one. His older brother Stephan decided to enter the

monastery after his wife died with two young children of whom history has no information about.

Shortly thereafter, Bartholomew's parents both died, likely from an outbreak of the Black Plague.

He gave the remaining monies that his parents

had to his youngest brother and headed out to the forest to find God with his

eldest brother, Stefan. The single religious experiment that Bartholomew undertook was to have huge repercussions for the

lands that were to become Russia.

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