Moses the Hungarian was a monk of Hungarian origin who lived in Kievan Rus' during the turn of the 11th century. Born in Transylvania around 990, he eventually moved to Kiev to serve the princely family of Vladimir I. During his time in the capital, he witnessed the deaths of the princes Boris and Gleb. After being held as a prisoner in Poland following a military expedition in 1018, he returned to Kiev in 1025 to live out his remaining years as a monk.
Life and service
Born in Transylvania, Moses likely traveled to Kiev due to the Christianization of the local chieftain, Gyula. Between 1015 and 1018, he served as an escort for Predslava, the daughter of Vladimir I. His life was marked by significant political upheaval, including witnessing princely assassinations and enduring a period of captivity in Poland before finally settling in the Kiev Cave Monastery.
Veneration
Recognized as a saint, he is commemorated by the Eastern Orthodox Church on July 26. He is buried within the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, where he spent his final years. His memory is preserved through various Christian traditions, including Catholic and Oriental traditions, as a venerable monastic figure.