Early Life and Marriage
Anna was born around 1280 in Rostov, in what is now Yaroslavl Oblast, descended from Russian nobility as the daughter of Prince Dmitry Borisovich of Rostov and great-granddaughter of Prince Vasily of Rostov. From her earliest years she was raised strictly in the Christian faith, with particular emphasis on humility and obedience. Her spiritual instructor was Ignatius, Bishop of Rostov (died 1288), who was known for his ascetic practice and peaceful doctrine.
Princess Xenia of Tver, the second wife of Grand Prince Yaroslav III, arranged Anna's marriage to her son Michael of Tver. The wedding took place on November 8, 1294, in the Transfiguration (Preobrazhensky) cathedral of Tver. To commemorate the union, the residents of Kashin built the Saint Michael Church and erected ceremonial gates from the local Kremlin toward the Tver road, establishing an annual feast on the anniversary of the marriage.
Trials and Bereavements
Anna and Michael had five children: Feodora, who died in infancy; Dmitry of Tver (1299–1326); Alexander of Tver (1301–1339); Konstantin of Tver (1306–1346); and Vasily of Kashin (died after 1368). Her life was marked by repeated catastrophes. Her father died in 1294; a devastating fire destroyed Tver in 1295, followed by another palace fire in 1296. Her firstborn daughter Feodora fell seriously ill and died in infancy.
From 1317 onward, conflict erupted between Yury of Moscow and Prince Michael. On December 22, 1317, Michael defeated Yury of Moscow at Bortenevo, capturing in the course of the conflict the sister of Uzbeg Khan, who was Yury's wife and who died in Michael's custody. The Mongol general Kavgadii accused Michael of murdering her, of withholding tribute, and of warring against his Mongol overlords. Michael was summoned to the Golden Horde and executed, brutally tortured to death, on November 22, 1318. Anna remained unaware of his martyrdom until July 1319.
The bereavements continued. Her eldest son Dmitry was tortured by the Horde in 1325. In 1327 her second son Alexander temporarily defeated Tatar forces but fled to Pskov; in 1339 Alexander and his son Feodor were killed at the Horde. By 1365, only her youngest son, Vasily, remained alive.
Monastic Life and Repose
Following her husband's death, Anna pursued her desire to serve God in solitude. She took monastic vows at Sofia's monastery in Tver, receiving the name Evfrosiniya. In 1365, responding to the entreaties of her son Vasily, she relocated to his principality in Kashin, where the Uspensky monastery was built and where she accepted the great schema with the name Anna.
She died at an advanced age on October 2, 1368, and was buried in the Dormition Cathedral (the cathedral of the Blessed Virgin) in Kashin. For centuries afterward her memory faded from prominence.
Glorification, Decanonization, and Restoration
By tradition, during the 1611 Lithuanian siege of Kashin, Anna appeared to Gerasim, the cathedral sexton, interceding for the city's deliverance. After reports of miraculous healings, the Russian Orthodox Church convened a synod in 1649. Her relics were unearthed on July 21, 1649, and were solemnly transferred from the wooden Dormition cathedral into the stone Resurrection church on June 12, 1650; she was glorified as a saint at this time.
Twenty-eight years after her canonization, Patriarch Joachim petitioned the Moscow Synod to decanonize Anna because of her overwhelming veneration among Old Believer schismatic communities. It was traditionally held that the Old Believers adopted Anna as their palladium because she was depicted on icons making the Sign of the Cross with two fingers — the Old Believer practice — rather than the three-finger method mandated by Patriarch Nikon in 1656; reports circulated that her incorrupt remains displayed the two-fingered gesture despite attempts to alter it. In response, Patriarch Joachim removed her relics from public display, and at the Grand Synod held from January to February 1678 he reaffirmed her decanonization, forbidding supplication to her intercession and permitting only prayers for her. Nevertheless, the people continued to venerate her, and many miracles were reported at her tomb.
On October 30, 1908, the Most Holy Synod requested the Emperor's consent to restore Anna's church-wide veneration, which was granted by imperial decree on November 7, 1908. The Synod designated June 12, 1909, as the day of her second glorification, which took place on that date and established her universally observed feast. The crowded Kashin celebrations honoring the restoration were attended by Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna.
Relics & Shrines
Anna's principal shrine is located at the Cathedral of Christ's Resurrection in Kashin, Russia, where her relics were enshrined following their transfer in 1650.
After the second glorification, a monastic community dedicated to Anna was established in Grozny in 1909, and a church was consecrated in her name in St. Petersburg the following year. In April 2023, the Tver City Duma assigned Anna's name to a square before the city's new Wedding Palace, featuring a monument depicting the holy princess together with Prince Michael.
Miracles & Traditions
Historically Documented: Reports of miraculous healings preceded the 1649 synod and the recovery of her relics in 1650, and miracles continued to be reported at her tomb even during the period of her decanonization.
Traditional Accounts: By tradition, during the 1611 Lithuanian siege of Kashin, Anna appeared to Gerasim, the cathedral sexton, interceding for the city's deliverance. Annual June 12 processions featuring Anna's icon became customary throughout Kashin after the 1909 restoration of her veneration.
