A remarkable statesman, a renowned military commander, a talented diplomat, and a generous patron of Moldavian culture, Stephen the Great has rightfully earned international recognition. His image is one of the most popular and beloved in Moldavian folklore and literature. Stephen III the Great is one of the most outstanding rulers of the Principality of Moldova. He led the state for 47 years, and today historians say of him: “He inherited a fragile clay country and left a strong stone principality.” He strengthened central power and successfully resisted the powerful enemy states of the Ottoman Empire, Poland, and Hungary. During Stephen the Great’s reign, the Principality of Moldova became a significant political force in Eastern Europe. His image is one of the most popular and beloved in Moldavian folklore and literature. The exact date of the future great ruler’s birth is unknown, but it is certain that Stephen III the Great’s biography begins in 1429. He was born in the village of Borzești, now a small town in the Bacău region of Romania. Stephen, often spelled Ștefan the Great, was a descendant of the large dynasty of Moldavian rulers known as the Mușat family, which means “beautiful.” His father, Bogdan II, led the country until 1451. The mother of the future legendary ruler was Oltea Doamna. Upon ascending the throne, Stephen set about strengthening the country. He limited the influence of the boyars on the economy and began purchasing their lands. It’s worth noting that he dealt harshly with those who showed discontent, once executing 40 feudal lords at the same time. It was under Stephen that Moldavian peasants were granted the status of “free men,” although this was primarily done to strengthen his army, as serfs were not allowed to serve in the military. He also built many new fortresses and reinforced the existing ones. The cause of Stephen the Great’s death remains unknown. In the summer of 1504, he passed away. His death was mourned by the entire country. It was as if the people sensed that with the passing of Stephen the Great, the glorious times of wise and independent rulers of Moldavia would give way to times of turmoil, civil strife, and widespread betrayal of the country’s interests by the ruling boyar clique. And this indeed came to pass! Nevertheless, the following centuries did not erase or overshadow the great deeds of the wise and humane ruler of Moldavia — Stephen the Great. It is known that before every major undertaking, before each battle, Stephen III would often pray for a long time to the icon of Saint George the Victorious. This icon, according to tradition, once belonged to his mother. Despite having small military forces and limited resources, but possessing great courage, he would always turn to the icon passed down from his mother. He sought help against Moldova’s enemies. According to legend, after a night of prayer, Saint George himself appeared to him in warrior’s armor. Stephen III asked the saint to strengthen and inspire him. The name of Stephen the Great, according to Bulgarian and Moldavian monks, “shines brightly on Mount Athos.” At the Zograf Monastery on Athos, there are many testimonies of Stephen III the Great’s great charitable works, thanks to which the monastery was restored in 1502. Today, Bulgarian monks reverently guard great relics — three miraculous icons of Saint George the Great Martyr, called “Fanuil,” “Arabian,” and “Moldavian.”