The paper deals with evidence of written sources concerning pious activities of Russian premongolian elite (mainly princes-Rurikids), such as foundation of monasteries, building of saints’ Martyria, organization of family necropolis, etc. The author examines some topoi used for description of such activities, discusses some paradoxical situations reflected in texts, and argues that special attention payed by premongolian writers to princes’ deeds coincides with Rurikids’ monopoly for donor portraits, placed in churches and illuminated manuscripts.