Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, wonderworker (†1833). What does the icon of Seraphim of Sarov help with, what are they asking him for?

Seraphim Chichagov

THE LIFE OF REVEREND SERAPHIM, THE WONDERWORKER OF SAROV

Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery, 1903

Father o. Seraphim entered the Sarov hermitage in 1778, on November 20, on the eve of the Introduction Holy Mother of God to the temple and was entrusted with obedience to the elder hieromonk Joseph.

His homeland was the provincial city of Kursk, where his father, Isidor Moshnin, owned brick factories and was engaged as a contractor in the construction of stone buildings, churches and houses. Isidor Moshnin was known as an extremely honest man, zealous for the temples of God and a rich, eminent merchant. Ten years before his death, he undertook to build a new church in Kursk in the name of St. Sergius, according to the plan of the famous architect Rastrelli. Subsequently, in 1833, this temple was made a cathedral. In 1752, the foundation stone of the temple took place, and when the lower church, with a throne in the name of St. Sergius, was ready in 1762, the pious builder, the father of the great elder Seraphim, the founder of the Diveyevo monastery, died. Having transferred his entire fortune to his kind and intelligent wife Agathia, he instructed her to complete the construction of the temple. Mother o. Seraphima was even more pious and merciful than her father: she helped the poor a lot, especially orphans and poor brides.

Agathia Moshnina continued the construction of the St. Sergius Church for many years and personally supervised the workers. In 1778, the temple was finally finished, and the work was carried out so well and conscientiously that the Moshnin family acquired special respect among the residents of Kursk.

Father Seraphim was born in 1759, on July 19, and was named Prokhor. At the death of his father, Prokhor was no more than three years old from birth, therefore, he was entirely raised by his God-loving, kind and intelligent mother, who taught him more by the example of her life, which was spent in prayer, visiting churches and helping the poor. That Prokhor was the chosen one of God from his birth - everyone saw this spiritually developed people, and his pious mother could not help but feel it. So, one day, while inspecting the structure of the St. Sergius Church, Agafia Moshnina walked with her seven-year-old Prokhor and unnoticed reached the very top of the bell tower that was then under construction. Suddenly moving away from his mother, the fast boy leaned over the railing to look down, and, through carelessness, fell to the ground. The frightened mother ran away from the bell tower in a terrible state, imagining to find her son beaten to death, but, to unspeakable joy and great surprise, she saw him safe and sound. The child stood on his feet. The mother tearfully thanked God for saving her son and realized that her son Prokhor was protected by the special Providence of God.

Three years later, a new event clearly revealed God’s protection over Prokhor. He was ten years old, and he was distinguished by a strong physique, sharp mind, quick memory and, at the same time, meekness and humility. They began to teach him church literacy, and Prokhor set to work eagerly, but suddenly he became very ill, and even his family did not hope for his recovery. During the most difficult time of his illness, in a sleepy vision, Prokhor saw the Most Holy Theotokos, who promised to visit him and heal him from his illness. When he woke up, he told this vision to his mother. Indeed, soon in one of the religious processions they carried the miraculous icon of the Sign through the city of Kursk Mother of God along the street where Moshnina’s house was. It began to rain heavily. To cross to another street, the religious procession, probably to shorten the path and avoid dirt, headed through the Moshnina courtyard. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Agafia took her sick son out into the yard and put him to miraculous icon and brought it under her shade. They noticed that from that time Prokhor began to improve in health and soon completely recovered. Thus the promise of the Queen of Heaven to visit the boy and heal him was fulfilled. With the restoration of his health, Prokhor continued his teaching successfully, studied the Book of Hours, the Psalter, learned to write and fell in love with reading the Bible and spiritual books.

Prokhor's elder brother, Alexey, was engaged in trade and had his own shop in Kursk, so the young Prokhor was forced to learn to trade in this shop; but his heart was not in trade and making profits. Young Prokhor did not let almost a single day pass without visiting the Church of God, and, due to the impossibility of being at the late liturgy and vespers on the occasion of classes in the shop, he got up earlier than others and hurried to matins and early mass. At that time, in the city of Kursk there lived a certain fool for Christ, whose name is now forgotten, but then everyone revered him. Prokhor met him and clung to the holy fool with all his heart; the latter, in turn, fell in love with Prokhor and, with his influence, disposed his soul even more towards piety and a solitary life. His smart mother noticed everything and was sincerely glad that her son was so close to the Lord. Prokhor also had the rare happiness of having such a mother and teacher who did not interfere, but contributed to his desire to choose a spiritual life for himself.

A few years later, Prokhor began to talk about monasticism and carefully found out whether his mother would be against his going to a monastery. He, of course, noticed that his kind teacher did not contradict his wishes and would rather let him go than keep him in the world; This made the desire for monastic life flare up in his heart even more. Then Prokhor began to talk about monasticism with people he knew, and in many he found sympathy and approval. Thus, merchants Ivan Druzhinin, Ivan Bezhodarny, Alexey Melenin and two others expressed the hope of going with him to the monastery.

In the seventeenth year of his life, the intention to leave the world and embark on the path of monastic life finally matured in Prokhor. And the determination formed in the mother’s heart to let him go to serve God. His farewell to his mother was touching! Having gathered completely, they sat for a while, according to Russian custom, then Prokhor stood up, prayed to God, bowed to his mother’s feet and asked her parental blessing. Agathia gave him to venerate the icons of the Savior and the Mother of God, then blessed him with a copper cross. Taking this cross with him, he always wore it openly on his chest until the end of his life.

Prokhor had to decide an important question: where and to which monastery he should go. Glory to the ascetic life of the monks of the Sarov desert, where many of the Kursk residents were already and Fr. Pachomius, a native of Kursk, persuaded him to go to them, but he first wanted to be in Kyiv to look at the works of the Kiev-Pechersk monks, to ask for guidance and advice from the elders, to know the will of God through them, to be confirmed in his thoughts, to receive a blessing from whom some ascetic and, finally, pray and be blessed by St. relics of St. Anthony and Theodosius, the founders of monasticism. Prokhor set off on foot, with a staff in his hand, and five more Kursk merchants walked with him. In Kyiv, while walking around the ascetics there, he heard that not far from St. Pechersk Lavra, in the Kitaev monastery, a recluse named Dosifei, who has the gift of clairvoyance, is saved. Having come to him, Prokhor fell at his feet, kissed them, revealed his whole soul to him and asked for instructions and blessings. The perspicacious Dositheus, seeing the grace of God in him, understanding his intentions and seeing in him a good ascetic of Christ, blessed him to go to the Sarov Hermitage and said in conclusion: “Come, child of God, and abide there. This place will be your salvation, with the help of the Lord. Here you and your earthly journey will end. Just try to acquire unceasing memory of God through the constant invocation of the name of God like this: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner! Let all your attention and training be in this; walking and sitting, doing and standing in church, everywhere, in every place, entering and leaving, let this unceasing cry be both in your mouth and in your heart: with it you will find peace, you will acquire spiritual and physical purity, and the Spirit will dwell in you The Holy One, the source of all good things, will direct your life in holiness, in all piety and purity. In Sarov, the rector Pachomius lived a godly life; he is a follower of our Anthony and Theodosius!

Parents of Seraphim of Sarov

The birthplace of Seraphim of Sarov was the provincial city of Kursk, where his father, Isidor Moshnin, owned brick factories and was engaged as a contractor in the construction of stone buildings, churches and houses. Isidor Moshnin was known as an extremely honest man, zealous for the temples of God and a rich, eminent merchant.

Ten years before his death, he undertook to build a new church in Kursk in the name of St. Sergius, according to the plan of the famous architect Rastrelli. Subsequently, in 1833, this temple was made a cathedral.
In 1752, the foundation stone of the temple took place, and when the lower church, with a throne in the name of St. Sergius, was ready in 1762, the pious builder, the father of the great elder Seraphim, the founder of the Diveyevo monastery, died. Having transferred his entire fortune to his kind and intelligent wife Agathia, he instructed her to complete the construction of the temple.

Mother o. Seraphima was even more pious and merciful than her father: she helped the poor a lot, especially orphans and poor brides.

The birth of St. Seraphim and miraculous salvation from death.

Icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov

Father Seraphim was born in 1759, on July 19, and was named Prokhor. At the death of his father, Prokhor was no more than three years old from birth, therefore, he was entirely raised by his God-loving, kind and intelligent mother, who taught him more by the example of her life, which was spent in prayer, visiting churches and helping the poor.
That Prokhor was God's chosen one from his birth - all spiritually developed people saw this, and his pious mother could not help but feel it. So, one day, while inspecting the structure of the St. Sergius Church, Agafia Moshnina walked with her seven-year-old Prokhor and unnoticed reached the very top of the bell tower that was then under construction.
Suddenly moving away from his mother, the fast boy leaned over the railing to look down, and, through carelessness, fell to the ground. The frightened mother ran away from the bell tower in a terrible state, imagining to find her son beaten to death, but, to unspeakable joy and great surprise, she saw him safe and sound. The child stood on his feet. The mother tearfully thanked God for saving her son and realized that her son Prokhor was protected by the special Providence of God.

The adolescence of Saint Seraphim.
First healing by the Blessed Virgin Mary

Three years later, a new event clearly revealed God’s protection over Prokhor. He was ten years old, and he was distinguished by a strong physique, sharp mind, quick memory and, at the same time, meekness and humility. They began to teach him church literacy, and Prokhor set to work eagerly, but suddenly he became very ill, and even his family did not hope for his recovery.
During the most difficult time of his illness, in a sleepy vision, Prokhor saw the Most Holy Theotokos, who promised to visit him and heal him from his illness. When he woke up, he told this vision to his mother. Indeed, soon in one of the religious processions they carried the miraculous icon of the Sign of the Mother of God through the city of Kursk along the street where Moshnina’s house was. It began to rain heavily.
To cross to another street, the religious procession, probably to shorten the path and avoid dirt, headed through the Moshnina courtyard. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Agathia carried her sick son into the courtyard, placed him next to the miraculous icon and brought it under its shade. They noticed that from that time Prokhor began to improve in health and soon completely recovered.
Thus the promise of the Queen of Heaven to visit the boy and heal him was fulfilled. With the restoration of his health, Prokhor continued his teaching successfully, studied the Book of Hours, the Psalter, learned to write and fell in love with reading the Bible and spiritual books.

Prokhor's elder brother, Alexey, was engaged in trade and had his own shop in Kursk, so the young Prokhor was forced to learn to trade in this shop; but his heart was not in trade and making profits. Young Prokhor did not let almost a single day pass without visiting the Church of God, and, due to the impossibility of being at the late liturgy and vespers on the occasion of classes in the shop, he got up earlier than others and hurried to matins and early mass.
At that time, in the city of Kursk there lived a certain fool for Christ, whose name is now forgotten, but then everyone revered him. Prokhor met him and clung to the holy fool with all his heart; the latter, in turn, fell in love with Prokhor and, with his influence, disposed his soul even more towards piety and a solitary life.
His smart mother noticed everything and was sincerely glad that her son was so close to the Lord. Prokhor also had the rare happiness of having such a mother and teacher who did not interfere, but contributed to his desire to choose a spiritual life for himself.

A few years later, Prokhor began to talk about monasticism and carefully found out whether his mother would be against his going to a monastery. He, of course, noticed that his kind teacher did not contradict his wishes and would rather let him go than keep him in the world; This made the desire for monastic life flare up in his heart even more.
Then Prokhor began to talk about monasticism with people he knew, and in many he found sympathy and approval. Thus, merchants Ivan Druzhinin, Ivan Bezhodarny, Alexey Melenin and two others expressed the hope of going with him to the monastery.

In the seventeenth year of his life, the intention to leave the world and embark on the path of monastic life finally matured in Prokhor. And the determination formed in the mother’s heart to let him go to serve God.
His farewell to his mother was touching! Having gathered completely, they sat for a while, according to Russian custom, then Prokhor stood up, prayed to God, bowed to his mother’s feet and asked her parental blessing.
Agathia gave him to venerate the icons of the Savior and the Mother of God, then blessed him with a copper cross. Taking this cross with him, he always wore it openly on his chest until the end of his life.

Genuine lifetime portrait-icon of the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov.

Blessing by the blessed elder Dosifei

Prokhor set off on foot, with a staff in his hand, and five more Kursk merchants walked with him. In Kyiv, while walking around the ascetics there, he heard that not far from St. Pechersk Lavra, in the Kitaev monastery, a recluse named Dosifei, who has the gift of clairvoyance, is saved. Having come to him, Prokhor fell at his feet, kissed them, revealed his whole soul to him and asked for instructions and blessings.

The perspicacious Dositheus, seeing the grace of God in him, understanding his intentions and seeing in him a good ascetic of Christ, blessed him to go to the Sarov Hermitage and said in conclusion: “Come, child of God, and abide there. This place will be your salvation, with the help of the Lord. Here you and your earthly journey will end. Just try to acquire unceasing memory of God through the constant invocation of the name of God like this: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!

Let all your attention and training be in this; walking and sitting, doing and standing in church, everywhere, in every place, entering and leaving, let this unceasing cry be both in your mouth and in your heart: with it you will find peace, you will acquire spiritual and physical purity, and the Spirit will dwell in you The Holy One, the source of all good things, will direct your life in holiness, in all piety and purity. In Sarov, the rector Pachomius lived a godly life; he is a follower of our Anthony and Theodosius!

The conversation of the blessed elder Dosifei finally confirmed the young man in good intentions. Having answered the fast, confessed and received Holy Communion, bowed again to St. saints of the Kiev-Pechersk, he set his feet on the path and, protected by the protection of God, safely arrived again in Kursk, to his mother’s house.

Here he lived for several more months, even went to the shop, but he was no longer engaged in trade, but read soul-saving books for the edification of himself and others who came to talk to him, ask about holy places and listen to readings. This time was his farewell to his homeland and family.

As already mentioned, Prokhor entered the Sarov monastery on November 20, 1778, on the eve of the Feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple. Standing in the church at the all-night vigil, seeing the orderly performance of the service, noticing how everyone, from the rector to the last novice, was fervently praying, he admired the spirit and rejoiced that the Lord had shown him here a place for the salvation of his soul.
Father Pachomius knew Prokhor's parents from an early age and therefore lovingly accepted the young man, in whom he saw a true desire for monasticism. He assigned him to be one of the novices to the treasurer, Hieromonk Joseph, a wise and loving elder.
At first, Prokhor was in the cell obedience of the elder and accurately fulfilled all the monastic rules and regulations according to his instructions; in his cell he served not only resignedly, but always with zeal. This behavior drew everyone's attention to him and gained him the favor of the elders Joseph and Pachomius.
Then they began to assign him, in addition to his cell duties, other obediences in order: in the bread shop, in the prosphora, in the carpentry. In the latter, he was the wake-up caller and performed this obedience for quite a long time. Then he performed sexton duties.
In general, young Prokhor, vigorous in strength, went through all the monastic obediences with great zeal, but, of course, did not avoid many temptations, such as sadness, boredom, despondency, which had a strong effect on him.

Lifestyle of Seraphim in the Sarov Monastery

The life of young Prokhor before he was tonsured as a monk was distributed daily as follows: at certain hours he was in church for services and rules. Imitating Elder Pachomius, he appeared as early as possible on church prayers, stood motionless throughout the entire service, no matter how long it was, and never left before the complete end of the service. During prayer hours I always stood on one certain place. To protect himself from entertainment and daydreaming, with his eyes lowered to the ground, he listened to the singing and reading with intense attentiveness and reverence, accompanying them with prayer.

Prokhor loved to retire to his cell, where, in addition to prayer, he had two types of activities: reading and physical labor. He read the Psalms while sitting, saying that this is permissible for the weary, but St. The Gospel and Epistles of the Apostles are always standing before St. icons, in a prayerful position, and called this vigil (vigilance). He constantly read the works of St. fathers, for example Six-day St. Basil the Great, conversations of St. Macarius the Great, St. Ladder. John, Philokalia and others.

During his rest hours, he indulged in physical labor, carving crosses from cypress wood to bless the pilgrims. When Prokhor passed his carpenter's obedience, he was distinguished by great diligence, skill and success, so that in the schedule he is the only one named Prokhor - a carpenter. He also went to work common to all the brethren: floating timber, preparing firewood, etc.

Seeing examples of desert living, Fr. Abbot Nazarius, Hieromonk Dorotheus, Schemamonk Mark, young Prokhor strove in spirit for greater solitude and asceticism, and therefore asked the blessing of his elder Fr. Joseph to leave the monastery during free hours and go into the forest.

There he found a secluded place, built a secret hut, and in it, completely alone, he indulged in contemplation and prayer. Contemplation of wondrous nature elevated him to God, and, according to a man who was later close to Elder Seraphim, here he performed the rule that the Angel of the Lord gave to the Great Pachomius, the founder of the monastic community.

This rule applies to next order: Trisagion and Our Father: Lord, have mercy, 12. Glory and now: come, let us worship - three times. Psalm 50: Have mercy on me, O God. I believe in one God... One hundred prayers: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner, and for this reason: It is worthy to eat and let go.

This constituted one prayer, but such prayers had to be performed according to the number of daily hours, twelve during the day and twelve at night. He combined abstinence and fasting with prayer: on Wednesday and Friday he did not eat any food, and on other days of the week he took it only once.

Serious illness of St. Seraphim, second healing by the Most Holy Theotokos

In 1780, Prokhor became seriously ill, and his entire body became swollen. Not a single doctor could determine the type of his illness, but it was assumed that it was water disease.
The illness lasted for three years, of which Prokhor spent at least half in bed. Builder o. Pachomius and Elder Fr. Isaiah alternately followed him and were almost constantly with him. It was then that it was revealed that, like everyone else, and before others, the bosses respected, loved and pitied Prokhor, who was then still a simple novice. Finally, they began to fear for the patient’s life, and Fr. Pachomius strongly suggested inviting a doctor or at least opening the blood.
Then the humble Prokhor allowed himself to say to the abbot: “I have given myself, holy father, to the True Physician of souls and bodies, our Lord Jesus Christ and His Most Pure Mother; if your love judges, provide me, the poor one, for the Lord’s sake, with heavenly medicine - the communion of the Holy Mysteries.” Elder Joseph, at the request of Prokhor and his own zeal, especially served an all-night vigil and liturgy for the health of the sick man.
Prokhor was confessed and received communion. He soon recovered, which surprised everyone. No one understood how he could recover so quickly, and only later did Fr. Seraphim revealed the secret to some: after communion of the Holy Mysteries, the Most Holy Virgin Mary appeared to him, in an indescribable light, with the Apostles John the Theologian and Peter and, turning her face to John and pointing her finger at Prochorus, the Lady said: “This one is of Our kind!”

“Right hand, my joy,” said Fr. Seraphim to the churchwoman Ksenia, - she placed it on my head, and in her left hand she held a staff; and with this rod, my joy, I touched the poor Seraphim; I have a depression in that place, on my right thigh, mother; all the water flowed into it, and the Queen of Heaven saved the poor Seraphim; but the wound was big, and the hole is still intact, mother, look, give me a pen!” “And the priest used to take it himself and put my hand into the hole,” added Mother Ksenia, “and he had a big hand, so the whole fist rose!” This illness brought Prokhor much spiritual benefit: his spirit strengthened in faith, love and hope in God.

Description of the appearance of St. Seraphim of Sarov.
The collector's feat for good deeds

During the period of Prokhor's novitiate, under the rector Fr. Pachomius, many necessary constructions were undertaken in the Sarov desert. Among them, on the site of the cell in which Prokhor was ill, a hospital was built to treat the sick and comfort the elderly, and at the hospital there was a church on two floors with altars: in the lower one in the name of St. Zosima and Savvaty, the miracle workers of Solovetsky, in the upper one - to the glory of the Transfiguration of the Savior.
After an illness, Prokhor, still a young novice, was sent to collect money in different places for the construction of a church. Grateful for his healing and the care of his superiors, he willingly undertook the difficult feat of a collector. Wandering through the cities closest to Sarov, Prokhor was in Kursk, at the site of his homeland, but did not find his mother alive.
Brother Alexey, for his part, provided Prokhor with considerable assistance in building the church. Returning home, Prokhor, like a skilled carpenter, built with my own hands a throne made of cypress wood for the lower hospital church in honor of the Monks Zosima and Savvaty.

For eight years, young Prokhor was a novice. External view by this time he had changed: being tall, about 2 arsh. and 8 vershoks, despite strict abstinence and feats, he had a full face covered with a pleasant whiteness, a straight and sharp nose, light blue eyes, very expressive and penetrating; thick eyebrows and light brown hair on his head. His face was bordered by a thick, thick beard, with which a long and thick mustache was connected at the ends of his mouth.
He had a courageous build, had great physical strength, a fascinating gift of speech and a happy memory. Now he had already passed all the degrees of monastic training and was able and ready to take monastic vows.

The Monk Seraphim was tonsured to the rank of monk

On August 13, 1786, with the permission of the Holy Synod, Fr. Pachomius tonsured the novice Prokhor to the rank of monk. His adoptive fathers at the time of tonsure were Fr. Joseph and Fr. Isaiah. At his initiation he was given the name Seraphim (fiery).
On October 27, 1786, Monk Seraphim, at the request of Fr. Pachomius, was ordained by His Grace Victor, Bishop of Vladimir and Murom, to the rank of hierodeacon. He completely devoted himself to his new, truly angelic, ministry. From the day of his elevation to the rank of hierodeacon, he, maintaining the purity of soul and body, for five years and 9 months, was almost continuously in ministry.
All nights on Sundays and holidays spent in wakefulness and prayer, standing motionless until the liturgy. At the end of each Divine service, remaining for a long time in the temple, he, as a sacred deacon, put the utensils in order and took care of the cleanliness of the Altar of the Lord.
The Lord, seeing zeal and zeal for exploits, granted Fr. Seraphim gave strength and strength, so that he did not feel tired, did not need rest, often forgot about food and drink and, going to bed, regretted that man, like the Angels, could not continuously serve God.

The death of Mother Agafya Semyonovna, abbess of the community in Diveevo.

Promise of Seraphim of Sarov to take care of the Diveyevo community until death

Builder o. Pachomius now became even more attached with his heart to Fr. I didn’t perform almost a single service to Seraphim without him. When he traveled on monastery business or for service, alone or with other elders, he often took Fr. Seraphim.
So, in 1789, in the first half of June, Fr. Pachomius with treasurer Fr. Isaiah and hierodeacon Fr. Seraphim went by invitation to the village of Lemet, located 6 versts from the present city of Ardatov, Nizhny Novgorod province, for the funeral of their rich benefactor, landowner Alexander Solovtsev, and stopped on the way to Diveevo to visit the abbess of the community Agafia Semyonovna Melgunova, a highly respected old woman and also his benefactor.
Alexander's mother was sick and, having received notification from the Lord about her imminent death, she asked the ascetic fathers, for the love of Christ, to give her special treatment.

Father Pachomius at first suggested postponing the consecration of oil until they returned from Lemeti, but the holy old woman repeated her request and said that they would not find her alive on the way back.
The great elders lovingly performed the sacrament of consecration of oil over her. Then, saying goodbye to them, Alexander’s mother gave Fr. Pachomius was the last thing she had and accumulated over the years of ascetic life in Diveevo.

According to the testimony of the girl Evdokia Martynova, who lived with her, to her confessor, Archpriest Fr. Vasily Sadovsky, mother Agafya Semyonovna handed over to the builder Fr. Pachomius: a bag of gold, a bag of silver and two bags of copper, in the amount of 40 thousand, asking her to give her sisters everything they need in life, since they themselves will not be able to manage it. Mother Alexandra begged Fr. Pachomius to remember her in Sarov for her repose, not to leave or abandon her inexperienced novices, and also to take care in due time about the monastery promised to her by the Queen of Heaven. To this the elder Fr. Pachomius replied: “Mother! I do not refuse to serve, according to my strength and according to your will, the Queen of Heaven and care for your novices; also, not only will I pray for you until my death, but our entire monastery will never forget your good deeds, and in other respects I don’t give you my word, for I am old and weak, but how can I take on this, not knowing, I will live until this time. But Hierodeacon Seraphim - you know his spirituality, and he is young - will live to see this; entrust this great task to him.”

Mother Agafya Semyonovna began to ask Fr. Seraphim should not leave her monastery, as the Queen of Heaven Herself would then deign to instruct him to do so.

The elders said goodbye, left, and the wondrous old woman Agafya Semyonovna died on June 13, St. Martyr Aquilina. On the way back, Father Pachomius and his brethren were just in time for the burial of Mother Alexandra. After serving the liturgy and funeral service at the cathedral, the great elders buried the founder of the Diveyevo community opposite the altar of the Kazan Church. The whole day of June 13th it rained so heavily that there was not a dry thread left on anyone, but Fr. Seraphim, in his chastity, did not even stay for dinner at convent and immediately after the burial he left on foot for Sarov.

The miracle of contemplation of the Lord Jesus Christ during the Divine Liturgy

One day on Holy Thursday, the builder Fr. Pachomius, who never served without Fr. Seraphim, began the Divine Liturgy at 2 o'clock in the afternoon of Vespers, and after a small exit and paremias, Hierodeacon Seraphim exclaimed: “Lord, save the pious and hear us!” centuries” - when suddenly his appearance changed so much that he could neither leave his place nor utter words. Everyone noticed this and realized that God’s visit was with him.

Two hierodeacons took him by the arms, led him into the altar and left him aside, where he stood for three hours, constantly changing his appearance, and then, having already come to his senses, he privately told the builder and the treasurer his vision: “I, poor one, have just proclaimed: Lord , save the pious and hear us! and, pointing the oraron at the people, he finished: and forever and ever! - suddenly a ray of sunlight illuminated me; looking at this radiance, I saw our Lord and God Jesus Christ, in the form of the Son of Man, shining in glory and with indescribable light, surrounded by heavenly forces, Angels, Archangels, Cherubim and Seraphim, as if by a swarm of bees, and from the western church gates coming to air; approaching the pulpit in this form and raising His most pure hands, the Lord blessed those serving and those present; Therefore, having entered St. His local image, on the right side of the royal doors, was transformed, surrounded by angelic faces, shining with an indescribable light throughout the entire church. But I, earth and ashes, having then met the Lord Jesus in the air, received a special blessing from Him; my heart rejoiced purely, enlightened, in the sweetness of love for the Lord!”

Elevation of monk Seraphim of Sarov to the rank of hieromonk. Choosing the Desert Life

In 1793 Fr. Seraphim turned 34 years old, and the authorities, seeing that in his exploits he had become superior to other brothers and deserved an advantage over many, petitioned for his elevation to the rank of hieromonk.
Since in the same year the Sarov monastery, according to the new schedule, moved from the Vladimir diocese to Tambov, then Fr. Seraphim was summoned to Tambov, and on September 2, Bishop Theophilus ordained him as a hieromonk.
With the receipt of the highest grace of the priesthood, Fr. Seraphim began to strive in the spiritual life with greater zeal and redoubled love. For a long time he continued his continuous service, communing daily with ardent love, faith and reverence.

Having become a hieromonk, Fr. Seraphim had the intention of completely settling in the desert, since desert life was his calling and destiny from above. In addition, from incessant cell vigil, from constantly standing in church with little rest during the night, Fr. Seraphim fell ill: his legs became swollen and wounds opened on them, so that for some time he was unable to perform sacred functions.
This illness was no small incentive to choose a desert life, although for rest he should have asked the abbot, Fr. Pachomius blessing to retire to sick cells, and not to the desert, i.e. from smaller labors to larger and more difficult ones.
The Great Elder Pachomius blessed him. This was the last blessing received by Fr. Seraphim from a wise, virtuous and respectable old man, in view of his illness and approaching death.

The death of Father Pachomius, the promise of St. Seraphim to oversee the Diveyevo community and support it

O. Seraphim, remembering well how during his illness Fr. Pachomius himself now served him with selflessness. Once o. Seraphim noticed that due to Fr.’s illness. Pachomius was joined by some other emotional concern and sadness.

“What, holy father, are you so sad about?” - Fr. asked him. Seraphim.

Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, Wonderworker, in the world Prokhor Moshnin is an ascetic of the Russian Church, founder and patron of the Diveyevo Monastery.
Born 07/19/1759. Reposed on January 2, 1833.
The Monk Seraphim of Sarov is called the Wonderworker, because both during his life and after his death he was revered by the people for miraculous healings, prophecies and consolation of the suffering.
Canonized as a saint in July 1903. This happened in the Sarov and Diveyevo monasteries, with a huge gathering of people of different classes and conditions.
Long before the Sarov celebrations of 1903, images of Seraphim of Sarov were placed on the shrine and were revered on a par with icons: many of them were distributed to peasant huts, to the homes of wealthy people, to the palaces of those holding power. By the time the elder was glorified, it turned out that the image of the saint was created before canonization and his images became icons of the saint. There were many oral traditions and tales about the miracles of the Elder of Sarov among the people, and his biography was created publicly.
Contemporaries of Seraphim of Sarov especially noted that the saint healed not so much with a gentle word, but with the love and joy that emanated from him. People especially remembered the instructions of the reverend elder.

The relics of Seraphim of Sarov are buried in the Diveyevo monastery. They bestow miraculous healing, spiritual enlightenment, and allow you to feel all the joy of being according to the will of God. The relics were returned to the Diveyevo monastery in 1991. This event - the Second Finding of the Relics, which occurred on January 15, 1991, was celebrated with a religious procession. Patriarch Alexy II took part in the solemn service, holding a prayer service on the square adjacent to the Trinity Cathedral. Since that time, the relics of the saint have not left the walls of the monastery.
In 2003 Orthodox Rus' widely celebrated the centenary of the glorification of the reverend elder among the saints of Orthodoxy.

At the site of the appearance of the Mother of God to Father Seraphim on November 25, 1825, a well was built, distinguished by its miraculous power, and below, near it, there is the former Theological Well. In the summer of 1826, at the request of the elder, the Bogoslovsky spring was renewed. The cover covering the pool has been removed; A new frame was made with a pipe for the water source. Near the pool, the elder was engaged in bodily labor. Collecting pebbles in the Sarovka River, he threw them ashore and used them to cover the spring basin.
On December 9, 1826, in the Diveyevo community, by order of Fr. Seraphim, the foundation of the mill took place, and in the summer, on July 7, it ground.

4. Death of St. Seraphim of Sarov.

Shortly before her death, on March 25 (Old Style), 1832, the Mother of God appeared to Seraphim for the twelfth (and last) time, accompanied by the holy martyred virgins and saints. Two days before, the monk told about the upcoming miraculous event to his spiritual daughter Eupraxia, a nun from the Diveyevo convent closest to Sarov. This monastery was founded by the landowner Agafia Melgunova (monastically Alexandra) in the third quarter of the 18th century. Subsequently, the Monk Seraphim himself became the organizer of the monastery. Eupraxia was present at this extraordinary “descent of Heaven to earth,” subsequently testifying about it: “I thought I was no longer alive.” The appearance of the Mother of God ended with Her addressing Seraphim: “Soon, My beloved, you will be with us.”
The holy elder began to prepare for death. He had long ago made an oak coffin for himself and, without any fear, joyfully awaited the transition to eternity. The monk said: “My life is shortening - in spirit I seem to have been born now, but in body everything is dead!.. When I am gone, you come to my grave! And the more often, the better. Everything that is in your soul, no matter what happens to you, come to me, and bring all your grief with you to my grave! Tell me everything as if it were alive! As you always said to the living, so it is here! For you I am alive and will be forever!” The Monk Seraphim of Sarov, the ascetic, died on the night of January 2 (15), 1833.

Not long before, he predicted that his death would be revealed through a fire. Early in the morning on this day, two monks, passing by the elder’s cell, smelled smoke - no one answered the knock on the door. Then they broke it open and found the monk kneeling in prayer in front of his favorite cell, with his arms crossed on his chest, with an unusually peaceful and enlightened expression on his face. The candle that fell from the old man’s hand had already begun to smolder his clothes. Seraphim foresaw not only his imminent death, but also the future joy of his glorification.

5. Canonization of the Wonderworker. Relics of the Saint.

On January 11, 1903, a commission chaired by Metropolitan Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) of Moscow, which included Archimandrite Seraphim (Chichagov), examined the remains of Seraphim Moshnin. The “incorruptibility” of the relics was not discovered, so Metropolitan Anthony (Vadkovsky) of St. Petersburg had to make a statement in “New Time” and in “Additions to the Church Gazette”, where he stated the fact of the preservation of the “skeleton” of the Sarov elder and expressed the opinion that the presence of incorruptible relics are not necessary for glorification. The Holy Synod announced on January 29, 1903:
“The Holy Synod, in full conviction of the truth and reliability of the miracles performed through the prayers of Elder Seraphim, ... stated the following decision:
1) to recognize the reverent elder Seraphim, who rests in the Sarov desert, as a saint, glorified by the grace of God, and his all-honorable remains as holy relics and to place them in a special place specially prepared by His zeal Imperial Majesty a tomb for worship and honor from those who come to him with prayer,
2) to compile a special service for the Venerable Father Seraphim, and before the time of its preparation, after the day of glorifying his memory, to send him a service common to the venerable ones, and to celebrate his memory both on the day of his repose, January 2, and on the day of the opening of his holy relics, and 3) announce this publicly from the Holy Synod.”

The people revered the elder as a saint, long before he was officially included in the Russian calendar. Orthodox Church, but the celebration of his canonization occurred only on July 19 (August 1), 1903. He also predicted this event: “...what joy there will be! In the middle of summer they will sing Easter! And to the people, to the people from all sides, from all sides!” This is what happened in Sarov and neighboring Diveevo at the celebrations of his canonization. Then thousands and thousands of Orthodox Christians of Russia, led by Sovereign Nicholas II and other representatives of the Royal Family, came to worship the great ascetic.

5.1. Relics.

There is a belief that before his death, the Venerable Elder Seraphim handed over a candle to the novices of the monastery, ordering him to be greeted with this candle when he returned. The candle was passed down from generation to generation by the novices of the monastery, and only 160 years later, the last and only survivor of the return of the relics and the opening of the monastery, schema-nun Margarita, handed it over to the protodeacon to meet the relics of the elder.
After the October Socialist Revolution, the relics of St. Seraphim, as he himself predicted, sank into obscurity. Only two facts were documented: on December 17, 1920, the relics stored in the Diveyevo Monastery near Arzamas were opened, and on August 16, 1921, they were closed and taken away. At the end of the 1920s. The relics of St. Seraphim were put on display in the Moscow Passionate Monastery, where at that time an anti-religious museum was organized. The relics remained there until 1934, when the Passion Monastery was blown up.

The further fate of the relics is revealed in the words of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus', which he said in the Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra on January 12, 1991, the day after the signing of the protocol on the transfer of St. relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov of the Russian Orthodox Church. Alexia II said the following:
“Already at the first meeting with the director of the Museum of the History of Religion, we agreed that the relics, as Orthodox shrines, should be returned to the Church. Employees of the Kazan Cathedral Museum checked the storerooms and found relics sewn into matting in the room where the tapestries were kept. When they were opened, they read the inscription on the glove: “Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us!” It was assumed that these were the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov. The story of the seizure of the relics of St. Seraphim is as follows. From Sarov they were delivered to Arzamas, from Arzamas to the Donskoy Monastery. Then the trail is lost... And, having compared two acts - on canonization in 1903 and on the autopsy in 1920, I sent two archpastors to Leningrad - Bishops of Tambov and Michurinsky Evgeniy and Istrinsky Arseny, who examined the relics... The archpastors who carried out the inspection, testified to the feeling of grace and fragrance of the relics that they had to examine. After comparison, there was confidence that these were indeed the relics of St. Seraphim. There were eleven days left before the transfer. A shrine was made into which the relics were transferred on the eve of their return to the Russian Orthodox Church.”
The relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov were moved to Moscow and installed in Epiphany cathedral for worship. From this cathedral, where Orthodox believers walked and walked non-stop for several months, the journey of the relics began on the way from Moscow to Diveevo. This was an all-Russian “procession of the cross on wheels” (the relics were transported in a minibus, closely followed by the car of His Holiness the Patriarch), which stopped in cities and monasteries along the route. During stops, His Holiness served the Liturgy and akathists were performed to St. Seraphim.
August 1, 1991, on the day of memory of St. Seraphim of Sarov, his St. the relics were returned to the Diveyevo Monastery, founded by Ven. Seraphim. This was one of the most striking miracles of Russian church history XX century.

6. Celebrations, days of remembrance, worship.

Memory Venerable Wonderworker Served twice a year:
- January 2/15 - the day of his blessed death;
- July 19/August 1, the day of his canonization and discovery of his relics.
On the eve of the day of memory of St. Seraphim of Sarov, an All-Night Vigil is celebrated.
On Memorial Day, the Divine Liturgy is read.

Akathist to St. Seraphim of Sarov the Wonderworker.

Akathist to the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov the Wonderworker is a chant glorifying St. Seraphim of Sarov. The Akathist is performed by those praying while standing. Consists of Akathist to the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov the Wonderworker. of alternating 13 kontakia and 12 ikos.

Prayer to St. Seraphim of Sarov.

O wonderful Father Seraphim, great Sarov wonderworker, quick and obedient helper to all who come running to you! During the days of your earthly life, no one was tired of you or comforted by your departure, but everyone was blessed by the vision of your face and the benevolent voice of your words. Moreover, the gift of healing, the gift of insight, the gift of healing for weak souls has appeared abundantly in you. When God called you from earthly labors to heavenly rest, none of your love ceased from us, and it is impossible to count your miracles, multiplying like the stars of heaven: for all over the end of our earth you appeared to the people of God and granted them healing. In the same way, we cry out to you: O most quiet and meek servant of God, daring prayer book to Him, reject no one who calls you! Offer up your powerful prayer for us to the Lord of hosts, may He grant us all that is useful in this life and all that is useful for spiritual salvation, may He protect us from the falls of sin and may He teach us true repentance, so that we can unfalteringly enter into the eternal Kingdom of Heaven, where you now you shine in everlasting glory, and there you sing with all the saints Life-giving Trinity forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion to St. Seraphim of Sarov, tone 4.

Kontakion to St. Seraphim of Sarov, tone 2.

Greatness to the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov.

7. Iconography.

The iconographic image of St. Seraphim of Sorov goes back to the unpreserved lifetime portrait of him by D. Evstafiev. The old man in this portrait is younger than in the usual images, he has a thin face, smooth, slightly combed back hair and a beard as flowing as his hair. The calm, self-absorbed look of gray eyes attracts attention. When looking at this work of the artist, it is clear not only how the portraits turned into icons after glorification, but also how they prepared the future stylistic diversity of images - revealing different facets of the saint’s appearance.

The main prayer image of Saint Seraphim arose on the basis of another lifetime portrait. This work is associated with the name of monk Joseph (Serebryakov), a graduate of the Arzamas art school. He created the portrait “from life about five years before his death,” that is, around 1828. According to early description paintings, the image was on an olive background “in a mantle, epitrachelion and bands, as he began to receive the Holy Mysteries.

From this portrait it is clear that summer and monastic exploits had an influence on the appearance of the elder. Here the face is presented as pale, dejected from work; The hair on both the head and beard is thick, but not long and all gray. The right hand is placed on the stole at the chest.”

7.1. Iconographic images of St. Seraphim of Sarov.

There are four main iconographic images of Seraphim of Sarov:
1. With hands folded in prayer at the heart - only right hand touches the heart or the hands lie crosswise on the chest in the area of the heart, the right hand is on top of the left,
2. Blessing - the right hand blesses, in the left hand there are prayer beads,
3. Prayer on a stone - Father Seraphim stands kneeling on a stone, raising both hands to the sky,
4. An image where Seraphim of Sarov is depicted as an old man with a staff.
Belt icons and icons are painted, where Saint Seraphim is depicted in full height. For the "blessing image" on Orthodox icons there is a mandatory attribute: prayer beads in the left hand.
The face of the saint on the icons reproduces the main features inherent in St. Seraphim of Sarov: kindness, mercy and the humble character of the miracle worker.

On all icons, the eyes of Seraphim of Sarov are especially expressive, their calm, attentive, self-absorbed gaze. Clearly defined eyes look into the heart of the person praying. This style detail becomes characteristic of almost all images of the monk.
Many of the images, written in an academic manner, convey artistic means his spirit, peaceful and meek, which is captured in the life of St. Seraphim.

7.2. Life icons.

The hagiographical marks on the icons mainly describe the following events from the life of the Saint:
1. Mother blesses Prokhor to the monastery.
2. During illness.
3. Monasticism.
4. Seraphim’s vision of the Lord Jesus Christ in the temple.
5. Visit to Seraphim by Alexander I.
6. Seraphim’s vision of the Lord Jesus Christ in the temple.
7. Healing by Seraphim in the monastery.
8. Healing by Seraphim.
9. Retake into the care of Rev. Seraphim of the Diveyevo Monastery.

The modern icon from the Shchelkovo Cathedral, with eight scenes from his life, shows the image of Father Seraphim, reworked in the iconographic style.
There are many icons, mosaic panels with scenes from the life of Seraphim of Sarov.
In the Epiphany Cathedral of the city of Noginsk you can see modern paintings: on the southern wall in one wall of the windows - Venerable Sergius Radonezh and Seraphim of Sarov.

The paired image of these two highly revered Russian saints is becoming a tradition. An icon of these saints from the beginning of the 20th century is kept in the Central Archive. (No. 856). And in the Church of St. Philaret of the Moscow city of Lobnya there is a modern revered icon, on which are written the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, the Passion-Bearer Tsarevich Alexy, the Venerable Martyr Grand Duchess Elisaveta Feodorovna. This selection of saints suggests that the traditions of depicting the saint continue to develop

8. Brief prayer rule of St. Seraphim of Sarov.

Venerable Seraphim of Sarov taught everyone the following prayer rule:
1. “Rising from sleep, every Christian, standing in front of the holy icons, let him read the Lord’s Prayer “Our Father” three times, in honor of the Most Holy Trinity, then the hymn to the Mother of God “Rejoice, Virgin Mary”, also three times and, finally, the Creed once. Having completed this rule, let everyone go about their work to which they have been assigned or called.
2. While working at home or on the road somewhere, let him quietly read: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner,” and if others surround him, then, while doing business, let him speak only with his mind : “Lord have mercy,” and continues until lunch. Just before lunch, let him perform the above morning rule.
3. After lunch, while doing his job, let him read quietly: “Most Holy Theotokos, save me a sinner,” and let him continue this until sleep.
4. When going to bed, let every Christian read the above morning rule again; after that, let him fall asleep, protecting himself with the sign of the cross.”

Lord's Prayer.

Our Father, Who art in Heaven! Hallowed be it Your name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.

Song of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and Blessed is the Fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.

Symbol of Faith.

I believe in one God the Father, Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, the only begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages;
Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, to Whom all things were.
For our sake man and for our sake of salvation came down from heaven
and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human.
She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried.
And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sat
at the right hand of the Father. And again the future will be judged with glory by the living and the dead,
His Kingdom will have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the life-giving Lord, who proceeds from the Father,
Let us worship and glorify those who spoke with the Father and the Son.
Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.
Tea resurrection of the dead, and the life of the next century. Amen.

“Adhering to this rule,” says Fr. Seraphim, “it is possible to achieve a measure of Christian perfection, for the three prayers indicated are the foundations of Christianity: the first, as a prayer given by the Lord Himself, is a model of all prayers; the second was brought from heaven by the Archangel in greeting to the Virgin Mary, the Mother of the Lord; the symbol briefly contains all the saving tenets of the Christian faith."
To those who care different circumstances It is impossible to follow this small rule, St. Seraphim advised reading it in every position: during classes, while walking, and even in bed, presenting the basis for this as the words of Scripture: “whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

9. Miracles of Seraphim of Sarov.

Since 1825, after ending the vow of silence that lasted 15 years, Seraphim of Sarov began to receive visitors. Numerous cases of healing of the sick and clairvoyance revealed by the righteous elder date back to this period.
Seraphim of Sarov died in 1833, while in a kneeling position. But even after death, the Saint continued to work miracles. One of them is the birth of a boy - the heir to the throne of Tsarevich Alexei in the family Royal Passion-Bearers Nicholas II and Alexandra Fedorovna. After the birth of four daughters, Nicholas II and his wife turned with prayers to the image of Seraphim of Sarov, so that God would grant them a male heir. After their request came true, an icon of St. Seraphim settled in the emperor’s study. It should be noted that it was at the request of Nicholas II that in 1903 Seraphim of Sarov was canonized as a Venerable Saint.
From time immemorial, information has reached our days about miracles of healing that have occurred and continue to occur.
Written evidence of the elder’s miracles and prayerful deeds was mainly provided by two monasteries - Sarov and Dieeevskaya. Many manuscripts were kept here, which were copied and distributed among the people, and were later borrowed by spiritual writers.

Sources of information.

http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/182687.html
- http://www.diveevo-tur.ru/moshi_serafima_sarovskogo.html
- http://diveevo52.ru/index26.htm
- http://www.temples.ru/iconography.php?TerminID=702 Icons
- http://www.pravklin.ru/publ/izobrazhenija_prepodobnogo_serafima_sarovskogo/9-1-0-2794 (Author: Zh. A. Kurbatova)
- http://serafimov.narod.ru/bibl/rasnoe/thudesa.htm
- http://www.tsurganov.info/svjatye/svjatoj-serafim-sarovskij-ikona.html

Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, wonderworker

Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, a great ascetic of the Russian Church, was born on July 19, 1754. The saint's parents, Isidore and Agafia Moshnin, were residents of Kursk. Isidore was a merchant and took out contracts for the construction of buildings, and at the end of his life he began the construction of a cathedral in Kursk, but died before the completion of the work. The youngest son Prokhor remained in the care of his mother, who raised a deep faith in her son.

After the death of her husband, Agafia Moshnina, who continued the construction of the cathedral, once took Prokhor with her there, who, having stumbled, fell from the bell tower. The Lord saved the life of the future lamp of the Church: the frightened mother, going downstairs, found her son unharmed.

Young Prokhor, having an excellent memory, soon learned to read and write. Since childhood, he loved to attend church services and read to his peers Scripture and Lives of the Saints, but most of all he loved to pray or read Holy Gospel in solitude.

One day Prokhor became seriously ill and his life was in danger. In a dream, the boy saw the Mother of God, who promised to visit and heal him. Soon a religious procession with the icon of the Sign of the Most Holy Theotokos passed through the courtyard of the Moshnin estate; his mother carried Prokhor out in her arms, and he venerated the holy icon, after which he began to quickly recover.

Even in his youth, Prokhor made the decision to completely devote his life to God and enter a monastery. The pious mother did not interfere with this and blessed him on the monastic path with a crucifix, which the monk wore on his chest all his life. Prokhor and the pilgrims set off on foot from Kursk to Kyiv to worship the Pechersk saints.

The schemamonk elder Dosifei, whom Prokhor visited, blessed him to go to the Sarov hermitage and save himself there. Returning briefly to his parents' house, Prokhor said goodbye to his mother and relatives forever. On November 20, 1778, he came to Sarov, where the wise old man, Father Pachomius, was then rector. He kindly received the young man and appointed Elder Joseph as his confessor. Under his leadership, Prokhor underwent many obediences in the monastery: he was the elder’s cell attendant, worked in the bakery, prosphora and carpentry shop, carried out the duties of a sexton, and performed everything with zeal and zeal, serving as if the Lord Himself. By constant work he protected himself from boredom - this, as he later said, “the most dangerous temptation for new monks, which is cured by prayer, abstinence from idle talk, feasible handicraft, reading the Word of God and patience, because it is born from cowardice, carelessness and idle talk.” .

Already in these years, Prokhor, following the example of other monks who retired into the forest to pray, asked for the blessing of the elder in free time also go into the forest, where he prayed the Jesus Prayer in complete solitude. Two years later, novice Prokhor fell ill with dropsy, his body became swollen, and he experienced severe suffering. The mentor, Father Joseph, and other elders who loved Prokhor looked after him. The illness lasted about three years, and not once did anyone hear a word of grumbling from him. The elders, fearing for the life of the patient, wanted to call a doctor to him, but Prokhor asked not to do this, telling Father Pachomius: “I have given myself, Holy Father, to the True Physician of souls and bodies - our Lord Jesus Christ and His Most Pure Mother...” , and wished to be communed with the Holy Mysteries. Then Prokhor had a vision: the Mother of God appeared in an indescribable light, accompanied by the holy apostles Peter and John. Pointing her hand at the sick man, the Most Holy Virgin said to John: “This one is from our race.” Then she touched the patient’s side with the staff, and immediately the liquid that filled the body began to flow out through the hole formed, and he quickly recovered. Soon, on the site of the appearance of the Mother of God, a hospital church was built, one of the chapels of which was consecrated in the name of the Monks Zosima and Savvaty of Solovetsky. The Monk Seraphim built the altar for the chapel with his own hands from cypress wood and always partook of the Holy Mysteries in this church.

After spending eight years as a novice in the Sarov monastery, Prokhor took monastic vows with the name Seraphim, which so well expressed his fiery love for the Lord and desire to serve Him zealously. A year later, Seraphim was ordained to the rank of hierodeacon. Burning in spirit, he served in the temple every day, constantly praying even after the service. The Lord vouchsafed the monk visions of grace during church services: he repeatedly saw holy Angels serving with the brethren. The monk was granted a special vision of grace during Divine Liturgy on Maundy Thursday, which was celebrated by the rector, Father Pachomius, and Elder Joseph. When, after the troparions, the monk said, “Lord, save the pious,” and, standing at the royal doors, pointed his orar at those praying with the exclamation, “and forever and ever,” suddenly a bright ray overshadowed him. Raising his eyes, the Monk Seraphim saw the Lord Jesus Christ walking through the air from the western doors of the temple, surrounded by the Heavenly Ethereal Forces. Having reached the pulpit. The Lord blessed all those praying and entered the local image to the right of the royal doors. The Monk Seraphim, looking at the wondrous phenomenon in spiritual delight, could not utter a word or leave his place. He was led arm in arm into the altar, where he stood for another three hours, his face changing from the great grace that illuminated him. After the vision, the monk intensified his exploits: during the day he worked in the monastery, and spent his nights in prayer in a deserted forest cell.

In 1793, at the age of 39, St. Seraphim was ordained to the rank of hieromonk and continued serving in the church. After the death of the abbot, Father Pachomius, the Monk Seraphim, having his dying blessing for a new feat - living in the desert, also took the blessing from the new abbot - Father Isaiah - and went to a desert cell a few kilometers from the monastery, in a dense forest. Here he began to indulge in solitary prayers, coming to the monastery only on Saturday, before the all-night vigil, and returning to his cell after the liturgy, during which he received communion of the Holy Mysteries. The monk spent his life in severe exploits. He carried out his cell prayer rule according to the rules of the ancient desert monasteries; I never parted with the Holy Gospel, reading the entire New Testament during the week, and also read patristic and liturgical books. The monk learned many church hymns by heart and sang them during his work hours in the forest. Near the cell he planted a vegetable garden and built a beekeeper. Earning food for himself, the monk kept a very strict fast, eating once a day, and on Wednesday and Friday he completely abstained from food. In the first week of Holy Pentecost, he did not take food until Saturday, when he received Holy Communion.

The holy elder, in solitude, was sometimes so immersed in inner heartfelt prayer that he remained motionless for a long time, neither hearing nor seeing anything around him. The hermits who visited him from time to time - schemamonk Mark the Silent and hierodeacon Alexander, having caught the saint in such prayer, quietly withdrew with reverence, so as not to disturb his contemplation.

In the summer heat, the monk collected moss from the swamp to fertilize the garden; mosquitoes mercilessly stung him, but he complacently endured this suffering, saying: “Pasions are destroyed by suffering and sorrow, either voluntary or sent by Providence.” For about three years the monk ate only one herb, snitis, which grew around his cell. In addition to the brethren, lay people began to come to him more and more often for advice and blessings. This violated his privacy. Having asked for the abbot’s blessing, the monk blocked the women’s access to him, and then everyone else, having received a sign that the Lord approved of his idea of complete silence. Through the saint’s prayer, the road to his deserted cell was blocked by huge branches of centuries-old pine trees. Now only birds, which flocked in large numbers to the saint, and wild animals visited him. The monk fed the bear bread from his hands when bread was brought to him from the monastery.

Seeing the exploits of the Monk Seraphim, the enemy of the human race armed himself against him and, wanting to force the saint to leave silence, decided to frighten him, but the saint protected himself with prayer and the power of the Life-giving Cross. The devil brought “mental warfare” upon the saint—a persistent, prolonged temptation. To repel the onslaught of the enemy, the Monk Seraphim intensified his labors by taking upon himself the feat of stylite mongering. Every night he climbed a huge stone in the forest and prayed with raised hands, crying: “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” During the day, he prayed in his cell, also on a stone that he brought from the forest, leaving it only for a short rest and strengthening his body with meager food. The saint prayed like this for 1000 days and nights. The devil, disgraced by the monk, planned to kill him and sent robbers. Approaching the saint, who was working in the garden, the robbers began to demand money from him. The monk at that time had an ax in his hands, he was physically strong and could have defended himself, but he did not want to do this, remembering the words of the Lord: “Those who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). The saint, lowering the ax to the ground, said: “Do what you need.” The robbers began to beat the monk, broke his head with a butt, broke several ribs, then, having tied him up, they wanted to throw him into the river, but first they searched his cell in search of money. Having destroyed everything in the cell and finding nothing in it except an icon and a few potatoes, they were ashamed of their crime and left. The monk, having regained consciousness, crawled to his cell and, suffering severely, lay there all night. The next morning, with great difficulty, he reached the monastery. The brethren were horrified when they saw the wounded ascetic. The monk lay there for eight days, suffering from his wounds; Doctors were called to him, surprised that Seraphim remained alive after such beatings. But the saint did not receive healing from doctors: the Queen of Heaven appeared to him in a subtle dream with the apostles Peter and John. Touching the head of the monk, the Most Holy Virgin granted him healing. After this incident, the Monk Seraphim had to spend about five months in the monastery, and then he again went to a desert cell. Remaining bent forever, the monk walked, leaning on a staff or hatchet, but he forgave his offenders and asked them not to punish them. After the death of the rector, Father Isaiah, who had been his friend since the saint’s youth, he took upon himself the feat of silence, completely renouncing all worldly thoughts for the purest stand before God in unceasing prayer. If the saint met a person in the forest, he fell on his face and did not get up until the passerby moved away. The elder spent about three years in such silence, stopping even from visiting the monastery on Sundays. The fruit of silence was for St. Seraphim the acquisition of peace of soul and joy in the Holy Spirit. The great ascetic subsequently spoke to one of the monks of the monastery: “...my joy, I pray to you, acquire a peaceful spirit, and then thousands of souls will be saved around you.” New rector, Father Nifont, and the elder brethren of the monastery suggested that Father Seraphim either continue to come to the monastery on Sundays to participate in divine services and receive communion at the monastery of the Holy Mysteries, or return to the monastery. The monk chose the latter, since it became difficult for him to walk from the desert to the monastery. In the spring of 1810, he returned to the monastery after 15 years in the desert. Without breaking his silence, he added seclusion to this feat and, without going anywhere or receiving anyone, he was constantly in prayer and contemplation of God. While in retreat, the Monk Seraphim acquired high spiritual purity and was granted special grace-filled gifts from God - clairvoyance and miracle-working. Then the Lord appointed His chosen one to serve people in the highest monastic feat - eldership. On November 25, 1825, the Mother of God, together with the two saints celebrated on this day, appeared in a dream vision to the elder and commanded him to come out of seclusion and receive weak human souls that required instruction, consolation, guidance and healing. Having been blessed by the abbot for a change in his lifestyle, the monk opened the doors of his cell to everyone. The elder saw the hearts of people, and he, as a spiritual doctor, healed mental and physical illnesses with prayer to God and a word of grace. Those who came to St. Seraphim felt his great love and listened with tenderness kind words, with which he addressed people: “my joy, my treasure.” The elder began to visit his desert cell and the spring called Bogoslovsky, near which they built a small cell for him. When leaving his cell, the elder always carried a knapsack with stones over his shoulders. When asked why he was doing this, the saint humbly answered: “I torment him who torments me.” In the last period of his earthly life, the Monk Seraphim took special care of his beloved, brainchild - the Diveyevo women's monastery. While still in the rank of hierodeacon, he accompanied the late rector Father Pachomius to the Diveyevo community to see the abbess nun Alexandra, a great ascetic, and then Father Pachomius blessed the monk to always take care of the “Diveyevo orphans.” He was a true father for the sisters, who turned to him in all their spiritual and everyday difficulties. Disciples and spiritual friends helped the saint to care for the Diveyevo community - Mikhail Vasilyevich Manturov, who was healed by the monk from a serious illness and, on the advice of the elder, took upon himself the feat of voluntary poverty; Elena Vasilyevna Manturova, one of the Diveyevo sisters, who voluntarily agreed to die out of obedience to the elder for her brother, who was still needed in this life; Nikolai Alexandrovich Motovilov, also healed by the monk. N. A. Motovilov recorded the wonderful teaching of St. Seraphim about the purpose of Christian life. In the last years of the life of the Monk Seraphim, one healed by him saw him standing in the air while praying. The saint strictly forbade talking about this before his death.

Everyone knew and revered St. Seraphim as a great ascetic and wonderworker. A year and ten months before his death, on the Feast of the Annunciation, the Monk Seraphim was once again honored with the appearance of the Queen of Heaven, accompanied by the Baptist of the Lord John, the Apostle John the Theologian and twelve virgins, holy martyrs and saints. The Most Holy Virgin talked for a long time with the monk, entrusting the Diveyevo sisters to him. Having finished the conversation, She told him: “Soon, My beloved, you will be with us.” At this appearance, during the wondrous visit of the Mother of God, one Diveyevo old woman was present, through the prayer of the monk for her.

In the last year of his life, the Monk Seraphim began to noticeably weaken and spoke to many about his imminent death. At this time, he was often seen at the coffin, which stood in the entryway of his cell and which he had prepared for himself. The monk himself indicated the place where he should be buried - near the altar of the Assumption Cathedral. On January 1, 1833, the Monk Seraphim came for the last time to the hospital Zosimo-Savvatievskaya Church for the liturgy and took communion of the Holy Mysteries, after which he blessed the brethren and said goodbye, saying: “Save yourself, do not lose heart, stay awake, today our crowns are being prepared.” On January 2, the monk’s cell attendant, Father Pavel, left his cell at six o’clock in the morning, heading to the church, and smelled a burning smell coming from the monk’s cell; Candles were always burning in the saint’s cell, and he said: “As long as I am alive, there will be no fire, but when I die, my death will be revealed by fire.” When the doors were opened, it turned out that books and other things were smoldering, and the monk himself was kneeling before the icon of the Mother of God in a position of prayer, but already lifeless. During prayer, his pure soul was taken by the Angels and flew up to the Throne of God Almighty, whose faithful servant and servant the Monk Seraphim was all his life.

AKATHIST

Kontakion 1

Chosen miracle worker and wonderful servant of Christ, our quick helper and prayer book, Rev. Father Seraphim! Having magnified the Lord who glorified you, we sing praises to you. You have great boldness towards the Lord, free those who call us from all troubles:

Ikos 1

The Creator of Angels chose you from the beginning, so that through your life you may glorify the wonderful name of the Holy Trinity: for you have truly appeared as an Angel on earth and in the flesh, Seraphim: like a bright ray of the eternal Sun of Truth, your life will be enlightened. We, seeing your praiseworthy works, with reverence and joy say to you:

Rejoice, rule of faith and piety;
Rejoice, image of meekness and humility.
Rejoice, glorious magnification of the faithful;
Rejoice, quiet consolation for the sorrowful.
Rejoice, beloved praise of monks;
Rejoice, wonderful help for those living in the world.
Rejoice, glory and protection to the Russian state;
Rejoice, sacred adornment of the Nizhny Novgorod and Tambov countries.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 2

Seeing your mother, Reverend Father Seraphim, your warm love for monastic life, knowing the holy will of the Lord for you, and bringing God as a perfect gift, bless you on the narrow path of monasticism with your holy cross, which you wore on your chest until the end of your life, signifying your great love for Christ our God, who was crucified for us, to Him we all call with tenderness: Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Heavenly intelligence has been given to you, more holy than God: from your youth, without ceasing to think about Heavenly things, you left your father’s house, for the sake of the Kingdom of God and its righteousness. For this reason, accept this praise from us:

Rejoice, God's chosen child of the city of Kursk;
Rejoice, most honorable branch of pious parents.
Rejoice, you who inherited your mother’s virtues;
Rejoice, you who were taught piety and prayer by her.
Rejoice, blessed by your mother with the cross for exploits;
Rejoice, you who kept this blessing as a shrine until death.
Rejoice, for the love of the Lord you left your father’s house;
Rejoice, all the red of this world, imputed to nothing.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 3

The power of the Most High has truly preserved you from your youth, reverend: from the heights of the temple, having fallen, the Lord has preserved you unharmed, and the Lady of the world herself, who suffered from the rage, appeared, bringing healing from Heaven, and from a young age you faithfully served God, crying out to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Having been diligent about the labor of monastic life equal to the angels, you came to the holy city of Kyiv for the sake of worship for the sake of the venerable Pechersk people, and from the mouth of the venerable Dositheus, we received the command to rule our way into the Sarov desert, by faith from afar you kissed this holy place, and there you settled in your godly life and died. We, marveling at God’s providence for you, cry out to you with tenderness:

Rejoice, having renounced worldly vanities;
Rejoice, fiery desire for the Heavenly Fatherland.
Rejoice, loving Christ with all your heart;
Rejoice, you who have received the good yoke of Christ upon yourself.
Rejoice, full of perfect obedience;
Rejoice, faithful guardian of the holy commandments of the Lord.
Rejoice, prayerfully affirming your mind and heart in God;
Rejoice, unshakable pillar of piety.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 4

Calming the storm of evil misfortunes, you walked the entire path of the cramped and sorrowful feat of the monastic, carried by the yoke of a desert life, seclusion and silence, many-night vigils, and thus by the grace of God ascending from strength to strength, from deeds to the vision of God, you settled in the monastery of Heaven, where with Angels eat to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Hearing and seeing holy life yours, reverend Father Seraphim, all your brethren marvel at you, and when they come to you, they learn about your words and labors, glorifying the Lord, wondrous in His saints. And we all praise you with faith and love, Reverend Father, and cry out to you:

Rejoice, you who sacrificed everything to yourself to the Lord;
Rejoice, you who have ascended to the height of dispassion.
Rejoice, victorious warrior of Christ;
Rejoice, good and faithful servant of the Heavenly Master.
Rejoice, unashamed intercessor for us before the Lord;
Rejoice, our vigilant prayer book to the Mother of God.
Rejoice, deserted valley of wonderful fragrance;
Rejoice, immaculate vessel of God's grace.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kodak 5

The divine light is your dwelling place, reverend one, when, when you are sick and lying on your deathbed, the Most Pure Virgin Herself came to you with the holy apostles Peter and John, saying: this is from Our generation, and I will touch your head. Having healed Abiye, you sang, grateful to the Lord: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Seeing the enemy of the human race your pure and holy life, Rev. Seraphim, the desire to destroy you: for people brought evil upon you, who lawlessly tortured you and left you barely alive; But you, Holy Father, like a gentle lamb, have endured everything, praying to the Lord for those who offended you. Moreover, we all, marveling at your kindness, cry out to you:

Rejoice, thou who in thy meekness and humility imitated Christ God; Rejoice, conquering the spirit of malice through your kindness.
Rejoice, diligent guardian of spiritual and physical purity;
Rejoice, hermit, filled with grace-filled gifts.
Rejoice, God-glorified and perspicacious ascetic;
Rejoice, wonderful and godly teacher of monks.
Rejoice, praise and joy to the Holy Church;
Rejoice, glory and fertilization to our monastery.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 6

The Sarov desert preaches your deeds and labors, God-bearing saint of Christ: for you have fragrant the wilds and forests of it with prayer, imitating the prophet of God Elijah and the Baptist of the Lord John, and you have appeared in the desert, abundant vegetation with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. You have accomplished a great and glorious action by calling on the faithful to sing good things to the Giver God: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

A new visionary of God has arisen in you, like Moses, like the blessed Seraphim: having served immaculately at the altar of the Lord, you have been vouchsafed to see Christ in the temple with the incorporeal Powers of the future. Marveling at this favor of God for you, we sing to you:

Rejoice, Glorious One of God;
Rejoice, thou illuminated with the tri-shining light.
Rejoice, faithful servant of the Most Holy Trinity;
Rejoice, dwelling adorned with the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, beholding Christ with the angels' bodily eyes;
Rejoice, thou who foretaste the sweetness of heaven in this mortal body.
Rejoice, thou filled with the Bread of Life;
Rejoice, filled with the drink of immortality.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 7

Although the Lord, the Lover of Mankind, will show in you, O Reverend, His indescribable mercy for people, showing you as truly a God-bright light: by your deeds and words you led everyone to piety and the love of God. Moreover, with the radiance of your deeds of enlightenment and the bread of your teaching, we zealously magnify you and cry out to Christ who glorified you: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

Seeing you again as God’s chosen one, from afar faith flowed to you in sorrows and illnesses: and you did not reject those burdened by troubles, exuding healing, giving consolation, intervening in prayers. In the same way, the broadcast of your miracles went out throughout the whole Russian land, and your spiritual children glorified you:

Rejoice, our good shepherd;
Rejoice, merciful and meek Father.
Rejoice, our speedy and gracious physician;
Rejoice, merciful healer of our infirmities.
Rejoice, quick helper in troubles and situations;
Rejoice, sweet pacifier of the troubled souls.
Rejoice, thou who is to come as a real seer;
Rejoice, perspicacious accuser of hidden sins.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 8

We see a strange miracle on you, reverend: like this old man, weak and very difficult, you remained on the stone in prayer for a thousand days and a thousand nights. Whoever is pleased has uttered your sicknesses and struggles, blessed Father, even as you have endured, lifting up your reverend hands to God, conquering Amalek in your thoughts and singing to the Lord: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

You are all desire, all sweetness, sweetest Jesus! This is how you cried out in your prayers, Father, in your desert silence. But we, who have spent our entire life in vanity and darkness, praising your love for the Lord, cry out to you:

Rejoice, those who love and honor you as the mediator of salvation;
Rejoice, lead sinners to correction.
Rejoice, wonderful silent and reclusive one;
Rejoice, diligent prayer book for us.
Rejoice, you who showed fiery love for the Lord;
Rejoice, you who burned the arrows of the enemy with the fire of prayer.
Rejoice, unquenchable light, flaming with prayer in the desert;
Rejoice, lamp, burn and shine on spiritual gifts.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 9

All the angelic nature was surprised at the strange sight: for the Queen, who is in the shutter of Heaven and earth, appeared to the old man, commanding that he open his shutter and not forbid Orthodox people to come to him, but let him teach everyone to sing to Christ God: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

The oracles of multi-proclamation will not be able to express the strength of your love, blessed one: for you have given yourself over to the service of all who come to you, fulfilling the command of the Mother of God, and you have been a good counselor to the perplexed, a comforter to the despondent, a gentle admonishment to the erring, a doctor and healer to the sick. For this reason we cry out to you:

Rejoice, you who have moved from the world into the desert, so that you may acquire virtues;
Rejoice, you who returned from the desert to the monastery, sowing the seeds of virtue.
Rejoice, illumined by the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, filled with meekness and humility.
Rejoice, loving father of those who flocked to you;
Rejoice, you who gave them encouragement and consolation in words of love.
Rejoice, you who call those who come to you joy and treasure;
Rejoice, for your holy love you have been granted the joys of the Heavenly Kingdom.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 10

You have reached the end of your saving feat, reverend, in prayer, on your knees, you have given up your holy soul in the hand of God, even as the holy angels lifted up the mountain to the throne of the Almighty, so that you may stand with all the saints in eternal glory, singing the song of praise of the saints to the most holy Word: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

The wall is a joy to all saints and monks; the Most Holy Virgin appeared to you before your death, announcing your imminent departure to God. We, marveling at such a visit to the Mother of God, cry out to you:

Rejoice, thou who beholdest the Queen of Heaven and earth;
Rejoice, overjoyed by the appearance of God to Matera.
Rejoice, you have received the message from Her to heavenly exile;
Rejoice, having demonstrated the holiness of your life by your righteous death.
Rejoice, in prayer before the icon of the Mother of God you commended your tender spirit to God;
Rejoice, having fulfilled your prophecy with a painless outcome.
Rejoice, thou crowned with the crown of immortality from the hand of the Almighty;
Rejoice, you who have inherited heavenly bliss with all the saints.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 11

Offering unceasing singing to the Most Holy Trinity, O Reverend One, through all your life you have appeared as a great ascetic of piety, to those who have gone astray for admonition, to those who are sick in soul and body for healing. But we, being grateful to the Lord for His mercy to us, call upon Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

The light-giving lamp was in life, blessed father, and after your death, you shone like a luminous luminary of the Russian land: for from your honest relics you exude currents of miracles to all who flow to you with faith and love. Moreover, like a warm prayer book for us and a miracle worker, we cry out to you:

Rejoice, glorified by many miracles from the Lord;
Rejoice, thou who shone forth with thy love to the whole world.
Rejoice, faithful follower of the love of Christ;
Rejoice, consolation to all those who require your help.
Rejoice, endless source of miracles;
Rejoice, healer of the sick and sick.
Rejoice, inexhaustible storehouse of multi-healing waters;
Rejoice, for you have embraced all the ends of our earth with your love.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 12

Your grace and great boldness before God are known to you, Reverend Father, we pray: pray warmly to the Lord, that He may preserve His holy Church from unbelief and schism, from troubles and misfortunes, and let us sing through you to the God who benefits us: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing your glorification, we bless you, reverend one, for you are a powerful prayer book for us before the Lord, a comforter and intercessor, and with love we cry out to you:

Rejoice, praise to the Orthodox Church;
Rejoice, shield and fence for the Fatherland and our monastery.
Rejoice, guide, guide everyone to Heaven;
Rejoice, our protector and patron.
Rejoice, you who have performed many miracles by the power of God;
Rejoice, through your robe you healed many sick people.
Rejoice, victorious over all the wiles of the devil;
Rejoice, you who conquered marvelous beasts with your meekness.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 13

O wonderful servant and great wonderworker, Rev. Father Seraphim, accept this little prayer of ours, offered in praise to you, and standing now before the throne of the King of kings, our Lord Jesus Christ, pray for us all, that we may find His mercy on the day of judgment, singing in joy To him: Alleluia.

(This kontakion is read three times, then the 1st ikos and 1st kontakion)

PRAYER FIRST

O wonderful Father Seraphim, great Sarov wonderworker, quick and obedient helper to all who come running to you! During the days of your earthly life, no one left you weary and inconsolable, but everyone was blessed with the vision of your face and the benevolent voice of your words. Moreover, the gift of healing, the gift of insight, the gift of healing for weak souls has appeared abundantly in you. When God called you from earthly labors to Heavenly rest, your love ceased from us, and it is impossible to count your miracles, multiplying like the stars of heaven: for all over the end of our earth you appeared to the people of God and granted them healing. In the same way, we cry out to you: O most quiet and meek servant of God, daring man of prayer to Him, denying none of those who call upon You, offer up your powerful prayer for us to the Lord of hosts, may He strengthen our Fatherland, may He grant us all that is useful in this life and all that is spiritual useful to salvation, may he protect us from the falls of sin and teach us true repentance, so that we can enter without stumbling into the eternal Heavenly Kingdom, where you now shine in unfathomable glory, and there sing with all the saints the Life-Giving Trinity until the end of the age. Amen.

PRAYER TWO

O great servant of God, venerable and God-bearing Father Seraphim! Look down from the heavenly glory on us humble and weak, burdened with many sins, your help and consolation to those who ask. Approach us with your mercy and help us to immaculately preserve the commandments of the Lord, to firmly maintain the Orthodox faith, to diligently bring repentance for our sins to God, to gracefully prosper in piety as Christians and to be worthy of your prayerful intercession for us. To her, Holiness of God, hear us praying to you with faith and love and do not despise us who demand your intercession: now and at the hour of our death, help us and protect us with your prayers from the evil slander of the devil, so that those powers may not possess us, but may we be worthy of help with you will inherit the bliss of the abode of paradise. We now place our hope in you, merciful Father: be truly a guide to our salvation and lead us to the unevening light of eternal life through your God-pleasing intercession at the throne of the Most Holy Trinity, so that we glorify and sing with all the saints the venerable name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever centuries. Amen.

PRAYER THREE

Reverend Father Seraphim, filled with Divine love, unceasing servant of Divine love, beloved of the Mother of Divine Love, hear me, who loves little and grieves you a lot. Grant me now to be a zealous servant of pleasing love; Because love is long-suffering, merciful, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, is not rude, does not seek its own, is not irritated, does not think evil, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; He loves everything, he has faith in everything, he trusts everything, he endures everything, even though he never falls away! This love to be a servant of me and all my relatives, and known, and friend, implore Primordial Love, so that by serving Her love on earth, through your intercession, the prayers of the Mother of God and all the saints, I will achieve the Kingdom of love, and glory, and light, and I will fall at the feet of my Lord who gave us the commandment about truer love. Loving Father, do not reject the prayers of the heart that loves you, and beg a loving God for the forgiveness of my sins. Help us to bear each other’s burdens, not to do things to others that we don’t want to be, to cover everything with love, and having ended our earthly life with a heartfelt song of love, begin with it joyfully eternal life in the Land of true love. Pray for us, Father, our beloved Father, who loves us! Amen.

TROPARION

Troparion, tone 4:

From your youth you loved Christ most blessedly, and you labored passionately in His desire for Him alone, you labored in the desert with unceasing prayer and labor, and having acquired the love of Christ with a tender heart, you appeared as the chosen one beloved of God to the Mother. For this reason, we cry out to you: save us with your prayers, Seraphim, our reverend father.

Kontakion, voice 2:

Having left the beauty of the world and the corruption in it, reverend, you moved into the Sarov monastery, and having lived there like an angel, you were the path to salvation for many: for this reason, Christ also glorified you, Father Seraphim, and enriched you with the gift of healings and miracles. In the same way we cry to you: Rejoice, Seraphim, our reverend father.

Greatness

We bless you, Reverend Father Seraphim, and honor your holy memory, teacher of monks and interlocutor of Angels.

CANON

(To St. Seraphim of Sarov, wonderworker)

Troparion, tone 4

From your youth you loved Christ, O blessed One, and, having ardently longed for the One who worked, you labored in the desert with unceasing prayer and labor, and having acquired the love of Christ with a tender heart, you appeared as the chosen one beloved of the Mother of God. For this reason, we cry out to you: save us with your prayers, Seraphim, our reverend father.

CANON, tone 6

Song 1

Irmos:As Israel walked across the abyss on dry ground, seeing the persecutor Pharaoh drowned, we sing a victorious song to God, crying out.

Chorus:

Lord, open my unworthy lips and give me the word of reason to worthily sing the memory of the blessed Seraphim, now praying with the Angels to You to deliver us from every cruel situation.

Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us.

You were a great prayer book to the Mother of God, O Reverend, You were honored to see from the Apostles, and now do not stop visiting your children with your prayers.

Glory:From your youth, reverend, you devoted yourself to the mind of God and, having tamed the passions of the body with strong abstinence, you adorned yourself with all sorts of virtues, O wise one.

And now:O All-Blessed Lady, Who gave birth to the Most Blessed God in the flesh, cleanse my heart, embittered by passions, so that with faith and love I magnify Thee.

Song 3

Irmos:There is no one holy like You, O Lord my God, who lifted up the horn of Your faithful, O Good One, and established us on the rock of Your confession.

Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us.

With your prayers, reverend, standing before God with the Angels, pray for the whole world, consume the battles of the enemy and grant victory to your adversaries.

Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us.

From your youth, by faith and love, you clung to the Lord of the Highest Powers, Reverend Seraphim, and, having risen in the desert of Sarov, like the sun, you were a comforter to those who came to you in sorrow; pray for us to be saved.

Glory:Thou hast appeared, O Reverend, to those who pray to you, an unshakable pillar and a refuge for all those who flow to the Sarov monastery and receive healing from inexhaustible grace.

And now:When Mother Eve heard: in sorrow, give birth to a child. But you, Pure Virgin, having heard: The Lord is with you, rejoice, - with a joyful voice you consumed the sorrow of your foremother.

Lord have mercy (three times). Glory, and now:

Sedalen, voice 4th

Having overcome the worldly sea of passions through abstinence and flowed into the haven of dispassion, a vessel of abstinence appeared, Reverend Seraphim, pray to Christ God to grant us great mercy.

Song 4

Irmos:Christ is my strength, God and Lord, the honest Church sings divinely, crying out, pure in meaning, celebrating in the Lord.

Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us.

Today the Sarov monastery brightly celebrates your memory, reverend, and prays to you: ask the Lord of the universe for peace and great mercy for our souls.

Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us.

With your great deeds, reverend, you have flourished like a phoenix, delighting the hearts of those who flow to you with fruitful words and immaculate life, and now pray that we may find mercy from Christ our Savior.

Glory:With your prayers for us, beseech God, Reverend Seraphim, and destroy the sinful darkness of our sorrow, adorn all who honor your glorious memory with dispassion, faith and love.

And now:Rejoice, Lady Virgin, beauty to the Churches, power and praise to pious people, unceasingly pray to Christ God, may He save us from troubles with Your prayers.

Song 5

Irmos:With Thy God's light, O Blessed One, illumine the souls of Thy morning with love, I pray, Lead Thee, the Word of God, the true God, crying out from the darkness of sin.

Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us.

You were a true teacher to all who came to you and a great prayer book to the Mother of God, and now, reverend, do not cease to pray for your children, for you have great boldness.

Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us.

May the people of Christ now descend into the temple of the Sarov monastery, to your honorable relics, Reverend Seraphim, and may they ask you for healing, health and salvation, magnifying Christ.

Glory:At night I pray to God, O Reverend, the invisible enemy wanted to frighten you, but was put to shame by your prayer, the all-evil one has disappeared.

And now:God, Whom You gave birth to, Most Pure Mary, pray to Your servant for forgiveness of sins.

Song 6

Irmos:The sea of life, raised in vain by misfortunes and storms, flowed to Your quiet refuge, crying out to You: lift up my belly from aphids, O Most Merciful One.

Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us.

Your holy soul was the abode of God, in which the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit dwelt, and we also pray to you, reverend, to drive away the obsessions of the enemy from those who honor you and grant peace and health to faithful people.

Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us.

We honor your great desert exploits and labors and the sweetness of your teaching, Reverend Seraphim, in the image of many who came to you, you enlightened and taught you to sing the praises of the Consubstantial Trinity.

Glory:Having followed the Lord Christ with a pure life, you ended your good course, O Reverend One, and ascended to the eternal abode, blessed one, behold where the Angels see. In the same way, honoring your memory, we magnify Christ.

And now:Now I come running to You, Most Pure One, save me with Your prayers and keep me: as much as you will, you can, as the Mother of the Almighty.

Lord have mercy (three times). Glory, and now:

Kontakion, voice 2

Having left the beauty of the world and the corruption in it, reverend, you moved into the Sarov monastery and, having lived there like an angel, you were the path to salvation for many, for this reason, and Christ, glorify you, Father Seraphim, and enrich you with the gift of healings and miracles. In the same way we cry to you: Rejoice, Seraphim, our reverend father.

Ikos

Leaving your family and friends, your wealth as if it were dust, you settled in the desert of Sarovstey and, in passion, as if you were incorporeal, having labored, you were made worthy of the rank of the Angels. In the same way, receive spiritual understanding, grant us, O Reverend, to sing wisely in songs to you, who say:

Rejoice, blessed Seraphim, heavenly man and earthly angel;
Rejoice, imitator of Christ in love;
Rejoice, abode of the Holy Spirit;
Rejoice, great joy to those who are discouraged;
Rejoice, source of healings;
Rejoice, sweet consolation for sorrowing souls;
Rejoice, quiet haven for monks and wise teacher;
Rejoice, praise to the Russian land;
Rejoice, Seraphim, reverend our father.

Song 7

Irmos:The angel made the venerable cave into a venerable youth, and the Chaldeans exhorted the scorching command of God to the tormentor to cry out: Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers.

Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us.

Your honest life appeared, reverend, filled with the grace of the Divine Spirit, you accepted the truly blessed death of the saints, rejoicing in Christ. We cry to the one who glorified you: our father, God. blessed are you.

Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us.

Many people who have come to the holy monastery today, Venerable Seraphim, venerate your honorable relics, and from them we draw all healings, constantly calling: our father, God, blessed art thou.

Glory:This broadcast went out throughout the whole earth, as if in Sarov the miracle worker appeared glorified, pouring out multitudes of healings to all who came with faith and cried out: Our father, God, blessed art thou.

And now:The Virgin Mary, who gave birth to the Word above the word, Thy Creator, pray to Him with the Venerable Seraphim to have mercy on our souls.

Song 8

Irmos:You poured out dew from the flames of the saints, and you burned the righteous sacrifice with water, for you did everything, Christ, only as you wished. We extol You forever.

Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us.

Having tamed the passions of the flesh and mortified the world, you have received the words of eternal life in your heart, O blessed one, teaching all who come to you to cry out: Sing to the Lord, O deeds, and exalt Him forever.

Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us.

In the glorification of your holy relics, reverend, the Sarov monastery was filled with joy. All the people cried out to God, marvelous in their saints: Sing to the Lord, O works, and exalt Him unto the ages.

Glory:Filled with the grace of the Divine Spirit, Reverend Seraphim, faithful people, creating your holy memory, with your prayers ask for forgiveness of sins, crying out: children, bless, priests, sing, people, exalt the Lord forever.

And now:You have appeared to us as an Intercessor of salvation, O Mother of God, who gave birth to the Savior and Lord of all; we also pray to Thee: grant salvation to all who sing hymns to Thee faithfully throughout all ages.

Song 9

Irmos:It is impossible for a person to see God; they do not dare to look at the Worthless One. By You, O All-Pure One, having appeared as a man, the Word incarnate, Who magnifies Him, with the Heavenly Ones we please You.

Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us.

The sweet praise sung to you by unworthy lips, reverend, do not despise, but accept and sanctify all who glorify you, troubles and misfortunes, and deliver from eternal torment, so that we may sing to you forever.

Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us.

Having valiantly endured the scum of the night and the plague of the day in the solitude of the desert, you were the house of the Wisdom of God and you rose to the uneven radiance. Pray for us to be saved.

Glory:The monastery is famous today, and in it you deigned to receive the yoke of Christ: there, in the desert, you spent your days and, having enlightened many who came to you with your teachings, you taught them to be children of the Church of Christ.

And now:You are our strength, You are praise and joy, Our Guardian, intercession, refuge and invincible Representative, Most Pure Mother of God, save Your servants.

To answer this question, you first need to know the life path of the elder. After all, the name of this saint is widely known throughout the world, and he is especially revered in Rus'. The Lord gave him the ability to heal, as well as talk about the past and predict the future. Prayers with requests to the holy saint work miracles: they fulfill the most cherished desires, heal, and help find a way out of a difficult situation.

Brief description of the life path of the venerable elder

The heavenly patron Seraphim of Sarov is from Kursk. The exact date of his birth is known - July 19, 1759. At baptism the baby received the name Prokhor.

Miracles began to happen to the boy from a very early age. There was a case when Prokhor could not resist and fell from the bell tower of the temple. Everyone saw the miracle that the boy remained completely unharmed.

In 1776, in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, a fateful meeting took place between the young Prokhor and the elder Dosifei, who indicated to the young man that he should take monastic vows

After 2 years, the young man ended up in the Tambov province, where he became a novice in the Sarov Monastery. And 8 years later, in 1786, he did what Dosifei told him - he took monastic vows and became the monk Seraphim.

Seraphim did not need rest at all; the Lord himself gave him the strength to serve. In 1794, he accepted the silent feat and settled in the forest so that he could pray unceasingly.

Father Seraphim spent 16 years in the desert, and in 1810 he returned to the monastery to take another retreat, which lasted until 1825. Everything changed on November 25 of the same year. In a dream, the Mother of God appeared to Seraphim of Sarov and ordered him to stop fulfilling his vows and begin to host people in order to help them with her advice, guidance and healings.

Miracles through the prayers of Father Seraphim

In the Christian world, the face of Seraphim of Sarov is revered, people pray to him, and people turn to him with requests for help.

Seraphim of Sarov - patron of what?

Here we come to the main question. The memory of Holy Father Seraphim is revered by believers twice a year: January 15 and August 1. But this does not mean that they pray to the saint only on these days. Sincere prayer will be effective at any time, the main thing is to believe and think about good.

Whose patron is Seraphim of Sarov? They turn to him with requests for help, and also in despondency under sinful circumstances, they pray to deliver him from demonic temptations. He is asked for the grace of giving love. It helps in the development of memory, relieves diseases of the spirit and body, and helps in solving problems of a material nature.

Prayers to Seraphim of Sarov are effective; if you forgive not only for yourself, you can pray for your loved ones and for your enemies.

Prayer for a Happy Marriage

Seraphim of Sarov is the patron saint of marriages. Lonely girls turn to them with a request to arrange their fate. It has long been known that in order to receive help, prayer alone is not enough. The prayer will be effective if read over water. And for this, living water - spring water - is best suited.

Taking a liter of water, read a prayer over it, while placing a lit icon and icon of Seraphim of Sarov near the vessel. You should drink the water prepared in this way and also sprinkle it on your bed and room.

Of course, we should not forget that the main attribute of such a request is the confidence that a miracle will happen and you will meet your destiny.

It is believed that Seraphim of Sarov is the patron saint of late marriages, so those who have already lost all hope of arranging their destiny often turn to him. If you are over 30 years old or more and still single, contact Father Seraphim and be sure that your sincere prayer will be fulfilled.

The prayer of a mother who wants her daughter to get married will be a very strong help, because the Lord accepts any request of the mother for his dearly beloved child.

How to pray to Seraphim of Sarov

This saint is very loved and revered in Rus'. It has long been the case that people addressed him lovingly: Seraphimushka, elder, father, saint of God, Father Seraphim, wonderworker.

Address yourself in prayer the way you like best, the main thing is that it comes from the heart and is pure with good thoughts.

So, Seraphim of Sarov is the patron of what? Probably, everyone will answer this question for themselves, because it is known that the elder’s faith and reverence for God worked true miracles.

After the saint died, Orthodox people they turned to him with faith, and a miracle happened. Back in 1895, a special commission recorded 94 miraculous healings that occurred after prayer to Father Seraphim. This is only a small part of the real cases of help from a saint who is always ready to support a believer.

Parents of Seraphim of Sarov

The birth of St. Seraphim and miraculous salvation from death.

The adolescence of Saint Seraphim. First healing by the Blessed Virgin Mary

Blessing by the blessed elder Dosifei

Lifestyle of Seraphim in the Sarov Monastery

Serious illness of St. Seraphim, second healing by the Most Holy Theotokos

Description of the appearance of St. Seraphim of Sarov. The collector's feat for good deeds

The Monk Seraphim was tonsured to the rank of monk

The death of Mother Agafya Semyonovna, abbess of the community in Diveevo.

Promise of Seraphim of Sarov to take care of the Diveyevo community until death

The miracle of contemplation of the Lord Jesus Christ during the Divine Liturgy

Elevation of monk Seraphim of Sarov to the rank of hieromonk. Choosing the Desert Life

The death of Father Pachomius, the promise of St. Seraphim to oversee the Diveyevo community and support it

4. Death of St. Seraphim of Sarov.

5. Canonization of the Wonderworker. Relics of the Saint.

5.1. Relics.

6. Celebrations, days of remembrance, worship.

Akathist to St. Seraphim of Sarov the Wonderworker.

Prayer to St. Seraphim of Sarov.

Troparion to St. Seraphim of Sarov, tone 4.

Kontakion to St. Seraphim of Sarov, tone 2.

Greatness to the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov.

7. Iconography.

7.1. Iconographic images of St. Seraphim of Sarov.

7.2. Life icons.

8. Brief prayer rule of St. Seraphim of Sarov.

Lord's Prayer.

Song of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Symbol of Faith.

9. Miracles of Seraphim of Sarov.

Sources of information.

Brief description of the life path of the venerable elder

Miracles through the prayers of Father Seraphim

Seraphim of Sarov - patron of what?

Prayer for a Happy Marriage

How to pray to Seraphim of Sarov

The adolescence of Saint Seraphim.
First healing by the Blessed Virgin Mary

Description of the appearance of St. Seraphim of Sarov.
The collector's feat for good deeds