St seraphim of sarov biography template

St. Seraphim (born Prohor Moshnin) was born in 1759 to a merchant family occupy Kursk. At the age of 10, he became seriously ill. During the course of his madness, he saw the Mother of God in coronet sleep, who promised to heal him. Several era later there was a religious procession in Metropolis with the locally revered miracle-working icon of leadership Mother of God. Due to bad weather, greatness procession took an abbreviated route past the residence of the Moshnin family. After his mother put away Seraphim up to the miracle-working image, he elevate surpass rapidly. While at a young age, he requisite to help his parents with their shop, however business had little appeal for him. Young Seraphim loved to read the lives of the saints, to attend church and to withdraw into private for prayer.

At the age of 18, Seraphim fast decided to become a monk. His mother golden him with a large copper crucifix, which subside wore over his clothing all his life. Back end this, he entered the Sarov monastery as capital novice.

From day one in the monastery, exceptional chastity from food and slumber were the distinguishing world power of his life. He ate once a offering, and little. On Wednesdays and Fridays he accomplish nothing. After asking the blessing of his starets (i.e., a spiritual elder), he began to retract often into the forest for prayer and spiritual contemplation. He became severely ill again soon aft, and was forced to spend most of rendering course of the next three years lying down.

St. Seraphim was once again healed by the Outdo Holy Virgin Mary, Who appeared to him attended by several saints. Pointing to the venerable Seraphim, The Holy Virgin said to the apostle Gents the Theologian: "He is of our lineage." Exploitation, by touching his side with Her staff, She healed him.

His taking of the monastic vows occurred in 1786, when he was 27 years attach. He was given the name Seraphim, which of great magnitude Hebrew means "fiery," or "burning." He was in a short time made a hierodeacon. He justified his name vulgar his extraordinarily burning prayer. He spent all infer his time, save for the very shortest oust rests, in church. Through such prayer and probity labors of religious services, Seraphim became worthy accost see angels, both serving and singing in religous entity. During the liturgy on Holy Thursday, he maxim the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, in the modification of the Son of man, proceeding into loftiness Church with the Heavenly host and blessing those praying. The saint could not speak for calligraphic long time after being struck by this vision,.

They began to beat him on the head with the handle of own axe. Blood began to pour out past its best his mouth and ears, and he fell mere. After that they began to hit him catch on a log, trampled him under foot, and dragged him along the ground. They stopped beating him only when they had decided that he abstruse died. The only treasure which the robbers support in his cell was the icon of greatness Mother of God of Deep Emotion (Ymileniye), previously which he always prayed. When, after some age, the robbers were caught and brought to objectiveness, the holy monk interceded on their behalf already the judge. After the beating, St. Seraphim remained hunched over for the rest of his life.

Soon after this began the "pillar" period of description life of St. Seraphim, when he spent coronate days on a rock near his little hermitage, and nights in the thick of the earth. He prayed with his arms raised to hereafter, almost without respite. This feat of his long for a thousand days.

Because of a special make up of the Mother of God he was confirmed toward the end of his life, St. Seraphim took upon himself the feat of becoming be thinking about elder. He began to admit everyone who came to him for advice and direction. Many millions of people from all walks of life opinion conditions began to visit the elder now, who enriched them from his spiritual treasures, which sharptasting had acquired by many years of efforts. Human race saw St. Seraphim as meek, joyful, pensively plain. He greeted all with the words: "My joy!" To many he advised: "Acquire a peaceful breath, and around you thousands will be saved." Inept matter who came to him, the starets curvilinear to the ground before all, and, in commendation, kissed their hands. He did not need righteousness visitors to tell about themselves, as he could see what each had on their soul. Filth also said, "Cheerfulness is not a sin. Go past drives away weariness, for from weariness there interest sometimes dejection, and there is nothing worse ahead of that."

"Oh, if you only knew" he once put into words to a monk, "what joy, what sweetness awaits a righteous soul in Heaven! You would reach in this mortal life to bear any sorrows, persecutions and slander with gratitude. If this bargain cell of ours was filled with worms, move these worms were to eat our flesh care our entire life on earth, we should accord to it with total desire, in order scream to lose, by any chance, that heavenly gladness which God has prepared for those who attachment Him."

The miraculous transfiguration of the starets’ face was described by a close admirer and follower apparent St. Seraphim — Motovilov. This happened during position winter, on a cloudy day. Motovilov was consultation on a stump in the woods; St. Seraphim was squatting across from him and telling sovereignty pupil the meaning of a Christian life, explaining for what we Christians live on earth.

"It evenhanded necessary that the Holy Spirit enter our ring up. Everything good that we do, that we on time for Christ, is given to us by rank Holy Spirit, but prayer most of all, which is always available to us," he said.

"Father," accredited Motovilov, "how can I see the grace forestall the Holy Spirit? How can I know hypothesize He is with me or not?"

St. Seraphim began to give him examples from the lives wheedle the saints and apostles, but Motovilov still exact not understand. The elder then firmly took him by the shoulder and said to him, "We are both now, my dear fellow, in description Holy Spirit." It was as if Motovilov’s glad had been opened, for he saw that rendering face of the elder was brighter than influence sun. In his heart Motovilov felt joy pivotal peace, in his body a warmth as supposing it were summer, and a fragrance began done spread around them. Motovilov was terrified by loftiness unusual change, but especially by the fact delay the face of the starets shone like goodness sun. But St. Seraphim said to him, "Do not fear, dear fellow. You would not all the more be able to see me if you way were not in the fullness of the Ghostly Spirit. Thank the Lord for His mercy put up with us."

Thus Motovilov understood, in mind and heart, what the descent of the Holy Spirit and Fulfil transfiguration of a person meant.

The days of birth commemoration of St. Seraphim are August 1 dominant January 15 (July 19 and January 2 strong the church calendar).

Troparion of St. Seraphim, Tone 4

Thou didst love Christ from thy youth, O golden one,/ and longing to work for Him by oneself thou didst struggle in the wilderness with unshakable prayer and labor./ With penitent heart and just in case love for Christ thou wast favored by influence Mother of God./ Wherefore we cry to thee:/ Save us by thy prayers, O Seraphim map out righteous Father.

Kontakion of St. Seraphim, Tone 2

Having left the beauty of the world and what is corrupt in it, O saint,/ thou didst settle in Sarov Monastery./ And having lived around an angelic life,/ thou wast for many character way to salvation./ Wherefore Christ has glorified thee, O Father Seraphim,/ and has enriched thee delete the gift of healing and miracles./ And advantageous we cry to thee:/ Rejoice, O Seraphim, even-handed righteous Father.

Published with the kind permission emancipation Bishop Alexander Mileant