"THE LIFE FEAT OF THE OLD MAN SERAPHIM OF SAROVSKY".

Registration: posters with statements about Seraphim of Sarov. Illustrations. WITH THE IMAGE OF Seraphim Sorovskiy.

“We are like penny candles. And he - like a pood candle - always burns before the Lord, both with his past life on earth, and with real boldness before the Holy Trinity.

Archbishop of Voronezh Anthony.

PROGRESS OF THE EVENT.

TEACHER. Many majestic ascetics came out of the Russian people; what they have done in their lifetime is an amazingly diverse treasury of the moral wealth of the Russian tribe. And among these marvelous people, Elder Seraphim is seen... He definitely did not live on earth, but only came into contact with it... And what an invisible revelation of love for people and boundless humility this elder showed, bowing to the ground and kissing the hands of every visitor: the rich a gentleman and a beggar, a righteous man and a sinner ill in sins.

“My joy” - this constant warm appeal of the old man to everyone is definitely heard even now from his grave.

Student. Before us is the image of a majestic old man,

With bright eyes, with a friendly face,

Shining with heavenly glory now.

Crowned with an incorruptible crown.

In hard work, harsh feat

He did not quench the bright disposition in himself -

Met the newcomer always with a welcoming word

And he called it his joy.

From his mouth flowed a living word,

And he who hears benefited:

He is the speech of a simple language

From the eyes of people, as it were, he removed the cover.

Not cold alienation, but hello,

Breathing love for your neighbor and affection,

His humble speech sounded at the same time -

And his soul was touched by the words.

His whole life is harsh, holy,

It was a great feat...

And now we, reading it "live",

Let us honor the saint with prayer!

TEACHER. On January 2, 1833, in the Sarov Hermitage, the blessed elder Hieromonk Seraphim peacefully reposed in the Lord.

The future saint was born July 19, 1754 in Kursk, in the believing merchant family Moshnin, and was named Prokhor. From early childhood, thanks to his mother, who told her son about the Orthodox faith, Prokhor fell in love with church services and reading prayers. And throughout his life, the heavenly forces protected the saint from evil and disease. So, at the age of 7, the boy accidentally fell from the church being built and did not suffer at all.

STUDENT. From the smallest childhood years

Always a special Providence of God

He was kept from all sorts of troubles.

Once upon a time on a fine summer day

His mother took him with her

When I went to watch the construction site.

To the bell tower through the woods

They both got up there.

Climbing the last row of forests

Embarrassing somehow became a leg

And fell from such a height

On the ground a seven-year-old boy.

In despair in vain mother,

Running away from steep bridges,

I thought he was killed

And rushed to him, sobbing, -

The little one has already got up

And quietly continued to stand,

Not scared at all...

Divine grace

She rested on that baby!

TEACHER. In adolescence, Prokhor fell seriously ill. One night he dreamed of the Mother of God, who promised him a recovery.

After a short procession

With the icon of the "Sign" goes

Along Kursk, that street

Where in the house the patient suffered.

Suddenly it started to rain heavily.

So that honest people do not get wet,

To shorten the path

Turned off the road procession

Through the yard Mashninsky checkpoint.

Carried by mother, sick

Went down to meet them in the yard

And there he kissed the icon.

From that wonderful moment

Evil disease began to weaken

And the recovery began.

And soon Prokhor could get up.

This is how the vision came true

And healing happened!

TEACHER. Time passed, and fervent prayers every day strengthened in Prokhor's soul the desire to devote his life to serving God. By the age of 17, the young man firmly decided to leave worldly life, and, having received a parental blessing, he left home.

STUDENT. Leaving brother, mother, estate

In the name of the Lord Christ,

He only asks for blessings

The native mother has a cross.

Blessed him with copper

Sobbing, mother with a big cross,

And he, in his poor outfit,

Didn't break up with him afterwards.

And here he is a blooming young man,

At only seventeen,

We seem to be going

In the city of capital Kyiv. There's advice

He will also receive instructions:

In which monastery is the saint

He will fulfill his calling

And he will give his desired vow.

TEACHER. The perceptive Dositheus saw the presence of the Holy Spirit in the young man and recommended that he go to the Sarov Assumption Hermitage, which is located between the Tambov and Nizhny Novgorod regions. Following the advice of the holy father, Prochorus came to the indicated place, and was accepted by Father Pachomius into the number of novices of the monastery.
The area where the current Sarov is located has long been inhabited by the people of the Finnish tribe, the Mordovians.

The legend about Sarov says this about the transformation of the city that used to be here into a desert: “A great forest, and trees, oaks, pines and other growths, and many animals live in that forest - bears, lynxes, elks, foxes, martens; and along the rivers Satis and Sarov - beavers and otters. And that place was unknown to people, except for the beekeepers - Mordovians. For three hundred years not a single soul has lived in this place.

STUDENT. In 1664, the Penza monk Theodosius came here and, having placed a cell on the ramparts of the former city, More than once at night he saw the sky as if opened; from there a light appeared, illuminating the whole mountain. Sometimes a fiery beam descended from above, sometimes a loud blaze of many bells was heard. All this affirmed Theodosius in the thought that a great future was destined for this place.

Monk Gerasim, who lived here after him, also witnessed various signs. While standing at prayer on the feast of the Annunciation, he heard such a strong ringing that the mountain seemed to shake from him, and since then this ringing has been heard to him often. “I remember that this place is holy,” said the elder.

Of the ascetics of the 19th century who belonged to the Sarov Hermitage, the famous abbot and renovator of Valaam Nazarius, who laid the foundation in Sarov and spent the last years of his life there, the silent schemamonk Mark, who for a long time huddled in the dense forest of Sarov, in huts or caves, is especially memorable.

The main thing that hitherto attracted pilgrims here and that will now attract the attention of Russia and the desire for this place of all believing hearts is the grave of Elder Seraphim. Like the sun, it shines in the sky of Sarov. The whole Serov is, as it were, full of them. To name Sarov means to name the elder Seraphim. Let us convey with reverence and love the main features of his life.

THE TEACHER Having easily learned everything necessary, Prokhor diligently took up monastic work, and as soon as a free minute appeared, he would go into the thicket, where he would meditate on the Savior and pray sincerely. When two years had passed since coming to the monastery, Prochorus suffered a serious illness. But she did not for a moment shake the faith of the novice: he endured all the suffering humbly and did not want to seek help from doctors.

STUDENT. My Lord will be a healer

The patient continued to repeat everything. -

I commit myself to Christ

With His Most Pure Mother,

And you, miserable, I beg

Give it to me Medicine 4 ".

Then the patient was communed

Holy Great Mysteries of Christ

And joy returned to the soul,

A smile of happiness on your lips.

He lay in trembling excitement

And with an enlightened soul,

Closing your mouth in silent prayer,

And I saw the sky before me...

And the Mother of God in the inexpressible

Radiance stood in front of him

With Peter the apostle, with John.

pointing to them with a finger.

Said, "Our kind";

She fixed her eyes on the sick

And for the one who suffered for three years

She laid her right hand on her forehead.

The disease subsided at the same time.

And suddenly I found an outcome for myself,

And all matter from the body

A stream flowed through the right side.

And the body became healthy

Only where the mother flowed, trace

Stayed on the patient's side

For many, many more years.

Soon, on the site of the appearance of the Mother of God, a hospital church was built, one of the aisles of which was consecrated in the name of the Monks Zosima and Savvaty of Solovetsky. The altar for the side-altar St. Seraphim built with his own hands from cypress wood and always communed the Holy Mysteries in this church.

TEACHER. In 1786, Prokhor took monastic vows, receiving the name Seraphim. Soon, after being ordained a deacon, Seraphim began to spend all his time in prayer. During the hours of services, he contemplated Jesus Christ in the sky, surrounded by angels, who overshadowed those praying with the cross. In 1793, Seraphim became a hieromonk and soon decided to leave the monastery. He settled in a lonely modest cell in the depths of the forest. Here the Monk Seraphim of Sarov turned to the Lord with prayers, read the Gospel, and worked. Seeing in prayers, fasting and good deeds let to virtue, Seraphim of Sarov performed here the famous feat of pilgrimage - he prayed for a thousand days, kneeling and turning to the Lord with a request: “Be merciful to me, a sinner!”.

TEACHER. Once Seraphim of Sarov became a victim of villains who severely beat the old man, demanding money and not finding it. Fortunately, the novices who found the saint in time immediately asked for the help of a doctor, who made a disappointing conclusion about the patient's condition. For seven whole days, the Monk Seraphim was between life and death, and then, for the third time, the Mother of God saved him. After that, in order to strengthen the Holy Spirit in his soul, Seraphim took a three-year feat of silence: he did not talk to anyone and spent all the time in fasting and prayers.

STUDENT. Once, taking the ax,

He went to the dark forest

To chop wood for yourself.

Suddenly an old man saw

Three villains dashing.

And those villains began to threaten:

"Give us money!

You have money, tea,

Lot. Chickens don't peck.

They always come to you

rich gentlemen,
And they bring a lot of money."

"I have no money, I am unmercenary" -

Smiling, the old man said.

But none of the thieves

Didn't listen to those words

As if God's saint lied to them.

Seraphim was strong

And the ax is sharp with him,

But the meek one did not resist.

"Knife raised, with a knife

And then die,

As the Savior told us the world.

He dropped the ax

And a thief grabbed him

And he attacked the holy elder.

And with a broken forehead

Ax butt

Without consciousness, the saint fell.

From the mouth, from the ears

And broken bones

Blood gushed from his head.

But villains again

He began to be tortured

And they beat him all over again.

Finding nothing

In all his cell,

The villains were afraid of deeds,

And fear fell upon them;

And they are in a hurry

They fled, fearing punishment.

For a long, long time, the old man lay unconscious,

But little by little I came to my senses.

Somehow he untied his hands from the fetters

And immediately, in spite of suffering,

He falls silent in prayer to the Creator,

Offering fervent prayer to Him

For your salvation. And the villains, saint,

Asks God to forgive the sin.

TEACHER. In 1825, the Mother of God again descended to the saint with the command to complete the test. Since then, Seraphim of Sarov had the gift of providence and wonderworking. People from all over the earth began to come to him for advice and healing, and affectionately calling each one “My Joy!” Saint Seraphim helped the suffering.
Every visitor, a rich gentleman and a beggar, a righteous man and a sinner who was ill with sins, he kissed, bowed to the ground and, blessing, kissed his hands. His speeches breathed penetrating, quiet, life-giving power. They warmed hearts that had become cold in life, removed the veil from the eyes, illuminated the mind, led to repentance, and, embracing the mind and will with miraculous power, overshadowed the human soul with silence. A whole revelation, a living and powerful proof of the existence of the spiritual world was its clear, captivating appearance, like a bright ray of the sun shining in the darkness of life.

Crowds of people relentlessly flocked to the elder in the last years of his life, when on some days the number of his visitors reached 2000 per day. The people recognized him alive as a saint and miracle worker. And this true follower of Christ, until the last days, oppressed himself with voluntary suffering to such an extent that without horror it was impossible to look at his life, without horror it is impossible even now to remember his torments.

Seraphim of Sarov told his disciples how to protect themselves from demons that try to interfere with prayer by boring a person or forcing him to put things in order while turning to the Almighty. The monk saw the goal of the Christian life in the acquisition of the Holy Spirit, which gives birth to peace in the soul, and joy and warmth in the heart. He believed that the path to virtue lies through sincere prayers, unity of mind and heart, fasting, and selfless help to others. Wise are the sayings of St. Seraphim that one should not unnecessarily open one's heart to another person: if we ourselves have not kept our secret, can we hope that another will keep it?

In 1832, the Mother of God appeared to the saint in a dream and announced that his earthly journey was coming to an end. January 2, 1833 Seraphim of Sarov died while praying before the image of the Blessed Virgin. In 1903 he was canonized as a saint. At present, the relics of Seraphim of Sarov rest in the Trinity Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Seraphim-Diveevo Convent founded by him.

His earthly journey is over. Heavenly glory has arrived. And what, in what image does he now appear to people? .. The same meekness, the same love. With the same affectionate word he calls people, as he called them on earth: “My joy!”

“I came to visit my beggars. I have not been here for a long time,” he said in 1858, appearing for the healing of the Diveyevo nun Evdokia.

“My joy,” he says, appearing to the Sarov monk, who has fallen into despondency, “I am always with you. Be of good cheer, don't be discouraged!"

Here he appears in a dream to the Shatsk (city of Shatsk) merchant Petakovskaya, who knew him during his lifetime, and says: “In the night, thieves broke into your son’s shop. But I took a whisk and began to sweep near the shop, and they left.

“Your son will recover and pass the test in the sciences!” - he says, appearing in a dream in 1864 in St. Petersburg to Mrs. Sabaneeva, whose son fell ill before the exam at the Mining Institute.

“... The whole life of St. Seraphim of Sarov is a fiery sermon of love for God and neighbor. As our Lord Jesus Christ said in the Sermon on the Mount, a burning lamp cannot be hidden, but is visible to all, and its light enlightens everyone who walks in darkness. Saint Seraphim is the greatest prayer lamp of the Russian land. Such saints already during their lifetime receive national and even universal recognition. Their deeds and miracles, numerous healings testify to the power of acquiring the Holy Spirit. “Acquire a spirit of peace, and thousands around you will be saved,” with these words the Saint reminds us of the true goal of the Christian life.

Eminent Juvenaly,

Metropolitan of Kursk and Rylsk

Form start

Drawing Gridina Yulia 15 years old

Saint Seraphim feeds a bear.

Drawing by Inna Bulgakova, 15 years old

"Seraphim of Sarov prays on a stone"

1. The feat of Russian monasticism. Russian monasticism in the 19th century gave many examples of true Christian achievement. And already during their earthly life, these holy people served as a model for understanding the meaning of life, behavior and everyday life of Christians. One of the pinnacles of Orthodox life was the spiritual activity of St. Seraphim of Sarov. In the deed of St. Seraphim of Sarov, Holy Russia showed the world a great example of Orthodox holiness.

(in the world Prokhor Isidorovich Mashnin) (1754-1833) - one of the most famous and revered Russian elders. He was born in Kursk. His parents built the Sergiev-Kazan Cathedral. When the cathedral was built and consecrated, he went to the monastery. In 1778, he settled in the Sarov Assumption Desert, which was located on the river. Sarovka, in the then Tambov province. In 1786 he took monastic vows with the name Seraphim, and in 1794 he left the monastery and settled in a secluded cell in the forest, a few kilometers from the monastery. In the cell and in the forest near the road, he placed two stones, on which he prayed. In 1806, Seraphim took upon himself a new difficult monastic feat - silence, and remained in silence for about three years. In 1810, by the decision of the cathedral of monks of the monastery, Seraphim again settled in the monastery, but accepted the lunch of seclusion. Beginning in 1815, he somewhat loosened the shutter and devoted himself entirely to a new feat - eldership, i.e. service to the world, spiritual guidance and healing of monks. But finally he left the shutter only in 1825.

3. The Most Holy Theotokos visits Seraphim. Elder Seraphim, one of the few saints in the history of Russia, was honored with a visit from the Most Holy Mother of God, who appeared to him twelve times. The Mother of God made her first intercession for the Monk Seraphim long before he was tonsured a monk. As his Life tells, when he was ten years old, he became very seriously ill. Once in a dream the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to him and promised to heal him. And so it happened at that time to go on a procession with the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God along the street where his parents' house stood. Suddenly, a heavy downpour fell on the marchers and the procession turned into the courtyard of their house. The mother of the boy hastened to take him out and attach him to the icon. Since then, the boy began to get better.

In 1780, already a novice at the Sarov Monastery, he fell seriously ill, possibly with dropsy. The illness lasted for three years, never leaving him. Once, Elder Joseph of Sarov celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the health of a sick person, while the sick man went to confession and took communion. And then, in the Indescribable Light, the Mother of God appeared to the sick with the apostles John and Peter. The mistress, pointing to the novice to John, said: “This one is of Our kind.” And She laid her right hand on his head, and with the staff she held in her left hand, She touched the sick man. From this touch, the novice left a depression in his leg, through which the accumulated liquid began to flow, causing him painful suffering. So miraculously the patient recovered again. Later, on the site of the miraculous healing of St. Seraphim, a temple was erected in the name of St. Zosima and Savvaty.

In 1804, Elder Seraphim, who had long since taken monastic vows, lived as a hermit in a forest cell. And three peasants attacked him, who were looking for money from the old man. They did not find any money, but severely beat the reverend. The doctors who were called discovered that Father Seraphim had his head broken, his ribs broken, and his lungs bruised. Doctors examined the old man in bewilderment - how was he still alive ?! And at that moment, Elder Seraphim fell asleep, and he had a vision. The Most Holy Mother of God with the Apostles Peter and John came up to the bed and, pointing to the ascetic, said to Her companions: “This is from Our kind.” Upon waking up, Saint Seraphim felt relieved and began to recover. And the villainous peasants were soon found, but at the request of the elder they were released.

Another miraculous vision happened in 1825. By that time, the Monk Seraphim lived in a monastery and performed a new feat in his solitary cell - seclusion and silence. For five years the elder lived in seclusion and complete silence, contemplating the Lord in his prayers. He spent another ten years in his cell, receiving brethren and laity. And on November 25, the elder had a vision of the Mother of God, who commanded him to leave the seclusion and receive everyone who would need his consolation, advice and prayer. Thus began another feat of the Monk Seraphim - eldership. And everything happened according to the word of the Mother of God: people from all over Russia reached out to the elder for spiritual help and guidance. And he, already in advanced years, accepted everyone and did not refuse anyone in conversation and advice. Moreover, being filled with the Holy Spirit, Saint Seraphim received the gift of clairvoyance and healing. And very many left him healed, either spiritually or bodily.

The great elder unspeakably loved the Most Holy Theotokos. Most of all, Elder Seraphim prayed before the icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness”, or “Joy of All Joys,” as the monk called it. This icon stood in the elder's cell. With oil from the lamp that burned in front of the image, the elder anointed the sick. Before this icon in prayer, the Monk Seraphim went to the Lord. After the death of the elder, the icon "Tenderness" was transferred to the Diveevo monastery. Since then, the icon has become the Supreme Abbess of the Seraphim-Diveevo monastery, and the abbesses of the monastery were often called the abbesses of the Supreme Abbess. In honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness", the Russian Orthodox Church established a holiday - July 28 (August 10).

4. Public service. And the Most Holy Theotokos commanded the Monk Seraphim of Sarov to serve the people. The fame of the great ascetic has long been circulating throughout Russia. But now, when the monk began to receive people, many pilgrims rushed to the Sarov monastery for spiritual healing. Possessing the ability to penetrate into the soul and heart of everyone, the elder recognized the inner thoughts of any person and became a true spiritual support for many who suffer.

In addition, he was given the gift of healing. The elder himself suffered from a serious illness of his legs all his life, but he endured suffering and tried not to show his weakness. At the same time, through his prayers, many people recovered.

The reverend helps even after death. There are many known cases of St. Seraphim helping people through prayers to the saint in their needs and troubles, illnesses and sufferings.

5. An example for believers. Since the 18th century, many educated people, nobles and even ordinary people began to lose faith. People did not reject the Church, but they relied less and less on God, believing that they could do without Him. They prayed less and less and went to church less and less, and even going to church for such people turned into an empty formality. The monk, by his personal ardent example, was an example of living faith, living communication of a person with God, the Most Holy Theotokos. He showed everyone that the Lord and the Most Holy Theotokos hear every believer, their prayers and help every sincere believer.

6. Foundation of the Diveevsky Vvedensky convent. On that day, November 25, 1825, Elder Seraphim, fulfilling the will of the Mother of God, first came out of the gate. He went into the forest to his distant hermitage. And on the banks of the Sarovka River, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to him again. She ordered the elder to found a new monastery near the village of Diveeva, next to the already existing women's community. The Ever-Virgin ordered that only girls be admitted to this monastery, and she herself promised to be the everlasting Abbess of the monastery. The maiden community was to be surrounded by a groove and a rampart instead of a wall. The Mother of God called the new monastery Her own "the fourth lot on earth". The Monk Seraphim of Sarov fulfilled everything as it was foretold. He arranged the Vvedensky convent, which soon became known throughout Russia.

7. Holy Trinity Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery was founded in Diveevo 24 km. from the city of Ardatov (now in the Nizhny Novgorod region) in 1780 by the works of the Ryazan noblewoman A.S. Melgunova (in monasticism - Alexandra), as the Kazan women's community. Settling in with. Diveevo, in 1775, at her own expense, Alexandra built a temple in the name of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, around which a female community developed. The spiritual leadership of the community was carried out by the elders Pachomius and Isaiah from the nearby Sarov Monastery. After their death, the Monk Seraphim of Sarov became the spiritual leader of the community.

In 1827, he separated the maidens from the widows and, following the command of the Mother of God, 100 sazhens from the Kazan community, he founded a separate Mill maiden community, which was located near the mill. The mill community was surrounded by a groove dug by the sisters at the behest of St. Seraphim. At his insistence, a two-story church was added to the Kazan Church in the name of the Nativity of Christ and the Nativity of the Mother of God. Already after the death of Seraphim of Sarov, in 1842, both communities merged into one - Seraphim-Diveevo, which in 1861 was transformed into a monastery.

In the XIX - early XX centuries. The Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery was one of the largest women's monasteries in Russia. More than 1000 nuns lived here. The architectural ensemble was a whole city surrounded by a high stone wall. In the center of the monastery was the majestic five-domed Holy Trinity Cathedral with five aisles (1848–1875). In 1847–1848 a winter, wooden, but on a stone foundation temple was built in the name of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, which had two aisles, and on the lower floor there was a special church in the name of the icon of the Mother of God “Satisfy my sorrows”. In 1855, a single-altar cemetery church was built in the name of the Transfiguration of the Lord. At the almshouse, a temple was built in the name of the icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" (1861). Behind the monastery fence were the Kazan and Nativity churches founded earlier. By 1917, a new stone cathedral was completely built, but it was consecrated only in 1999 in the name of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

After 1917, the monastery was destroyed, and in 1927 it was finally closed, the churches were destroyed, and the nuns were persecuted.

And yet, through the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos and all Orthodox Christians in 1990, after the miraculous acquisition and transfer of the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the revival of the monastery began. Its temples have been restored. Hundreds of nuns and novices are obedient in the monastery.

In 2003, the ditch around the former Maiden Community was also restored. And now the one who walks along the groove and reads the prescribed number of times the prayer “Our Lady of the Virgin, rejoice!”, He can hope for God's grace. For the Mother of God did not leave Her fourth lot on earth to intercede.

8. Rev. Seraphim of Sarov on the future of Russia. Today, many of the prophecies of Elder Seraphim are known concerning the historical fate of Russia, including the coming disasters - revolutions, the ruin of the Church, the desecration of shrines, the greatest human sacrifices, when "the Russian Land will be stained with rivers of blood."

The great old man also predicted the subsequent revival of Russia. One of the prophecies of the Reverend Elder Seraphim of Sarov reads: “But the Lord will not be completely angry and will not allow the Russian land to be completely destroyed, because in it alone Orthodoxy and the remnants of Christian piety are still predominantly preserved.” And therefore: "The Lord will have mercy on Russia and lead her through suffering to great glory."

9. Canonization of St. Seraphim of Sarov. The Monk Seraphim of Sarov foresaw during his lifetime that he would be glorified in his holiness, he even foresaw the time of the year when he would be glorified - it would be summer: “We (in Sarov) will have such joy! In the middle of summer they will sing Easter! And the people, the people, from all sides, from all sides!” And so it happened: the acquisition and transfer of the relics of the saint took place on July 19 (August 1), 1903, with a multi-million crowd of people. In the same prophecy, the venerable elder also foresaw many torments to which Russia would be subjected: “But this joy will be for a very short time; what will happen next ... such sorrow that from the beginning of the world there was no! .. Angels will not keep up with receiving souls! At these words, tears flowed from the eyes of the old man ...

In 1903, in the presence of Nicholas II and the entire imperial family, a solemn canonization and transfer of the relics of the saint took place.

This holiday has become a real celebration of Orthodoxy, bringing together more than one and a half million people. Numerous healings of pilgrims took place.

In 1927, the Sarov monastery was closed, and the relics of the holy elder were taken to Moscow. Then they disappeared and were discovered only in 1990 in Leningrad. So, in 1990, the second acquisition of the relics of Seraphim of Sarov took place and they were solemnly transferred to the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery.

And another important event took place in April 2004: a particle of the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, was transferred to the main garrison of the Strategic Missile Forces of the Russian Federation - in Vlasikha, near Moscow, to the church of St. Elijah of Murom.

And it is deeply symbolic that the nuclear center where our country's nuclear weapons were created is located in Sarov. This is not accidental, because in the akathist to the Monk Seraphim it is said: "Rejoice in our Fatherland, shield and fence." Therefore, it is believed that the nuclear shield of our state was created precisely through the prayers of St. Seraphim.

Today is the day of remembrance of the holy Reverend Seraphim of Vyritsky, a contemporary of our fathers, today exuding miracles of God, and attracting numerous pilgrims to the village of Vyritsa, Leningrad Region.

The Monk Seraphim Vyritsky (in the world Vasily Nikolayevich Muravyov) was born on March 31, 1866, in the village of Vakhromeevo, Arefinsky volost, Rybinsk district, Yaroslavl province. Already on April 1, 1866, at baptism, he was named Vasily in honor of St. Basil the New, a confessor.

The boy's parents, Nikolai Ivanovich and Khionia Alimpyevna Muravyov, were true believers, God-fearing people. For the Muravievs, Orthodoxy was not just an external piety and ritual, but a deep and intimate inner being. From infancy, Vasily received lessons in virtue. From childhood, those properties of the Christian soul were manifested in the boy, which were fully revealed in his mature years.

The philanthropic Lord gave him quick wit, extraordinary diligence, patience and perseverance in achieving the goal, as well as an amazing memory. At an early age, the boy almost independently mastered literacy and the beginning of mathematics. His first books were the Gospel and the Psalter.

In his youth, Basil read the lives of the saints, which were then sold in the form of small multi-colored books. The life of desert hermits especially struck his imagination. Saints Paul of Thebes, Anthony, Macarius and Pachomius the Great, Mary of Egypt... These names gave rise to trembling reverence and joy in the boy. Even then, a wonderful mysterious world opened up for him, before which everything earthly faded. In the innermost depths of a pure child's soul, the idea of ​​adopting a monastic, angelic image was born. For the neighbors, this intention remained a mystery for the time being.

Being zealous hosts, Vasily's parents, however, were not attached to the so-called material values. They were always ready to help those in need, to shelter wanderers, to warm and feed the poor. And Vasily grew up just as hardworking and warm-hearted.

In the house of the Muravyovs, they always strictly observed all the establishments of the Orthodox Church. From the age of nine, the lad Vasily fasted along with adults. On Sundays and feast days, the family rigorously visited the temple of God, confessed and communed the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

When time allowed, the Muravyovs with the whole family made pilgrimage trips to holy places - to temples and monasteries. With special joy they visited the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, in the Gethsemane skete of which the famous elder Barnabas (Merkulov) labored. He was a wise teacher and a great man of prayer, to whom believers rushed from all over Russia. "Without God, not to the threshold!" - Father Barnabas loved to edify his visitors with folk wisdom. These words were accepted by the soul of the lad as a rule of life.

So, as if imperceptibly, the All-Wise Lord planted in the heart of Vasily from an early age the seeds of genuine Christian morality and spirituality. They landed on good ground...

Unexpectedly, grief fell on the family - the Lord called Nikolai Ivanovich Muravyov, who was in the prime of life, from earthly labors. He was then in his fortieth year. Those close to him were deeply saddened by the loss. Vasily's mother was a sickly woman, and her condition worsened from what happened. Vasily had to become the breadwinner of the family. At that time, the Muravyovs fully experienced all the sorrows that accompany poverty ...

Soon the mercy of God visited the destitute family: a fellow villager, a pious and kind man who worked as a senior clerk in one of the shops of St. Petersburg, invited the youth to the capital city to earn money. At the same time, he promised, as they said then, "to bring Vasily to the people." The mother with tears blessed her son for the trip with the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, and ten-year-old Vasily left his native land.

The big city of Petersburg ... After a measured peasant life, it was not easy for Vasily to get used to the whirlpool of metropolitan life. However, the innate abilities given by the Lord helped him. With the help of his benefactor, the lad got a job as a messenger in one of the Gostiny Dvor shops. From the very first steps, Vasily showed such zeal, diligence and diligence that he earned the full trust of the owner. In the future, the owner of the office where the youth worked began to entrust him with more and more complex tasks, which Vasily, with God's help, always performed with diligence and on time. Vasily sent almost all of his salary to the homeland of his sick mother, leaving himself only a small part for the most urgent needs.

Seraphim Vyritsky

Seraphim Vyritsky

As before, Vasily was possessed by an inextinguishable desire for monastic life. The moment came when it engulfed him with unfathomable force. He was then about fourteen years old. In a fit of passion, he came to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra and asked for a meeting with the governor. However, the abbot was absent that day. At that time, several elders-schemniks, known throughout Russia, labored in the Lavra. Vasily was offered to meet with one of them. On his knees, with tears, the lad told the elder about his cherished desire. In response, he heard an instruction that turned out to be prophetic: to remain in the world for the time being, to do charitable deeds, create a pious family, raise children, and then, by mutual agreement with his wife, become a monk. In conclusion, the elder said: “Vasenka! You are destined to go through the path of the worldly, thorny, with many sorrows. Do it before God and conscience. The time will come, and the Lord will reward you...” So the will of God was revealed to Basil. All his further life in the world became a preparation for monastic life. It was a feat of obedience that lasted over 40 years.

Hours, free from worldly labors, he liked to spend in the temple or read soulful books, prayed. The youth was constantly engaged in self-education, in which he was helped by an amazing memory, natural quick wit and perseverance in achieving the goal. He had an extraordinary disposition towards the historical sciences, which became the subject of his special interest. Possessing good mathematical abilities, Vasily quickly mastered commercial disciplines, successfully combining theory with practical activities.

At the first opportunity, he went home and helped his mother keep the house and household in good condition. He always supported her financially and kept tender filial feelings for her, constantly remembering her in his prayers.

The owner of Vasily was a pious man and in every possible way welcomed his charitable life. He highly appreciated the moral and business qualities of his employee - extraordinary diligence, diligence and undoubted commercial talent. When Vasily was 16 years old, he appointed the young man to the post of clerk, and a year later Vasily Nikolaevich became a senior clerk. In the future, the owner of the office pinned hopes on him as a partner. It was an amazing and rare case, because in order to rise to the rank of senior clerk, it usually took at least 10 years.

On official business, the young clerk had to travel to Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod and other Russian cities. Then, in agreement with the owner, he visited the holy places that were nearby. He invariably visited the monastery of St. Sergius of Radonezh to bow to the great mourner of the Russian land and offer him his prayers. The pilgrims who visited the Sergius Lavra always tried to visit the Gethsemane skete in order to bow to the miraculous Chernigov icon of the Mother of God and receive the blessing and advice of the loving old man Barnabas. The Lord Himself again brought the young man to Father Barnabas, and after a long conversation, the spirit-bearing elder blessed Vasily; be his spiritual son.

Such an incomparable mentor was given by the All-Merciful Lord to Vasily Muravyov. For about 20 years their spiritual communion continued for the glory of God. When business allowed, Vasily Nikolaevich hurried to the Gethsemane Skete, if his mentor was there at that time; and Father Varnava, visiting St. Petersburg, always visited the house of a young merchant.

With the blessing of Father Barnabas, Vasily constantly improved himself in reading the Jesus Prayer, all the time he tried to keep the purity of his mind and resist sinful thoughts, and his spiritual mentor always helped him with advice and holy prayers, protecting the young ascetic from worldly temptations and preparing him for entering the future on monastic path.

In the meantime, Vasily needed to choose a life partner. She became Olga Ivanovna, with whom in 1890, with the blessing of Father Barnabas, Vasily got married.

The Lord was pleased that the young ascetic, before renouncing the world and its cares, would be perfected in the fields of family and commercial ministries. In 1892, Vasily Nikolaevich opened his own business. Having great experience and having strong trade ties, he organized an office for the preparation and sale of furs. A significant part of the goods was delivered abroad - to Germany, Austria-Hungary, England, France and other countries.

Trade required remarkable strength and ability. It was not enough to wait for a buyer to come to your shop, you had to look for him in various parts of Russia and abroad, adapt to his requirements, listen to his desires.

The Lord gave Vasily Nikolaevich an amazing ability to skillfully combine earthly cares with spiritual tasks. And one more thing - to be the most devoted son of your Fatherland, striving to do everything possible for its good and prosperity. His love for Russia and its people was truly boundless.

Having outstanding abilities, Vasily Nikolayevich, however, did not strive for wealth and worldly honors. Trading activity was for him not a way to increase capital, but a necessary means to help the Church and neighbors. The young entrepreneur has always tried in every possible way to raise the level of knowledge and erudition. In 1895, he became a full member of the Society for the dissemination of commercial knowledge in Russia and entered the Higher Commercial Courses organized by the society.

The activities of the society were distinguished by a patriotic orientation. Its members considered it their duty, first of all, to assist the Emperor and the government in every possible way in the field of national economic development. The sovereign, for his part, also found the work of the society very useful and timely, and in 1896 allocated 100,000 rubles from his personal funds for its development. It was a time when overseas entrepreneurs, in particular the famous Henry Ford, studied with Russian merchants and industrialists. Russia dictated the level of world prices for many types of raw materials, industrial and agricultural products, and the gold ruble, through the efforts of Sovereign Emperor Nicholas II, was the most significant currency in the world ...

Russian merchants have always been the bearer of national traditions and the guardian of Orthodox culture. It was famous for its deeds of mercy and charity. It was a creative layer, which, standing on a solid foundation of the Orthodox faith and love for the Fatherland, helped the Russian Sovereigns to build a great power.

Having successfully completed the courses in 1897, Vasily Nikolaevich Muravyov acquired a good education, which gave deep knowledge and a broad outlook. Undoubtedly, it helped him a lot in the future, already after entering the monastic path, when in the monastic obediences and in conversations with people he had to deal with many practical issues.

Until 1914, the Muravyovs were considered peasants of the Yaroslavl province, who had a residence permit in the capital and were engaged in merchant trade there according to the class certificate of the 2nd guild. At that time there was still such a class concept - "a temporary St. Petersburg 2nd guild merchant." Such a “temporary” status, however, did not prevent the Muravyov couple from finding communication in the most diverse circles of St. Petersburg society and being deeply respected and loved by many.

Olga Ivanovna, being outwardly very feminine, at the same time had a firm and resolute character. It is known that she helped her husband a lot in trade affairs, and during the absence of Vasily Nikolaevich in St. Petersburg, she successfully managed the work of the enterprise. Vasily Nikolayevich diligently selected believing Orthodox people for his employees, and therefore the spirit of Christ's love always reigned in relations between owners and employees.

In 1895, their son Nikolai was born in their family, and then daughter Olga was born. However, the latter went to the Lord as a baby, and after her death, by mutual consent and blessing of Father Barnabas, Vasily and Olga began to live like brother and sister. The prayers of their spiritual father helped them to persevere in this determination.

In the Muravyov family, a custom had already developed at that time - after the liturgy on the days of the twelfth holidays, holidays in honor of the miraculous icons of the Mother of God and revered saints, many tables with a wide variety of dishes were set in the house and all the poor were invited from the street to a meal. After reading "Our Father", Vasily Nikolayevich usually made a short speech, telling the story and meaning of the upcoming holiday, and then congratulated everyone who came under the roof of his house. After the meal and thanksgiving prayers to the Lord, the host always thanked those present for visiting his house. On the road, the spouses usually generously endowed guests with money, things, food and invited them to the next holiday. Being a faithful disciple of Father Barnabas, Vasily Muravyov said with conviction: “All evil must be covered only with love. The lower in rank you are, the poorer you are, the more dear you are to me ... ”God alone knows how many the poor and the poor from the bottom of their hearts remembered in their simple prayers addressed to the Lord the names of Olga and Vasily and asked for health and salvation to their benefactors.

Helping a number of churches and monasteries, Vasily Nikolaevich, as a merciful Samaritan (Lk. 10, 35), constantly made donations for the maintenance of several almshouses, the largest of which was located on Mezhdunarodny (now Moscow) Avenue at the Resurrection Novodevichy Convent. At the slightest opportunity, friendly spouses, who sincerely sympathized with the grief of others, visited these houses of charity, comforting the lonely and helpless with warm participation, distributing gifts and spiritual books.

The Muravyovs more than once received sick people from government hospitals. It was incomparably easier for those suffering to recover at home. Heartfelt participation and sincere love worked wonders - hopelessly discouraged and exhausted by serious ailments, people got to their feet and returned to an active life. Vasily and Olga never imposed their beliefs and spiritual strictness on their neighbors. Their very authentic Christian life served to edify those around them.

1903 Wonderful is God in His saints! (Ps. 67, 36). It is impossible to convey in words everything that the faithful children of the Church felt at the celebrations of the glorification of St. Seraphim of Sarov. In those unforgettable days, all of Russia, which remained faithful to Christ, led by the Sovereign Emperor and members of the August family, came to bow to the humble Seraphim.

The Lord vouchsafed Vasily and Olga to visit the Sarov monastery then. For the rest of their lives, the pious spouses Muravievs preserved the reverent memory of the great Seraphim days. From his youth, Vasily Nikolaevich deeply revered Father Seraphim. He always remembered the words of the monk that the true goal of our Christian life is to acquire the Holy Spirit of God.

Father Varnava looked with spiritual joy at the spiritual progress of Vasily Muravyov and generously shared his spiritual experience with him, preparing him for monasticism. The years spent under the guidance of the elder became the time when a solid foundation was laid, on which Vasily Muravyov's further spiritual growth took place.

At the beginning of 1906, Father Varnava fell seriously ill. Anticipating his imminent death, he visited the Iversko-Vyksa convent founded by him and St. Petersburg for the last time. In the northern capital, Father Barnabas has always been a welcome guest. In St. Petersburg, the elder spent two days meeting with his beloved "children", thanking them for their love for him and the good deeds of the Iberian monastery, asking them not to leave her with their help in the future. In those days, Vasily Nikolayevich and Olga Ivanovna saw their spiritual father for the last time. On February 17, the elder reposed in the Lord.

In addition to advice and instructions, Vasily Nikolayevich inherited an amazing friendship from his father Varnava. A real friend of Vasily Muravyov was Archimandrite Feofan (Bystroye), the confessor of the Royal Family and the future Archbishop of Poltava, who in those years was an inspector of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. Their acquaintance took place through Father Barnabas, who provided for both.

Kindred is known to kindred - the future saint immediately saw in Vasily Muravyov the qualities of a true God-lover and humble ascetic. In addition, they were brought together by an interest in the sciences. Vasily Nikolaevich always loved history, and here Archimandrite Feofan, as a professor of biblical history, was for him an incomparable companion and mentor. Like-minded disciples of Father Barnabas thought a lot about the present day in Russia and possible prospects, shared with each other their observations and spiritual experience, which the Lord gave to the ascetics on the paths of their ascetic work.

In 1905, Vasily Nikolaevich Muravyov became a full member of the Yaroslavl charitable society - one of the largest in Russia. Many well-known hierarchs and figures of the Russian Orthodox Church at that time, including Father John of Kronstadt, were permanent members of the society. In 1908, His Eminence Tikhon joined the Society, later Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, who then took over the management of the Yaroslavl See.

Service in society required from its members not only material charity, but also deep Christian love for one's neighbor. After all, those who turned to society with their sorrows needed not only earthly blessings, but also spiritual support.

For many years, Vasily Nikolaevich Muravyov contributed to the good deeds done by society. However, according to tradition, in the reports of the society, as in many charitable registers of that time, donations were often recorded without indicating the names of the benefactors. Vasily Nikolaevich tried to make numerous donations in secret from others. It happened that he did not hesitate to give the last thing from the house and at the same time rejoiced unspeakably.

And here is the formidable year of 1917. The time of severe trials has come for Russia. Many wealthy acquaintances of the Muravyovs hurried to transfer their capital abroad and began to leave the country, hoping to survive the troubled times abroad. For Vasily Muravyov, there was no such choice - he was always ready to share any trials with his beloved Fatherland and his people.

The time has come for fierce persecution for the faith, predicted by many saints of God. By 1920, the number of those killed for their faith reached ten thousand.

For three years after the October Revolution, the Muraviev family lived mostly outside the city. Back in 1906, Vasily Nikolayevich purchased a large two-story cottage in the picturesque village of Tyarlevo, located between Tsarskoye Selo and Pavlovsk. Until 1920, it became the main refuge of Vasily and Olga - it was extremely dangerous to stay in the capital. The rebellion and the change of power deprived the Muravyovs of trading, and during this period of time, Vasily Nikolayevich, free from worldly worries, as if sums up his years, immersed himself in reading the works of the holy fathers, studying monastic charters and liturgical books, and solitary prayer.

The faithful disciple of St. Barnabas of Gethsemane at first intended to enter the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra in order to asceticize at the relics of his spiritual mentor in the Gethsemane skete. However, the Lord judged otherwise. Vasily Nikolaevich unexpectedly received the blessing of Metropolitan Veniamin of Petrograd and Gdov to take monastic vows in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. As it turned out, this turn of affairs was salutary for him. The monastery of St. Sergius was soon abolished by the authorities. So, by the Providence of God, Vasily Nikolaevich remained in Petrograd!

On September 13, 1920, V. N. Muravyov submitted a petition to the Spiritual Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra with a request to be accepted into the ranks of the brethren, to which he received consent and the first monastic obedience - the obedience of a sacristan. At the same time, the wife of Vasily Nikolaevich Olga became a novice of the Voskresensky Novodevichy Convent. All available Muravyovs donated to the needs of the monasteries. Only Vasily Nikolaevich transferred 40,000 rubles in gold coins to the Lavra - at that time a fortune!

Already on October 26, Bishop Veniamin blessed the novice Vasily Muravyov to be tonsured as a monk at the same time as Olga Muravyova. On October 29, 1920, the abbot of the Lavra, Archimandrite Nikolai (Yarushevich), tonsured the novice Vasily Muravyov as a monk and named him Barnabas in honor of his spiritual father, Elder Barnabas of Gethsemane. At the same time, in the Resurrection Novodevichy Convent in Petrograd, Olga Ivanovna Muravyova was tonsured a monk and named after Christina.

Soon, Brother Barnabas was ordained a hierodeacon and placed in charge of the cemetery office. Obedience at the cemetery inherited by Father Barnabas was one of the most difficult in the monastery. The country was engulfed in the flames of internecine strife. Reds killed whites, whites killed reds. At the Nikolsky, Tikhvinsky and Lazarevsky cemeteries, weeping was unceasing. In the churches of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, a funeral service followed a funeral service, a memorial service after a memorial service.

Seeing off the deceased, comforting the relatives and friends of the dead ... This was the first school of spiritual healing and mentoring, which was passed by the future father Seraphim, the Vyritsa old man-comforter, a prayer book for orphans and the afflicted, an intercessor before the Lord for the whole Russian land.

Father Varnava took an active part in the activities of the Alexander Nevsky Brotherhood for the Defense of the Holy Orthodox Faith - the most massive church and social movement in Petrograd in the early 1920s. Hieromonks Gury and Lev (Egorov), who stood at the origins of the brotherhood, were the closest spiritual associates of Hierodeacon Barnabas, especially Father Gury, later a metropolitan.

This time for the Alexander Nevsky Lavra was extremely difficult. The theomachists constantly intervened in monastic affairs, repairing various administrative obstacles as best they could.

Nevertheless, monastic life in the Lavra not only did not die out, but experienced an unprecedented upsurge. The monastery was a real center of church life in Petrograd - a fundraising point was opened to help the starving, part of the premises of the monastery was set aside for war invalids, donations were collected from pilgrims for the maintenance of children left without parents, the poor were provided daily with free meals. The work of the food point for the starving, together with Hieromonk Guriy, was organized by Father Varnava.

It was at this time that an amazingly warm relationship developed between Hierodeacon Barnabas of the Lavra and Metropolitan Benjamin. Humble and meek, Vladyka was a man of amazing accessibility. As a custom, he had daily walks around the Nikolsky cemetery of the Lavra, where the office of Father Barnabas was located. Thus, the ascetics had the opportunity to see each other often and talk about many things.

On September 11, 1921, on the day of the beheading of St. John the Baptist - the ascetic and patron of monasticism - Metropolitan Benjamin elevated Father Barnabas to hieromonk.

Together with the good yoke of the priesthood, Hieromonk Barnabas also bore a new obedience - the main candlestick of the Lavra. The position was very challenging and responsible. Fr. Barnabas' previous commercial knowledge and skills came in handy here to the full extent. However, participating in the economic affairs of the Lavra, Father Barnabas never forgot about monastic work - about prayer and spiritual perfection, as well as about the duty of a priest.

The ministry of Father Barnabas has always been distinguished by genuine sincerity. As eyewitnesses recall, during the liturgy his face lit up with spiritual joy, and it is no coincidence that many people always gathered for services with the participation of Hieromonk Barnabas (Muravyov). Everyone was eager to listen to his sermons, which were distinguished by their simplicity and accessibility. Many years of experience of asceticism in the world had an effect. The former St. Petersburg merchant knew well the life of people of different classes from the commoner to the refined intellectual, their spiritual needs and difficulties. It was at this time that the souls of many believers were drawn to the simple and meek Father Barnabas. The circle of his spiritual children grew wider, and more and more often visitors began to appear at the doors of his cells, who came for spiritual advice and consolation.

The guidance of St. Barnabas of Gethsemane, familiarization with the church tradition and the experience of the holy fathers served as the shortest and most convenient way for his ascent to eldership.

The 1920s... For the Russian Orthodox Church, this was a time of special trials - a time when the true strength of people was recognized. Repressions against the clergy and monastics, the forcible seizure of church valuables, the infringement of the clergy in civil rights ... None of the monks of the Lavra, going out in the morning to services and obediences, was not sure that he would return to his cell by evening.

The arrests of his closest friends and associates, Bishop Veniamin of Petrograd, Bishop Innokenty of Ladoga, Bishop Alexy (Simansky) of Yamburg, Bishop Nikolai (Yarushevich) of Peterhof, Archimandrites Guriy and Lev, Hieromonk Manuel, and many other brothers and inhabitants of the Lavra .

Along with the arrests came new sorrows, this time connected with the Renovationist turmoil. On July 17, 1922, as soon as Father Barnabas managed to return from a trip to his mother to his homeland in the Yaroslavl province, the Renovationist “archbishop”-self-consecrator Nikolai Sobolev appeared at the Lavra and claimed his rights to the Lavra, demanding that he stop offering worship at the His Holiness Patriarch Lavra Tikhon. The authorities clearly pandered to the renovationists. The "Red Twenties" even captured part of the Lavra churches and buildings. Following this, the Renovationists tried to form their own "church council" in order to take power in the Lavra into their own hands or, at least, to limit the powers of the monastic Spiritual Council of the Lavra.

Realizing that the very existence of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra was under serious threat, Archimandrite Ioasaph, who then managed the monastery, directed his main efforts to defend the Lavra from ruin and save the brethren. The decision he made was a compromise: to formally recognize the Renovationist “diocesan administration” and stop commemorating Patriarch Tikhon at divine services, but at the same time manage the Lavra independently and not allow any innovations widely practiced by the Renovationists.

Disagreements arose among the Lavra brethren. And at that moment, Hieromonk Varnava (Muravyov), the confessor of the monastery, Archimandrite Sergiy (Biryukov) and Hieromonk Varlaam (Sacerdotsky), who enjoyed great spiritual authority and respect in the Lavra, issued an exhortation to remain in obedience to the leadership of the Lavra. They urged the brethren not to enter into Eucharistic communion with the schismatics, but at the same time to accept temporary external concessions, for otherwise the brethren would face immediate repressions, and the monastery would inevitably be abolished and plundered by the theomachists. Time has proven the correctness of their choice. After the release from imprisonment in June 1923, St. Tikhon's Lavra returned under the patriarchal omophorion. Through the efforts of its leader, Archimandrite Joasaph, with the support of Fr. Varnava (Muravyov) and his associates, the monastery was saved, and the brethren, having gone through numerous sorrows and trials, were strengthened in spirit and were ready to serve the Lord with renewed zeal.

It was not easy for a monastic to maintain inner peace in this troubled time. All the more noticeable to everyone in the Lavra was Father Barnabas's calmness and his obedience to the will of God, which were wonderfully combined with an unbending determination to follow the truth. Together with the spiritual father of the monastery, Archimandrite Sergius (Biryukov), during these troubled years, he became a real support for the brethren, who were grieving both attacks on the Church from outside, and internal church divisions and temptations.

In everything: in prayer, and in obedience, and in selfless service to people, Father Barnabas set an example of truly monastic zeal for the Lord, diligence and patience. Giving unconditional preference to the spiritual, Father Barnabas at the same time served as a model for the collected and scrupulous conduct of monastic affairs.

It is not surprising, therefore, that soon after the described events, the leadership and brethren of the Lavra decided to elect Hieromonk Varnava (Muravyov) as a member of the Spiritual Council with his appointment to one of the key administrative posts of the Lavra - the post of treasurer.

No matter how much Father Barnabas strived for solitude and renunciation of worldly concerns, the hardest work of managing the monastery’s funds, associated with constant responsibility for its financial situation and relations with the authorities and official authorities, was accepted by him with truly monastic humility and obedience to the will of God.

Participation in the Spiritual Council of the Lavra, whose meetings were held 3-4 times a month, also cost a lot of effort. How the indefatigable ascetic managed to combine his obediences with unceasing prayer, contemplation of God, and pastoral activity remains a mystery known only to the Lord.

During the second half of 1926, Archimandrite Sergius (Biryukov) began to prepare Father Barnabas to accept the obedience of a confessor. With love he instructed his successor, who accepted these instructions with reciprocal love.

The requirements that were placed on the spiritual leader of the Lavra were very high. The “Determination of Monasteries”, adopted at the All-Russian Local Council of 1917-1918, spoke of the need to have an elder in the monastery, well-read in the Holy Scriptures and patristic works, capable of spiritual guidance. By tradition, members of the episcopate of the Petrograd and Novgorod dioceses were fed by the confessor of the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The very word "old man" obligated to very, very much...

Therefore, before starting his eldership, Father Barnabas expressed a desire to put on the great schema. The exact date of the adoption by the father of Barnabas (Muraviev) of the great angelic image has not yet been established. It is known that this happened at the turn of 1926-1927. When he was tonsured into the great schema, he was named Seraphim in honor of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov, the miracle worker, whom Father Barnabas tried with all his might to imitate throughout his previous life.

Shortly after Father Barnabas accepted the great schema, a general meeting of the brethren of the Holy Trinity Alexander Nevsky Lavra took place. On it, Hieroschemamonk Seraphim (Ants) was elected spiritual leader and member of the Lavra's Spiritual Council. Warm parting words were sounded, and the humble monk began to carry out his new obedience.

At the end of 1927, Archbishop Alexy (Simansky), who then ruled the Novgorod diocese, came to the confessor of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra for advice and prayer. He was in disarray, as he was very afraid of another arrest and persecution for his noble origin. “Father Seraphim, wouldn’t it be better for me to go abroad?” - asked the bishop. “Lord! And who will you leave the Russian Orthodox Church to? After all, you herd it! - followed the answer of the old man. - Do not be afraid, the Mother of God Herself will protect you. There will be many grave temptations, but everything, with God's help, will be managed. Stay, I beg you...” Vladyka Alexy immediately calmed down and forever abandoned thoughts of going abroad.

So Father Seraphim predicted to Bishop Alexy his future ministry 18 years before his election to the patriarchate. The Lavra schemnik indicated to the future Patriarch and the term of his primatial service - 25 years. In the same way, he repeatedly gave invaluable advice to his other spiritual children.

Often people who, on the advice of the ascetic, arranged their life, came with sincere tears to thank him, to which the humble schemer meekly answered: “What am I? Thank the Monk Seraphim - it is through his prayers that the Heavenly Doctor descends to our infirmities ... "," It is the All-good Queen of Heaven who rescued you from trouble - according to your faith, be it to you ... "

In troubled times, in the cell of Father Seraphim, the paths of many people who were jealous of the truth converged. The humble schemer was revealed from above what the ordinary human mind could not comprehend. “Now the time has come for repentance and confession,” Father Seraphim strengthened everyone, “the Lord Himself determined the punishment for sins for the Russian people, and until the Lord Himself has mercy on Russia, it is pointless to go against His holy will. A gloomy night will cover the Russian land for a long time, much suffering and sorrow awaits us ahead. That is why the Lord teaches us: by your patience save your souls (Luke 21:19). We can only trust in God and beg His forgiveness. Let us remember that God is love (1 John 4:16), and hope for His inexpressible mercy...” At that time, the priest advised many to turn to the Jesus Prayer: “The unceasing prayer of repentance is the best means of uniting the human spirit with the Spirit of God . At the same time, it is a spiritual sword that destroys all sin.” The elder foresaw the intensification of open persecution, when all of Russia would turn into a single concentration camp, and the clever Jesus Prayer, which his spiritual children should not forget, would become a good means of saving the Christian soul, which found itself in the conditions of a godless state.

Immediately after the release of the well-known message of Metropolitan Sergius and the Holy Synod, Father Seraphim firmly took the side of the Deputy Patriarchal Locum Tenens. There is no doubt that the man who, as far back as 1927, predicted the patriarchate for Archbishop Alexy (Simansky), knew about the future path of the long-suffering Russian Church. He always assured all those who questioned the need to remember the name of Metropolitan Sergius and the existing authorities. "That's right!" - he said with conviction, and no other, more detailed explanations became unnecessary ...

In the field of confessor of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, Hieroschemamonk Seraphim (Muravyov) stayed for almost three years. During the many hours of daily confession, the priest had to stand for a long time on the cold stone floor of the Holy Trinity Cathedral. The main temple of the Lavra in that difficult time, due to the lack of firewood, was almost not heated, and frost often appeared on the walls.

Constant hypothermia, incredible physical and mental overload (how much someone else's grief the elder took upon himself!) Gradually made themselves felt, and Father Seraphim's health deteriorated sharply. Doctors simultaneously recognized intercostal neuralgia, rheumatism and blockage of the veins of the lower extremities. The pain in my legs increased and became unbearable. For a long time, Father Seraphim did not tell anyone about his illness and courageously continued to serve and confess. The face of the elder was always lit up with such bright joy that none of the brethren could have imagined that the priest was at the same time suffering real torment. At times his voice was barely audible. The day came when Father Seraphim simply could not get out of bed.

The new test - illness - was accepted by the priest with amazing calmness and complacent patience, as if another obedience from God. There was no cowardice or discontent in him. Constantly sending thanks to the Lord, the priest said to his sympathizers: “I, a sinner, am not yet worthy of this! There are people who do not suffer such diseases! Time passed, but despite the efforts of the doctors, the health of the elder continued to deteriorate. He was then 64 years old. There were congestion in the lungs and heart failure. Doctors strongly advised to leave the city for the green zone. Vyritsa was recommended as a climatic resort.

Metropolitan Seraphim (Chichagov), who was a professional in medical knowledge, got acquainted with the conclusion of the medical commission and immediately blessed the move. The humble confessor of the Lavra could only accept this as obedience. By the summer of 1930, Father Seraphim left the city of St. Peter the Apostle. Schema-nun Seraphim (in the world - Olga Ivanovna Muravieva) and their twelve-year-old granddaughter Margarita, a young novice of the Voskresensky Novodevichy Convent, went with him, with the blessing of the bishop, to Vyritsa. Before, they often came to the Lavra, visiting Father Seraphim. Now caring for him and taking care of his health have become their main obedience.

And soon a wave of even more cruel repressions swept through the Petrograd diocese, as well as throughout the country. For the monastics, the night of February 18, 1932, truly became Gethsemane. The people called it that - holy night. In those terrible hours, the persecutors arrested more than five hundred monks.

With the words "Thy will be done!" countless hosts of believers entered the path of suffering. By November 1933, the number of active churches in St. Petersburg was reduced from 495 to 61. Monasteries and farmsteads were completely destroyed and plundered. Even bell ringing was banned by that time.

And at a time when crosses were thrown from the domes, monasteries and churches were destroyed by the thousands, when tens of thousands of clergy were languishing in camps and prisons, the Lord erected in Vyritsa a temple not made by hands, alive - the pure heart of Father Seraphim. In the history of the Church, it happened more than once that in times of the most severe persecution and decline of faith, the Lord sent His special chosen ones to help people - the guardians of the purity of Orthodoxy. Saint Seraphim of Vyritsky became such a chosen one in Russia in the 1930s and 1940s.

After moving to Vyritsa, he no longer turned to doctors, saying: “Be God's will for everything. Illness is a school of humility, where you truly know your weakness...”

At first, the Vyritsa ascetic was visited only by Bishop of Peterhof Nikolai (Yarushevich) and other, closest spiritual children, but soon an endless stream of people again rushed to the blessed elder. Pilgrims from the northern capital and other cities went to him, residents of Vyritsa and the surrounding villages flocked. On other days, there were hundreds (!) of visitors who “besieged” the elder’s cell from early morning until late at night. Often came whole groups or families.

Worried relatives tried to protect the priest from unnecessary meetings, fearing for his already poor health, but in response the ascetic firmly said: “Now I will always be unwell ... As long as my hand is raised for blessing, I will receive people!”

For many suffering, Father Seraphim was a benefactor who not only helped spiritually, but also with practical advice, getting a job, as well as money through kind people. Gratefully accepting donations from visitors, the elder often immediately distributed them to those who were in need.

Until the last days of his earthly life, Father Seraphim supported, as best he could, the beloved offspring of the holy righteous John of Kronstadt - the Pyukhtitsky Dormition Convent in Estonia. The Vyritsky elder was known and loved by the inhabitants of the monastery, many of whom became monks with his blessing.

The feats of fasting, vigils and prayer, which the Vyritsa elder humbly carried for two decades, can only be compared with the feats of ancient ascetic hermits. Father Seraphim was unusually strict with himself from the first steps in asceticism until his death. No indulgences: fasting, vigil and prayer, and once again - fasting, vigil and prayer...

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the elder did not take any food at all, and sometimes he did not eat anything for several days in a row. It sometimes seemed to those around him that Father Seraphim was dooming himself to starvation. What he ate on those days when he ate food could hardly be called food: on some days the priest ate part of the prosphora and washed it down with holy water, on others he did not eat even one potato, and sometimes he ate a little grated carrot. He rarely drank tea with very little bread. In fact, food was like medicine for the ascetic. At the same time, in his unceasing labors for the benefit of his neighbors, he showed enviable vivacity and indefatigability. One could say about Father Seraphim: "He is nourished by the Holy Spirit." And the grace of God undoubtedly strengthened the great faster.

The priests of the Vyritsa Kazan Church weekly communed the priest with the Holy Mysteries of Christ. In addition, spare Holy Gifts were always kept in the elder’s cell and there was everything needed for communion. Feeling the need for it, he communed the Body and Blood of Christ on his own. “But I am supported by the Holy Gifts, and what can be more precious than the Most Pure and Life-Giving Mysteries of Christ!” - said the father to his relatives.

Imitating his heavenly teacher, the Vyritsa elder took on a new feat. After moving to a house on Pilny Prospekt, he prayed in the garden on a stone in front of the icon of the Sarov miracle worker. This happened in those days when the health of the elder improved somewhat. The first evidence of the prayer of St. Seraphim of Vyritsky on stone dates back to 1935, when the persecutors brought new terrible blows to the Church.

The very life of the elder was a prayer for the whole world, but it did not remove him from private service to people either. The more sinful the person who came to Father Seraphim was, the more the father felt sorry for him and tearfully prayed for him.

Even at the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, Father Seraphim was familiar with many famous people of that time: scientists, doctors, cultural figures. Academician I. P. Pavlov, the father of modern physiology, often came to confessions and talks with Hieroschemamonk Seraphim (Muravyov). For many years, Ivan Petrovich was the honorary headman of two Petrograd churches: the Church of the Sign on Ligovsky Prospekt and the Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul in the village of Koltushi.

Hieroschemamonk Seraphim was revered by the outstanding astronomer of his time, one of the founders of the Russian Astronomical Society, Academician Sergei Pavlovich Glazenap, as well as one of the founders of the modern pharmacological school, Professor Mikhail Ivanovich Gramenitsky.

One of Father Seraphim's favorite pupils was the homeopathic professor Sergei Serapionovich Favorsky, known throughout Russia, who was called "the luminary of St. Petersburg."

Frequent guests in Vyritsa were prominent Russian scientists, academicians of world renown - physicist Vladimir Aleksandrovich Fok, known for his work in the field of quantum mechanics and the theory of relativity, and biologist Leon Abgarovich Orbeli, a student and follower of Ivan Petrovich Pavlov.

With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the elder intensified the feat of prayer on the stone - he began to perform it daily. And the prayers of the unforgettable elder reached the Throne of God - Love responded to love! How many human souls were saved by those prayers, only the Lord knows. One thing was certain, that they connected the earth with the sky with an invisible thread and bowed God to mercy, secretly changing the course of many important events.

It is known that in Vyritsa itself, as predicted by the elder, not a single residential building was damaged and not a single person died. The priest also prayed for the salvation of the Vyritsa church, and here it is appropriate to describe an amazing incident that many old-timers of Vyritsa know about.

In the early days of September 1941, the Germans advanced on the Vyritsa station and carried out intensive shelling. One of the commanders of our army decided that the high dome of the temple was used as an object of aiming, and ordered to blow up the church. To do this, a demolition team was sent from the station, which included a lieutenant and several fighters. When the cart with the deadly cargo arrived at the temple, the lieutenant ordered the soldiers to wait for him at the gate, apparently referring to the fact that he should familiarize himself with the object of the explosion. The officer entered the fence, and then into the temple, which, in the general confusion, was not locked ...

After a while, the soldiers heard the sound of a single revolver shot and rushed to the temple. The lieutenant lay lifeless, his revolver lay nearby. The fighters were seized with panic and, not following the order, they fled from the temple. Meanwhile, the retreat began and the explosion was forgotten. So the Vyritsa church in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos was saved from destruction by the Providence of God...

And another miracle: the Germans, having occupied Vyritsa, quartered in it a unit consisting of ... Orthodox. It is known that Romania was an ally of Germany, but hardly anyone could have imagined that the Vyritsa team would consist of Romanians, natives of its eastern part, where Orthodoxy is professed, and even speaking Russian. In the autumn of 1941, at the numerous requests of the residents of Vyritsa, the temple was opened, and regular services began in it.

Yearned for church life, people filled the temple (it was closed by the theomachists in 1938, but, thank God, it was not ruined). At first, the parishioners looked askance at the soldiers in German uniforms, but seeing how the latter pray and observe the order of service, they gradually got used to it. What is impossible for people is possible for God - it was the only Orthodox church that operated in the front line, and on the other side of the front!

From the first days of the war, Father Seraphim spoke openly about the impending victory of Russian arms.

In the spring of 1944, shortly after the complete lifting of the blockade, Metropolitan Alexy (Simansky) visited Vyritsa. Moreover, Father Seraphim, foreseeing the forthcoming visit of Vladyka, warned the astonished household about it in advance. It was Metropolitan Alexy's farewell to the great ascetic. They no longer had to see each other in earthly life, but until the end of their days they deeply revered each other and fervently prayed one for the other.

On May 15, 1944, on May 15, 1944, Patriarch Sergius reposed in the Lord on the day of memory of the faithful princes of Russia, passion-bearers Boris and Gleb. On February 2, 1945, at the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Alexy (Simansky) was unanimously elected Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. For 25 years, as Elder Hieroschemamonk Seraphim Vyritsky predicted, he was to serve as the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The war broke a myriad of destinies, and many hurried to Vyritsa from all over Russia in the hope of learning about the fate of their loved ones from Father Seraphim. the main thing is faith.

In 1945, the Lord called the schema nun Seraphim (in the world Olga Ivanovna Muravyova, the wife of the priest) from earthly labors. For almost six decades, she was Father Seraphim's devoted companion of life, and the ascetic experienced her death with the feeling that the separation was short-lived and that they would soon meet in eternal life.

In the summer of 1945, Archpriest Alexy Kibardin, a wonderful pastor and confessor, was appointed rector of the Vyritsky Kazan Church. During the First World War, he served as an ascribed priest at the Feodorovsky Sovereign Cathedral, and since 1924 he was its rector. This was followed by decades of camps and exile, having gone through which, Father Alexy managed to maintain a bright faith and love for his neighbors. The very first months of the new rector's stay in Vyritsa bound him with Father Seraphim with the strongest bonds. The Vyritsky elder became the confessor of Father Alexy Kibardin, and he became the confessor of Father Seraphim.

In recent years, Father Seraphim was completely bedridden. On some days, the father’s health deteriorated so much that he could not even answer the notes that were passed through the cell. But as soon as there was at least a slight relief, the priest immediately began to receive the afflicted.

The time of the ascetic's earthly journey was coming to an end. The hour of his transition to eternity was revealed to the elder. The day before, he blessed relatives and friends with icons of St. Seraphim of Sarov, and said to mother Seraphim’s cell-attendant: “During my burial, take care of the ribs ...” (This warning turned out to be prophetic: on the day of the burial of the righteous, with a large gathering of people, - due to a strong crush, she received a fracture of two ribs.)

In the early morning, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared to the Monk Seraphim in a dazzling radiance and pointed to heaven with a gesture of her right hand. Having informed his relatives about this, the ascetic announced: “Today I can’t receive anyone, we will pray,” and blessed to send for father Alexy Kibardin. Akathists to the Most Holy Theotokos, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and St. Seraphim of Sarov were read with reverence. After Father Alexy communed the elder with the Holy Mysteries of Christ, Father Seraphim gave his blessing to read the Psalter and the Gospel. Toward evening, the priest asked to be seated in an armchair and began to pray. At the same time, he sometimes inquired about the time. At about two o'clock in the morning, Father Seraphim blessed to read the prayer for the exodus of the soul and, having overshadowed himself with the sign of the cross, with the words "Save, Lord, and have mercy on the whole world," he departed to the eternal cloisters. The vestments and the coffin were sent to Vyritsa by Metropolitan Gregory (Chukov). For three days an endless stream of people went to the tomb of the righteous. Everyone noted that his hands were surprisingly soft and warm, as if they were alive. Some felt a fragrance near the coffin. On the first day after the elder's blessed death, a blind girl was healed. Her mother led her to the coffin and said: "Kiss grandfather's hand." Shortly thereafter, the girl recovered her sight. This incident is well known to Vyritsa old-timers.

The funeral of Father Seraphim was distinguished by rare solemnity. Three choirs sang: the Vyritsa Kazan and Peter and Paul churches and the choir of the theological academy and seminary, where, with the blessing of Metropolitan Gregory, classes were canceled on the day of the burial of the Vyritsa ascetic. One of the four pupils of theological schools who were honored to stand at the tomb of the great elder was the future His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II. “We did not say goodbye to the priest, but saw him off to eternal life,” many recall.

During the burial of Father Seraphim Vyritsky, in front of the coffin they carried the image of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov with a particle of the relics of the holy saint of God, as the Vyritsky ascetic predicted back in the pre-war years.

Saint Seraphim of Vyritsky passed away to eternity on April 3, 1949, on the day of the celebration of the resurrection of Righteous Lazarus. http://days.pravoslavie.ru/Lif...

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Two miracles. Miracle of the past. The German invaders took Seraphim Vyritsky to be shot. Then he stood before the executioners and named the name of each and the names of their wives and children. Struck by such a miracle, the Germans refused to comply with the order. By the power of God, Saint Seraphim remained alive and continued his prayerful standing for the Russian land.

Today's miracle. In addition to healing from incurable diseases, St. Seraphim of Sarov frees from the sin of smoking (I know for sure). San Sanych.

Life and deeds of St. Seraphim of Sarov (collection)

Vladimir Krupin. Prayer book for Russia

We can't even imagine how deeply the image of St. Seraphim of Sarov has entered our hearts and minds. Even those who do not believe, but simply love Russia, will certainly know the two expressions of the elder: “The Lord will have mercy on Russia and lead her through great suffering to great glory” and “Acquire a spirit of peace, and thousands will be saved around you.” In these words is a guide to the personal salvation of each and at the same time a sense of the unity of people, gathered by the Holy Spirit. There have never been calm times in Russia. You read books on the history of the Fatherland: wars, unrest, revolutions... The last two centuries seem especially difficult. XIX - the century of the preparation of the revolution, the attempt on the royal throne and XX - all covered in the blood of Russian martyrs. But it was precisely in these two centuries that our reverend father, Elder Seraphim, the miracle worker of Sarov, was near and passed with us into the 21st century.

They call him the Angel of All Russia, a heavenly messenger, but he is the simplest earthly person. He was born into a family of Kursk residents Moshnin, Isidor and Agafya. Those who love Father Seraphim know his biography, there is nothing hidden in it. His solitary life was spent in the Sarov forests of the then Arzamas district, and everything in it is in plain sight for us - both the nearby desert and the far ... We know that he fed the sisters of the Diveevo monastery and predicted that his relics would lie in Diveevo, which came true. He also predicted the plight of the relics - we remember how they were found in 1991. We also remember the prediction of the elder: "As in Diveevo, mothers, I will come in the middle of summer - they will sing Easter." And again: “When I am gone, you go to my coffin. Everything that is in your soul, no matter what happens to you, come to me, and take all the grief with you and bring it to the coffin. How to tell everything to a living person. I will hear you, and all your sorrow will lie down and pass away. As you spoke to me alive, so it is here. For you I am alive and will be forever. And this feeling that he is alive and with us, I experienced at the time when I was at the celebrations dedicated to the date of finding the relics of St. Seraphim. I can express my impression of this very briefly: now I know what Holy Russia is, I lived in it for a week. I recall a very characteristic incident from the life of an old man. Once to Fr. A general came to Seraphim, all hung with orders and medals, and entered the cell. The commander came out half an hour later, flooded with tears, without orders, and said that all the awards were showered from him in the cell, like old leaves from a tree. The elder took them out and gave them to him… By the way, about the awards.

Seraphim of Sarov had only one - personally from the king. The inscription "For the victory over Napoleon" was minted on the medal. It was a well-deserved award, and at the same time a great decision of Tsar Nicholas I, who awarded the reverend with it. The elder begged for the victory of Russian weapons over Napoleon... During his lifetime, the monk repeatedly warned about the coming trials of Russia and named their reasons - apostasy and freethinking. There is a known case when he, meek and quiet, drove away an officer, a future Decembrist, from himself. Another case is less known. Student Andrei Leopoldov, like many others, was infected with Western ideas and came to the desert in order to laugh at the old man, whom he saw sitting by the spring. Then Leopoldov wrote: “Here, I thought, they honor him as a saint, but he is idle. I then condemned the Russian people for their dark, it seemed to me, faith. And the elder said: “Look at the bottom. Do you see how the water is in full swing and grains of sand rise with it? They rise and fall, rise and fall again, but the water remains clean, unclouded. These grains of sand cannot stir up the waters, just as you freethinkers try to stir up the pure teaching of the Orthodox Church, but like these grains of sand you will always fall down. And the teaching of the Holy Church will stand pure forever.” When Elder Seraphim said this, a frost ran through my body, my hair began to stir. Struck by the foresight of the elder, I fell on my knees, confessed my sin of disbelief and mockery of Orthodoxy, and asked for his prayers and blessings. I did not hear a word of reproach, only the warmth and love of the heart, with which his instructions were warmed. And since then I have been reborn."

The Lord admonishes us, sinners, when all sorts of muddy, dirty waters begin to rise from the bottom of a pure Russian spring ...

Archimandrite Seraphim (Chichagov). Life of St. Seraphim, Sarov miracle worker

Published according to the publication: “Chronicle of the Seraphim-Diveev Monastery of the Nizhny Novgorod province of Ardatovsky district with a biography of its founders: St. Seraphim and schema-nun Alexandra, nee. A. S. Melgunova. Comp. Archimandrite Seraphim (Chichagov). - M., 1896.

Part one

Father o. Seraphim entered the Sarov Hermitage in 1778, on November 20, on the eve of the Entrance of the Most Holy Theotokos into the temple, and was entrusted with obedience to Elder Hieromonk Joseph.

His homeland was the provincial city of Kursk, where his father, Isidor Moshnin, had brick factories and was engaged in the construction of stone buildings, churches and houses as a contractor. 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 laying 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 Diveevsky monastery, died. Having transferred all his fortune to his kind and intelligent wife Agathia, he instructed her to bring the work of building the temple to the end. Mother o. Seraphim was even more pious and merciful than her father: she helped the poor a lot, especially orphans and poor brides.

Agafia Moshnina continued the construction of St. Sergius Church for many years and personally supervised the workers. In 1778, the temple was finally finished, and the execution of the work was so good and conscientious that the Moshnin family gained special respect among the residents of Kursk.

Father Seraphim was born in 1759, on July 19, and named Prokhor. At the death of his father, Prokhor was no more than three years old, therefore, he was fully raised by a God-loving, kind and intelligent mother, who taught him more by the example of her life, which took place in prayer, visiting churches and helping the poor. That Prokhor was the chosen one of God from his birth - this was seen by all spiritually developed people and his pious mother could not but feel. So, one day, while examining the structure of the St. Sergius Church, Agafia Moshnina walked with her seven-year-old Prokhor and imperceptibly reached the very top of the bell tower that was being built at that time. Moving away suddenly from his mother, the fast boy leaned over the railing to look down, and, through negligence, fell to the ground. The frightened mother fled from the bell tower in a terrible state, imagining to find her son beaten to death, but, to inexpressible joy and great surprise, she saw him safe and sound. The child stood up. The mother tearfully thanked God for saving her son and realized that the son Prokhor was guarded by a 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, sharpness of 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. In the most difficult time of his illness, in a dream, 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 around the city of Kursk along the street where Moshnin's house was. It started raining heavily. In order to cross to another street, the procession, probably to shorten the path and avoid dirt, went through the Moshnin courtyard. Taking this opportunity, Agathia carried her sick son out into the yard, put it on the miraculous icon and brought it under its shadow. We noticed that from that time Prokhor began to recover 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 health, Prokhor continued his studies successfully, studied the Book of Hours, the Psalter, learned to write and fell in love with reading the Bible and spiritual books.

Prokhor's older brother, Alexei, was engaged in trade and had his own shop in Kursk, so the young Prokhor was forced to get used to trading in this shop; but his heart did not lie in trade and profit. Young Prokhor never let go of almost a single day without visiting the temple of God, and, being unable to be 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 some fool for Christ, whose name is now forgotten, but then everyone honored. Prokhor met him and with all his heart clung to the holy fool; the latter, in turn, loved Prochorus and, by his influence, disposed his soul even more towards piety and a solitary life. His clever mother noticed everything and sincerely rejoiced that her son was so close to the Lord. Rare happiness also fell to Prokhor to have 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 cautiously inquired whether his mother would be against him going to a monastery. He, of course, noticed that his kind teacher did not contradict his desire and would rather let him go than keep him in peace; from this, the desire for the monastic life flared 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. So, the merchants Ivan Druzhinin, Ivan Bezkhodarny, Alexei Melenin and two others expressed the hope to go 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 in the heart of the mother, a determination was formed to let him go to the service of God. His farewell to his mother was touching! Gathering together completely, they sat for a while, according to Russian custom, then Prokhor got up, prayed to God, bowed at his mother's feet and asked for 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 not an unimportant question: where and to what monastery should he go. Glory to the ascetic life of the monks of the Sarov Hermitage, where many of the Kursk residents were already there and Fr. Pakhomiy, a native of Kursk, persuaded him to go to them, but he wanted to be in Kyiv beforehand in order to look at the labors of the Kiev-Pechersk monks, ask for guidance and advice from the elders, learn through them the will of God, be affirmed in his thoughts, receive a blessing from some ascetic and, finally, to pray and be blessed at the holy relics of the Monks Anthony and Theodosius, the founders of monasticism. Prokhor went on foot, with a staff in his hand, and with him were five more people of Kursk merchants. In Kyiv, bypassing the ascetics there, he heard that not far from the holy Lavra of the Caves, in the Kitaev monastery, a hermit named Dositheus, who had the gift of clairvoyance, was being saved. Coming to him, Prokhor fell at his feet, kissed them, opened his whole soul before him and asked for guidance 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 stay there. This place will be your salvation, with the help of the Lord. Here you will end your earthly journey. Just try to acquire the unceasing memory of God through the unceasing invocation of the name of God like this: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner! In this may all your attention and learning be; 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 gain spiritual and bodily purity, and the Spirit will dwell in you The Holy One, the source of all blessings, will govern your life in holiness, in all piety and purity. In Sarov, and the rector Pachomiy of a charitable life; he is a follower of our Anthony and Theodosius!”

The conversation of the blessed elder Dositheus finally confirmed the young man in good intentions. After rebuking, confessing and communing the Holy Mysteries, bowing once again to the saints of the Kiev Caves, he directed his steps on the path and, protected by the protection of God, safely arrived again in Kursk, at the house of his mother. Here he lived for several more months, even going to the shop, but he was no longer engaged in trade, but read soul-saving books as a warning to himself and others who came to talk with him, ask about holy places and listen to readings. This time was his farewell to his homeland and relatives.

As already mentioned, Prokhor entered the Sarov monastery on November 20, 1778, on the eve of the feast of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos. Standing in the church at the all-night vigil, seeing the deanery of the service, noticing how everyone, from the rector to the last novice, fervently pray, he was delighted with the spirit and rejoiced that the Lord had shown him a place here for the salvation of his soul. Father Pakhomiy knew Prokhor's parents from an early age and therefore lovingly received the young man, in whom he saw a true desire for monasticism. He appointed him to the number of novices to the treasurer, Hieromonk Joseph, a wise and loving old man. At first, Prokhor was in the cell obedience to the elder and faithfully followed all the monastic rules and regulations at his direction; in the cell he served not only meekly, but always with zeal. Such behavior drew the attention of everyone to him and gained him the favor of the elders Joseph and Pachomius. Then they began to appoint him, in addition to the cell, also obedience in order: in the bakery, in the prosphora, in the carpentry. In the latter, he was an wake-up man and performed this obedience for quite a long time. Then he performed ponomari duties. In general, young Prokhor, vigorous in strength, went through all the monastic obediences with great zeal, but, of course, he did not escape many temptations, such as sadness, boredom, despondency, which had a strong effect on him.

The life of the young Prochorus before being tonsured a monk was daily distributed as follows: at certain hours he was in the church for worship and rules. Imitating Elder Pachomius, he appeared as early as possible at church prayers, stood motionless throughout the service, no matter how long it was, and never left before the perfect end of the service. During the hours of prayer, he always stood in one specific place. To protect himself from amusement and daydreaming, with his eyes downcast, he listened with intense attentiveness and reverence to singing and reading, accompanying them with prayer. Prokhor loved to retire to his cell, where, in addition to prayer, he had two kinds of occupations: reading and bodily labor. He read the Psalms while sitting, saying that it is permissible for the weary, and the Holy Gospel and the Epistles of the Apostles always standing before the holy icons, in a prayerful position, and this he called vigil (wakefulness). He constantly read the works of the Holy Fathers, for example, St. Basil the Great of the Six Days, the conversations of St. Macarius the Great, the Ladder of St. John, the Philokalia, and so on. In the hours of rest, he indulged in bodily labor, carved crosses from cypress wood for blessing the pilgrims. When Prokhor passed the carpentry obedience, he was distinguished by great zeal, art and success, so that in the schedule he was one of all named Prokhor the carpenter. He also went to work common to all the brethren: rafting timber, preparing firewood, etc.

Seeing examples of hermitage, Fr. hegumen Nazarius, hieromonk Dorotheus, schemamonk Mark, young Prokhor strove in spirit for greater solitude and asceticism, and therefore asked for the blessing of his elder, Fr. Joseph to leave the monastery during his free hours and go into the forest. There he found a secluded place, arranged a secret sanctuary, and in it, completely alone, indulged in divine meditation and prayer. The contemplation of wondrous nature elevated him to God, and, according to a man who was later close to Elder Seraphim, he performed here rule, hedgehog gave the Angel of the Lord to the Great Pachomius, founder of a monastic hostel. This rule is performed in the following order: Trisagion and according to our Father: Lord, have mercy, 12. Glory now: come, let us worship - three times. Psalm 50: Have mercy on me, God. I believe in the One God… One hundred prayers: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner, and for this: It is worthy to eat and let go.

This amounted to 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.

In 1780, Prokhor fell seriously ill, and his whole body swelled up. Not a single doctor could determine the type of his illness, but it was assumed that it was water sickness. The illness lasted for three years, of which Prokhor spent at least half in bed. Builder Fr. Pakhomiy (abbot of the monastery. - Ed.) and the elder Fr. Isaiah alternately followed him and were almost inseparable from him. It was then that it was revealed how everyone, and before others the bosses, respected, loved and pitied Prokhor, who was then still a simple novice. Finally, they began to fear for the life of the patient, and Fr. Pachomius urged to invite a doctor, or at least open 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, for the sake of the Lord, with heavenly medicine - the communion of the Holy Mysteries. Elder Joseph, at the request of Prochorus and his own zeal, especially served about health the sick all-night vigil and liturgy. Prokhor was confessed and communed. He soon recovered, which surprised everyone. No one understood how he could recover so soon, and only later Fr. Seraphim revealed the secret to some: after communion of the Holy Mysteries, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him, in an inexpressible light, with the apostles John the Theologian and Peter, and, turning to John with her face and pointing her finger at Prochorus, the Lady said: “This one is of Our kind!”

“The right hand, my joy,” said Fr. Seraphim to the churchwoman Xenia, - she put it on my head, and in her left hand she held a rod; and with this rod, my joy, touched the wretched Seraphim; in that place, on my right thigh, there was a depression, mother; all the water flowed into it, and the Queen of Heaven saved the wretched Seraphim; but the wound was very big, and the pit is still intact, mother, look, give me a pen! “And the father used to take it himself and put my hand in the pit,” Mother Xenia added, “and he had a big one, and so the whole fist will go up!” This illness brought much spiritual benefit to Prokhor: his spirit grew stronger in faith, love and hope in God.

During the period of Prochorus' novitiate, under the rector Fr. Pachomia, many necessary buildings 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 calm the elderly, and at the hospital a church on two floors with altars: in the lower one in the name of Saints Zosima and Savvaty, the miracle workers of the Solovetsky, in the upper one in honor 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 endured the difficult feat of the collector. Wandering around the cities closest to Sarov, Prokhor was also in Kursk, in the place of his homeland, but he did not find his mother alive. Brother Alexei, for his part, provided Prokhor with considerable assistance in building the church. Returning home, Prokhor, as a skilled carpenter, built with his own hands an altar of cypress wood for the lower hospital church in honor of the Monks Zosima and Savvaty.

For eight years, young Prokhor was a novice. By this time, his outward appearance had changed: being tall, about two arshins and eight inches, despite strict abstinence and exploits, 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 blond hair on the head. His face was bordered by a thick, bushy beard, with which, at the extremities of his mouth, a long and thick mustache was connected. He had a manly build, possessed great physical strength, a captivating gift for words, and a happy memory. Now he had already passed all the degrees of monastic prowess and was able and ready to take monastic vows.

In this article, we publish the life of St. Seraphim of Sarov, a particularly revered saint of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Life of St. Seraphim of Sarov

The pious merchant Isidor Moshnin lived in Kursk with his wife Agafia. On the night of July 20, 1754, a son was born to them, who was named Prokhor in holy baptism. When the boy was only three years old, his father died and Agafia began to raise the baby alone. She herself continued the work of her husband: the construction of God's temple in Kursk.

The boy grew up, and soon Prokhor's mother realized that her son was an extraordinary child. Once a seven-year-old Prokhor climbed an unfinished bell tower. Suddenly he stumbled and fell to the ground. The mother rushed to her son in horror, not expecting to see him alive. What were the amazement and joy of Agafya and the neighbors who had run away when it turned out that the boy was unharmed! So from early childhood, it was revealed to mothers and relatives that God miraculously preserves His chosen one.

But soon Prokhor fell seriously ill. The doctors had no hope of recovery. And so, during the boy's most grievous sufferings, the Mother of God herself appeared to him in an inexpressible radiance. She kindly consoled the little sufferer and said that he had to be patient just a little more and he would be healthy.

The next day, past the house where the sick Prokhor lived, there was a religious procession: they carried the great shrine of the city of Kursk and all of Russia - the miraculous icon of the Mother of God - the Kursk-Root. Prokhor's mother saw this from the window. Taking her sick son in her arms, she hurried to carry him outside. Here the icon was carried over the boy, and from that day on he began to recover rapidly.

Prokhor was not like his peers. He loved solitude, church services, reading sacred books. It was not at all boring for him, through prayer, an unknown and beautiful spiritual world, in which Divine love and goodness reigned, more and more opened up before him.

He studied well, but when he grew up a little, he began to help his brother, who, following the example of his father, took up trade. But Prokhor's heart did not lie to the earthly. He could not spend a single day without a temple, and with all his soul he yearned for God, whom he loved with all his heart, more than anything in the world. He wanted to be with God constantly, and therefore he wanted more and more to go to the monastery. Finally, he confessed his desire to his mother. No matter how hard it was for Agafius to part with her beloved son, she did not interfere with him. When Prokhor was seventeen years old, he left his native home, having received his mother's blessing - a large copper crucifix, which he wore on his chest and which he treasured extremely all his life.

Now the question arose before Prokhor: which monastery to choose. With this, he went to Kyiv to the relics of the holy founders of Russian monasticism, the monks Anthony and Theodosius. After praying to the saints, the will of God was revealed to Prokhor through the elder Dositheus, a recluse monk of the Kiev Caves Monastery. “Go to the Sarov monastery,” the elder said to Prokhor. “There the Holy Spirit will lead you to salvation, there you will end your days.” Prokhor bowed at the feet of the recluse and thanked him from the bottom of his heart.

On the eve of the great feast of the Entry into the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, Prokhor, having made a difficult journey from Kyiv to the Temnikovsky forests, entered the Sarov Monastery. It was a glorious monastic brotherhood, known for its strict ascetics. Here the young God-lover was received with care by Father Pachomius. Both the rector and the brethren sincerely fell in love with the kind and zealous novice.

Prayer to the Lord and work - the life of a monk consists of them, through them the Lord strengthens the spirit of the ascetic, his desire for a higher heavenly world. Prokhor, who in his heart firmly decided to give himself entirely to the Lord, happily went through all the most difficult monastic obediences. He chopped trees in the forest, baked bread for the brethren all night long, worked as a carpenter and builder. But most importantly, he learned to pray, accustomed his mind and soul to ascend to God, so that nothing in the world could distract him from prayer.

Wise people say that prayer, real prayer to God, is the hardest work in the world. No matter how hard it sometimes happened, Prokhor was the first to come to church services, and the last to leave the church. His soul aspired to complete solitude, to a place where nothing distracts from communion with God. Once he told his confessor about this desire, and he blessed the novice Prokhor from time to time to retire to the dense monastic forest for solitary prayer.

From the very beginning of his monastic journey, Saint Seraphim firmly decided that in life he would rely only on the help of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Most Pure Mother. This faith and hope of the novice Prokhor were severely tested: Prokhor fell seriously ill and was ill for three whole years. The illness was so severe that the brethren already despaired of his recovery. But Prokhor entrusted his life into the hands of God. When the suffering reached its limit, the Most Holy Theotokos appeared again and healed him.

Many years later, the Lord Jesus Christ gave the Monk Seraphim himself the power of healing the sick, foreseeing the future, and prayerful help to the unfortunate. But before that, his courage and faithfulness to God were tested and strengthened in difficulties and temptations.

His soul was cleansed of all impurity, thoughts of lack of faith, doubt, exaltation over others, pride - all that is in the soul of every person. When later the Monk Seraphim was asked why at the present time there are no such great saints as before, he answered that this happens because people do not have the determination to completely trust God and put all their hope only on Him.

When Prokhor was 32 years old, what he had been striving for for many years happened - he was tonsured a monk. The new name he received, Seraphim, means "fiery"; Indeed, like a flame his spirit burned towards God. With even greater zeal, Father Seraphim set about his monastic deeds, and he was ordained a hierodeacon. He spent six years in this ministry.

Once during the liturgy, on Maundy Thursday, a miraculous event happened to him. “A light shone on me,” he later said, “in which I saw the Lord our God Jesus Christ in glory, shining, brighter than the sun, indescribable light and surrounded by Angels, Archangels, Cherubim and Seraphim. From the church gates He walked through the air, stopped in front of the pulpit and, raising His hands, blessed the servants and those who prayed. Therefore, He entered into the local image, which is near the royal gates. But I, earth and ashes, have received a special blessing from Him. My heart then rejoiced in the sweetness of love for the Lord.” After this vision, the Monk Seraphim changed his face and could not utter a word; they led him under the arms into the altar, where he stood motionless for two hours. His deeds became even more severe: now he spent whole nights in prayer to God for the whole world.

Soon the Monk Seraphim was ordained a hieromonk. And when he was 39 years old, he left the monastery and settled in a wooden cell, which was located in a dense forest on the banks of the Sarovka River, five miles from the monastery.

Here he began to lead a special wilderness life. His post reached an incredible severity. His food was forest grass, which grew in abundance near his cell. The monk lived and prayed according to the order of the ancient hermits. Sometimes one of the brethren met him on the way, in a simple white overall, with a copper cross - the blessing of his mother - on his chest, with a bag over his shoulders, filled with stones and sand, and on top of them lay the holy Gospel. When the Monk Seraphim was asked why he carries such a burden on his back, he answered meekly: “I am languishing over me.” And those who understood in the spiritual life guessed what kind of struggle between the mortal human flesh and the immortal spirit takes place in the life of this ascetic.

The enemy of the human race, the devil, wishing to turn St. Seraphim away from achievement, made evil people his instrument. Once the Monk Seraphim was chopping firewood in the forest. Suddenly, three strangers appeared before him. They attacked the monk, demanding money from him.

“Many people come to you and surely bring both gold and silver!” “I don’t take anything from anyone,” St. Seraphim answered them. But they rushed at him, wanting either to get imaginary treasures or to kill the ascetic. The Monk Seraphim was very strong and strong, besides, he had an ax in his hands, however, being a monk, he could not answer anyone with blow for blow. Committing himself into the hands of God, he said, "Do what you need to do." One robber hit him on the head with the butt of an ax, blood gushed from the mouth and ears of the monk, and he fell down dead. The robbers beat him for a long time, and finally, tired, they left him near the cell and rushed to the hermit's dwelling to look for money. But they found there only an icon and a few books. Then they realized that they had killed a righteous man; fear fell upon them, and they rushed headlong away from the beggarly cell and from the lifeless monk lying on the ground.

But Saint Seraphim remained alive. Having come to his senses, overcoming the terrible pain, he thanked the Lord for the innocent suffering, similar to the suffering of Christ Himself, and prayed for the forgiveness of the villains. And when morning came, with great difficulty, covered in blood, tormented, he wandered into the monastery.

The brethren were horrified by his condition. Doctors called from the city found that his head was broken, his ribs were broken, there were terrible bruises and mortal wounds on his body; everyone was sure it was inevitable. While the doctors were conferring, the monk fell asleep. And here the Mother of God appeared before him with the apostles Peter and John.

What are you working on? - said, turning to the doctors, the Most Holy Theotokos. - This is from My kind!

Waking up, the Monk Seraphim felt the return of strength. On the same day he began to get up, but still he had to spend five months in a monastery. And having grown stronger, he again returned to his forest retreat. The devil was put to shame: he failed to force the ascetic to abandon his monastic deed. But after the beating, the reverend's back remained forever bent.

I must say that the robbers managed to catch. According to the law, severe punishment awaited them, but the monk stood up for his offenders. He even said that if they were not forgiven, he would leave these places forever. The villains were released, but God's punishment overtook them. The fire destroyed their houses with all their property. Only then did they repent and come to Saint Seraphim, asking for forgiveness and prayers.

Again the monk led his solitary life.

His heart burned with love and pity not only for suffering humanity, but for all living things. He had already reached such spiritual purity that even predatory animals aspired to him. Many of those who visited him saw how he fed from the hands of a huge bear. But the monk forbade talking about this until his death.

Seeing such progress of the ascetic in holiness, the devil took up arms against him more and more. One night, during a prayer, the Monk Seraphim heard the howling of animals outside the walls of the cell. And then like a crowd of people start break on the door; the jambs could not stand it, the door fell, and a huge stump of a tree collapsed at the feet of the old man, which eight people could hardly carry out the next day. The fury of the fallen spirits reached the limit, and they took on a visible form to confuse the saint. During prayer, the walls of the cell parted, as it were, and terrible hellish monsters tried to pounce on the monk. Once, an unknown force lifted him up and hit the floor several times with force.

And then the Monk Seraphim set about the most difficult feat in his life, the feat of silence and pilgrimage. For three years he did not speak a word to anyone, he spent 1000 days and 1000 nights in prayer, standing on a stone. He had two such stones: one was in his cell, the other lay in the thicket of the forest. The saint stood on a stone in his cell from morning until evening, and at night he went into the forest. Raising his hands to heaven, he prayed with the words of the gospel publican: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” In severe frosts and in pouring rain, on a sultry noon and on a disturbing night, covered with clouds of mosquitoes, suffering from evil spirits, the monk carried his feat. During this time, his body fell into exhaustion, while his spirit reached extraordinary freedom and heights. He was able to endure such a feat only when he was strengthened by God's special grace-filled help.

After a 16-year stay in the desert, in 1810, the Monk Seraphim returned to the monastery. And again, not for repose, but for a special prayer. Having changed his beloved forest wilderness where clean air, a babbling river, wild animals - everything pleased soul, For many years the monk went into the seclusion of the monastic cell, where, apart from the icon, in front of which a lamp was always burning, and a chopped off stump that served as a chair, there was nothing. In the passage stood an oak coffin, constantly reminding the ascetic of death. The elder did not receive anyone, his only conversation was a conversation with God - prayer.

After another seventeen years, he left the seclusion, having received a blessing from the Queen of Heaven Herself. She commanded him to receive visitors and guide them spiritually.

The news spread throughout Russia that in the Sarov Monastery the Lord raised up a great ascetic who heals the sick, comforts the sorrowful, and guides the erring on the right path.

Since then, every day, after the end of the early Liturgy and until the evening, the elder received people. The love with which the saint was filled attracted everyone to him. By this time, he already possessed insight: he saw the spiritual dispensation, thoughts and life circumstances of each person. Most importantly, the will of God regarding everyone was revealed to him, so that his advice was accepted as from God Himself. Thanks to the prayers and advice of St. Seraphim, thousands of people happily arranged their lives, avoided danger, and even death, received healing from serious illnesses. But most importantly, they found the way to save their souls and learned to ascend to God through love and obedience to the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the main thing that St. Seraphim taught.

The elder greeted everyone with the greatest friendliness: “My joy, Christ is risen!” - he said, lovingly hugging the pilgrim who came to him.

But those who came with deceit, only hiding behind piety (and there were such), he menacingly removed from him. The monk foresaw not only the future of every person, but also the future fate of Russia and the whole world. One day an officer came to him in the wilderness. The monk at that time stood at the miraculous source, which had once been brought out of the ground by the prayers of the elder himself and had great healing power.

The officer approached the hermit, and at that time the water in the source darkened and became indignant, began to beat with a muddy spring. With anger, the monk looked at the officer and commanded menacingly: “Come out! Just as this holy source was troubled, so you and your like-minded people will stir up the whole of Russia!”

In horror and confusion, the officer left him: he really came with an insidious desire to cunningly get approval from the elder for the impending coup d'état. He was a man from among the so-called Decembrists and Freemasons, who, some out of criminal folly, and others out of hatred, wanted to ruin Russia and Orthodoxy. The monk foresaw the great misfortunes that the revolutionaries would bring to the people, and he warned the Orthodox in advance about the events that were to take place, sometimes after many decades.

He also foresaw bloody turmoil in our Orthodox fatherland, foresaw the devastation of the Church for increased sins, unprecedented persecution of Christians, and foresaw the revival of Holy Russia for its fidelity to Orthodoxy. “The villains will lift their heads high,” he said. - It will certainly happen: the Lord, seeing the unrepentant malice of their hearts, will allow their undertakings for a short time, but their illness will turn on their head, and the untruth of their pernicious plans will descend on top of them. The Russian land will be stained with rivers of blood, and many nobles will be beaten for the Great Sovereign and the integrity of his autocracy; but the Lord will not be completely angry and will not allow the Russian land to be destroyed to the end, because in it alone Orthodoxy and the remnants of Christian piety are predominantly preserved.

Before the birth of the Antichrist, there will be a great long war and a terrible revolution in Russia, exceeding any human imagination, because the bloodshed will be the most terrible: the Razinsky, Pugachevsky riots, the French Revolution are nothing compared to what will happen to Russia. There will be the death of many people faithful to the fatherland, the looting of church property and monasteries, the desecration of the churches of the Lord, the destruction and plunder of the wealth of good people, rivers of Russian blood will be shed. But the Lord will have mercy on Russia and lead her through suffering to great glory…”

Father Seraphim left a wonderful teaching about salvation to Orthodox people. “The true goal of our Christian life,” he said, “is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit. Fasting, vigil, prayer and good deeds are only means for acquiring the Spirit.” Acquisition means acquisition; the one who repents of all his sins and does virtues opposite to the committed sins acquires the Spirit. In such a person the Spirit begins to act in the heart and secretly arranges within him the Kingdom of God. “How can I know,” one young man asked the monk, “that I am in the grace of the Holy Spirit? I want to understand and feel it well.” This conversation took place in a winter forest, on a snow-covered glade; the young man was very fond of the Monk Seraphim and came to him for advice.

The answer of the Monk Seraphim was truly miraculous. He took the young man firmly by the shoulders and said to him, “We are both with you now in the Spirit of God. Why aren't you looking at me?" The young man answered: “I can’t look, father, because lightning is pouring out of your eyes. Your face has become brighter than the sun, and my eyes are aching with pain. The monk said to this: “Do not be afraid, your love of God! and now you yourself have become as bright as I am. You yourself are now in the fullness of the Spirit of God, otherwise you would not be able to see me like that. Just look into my eyes and don't be afraid!”

“After these words, I looked into his face,” the young man later recalled, “and an even greater reverent horror attacked me. Imagine in the middle of the sun, in the most brilliant brightness of its midday rays, the face of a person who is talking to you. You see the movement of his lips, the changing expression of his eyes, you hear his voice, you feel that someone is holding your shoulders with his hands, but not only do you not see these hands, you do not see yourself or his figure, but only one light, dazzling and stretching far, for several fathoms around, and illuminating with its bright brilliance both the snowy veil covering the clearing, and the snow groats, showering both me and the great old man from above.

The young man was unusually good. For the rest of his life he remembered the day when Father Seraphim taught him a lesson on what it means to “acquire the Holy Spirit.”

By the end of his life, the reverend elder was already honored by all of Russia. His graceful abilities were extraordinary. It was given to him to see even heavenly abodes prepared by God in eternity for virtuous people. When he told his closest people about these revelations, his face was transformed and poured out a wonderful light. With heavenly joy and tenderness, he said: “Ah, if people knew what joy, what sweetness awaits the soul of the righteous in heaven, they would decide to endure all sorrows with thanksgiving in temporary life. If this very cell were full of worms, and they would eat our flesh all their lives, then even then it would be necessary to agree to this with every desire, so as not to lose that heavenly joy.

Human glory burdened the old man, from great labors he became very exhausted. When the monk was returning to his hermitage from the monastery, crowds of people stood on both sides of the road, wanting to at least touch his clothes, at least to see him.

During the last years of his life, the Monk Seraphim took great care of the women's Diveevo monastery founded by him. Orphan girls entered the monastery, as well as those who were looking for a high and charitable life under the guidance of Father Seraphim. The saint directed the life of the monastery, following the blessings of the Mother of God.

Shortly before the death of the saint, the Most Holy Theotokos visited him for the twelfth time. This was in the presence of one of the Diveevo sisters. Suddenly there was a noise, a light shone like the wind, singing was heard. The elder's cell miraculously changed: it seemed to move apart, the ceiling disappeared and there was only radiance above. And then a miraculous procession appeared: the Mother of God walked, accompanied by twelve holy virgins, John the Theologian and John the Baptist; two angels walked ahead with blossoming branches in their hands. The Queen of Heaven was wearing a shining mantle of unspeakable beauty, her head was crowned with a wondrous crown. The elder on his knees met the Lady of heaven and earth. The Mother of God promised the saint not to leave the Diveyevo sisters with Her help.

She predicted the reverend's quick death, the transition to the Heavenly Kingdom, and blessed him. The elder was also blessed by the saints who came to the monk together with the Mother of God. “This is from our generation!” - the Most Holy Theotokos prophesied lovingly looking at Her novice, who courageously lived a long life according to the commandments of Her Son.

The day before his death, on January 1, 1833, on Sunday, Father Seraphim visited the church for the last time. He put candles to the icons. All immersed in himself, he prayed at the liturgy and took communion of the Holy and Life-Giving Mysteries of Christ. Then he began to say goodbye to the brethren, to bless and comfort everyone. Physically, he was very weak, but in spirit he was alert, calm, joyful.

Save yourself, do not be discouraged, stay awake: on this day, crowns are being prepared for us! he said.

That evening he sang Paschal hymns in his cell.

And on January 2, one monk smelled smoke coming from the monk's cell. Entering it, he saw that the monk was kneeling in front of the icon “Tenderness”; there was no fire, but books were smoldering, ignited by a fallen candle. Thus, another prophecy of the monk came true, who said: “My death will be opened by fire.” The crossed arms of the saint lay on the lectern, his head rested on his hands. Thinking that the elder had fallen asleep, the monk touched him on the shoulder, but there was no answer. Then the brother realized that the elder had died; the grief of him and the rest of the brethren was boundless.

The body of the monk was placed in an oak coffin, which was made by his own hands. They buried the Monk Seraphim near the monastery cathedral at the altar. For seventy years after Father Seraphim's death, many people came to his grave. Through the prayer of the saint of God, thousands and thousands of Christians were healed of illnesses, bodily and spiritual.

On July 19, 1903, the opening of the holy and multi-healing relics of Father Seraphim and his glorification in the face of saints took place, which became a nationwide celebration.

In the 1920s, during the revolutionary turmoil and persecution of the Church, predicted by St. Seraphim, his holy relics were lost. And just recently they miraculously were found again. In July 1991, the relics were transferred to the Diveevsky Monastery, which was revived after the devastation. Here they rest to this day.

Since then, no matter how many Orthodox people in all nations, everyone learned about the Monk Seraphim, marveled at his great love for God and people, asked for his holy prayers, and many sought to imitate his life and deeds. No matter how many ascetics - monks, laity, saints, martyrs, holy fools - the Lord has erected since then on the Russian land, they all seemed to come to the wretched cell of Father Seraphim, asking for blessings for labors, deeds and patience. And to all of them, and to future generations of Christians who wish to live fulfilling the commandments of God, the voice of St. Seraphim was and is being heard:

MY JOY, IT IS NOT TIME FOR US TO BE DESPITED!

CHRIST IS RISEN!!!

GET THE SPIRIT OF THE PEACE

AND AROUND YOU

SAVE

THOUSANDS!

Troparion, tone 4

From the youth of Christ, thou hast loved, blessed, and ardently lusted for the One to work, thou hast labored in the desert with unceasing prayer and labor, having acquired the love of Christ with a touched heart, thou hast appeared to the chosen one beloved of God's Mother. For this sake, we cry out to you: save us with your prayers, Seraphim, our reverend father.

Kontakion, voice 2

The world is beautiful and even corruptible in it, reverend, you settled in the Sarov monastery; and having lived there like an angel, you were the way to salvation for many. For this sake, and Christ to you, Father Seraphim, glorify, and enrich with the gift of healings and miracles. We also cry out to you: Rejoice, Seraphim, our reverend father.