Without exaggeration, we can say that the name of St. Sergius of Radonezh is known to everyone who knows about the Slavs, about the Russian people and the church. Many suffering people pray at the image of the reverend old man, they turn to him with requests, and everyone receives help in his prayer - his icon is endowed with such great power.
St. Sergius of Radonezh
This is one of the most revered saints, his moral perfection, piety and selfless asceticism are known far beyond the borders of Orthodox Russia. His life and work took place in the years of great disasters and severe trials, when the question was being decided whether or not Muscovite Russia should be a state. Sergius of Radonezh, by the will of God, was at the center of the future history of the Russian state, and his lively participation, strength of mind and prayers inspired the Russians for a fearless and great struggle against the Tatar-Mongol yoke.
But not only for this feat is honored by his people. Intercessor anddefender of the Russian land, he was a deeply religious, bright and kind person, and his spiritual qualities attracted people to him. This holy elder, the great miracle worker, Abbot of the Russian land, brought up a whole galaxy of spiritual like-minded people by the example of his chastity. He founded the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and other monasteries, in which Russian Orthodoxy was forged on selfless and selfless love for the Lord. People came to him with requests and sorrows, for advice and consolation, and the great elder did not leave anyone without help and attention. That is why the icon of Sergius of Radonezh is loved and revered today. She constantly reminds believers of the need to keep their souls pure and humble, to shy away from the temptations of demons, to tame pride.
What helps the miraculous icon
Sergius of Radonezh in his youth experienced difficulties in his studies and fervently prayed for help. The Lord sent him an angel in the guise of an old man and blessed him for teaching. The monk became the wisest holy elder, and now, standing before God, he helps parents who pray for their children when they are not given teaching. If there is his icon in a house with small children, Sergius of Radonezh, through prayers in front of her, watches over the children - for study and attention, obedience, helps to reason with a recalcitrant child, especially at a transitional age. Schoolchildren and students, in case of difficulties in mastering science or passing exams, also resort to the help of a saint, and prayer before the image helps them in the difficulties of knowledge. The icon "Sergius of Radonezh" helps in court cases whenshe is addressed by those whose cause is righteous, protecting both from judicial errors and offenders.
Where are the icons
The first image of St. Sergius, embroidered on the cover after his death, has survived to our times. On the hagiographic icon, he appeared simultaneously with the first verbal description of his life somewhere around 1422.
Over the past seven centuries, different icon painters have created many icons of the holy elder, depicting his noble, strict face, and paintings from his life. This is the image of the abbot of the Russian land, falling to Christ on the Spasskaya Tower, the ancient iconography of the “Visions of the youth Bartholomew”, the icon of the “Series of Radonezh with Life” and many others. Most of them are in church collections, monasteries, museums. The rarest icon of the Appearance of the Mother of God to Sergius of Radonezh is located in Arkhangelsk - Tyurikovo (the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary). She is considered miraculous. The icon "Sergius of Radonezh" is also kept in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. There is also a particle of his relics. The list of churches with icons of Sergius of Radonezh is great.
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the personality of Sergius of Radonezh - he has done so much for the Russian state and church. He was the author of the idea of the Holy Trinity - a symbol of unity, on the basis of which the famous icon was later painted by the painter Andrei Rublev. Sergius of Radonezh and the image of the Holy Trinity are inextricably linked in ancient Russian art.
From the icon of the image of the venerable old man breathes strictness, wisdom and kindness. Narrow, handsome face, right handblesses the suffering, in the left is a scroll symbolizing the perfection of knowledge. Many and many resort to his kindness and wisdom…
