With the revival of spirituality in the Orthodox world, more and more often you can hear about new churches under construction, old churches being restored. What was destroyed during the years of atheism and theomachism is being revived today with renewed vigor and redoubled energy of the parishioners. One of these small islands of Orthodoxy is the settlement of Raevo, where a majestic temple is being erected on the banks of the Yauza in honor of one of the most revered saints among the people - St. Seraphim of Sarov.
Clean prayer place in the north of Moscow
Rayevo is an old village where the Orthodox have primordially lived. Initially, the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos operated in this settlement. Over time, it fell into disrepair, and believers were assigned to other parishes in the district, leaving only a chapel in Raev. At the beginning of the 21st century, it was decided to build a new temple on this site, in 2005 a worship cross was erected, the first prayer service was performed and the foundation was laid. So the temple of Seraphim of Sarov in Raev began its existence. parishioners' interest inThe construction of the new church is reflected in the many charitable donations to the building.
Great Ascetic of the Russian Church – Guardian of Orthodoxy
Its name is the temple of St. Seraphim of Sarovsky in Raev received an ulterior motive. The holy elder, after whom this parish is named, is considered one of the most revered in the Orthodox world. During his holy ascetic life, he showed many miracles of providence and healing to those who believe in the glory of the Lord. But even after death, many miraculous healings from the icon of this saint were recorded. Many of them happened among the inhabitants of Moscow and the Moscow region, therefore the parish of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Raev is deservedly named after the holy elder known throughout Russia. The true custodian of the Orthodox faith and Christian traditions is the great saint, after whom the church under construction in Raev, in the administrative district of Severnoye Medvedkovo, is named.
Parish churches of the complex in Raev
The main church of the parish is the church of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the lower altar of which is dedicated to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Services are regularly held here. Since the main church is named after the great holy elder, the entire parish of the church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Raev is also named after him. The baptismal church of the complex in Raev is the Church of the Presentation of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple, the first Divine Liturgy in which was celebrated in 2006. The first active building of the complex is the chapel of St. Nicholas, consecrated in 1995. The expanded complex accommodates a sufficient number of active circles, departments of Sunday and correspondence schools.
Social Parish Service
The Temple of Seraphim of Sarov in Raev is the source of many social Orthodox initiatives. The active group "Mercy" helps the infirm and the elderly at home, every Saturday a prayer service is performed for the healing of the Orthodox from addictions. After the prayer service, pastoral talks are held, and a helpline is functioning. Conversations with parishioners are held regularly, not only collective, but also individual. The members of the charity group are ready to help the weak people in hospitals, which they successfully carried out until 2013, providing support to patients in the therapeutic department.
Schools for adults and children
There is also an Orthodox Sunday school for parishioners on the territory of the complex. Traditionally, Sunday schools cover children of preschool and school age, but in this island of Orthodoxy they went a little further by opening a school for adults. At the parish, classes are held for an adult audience throughout the week: on weekends in the first half of the day, after services and prayers, and on weekdays in the evening hours.
The temple of Seraphim of Sarov in Raev opens its doors and for kids. Children's Sunday school operates on weekends, the course is designed for two years. Classes are held for the choir and the Orthodox theatre. There are also numerous circles for children: church embroidery, an art studio, a drama club. Children and teenagers are actively involved in spending their free time in the temple of Seraphim of Sarov, as the modern world is full of temptations and temptations. Where a child does not know where to direct his energy, it is directed by the gateway and the street, unfortunately, not always in the right and positive way.
Support for stumbled and lost souls
At the end of the 20th century, with the blessing of the archpriest, correspondence between Sunday school students and convicts serving sentences in correctional colonies began. As a result, prayer support and Orthodox instruction came to the correctional labor colonies, which is provided to the convicts by the church of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Raev. Moscow and the Moscow region are not a territorial restriction for the communication of the Orthodox, therefore, the correspondence school at the temple of Seraphim of Sarov is attended by convicts from the Arkhangelsk and Murmansk colonies. Classes are held in the form of educational correspondence, for two years men are taught in absentia the course "Fundamentals of the Orthodox Faith". Such invaluable support and assistance provided remotely by the Church of Seraphim of Sarov in Raev, contributes to the opportunity for convicts to participate in the Sacraments of the Church, to study the basics of Orthodoxy in Sunday school. After being released from the colony, most of the prisoners are confirmed in Orthodoxy: they become zealous parishioners of churches at their place of residence,some choose the monastic path, begin laborious deeds in the monastery.
The practice of joint singing as a means of uniting the Orthodox
The Orthodox faith is not so long ago fully revived on Russian soil, many parishioners do not fully realize the importance and necessity of unity with the Lord and life according to the laws of God in the world. Joint prayer is a means of uniting believers with a single idea, it makes it possible to feel a direct involvement in the Christian community. Since the time of the first Christians, joint prayer to the glory of the Lord has been practiced, today joint participation in worship is carried out during the Divine Liturgy. The temple in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Raev is one of those where the texts of prayers are handed out to believers in joint prayer. It is here that the prayer of the primate is imprinted with the solemn "Amen" of the entire Orthodox community, it is here that "Peace to all" sounds like a powerful and solemn exclamation of the Orthodox world.
