Seraphim of Sarov: biography of the Russian miracle worker

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Seraphim of Sarov, whose biography is known to all Orthodox Christians, was born in 1754 in the family of the famous merchant Isidore and his wife Agathia. Three years later, his father, who was engaged in the construction of a temple in honor of St. Sergius, died. The works of her husband were continued by Agafia. Four years later, the temple was ready, and the young Seraphim went with his mother to inspect the building. Climbing to the very top of the bell tower, the boy stumbled and fell. To the joy of the mother, he did not receive any injuries, in which she saw God's special care for her son.

First Vision

At the age of 10, Serafim Sarovsky, whose biography is an example to follow, became very ill and was dying. In a dream, the Heavenly Queen appeared to him and promised to grant healing. At that time, the miraculous image of the Mother of God was carried through their city in a procession. When the procession caught up with the house of Agathia, it began to rain, and the icon was carried through her courtyard. She carried her sick son, and Seraphim venerated the icon. Since that day, the boy has been on the mend.

Start of service

At the age of 17, Seraphim of Sarov, whose biography is covered in religious books, decided to leave home and devote himself to the life of a monk. He spent two years on a pilgrimage in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. Then the local hermit Dositheus, seeing in the young man the ascetic of Christ, sent him to the Sarov Hermitage. In his free time from obedience, the young man regularly went into the forest. Such severity of life attracted the attention of the brethren, who admired the strength of his exploits, most of which will be told to the reader by the life of Seraphim of Sarov. For example, how the reverend ate only grass for 3 years. Or how for 1000 days he stood on a rock in the forest, coming down only to eat.

Reclusion

After three years of standing on the stone, Seraphim returned to the monastery for a new feat - 17 years of seclusion. For the first 5 years, none of the brethren saw him, even the monk who brought meager food to the elder. After the expiration of this period, Sarovsky sometimes opened the door of the cell and received those who wished, but did not answer questions, as he had taken a vow of silence. In the cell there was only an icon of the Mother of God with an analogion and a stump, which served as a chair for the monk. In the hallway there was an oak coffin, next to which Seraphim often prayed, preparing to depart for eternal life. After another 5 years, the doors of the cell opened from the beginning of the morning liturgy and did not close until 8 pm. At the end of 1825, the Mother of God appeared to the elder in a dream and allowed him to leave the cell. Thus ended his retreat.

The end of the earthly journey

Almost two years before myAfter his death, the Monk Seraphim of Sarov again saw the Mother of God, who, as it were, foreshadowed his blessed end and the incorruptible glory awaiting him. On January 1, 1833, the saint went to church and lit candles for all the icons. After the liturgy, he said goodbye to those who prayed, who noticed that the saint was almost exhausted. But the spirit of the elder was joyful, cheerful and calm. On the evening of that day, Seraphim sang Easter songs. The next day the brethren entered his cell and found the monk kneeling in front of the lectern. At the same time, his head lay on crossed arms. They began to wake him up and found that the old man was dead. Seventy years later, Seraphim of Sarov, whose biography was set out in this article, was canonized by the Holy Synod as a saint.