“Obtain a peaceful spirit and thousands around you will be saved.” St. Seraphim of Sarov. Source:foma.ru
If we speak in artistic terms, then, without exaggeration, Saint Seraphim of Sarov can be compared with the “golden ratio” of Russian Orthodoxy, if in musical terms - with the tuning fork of Truth. However, for many believers, Saint Father Seraphim is a close, dear, beloved patron saint of Rus' and the intercessor of our sinful souls. St. Seraphim of Sarov proves with his life that the path to salvation is like a full-flowing river: sometimes it quickly sweeps away everything that is sedimented, cleanses the banks, sometimes, like confession, it tests the muddy waters of temptation, sometimes it calms down in the silence of fasting, it pacifies, like heartfelt prayer is life-giving water. , without which it is impossible to heal your soul.
Let's try to understand the spiritual wealth that St. Seraphim of Sarov left us.
Life of Seraphim of Sarov
Seraphim means “fiery” in Hebrew. Fiery and unquenchable was the faith of St. Seraphim of Sarov. He walks ahead of his flock like a pillar of fire, showing us the true path. How many trials and ordeals of life the saint had to overcome during his 79 years of life: thirty years of hermitage, three years of stylite life, the feat of silence, seclusion, persecution.
Saint Seraphim of Sarov (in the world Prokhor Isidorovich Moshnin) was born on July 19, 1754 in Kursk, into a merchant family. The boy Prokhor miraculously managed to escape death after falling from the bell tower of the cathedral, which his father began to build, and after his death, Prokhor’s mother. Another miracle was revealed when a boy was healed by the icon of the Sign of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Miraculous rescue after falling from the bell tower.
In his youth, Prokhor decided to devote his life to God. Taking his mother’s blessing, the young man went on a pilgrimage to Kyiv to worship the saints of Pechersk. There, the schemamonk Elder Dosifei blessed him and sent him to the Sarov hermitage.
Upon his short return home, Prokhor went to Sarov, where he was accepted as a novice. In the desert, Prokhor followed all instructions with zeal and zeal. Two years later, Prokhor fell seriously ill with dropsy, the brethren looked after him, but the boy’s strength left him. The Queen of Heaven appeared to Prokhor, accompanied by the holy apostles Peter and John the Theologian. Pointing her hand at the sick man, the Most Holy Virgin said to John: “This one is from our generation.” Then she touched the patient’s side with the staff, and immediately the liquid that filled the body began to flow out through the hole formed, and he quickly recovered. A hospital church was built at the site of the apparition.
After eight years of novitiate, Prokhor took monastic vows with the name Seraphim. A year later, Seraphim was ordained to the rank of hierodeacon. In 1793, at the age of 39, St. Seraphim was ordained to the rank of hieromonk. Then he asked for a blessing and went to a deserted cell several kilometers from the monastery, in a deep forest. There he led a very ascetic lifestyle, limiting himself in everything worldly: he ate once a day, worked in his garden and small apiary, and prayed a lot. Lay people began to come to the hieromonk for advice and spiritual guidance. Soon the Monk Seraphim completely abandoned communication with people; wild animals often visited his home; he fed bears from his hand.
“And he lived for 47 years in various feats of seclusion, silence, and seclusion. But on this path he encountered his second temptation: when he was already deprived of everything, he was faced with the question of preserving his life, of avoiding suffering. He was attacked by robbers, he was armed with an ax, he could defend himself - but he did not want to save his life at any cost, but gave it again to God. And God accepted this sacrifice; he was beaten, wounded, and his blood remained on his clothes, a piece of which we can contemplate here. He remained faithful to God to the point of blood, his life was preserved by the Lord...” (Metropolitan Anthony (Sourozhsky) about Seraphim of Sarov).
The holy Venerable Seraphim of Sarov died on January 2, 1833, in a position of prayer before the image of the Mother of God. His last words were: “Save yourself, do not lose heart, stay awake, today crowns are being prepared for us.”
Akathist to the Holy Venerable Seraphim, Sarov Wonderworker
Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, a great ascetic of the Russian Church, was born on July 19, 1754. The saint's parents, Isidore and Agafia Moshnin, were residents of Kursk. Isidore was a merchant and took out contracts for the construction of buildings, and at the end of his life he began the construction of a cathedral in Kursk, but died before the completion of the work. The youngest son Prokhor remained in the care of his mother, who raised a deep faith in her son.
After the death of her husband, Agafia Moshnina, who continued the construction of the cathedral, once took Prokhor with her there, who, having stumbled, fell from the bell tower. The Lord saved the life of the future lamp of the Church: the frightened mother, going downstairs, found her son unharmed.
Young Prokhor, having an excellent memory, soon learned to read and write. Since childhood, he loved to attend church services and read the Holy Scriptures and the lives of saints to his peers, but most of all he loved to pray or read the Holy Gospel in solitude.
One day Prokhor became seriously ill and his life was in danger. In a dream, the boy saw the Mother of God, who promised to visit and heal him. Soon a religious procession with the icon of the Sign of the Most Holy Theotokos passed through the courtyard of the Moshnin estate; his mother carried Prokhor out in her arms, and he venerated the holy icon, after which he began to quickly recover.
Even in his youth, Prokhor made the decision to completely devote his life to God and enter a monastery. The pious mother did not interfere with this and blessed him on the monastic path with a crucifix, which the monk wore on his chest all his life. Prokhor and the pilgrims set off on foot from Kursk to Kyiv to worship the Pechersk saints.
The schemamonk elder Dosifei, whom Prokhor visited, blessed him to go to the Sarov hermitage and save himself there. Returning briefly to his parents' house, Prokhor said goodbye to his mother and relatives forever. On November 20, 1778, he came to Sarov, where the wise old man, Father Pachomius, was then rector. He kindly received the young man and appointed Elder Joseph as his confessor. Under his leadership, Prokhor underwent many obediences in the monastery: he was the elder’s cell attendant, worked in the bakery, prosphora and carpentry shop, carried out the duties of a sexton, and performed everything with zeal and zeal, serving as if the Lord Himself. By constant work he protected himself from boredom - this, as he later said, “the most dangerous temptation for new monks, which is cured by prayer, abstinence from idle talk, feasible handicraft, reading the Word of God and patience, because it is born from cowardice, carelessness and idle talk.” .
Already in these years, Prokhor, following the example of other monks who retired into the forest to pray, asked the elder’s blessing to also go into the forest in his free time, where he prayed the Jesus Prayer in complete solitude. Two years later, novice Prokhor fell ill with dropsy, his body became swollen, and he experienced severe suffering. The mentor, Father Joseph, and other elders who loved Prokhor looked after him. The illness lasted about three years, and not once did anyone hear a word of grumbling from him. The elders, fearing for the life of the patient, wanted to call a doctor to him, but Prokhor asked not to do this, telling Father Pachomius: “I have given myself, Holy Father, to the True Doctor of souls and bodies - our Lord Jesus Christ and His Most Pure Mother...”, and wanted to be given Holy Communion. Then Prokhor had a vision: the Mother of God appeared in an indescribable light, accompanied by the holy apostles Peter and John the Theologian. Pointing her hand at the sick man, the Blessed Virgin said to John: “This is from our generation.” Then she touched the patient’s side with the staff, and immediately the liquid that filled the body began to flow out through the hole formed, and he quickly recovered. Soon, on the site of the appearance of the Mother of God, a hospital church was built, one of the chapels of which was consecrated in the name of the Monks Zosima and Savvaty of Solovetsky. The Monk Seraphim built the altar for the chapel with his own hands from cypress wood and always partook of the Holy Mysteries in this church.
After spending eight years as a novice in the Sarov monastery, Prokhor took monastic vows with the name Seraphim, which so well expressed his fiery love for the Lord and desire to serve Him zealously. A year later, Seraphim was ordained to the rank of hierodeacon. Burning in spirit, he served in the temple every day, constantly praying even after the service. The Lord vouchsafed the monk visions of grace during church services: he repeatedly saw holy Angels serving with the brethren. The monk was granted a special vision of grace during the Divine Liturgy on Maundy Thursday, which was performed by the rector, Father Pachomius, and Elder Joseph. When, after the troparions, the monk said, “Lord, save the pious,” and, standing at the royal doors, pointed his orar at those praying with the exclamation “and forever and ever,” suddenly a bright ray overshadowed him. Raising his eyes, the Monk Seraphim saw the Lord Jesus Christ walking through the air from the western doors of the temple, surrounded by the Heavenly Ethereal Forces. Having reached the pulpit. The Lord blessed all those praying and entered the local image to the right of the royal doors. The Monk Seraphim, looking in spiritual delight at the wondrous phenomenon, could not utter a word or leave his place. He was led arm in arm into the altar, where he stood for another three hours, his face changing from the great grace that illuminated him. After the vision, the monk intensified his exploits: during the day he worked in the monastery, and spent his nights in prayer in a deserted forest cell. In 1793, at the age of 39, St. Seraphim was ordained to the rank of hieromonk and continued serving in the church. After the death of the abbot, Father Pachomius, the Monk Seraphim, having his dying blessing for a new feat - living in the desert, also took the blessing from the new abbot - Father Isaiah - and went to a desert cell several kilometers from the monastery, in a dense forest. Here he began to indulge in solitary prayers, coming to the monastery only on Saturday, before the all-night vigil, and returning to his cell after the liturgy, during which he received communion of the Holy Mysteries. The monk spent his life in severe exploits. He carried out his cell prayer rule according to the rules of the ancient desert monasteries; I never parted with the Holy Gospel, reading the entire New Testament during the week, and also read patristic and liturgical books. The monk learned many church hymns by heart and sang them during his work hours in the forest. Near the cell he planted a vegetable garden and built a beekeeper. Earning food for himself, the monk kept a very strict fast, eating once a day, and on Wednesday and Friday he completely abstained from food. In the first week of Holy Pentecost, he did not take food until Saturday, when he received Holy Communion.
The holy elder, in solitude, was sometimes so immersed in inner heartfelt prayer that he remained motionless for a long time, neither hearing nor seeing anything around him. The hermits who visited him from time to time - schemamonk Mark the Silent and hierodeacon Alexander, having caught the saint in such prayer, quietly withdrew with reverence, so as not to disturb his contemplation.
In the summer heat, the monk collected moss from the swamp to fertilize the garden; mosquitoes mercilessly stung him, but he complacently endured this suffering, saying: “Pasions are destroyed by suffering and sorrow, either voluntary or sent by Providence.” For about three years, the monk ate only one herb, which grew around his cell. In addition to the brethren, lay people began to come to him more and more often for advice and blessings. This violated his privacy. Having asked for the abbot’s blessing, the monk blocked women’s access to him, and then everyone else, having received a sign that the Lord approved of his idea of complete silence. Through the saint’s prayer, the road to his deserted cell was blocked by huge branches of centuries-old pine trees. Now only birds, which flocked in large numbers to the saint, and wild animals visited him. The monk fed the bear bread from his hands when bread was brought to him from the monastery.
Seeing the exploits of the Monk Seraphim, the enemy of the human race armed himself against him and, wanting to force the saint to leave silence, decided to frighten him, but the saint protected himself with prayer and the power of the Life-giving Cross. The devil brought “mental warfare” upon the saint—a persistent, prolonged temptation. To repel the onslaught of the enemy, the Monk Seraphim intensified his labors by taking upon himself the feat of stylite mongering. Every night he climbed a huge stone in the forest and prayed with raised hands, crying: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” During the day, he prayed in his cell, also on a stone that he brought from the forest, leaving it only for a short rest and strengthening his body with meager food. The saint prayed like this for 1000 days and nights. The devil, disgraced by the monk, planned to kill him and sent robbers. Approaching the saint, who was working in the garden, the robbers began to demand money from him. The monk at that time had an ax in his hands, he was physically strong and could have defended himself, but he did not want to do this, remembering the words of the Lord: “Those who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52). The saint, lowering the ax to the ground, said: “Do what you need.” The robbers began to beat the monk, broke his head with a butt, broke several ribs, then, having tied him up, they wanted to throw him into the river, but first they searched his cell in search of money. Having destroyed everything in the cell and finding nothing in it except an icon and a few potatoes, they were ashamed of their crime and left. The monk, having regained consciousness, crawled to his cell and, suffering severely, lay there all night. The next morning, with great difficulty, he reached the monastery. The brethren were horrified when they saw the wounded ascetic. The monk lay there for eight days, suffering from his wounds; Doctors were called to him, surprised that Seraphim remained alive after such beatings. But the monk did not receive healing from doctors: the Queen of Heaven appeared to him in a subtle dream with the apostles Peter and John. Touching the head of the monk, the Most Holy Virgin granted him healing. After this incident, the Monk Seraphim had to spend about five months in the monastery, and then he again went to a desert cell. Remaining bent forever, the monk walked, leaning on a staff or an axe, but he forgave his offenders and asked them not to punish them. After the death of the rector, Father Isaiah, who had been his friend since the saint’s youth, he took upon himself the feat of silence, completely renouncing all worldly thoughts for the purest stand before God in unceasing prayer. If the saint met a person in the forest, he fell on his face and did not get up until the passerby moved away. The elder spent about three years in such silence, stopping even from visiting the monastery on Sundays. The fruit of silence was for St. Seraphim the acquisition of peace of soul and joy in the Holy Spirit. The great ascetic subsequently spoke to one of the monks of the monastery: “...my joy, I pray you, acquire a peaceful spirit, and then thousands of souls will be saved around you.” The new abbot, Father Nifont, and the elder brethren of the monastery suggested that Father Seraphim either continue to come to the monastery on Sundays to participate in divine services and receive Communion at the monastery of the Holy Mysteries, or return to the monastery. The monk chose the latter, since it became difficult for him to walk from the desert to the monastery. In the spring of 1810, he returned to the monastery after 15 years in the desert. Without breaking his silence, he added seclusion to this feat and, without going anywhere or receiving anyone, he was constantly in prayer and contemplation of God. While in retreat, the Monk Seraphim acquired high spiritual purity and was granted special grace-filled gifts from God - clairvoyance and miracle-working. Then the Lord appointed His chosen one to serve people in the highest monastic feat - eldership. On November 25, 1825, the Mother of God, together with the two saints celebrated on this day, appeared in a dream vision to the elder and commanded him to come out of seclusion and receive weak human souls that required instruction, consolation, guidance and healing. Having been blessed by the abbot for a change in his lifestyle, the monk opened the doors of his cell to everyone. The elder saw the hearts of people, and he, as a spiritual doctor, healed mental and physical illnesses with prayer to God and a word of grace. Those who came to St. Seraphim felt his great love and listened with tenderness to the affectionate words with which he addressed people: “my joy, my treasure.” The elder began to visit his desert cell and the spring called Bogoslovsky, near which they built a small cell for him. When leaving his cell, the elder always carried a knapsack with stones over his shoulders. When asked why he was doing this, the saint humbly answered: “I torment him who torments me.” In the last period of his earthly life, the Monk Seraphim took special care of his beloved brainchild - the Diveyevo women's monastery. While still in the rank of hierodeacon, he accompanied the late rector Father Pachomius to the Diveyevo community to see the abbess nun Alexandra, a great ascetic, and then Father Pachomius blessed the monk to always take care of the “Diveyevo orphans.” He was a true father for the sisters, who turned to him in all their spiritual and everyday difficulties. Disciples and spiritual friends helped the saint to care for the Diveyevo community - Mikhail Vasilyevich Manturov, who was healed by the monk from a serious illness and, on the advice of the elder, took upon himself the feat of voluntary poverty; Elena Vasilievna Manturova, one of the Diveyevo sisters, who voluntarily agreed to die out of obedience to the elder for her brother, who was still needed in this life; Nikolai Alexandrovich Motovilov, also healed by the monk. ON THE. Motovilov recorded the wonderful teaching of St. Seraphim about the purpose of Christian life. In the last years of the life of the Monk Seraphim, one healed by him saw him standing in the air during prayer. The saint strictly forbade talking about this before his death.
Everyone knew and revered St. Seraphim as a great ascetic and wonderworker. A year and ten months before his death, on the Feast of the Annunciation, the Monk Seraphim was once again honored with the appearance of the Queen of Heaven, accompanied by the Baptist of the Lord John, the Apostle John the Theologian and twelve virgins, holy martyrs and saints. The Most Holy Virgin talked for a long time with the monk, entrusting the Diveyevo sisters to him. Having finished the conversation, She told him: “Soon, My beloved, you will be with us.” At this appearance, during the wondrous visit of the Mother of God, one Diveyevo old woman was present through the prayer of the monk for her.
In the last year of his life, the Monk Seraphim began to noticeably weaken and spoke to many about his imminent death. At this time, he was often seen at the coffin, which stood in the entryway of his cell and which he had prepared for himself. The monk himself indicated the place where he should be buried - near the altar of the Assumption Cathedral. On January 1, 1833, the Monk Seraphim came for the last time to the hospital Zosimo-Savvatievskaya Church for the liturgy and took communion of the Holy Mysteries, after which he blessed the brethren and said goodbye, saying: “Save yourself, do not lose heart, stay awake, today crowns are being prepared for us.” On January 2, the monk’s cell attendant, Father Pavel, left his cell at six o’clock in the morning, heading to church, and smelled a burning smell coming from the monk’s cell; Candles were always burning in the saint’s cell, and he said: “As long as I am alive, there will be no fire, but when I die, my death will be revealed by fire.” When the doors were opened, it turned out that books and other things were smoldering, and the monk himself was kneeling before the icon of the Mother of God in a position of prayer, but already lifeless. During prayer, his pure soul was taken by the Angels and flew up to the Throne of God Almighty, whose faithful servant and servant the Monk Seraphim was all his life.
Prayers to Saint Seraphim of Sarov
Troparion of St. Seraphim, tone 4:
From your youth you loved Christ, O blessed one, and passionately longed for the One who worked, you labored in the desert with unceasing prayer and labor, and having acquired the love of Christ with a tender heart, you appeared as the chosen one beloved of the Mother of God. For this reason, we cry out to you: save us with your prayers, Seraphim, our reverend father.
Kontakion of St. Seraphim, voice 2:
Leaving the beauty of the world and the corruption in it, reverend, you moved into the Sarov monastery; and having lived there like an angel, you were the path to salvation for many. For this reason, Christ will glorify you, Father Seraphim, and enrich you with the gift of healings and miracles. In the same way we cry to you: Rejoice, Seraphim, our reverend father.
Prayer to St. Seraphim of Sarov
O wonderful Father Seraphim, great Sarov wonderworker, quick and obedient helper to all who come running to you! During the days of your earthly life, no one left you weary and inconsolable, but everyone was blessed with the vision of your face and the benevolent voice of your words. Moreover, the gift of healing, the gift of insight, the gift of healing for weak souls has appeared abundantly in you. When God called you from earthly labors to heavenly rest, your love ceased from us, and it is impossible to count your miracles, which multiplied like the stars of heaven: for throughout the ends of our earth you appeared to the people of God and granted them healing. In the same way, we cry out to you: O most quiet and meek servant of God, daring man of prayer to Him, denying no one who calls you, offer up your powerful prayer for us to the Lord of hosts, may He strengthen our power, may He grant us all that is useful in this life and all that is spiritual useful to salvation, may he protect us from the falls of sin and teach us true repentance, so that we can enter without stumbling into the eternal Heavenly Kingdom, where you now shine in unfathomable glory, and there sing with all the saints the Life-Giving Trinity until the end of the age. Amen.
Second prayer to St. Seraphim of Sarov
O Reverend Father Seraphim! Offer up for us, servants of God (names), your powerful prayer to the Lord of hosts, may He grant us all that is useful in this life and all that is useful for spiritual salvation, may He protect us from the falls of sins and may He teach us true repentance, in order to heed us without stumbling to the eternal Heavenly Kingdom, where you now shine in eternal glory, and there sing with all the saints the Life-Giving Trinity forever and ever.
Prayer three to St. Seraphim of Sarov
O great servant of God, venerable and God-bearing Father Seraphim! Look down from the heavenly glory on us humble and weak, burdened with many sins, your help and consolation to those who ask. Approach us with your mercy and help us to preserve the commandments of the Lord immaculately, to firmly maintain the Orthodox faith, to diligently bring repentance for our sins to God, to gracefully prosper in piety as Christians and to be worthy of your prayerful intercession for us. To her, Holiness of God, hear us praying to you with faith and love and do not despise us who demand your intercession: now and at the hour of our death, help us, and protect us with your prayers from the evil slander of the devil, so that those powers do not possess us, but yes With your help, let us be worthy to inherit the bliss of the abode of paradise. We now place our hope in you, merciful Father: be truly a guide to our salvation and lead us to the unevening Light of eternal life by your God-pleasing intercession at the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity, may we glorify and sing with all the saints the venerable name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever centuries. Amen.
Prayer to St. Seraphim of Sarov
Oh, wonderful Father Seraphim, great miracle worker of Sarov, quick and obedient helper to all who come running to you! During the days of your earthly life, no one was tired of you and was inconsolable when you left, but everyone received the sweetness of the vision of your face and the sweet voice of your words. Moreover, the gift of healing, the gift of insight, the gift of healing for weak souls has appeared in you abundantly. When God called you from earthly labors to Heavenly rest, your love ceased from us, and it is impossible to count your miracles, multiplying like the stars of heaven: behold, to all the ends of the earth You appear to the people of God and grant them healing. In the same way, we cry out to you: O humble and meek servant of God, bold man of prayer to Him, deny those who call upon you! Offer up your merciful prayer for us to the Lord of strength, may He grant us all that is beneficial in this life and all that is useful for spiritual salvation, may He protect us from the falls of sin and may He teach us true repentance, without any recourse novena usher into the eternal Kingdom of Heaven, where you now in ever-shining glory, and there sing with all the saints the Life-Giving Trinity forever and ever. Amen. A close person, spiritual mentor, prayer book, St. Seraphim is now a beloved saint for thousands of people. People come to Diveevo to see his relics, they address him with the words of canonical prayers or their own, coming from a loving heart.
Troparion, tone 4
From your youth you loved Christ, O blessed one, / and you ardently desired to work for Him alone, / you labored with unceasing prayer and labor in the desert, / with a tender heart the love of Christ Having acquired the wealth,/ the chosen one, beloved of God, appeared to the Mother./ For this reason we cry out to you // Save us with your prayers, Seraphim, like our Father.
Kontakion, tone 2
Having left the beauty of the world and the corruption in it, O monk, / you moved into the Sarov monastery, / and there you lived like an angel, / you were the path to salvation for many, / for this reason, Christ is for you, oh Father Seraphim, glorify / and enrich us with the gift of healings and miracles ./ Moreover we cry to you: Rejoice, Seraphim, like our Father.
Greatness
We bless you, Reverend Father Seraphim, and honor your holy memory, mentor of monks and interlocutor of Angels.
Monastery of Seraphim of Sarov
Seraphim-Diveevo Convent. Photo by Vladimir Eshtokin
The Diveyevo monastery is the beloved brainchild and last refuge of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, a place of veneration of his relics, a monastery in which the saint himself bequeathed to be buried.
The Seraphim-Diveevo Convent in the name of the Holy Trinity is located in the Nizhny Novgorod diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. Crowds of pilgrims flock here for consolation, healing, to bow to the feat of the great elder, to walk along the Holy Kanavka and to pray to the Queen of Heaven for their family and friends.
The monastery arose in the second half of the 18th century. The first building was the Kazan Church. St. Seraphim spoke about the Kazan Church:
“The Kazan Church, my joy, this will be a temple like no other! At the end of the world, the whole earth will burn, my joy, and nothing will remain. Only three churches from all over the world will be taken completely undestroyed to heaven: one in the Kyiv Lavra, the other... (the sisters forgot), and the third is yours in Kazan, mother. Wow, what a Kazan church you have!”
For more than a hundred years, first the community, and then the monastery (1861), expanded with lands and new churches thanks to the help of local residents, landowners and the dedication of the abbess.
In 1917, according to the list, 270 nuns and 1,474 novices lived in it - with a population of 520 people in the village of Diveevo. On September 21, 1927, the monastery was closed. Some of the sisters and the abbess moved to Murom, to a house near the walls of the Annunciation Monastery.
The revival of the monastery began in 1988, when a church parish was registered. On July 21, 1991, the Holy Synod decided to renew the monastery. On July 31, 1991, the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov, rediscovered in St. Petersburg in the Kazan Cathedral, which was then the Museum of Atheism and Religion, solemnly arrived in Diveevo. In April 1992, according to the behest of Seraphim of Sarov, an unquenchable candle was lit in front of the image of the Savior in the Church of the Nativity. On February 20, 1995, by presidential decree, the Kazan Church was given the status of an architectural monument of federal significance. Large-scale restoration work began, seven churches were consecrated. Now more than 400 nuns live in the monastery. The center of spiritual life remains the Trinity Cathedral with its main shrine - the holy relics of St. Seraphim, the Wonderworker of Sarov.
The groove of the Queen of Heaven in the Diveyevo Monastery is one of the main shrines of the monastery. On November 25, 1825, the Mother of God appeared to St. Seraphim and commanded the founding of the Mill Community, indicating how this place should be surrounded by a ditch and a rampart. The ditch was created in the last years of the life of St. Seraphim. He was in a great hurry to create this groove - the path along which the Virgin Mary walked. The ditch along the path, according to the instructions of the Queen of Heaven, was to be dug only by the sisters of the community, and the laity could help carry the earth and fill the shaft. The Monk Seraphim said that this Canal is high to heaven and will always be a wall and protection from the Antichrist: “Whoever passes this Canal with prayer and reads half a hundred “Theotokos”, everything is here: Mount Athos, and Jerusalem, and Kyiv!” The last section of Kanavka was transferred to the monastery only in 2006, and its restoration was completed on July 31. With prayer on their lips and rosary in their hands, pilgrims walk along the Holy Canal, according to the behest of the Venerable One, following the Queen of Heaven, in Her footsteps.
Father Seraphim is digging a ditch
First prayer
O wonderful Father Seraphim, great Sarov wonderworker, soon an obedient helper to all who come running to you! During the days of your earthly life, no one was tired of you or comforted by your departure, but everyone was blessed by the vision of your face and the benevolent voice of your words. Moreover, the gift of healing, the gift of insight, the gift of healing for weak souls has appeared abundantly in you. When God called you from earthly labors to Heavenly rest, none of your love is simple from us, and it is impossible to count your miracles, multiplying like the stars of heaven: for all over the end of our earth you appeared to the people of God and granted them healing. In the same way, we cry out to you: O most quiet and meek servant of God, daring prayer book to Him, reject no one who calls you! Offer up your powerful prayer for us to the Lord of hosts, may He grant us all that is useful in this life and all that is useful for spiritual salvation, may He protect us from the falls of sin and may He teach us true repentance, so that we can enter without stumbling into the eternal Kingdom of Heaven, where you now in everlasting glory you shine, and there sing with all the saints the Life-Giving Trinity forever and ever. Amen.
Second prayer
O great servant of God, venerable and God-bearing Father Seraphim! Look down from the glory on high upon us, the humble and weak, burdened with many sins, your help and consolation to those who ask. Reach out to us with your compassion and help us to preserve the commandments of the Lord immaculately, to firmly maintain the Orthodox faith, to diligently offer repentance for our sins to God, to gracefully prosper in piety as Christians and to be worthy of your prayerful intercession for us. To her, Holy One of God, hear us who pray to you with faith and love, and do not despise us who demand your intercession; now and at the hour of our death, help us and protect us with your prayers from the evil slander of the devil, so that those powers do not possess us, but may we be honored with your help to inherit the bliss of the abode of paradise. We now place our hope in you, merciful Father, be truly a guide to salvation for us and lead us to the unevening light of eternal life through your God-pleasing intercession at the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity, so that we glorify and sing with all the saints the venerable Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever centuries. Amen
Prayer three
O Reverend Father Seraphim! Offer up for us, servants of God (names), your powerful prayer to the Lord of hosts, may He grant us all that is useful in this life and all that is useful for spiritual salvation, may He protect us from the falls of sins and may He teach us true repentance, in order to heed us without stumbling to the eternal Heavenly Kingdom, where you now shine in eternal glory, and there sing with all the saints the Life-Giving Trinity forever and ever.
Prayer to Saint Seraphim of Sarov for the acquisition of Divine love
Reverend Father Seraphim, filled with Divine love, unceasing servant of Divine love, beloved of the Mother of Divine Love, hear me, who loves little and grieves you much. Grant that I too may now be a zealous servant of Gracious Love. That love which is long-suffering, does not envy, does not boast, is merciful, is not proud, does not act outrageously, does not seek its own strength, is not irritated, does not think evil, does not rejoice in untruth, but rejoices in the truth: it loves everything, it has faith in everything, everything endures, even if nothing else falls away! With this love, be a servant of me and all my relatives, and known, and friends, implore Primordial Love, so that having served Her love on earth, through your intercession, the prayers of the Mother of God and all the saints, I will reach the Kingdom of love and glory, and light, and will fall at the feet of my Master, who gave us the commandment about true love.
Loving Father, do not reject the prayers of the heart that loves you, and beg a loving God for the forgiveness of my sins. Help us to bear each other’s burdens, not to do to others what we don’t want to do to ourselves, to cover everything with love, and with a heartfelt song of love, having ended our earthly life, begin with it a joyful eternal life in the land of true love. Pray for us, Father, beloved by us, Father, who loves us! Amen.
Icons of Seraphim of Sarov
With hands folded in prayer at the heart - only the right hand touches the heart or the hands lie on the chest in the area of the heart crosswise, the right hand on top of the left
In front of the icons, people turn to the holy saint for help in mental and physical healing.
There are four main iconographic images of Seraphim of Sarov:
1. With hands folded in prayer at the heart - only the right hand touches the heart or the hands lie on the chest in the area of the heart crosswise, the right hand on top of the left
2. Blesser - the right hand blesses, in the left hand there are prayer beads
3. Prayer on a stone - Father Seraphim stands kneeling on a stone, raising both hands to the sky
4. An image where the Monk Seraphim of Sarov is depicted as an old man with a staff.
Half-length icons and icons are also painted, where Saint Seraphim is depicted in full growth. For the “blessing image” on the icons there is a mandatory attribute: prayer beads in the left hand.
Icon painted from the lifetime portrait of Seraphim of Sarov:
Third prayer to Seraphim of Sarov
Prayer for the gift of love, read for yourself, for loved ones and for enemies
Reverend Father Seraphim, filled with Divine love, unceasing servant of Divine love, beloved of the Mother of Divine Love, hear me, who loves you little and grieves you a lot.
Grant that I too may now be a zealous servant of God-pleasing Love. That kind of love that is long-suffering, does not envy, does not boast, is merciful, is not proud, does not act outrageously, does not seek its own, does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices about others. Pray to Primordial Love, and having served Her love on earth, through your intercession and prayers I will reach the Mother of God and all the saints in the Kingdom of love and glory and light, and I will fall at the feet of my Master, who gave us the commandment about true love.
Loving Father, do not reject the prayers of the heart that loves you, and beg a loving God for the forgiveness of my sins. Help us to bear each other’s burdens, not to do to others what we don’t want for ourselves, everyone loves, in truth; He loves everything, he has faith in everything, he endures everything, even though he falls away!
This love should be a servant to me and all my relatives, and known, and to cover with love, and with a heartfelt song of love, having ended earthly life, begin with it a joyful eternal life in the land of true love. Pray for us, Father, our beloved Father, who loves us! Amen.
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Source of St. Seraphim of Sarov
Source of St. Seraphim of Sarov. Photo from the personal archive of Yulia Denisova.
Not far from the Sarov monastery there is a quiet picturesque place, a small lake with clear spring water - a holy spring in the name of St. Seraphim of Sarov. The source opened on the banks of the Satis River.
According to eyewitnesses, in the 60s of the last century, in the forbidden territory where the spring is now located, an old man in white robes appeared to the border guards. When asked what he was doing here, the old man remained silent, only hit with his staff - the water began to flow, and a spring opened. Later they wanted to cover the source with earth, but the old man appeared again and said: “Do not fill up my source.”
Now on the territory where the source is located, there is a log chapel; on holidays, solemn prayers are held here. Behind the chapel, baths are open to pilgrims all year round. There is a lot of evidence of healings after washing in the source of St. Seraphim.
Source of St. Seraphim of Sarov. Photo by Yulia Denisova.
Relics of Seraphim of Sarov
Relics of Saint Seraphim of Sarov
In the Holy Trinity Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery, under the canopy in the left aisle of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, are the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov. There is also the staff of Father Seraphim.
“I will die, I will lie in the grave, but you come to my grave, here, as if alive, tell me everything that your heart wants to say, and I, as if alive, will hear you from the grave,” the elder said to his friends before his death . Thousands of people go to the monastery to venerate the holy relics.
The history of the discovery of the relics is very dramatic and full of tragic twists: the canonization and discovery of the relics of St. Seraphim took place under the care of Tsar Nicholas II in 1903, in the 1920s the relics of the saint were taken away, then desecrated by being in an anti-religious museum, in 1934 they completely disappeared and rediscovered only on January 15, 1991 in the storerooms of the Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism, which was located in the building of the Kazan Cathedral in Leningrad. However, today anyone can venerate the relics of one of the most revered saints of Rus', ask for the gift of health, remission of sins, and correction of life.
“Rejoice today, all Russian land, and, holy monastery of Diveyevo, rejoice. The multitude of the faithful, who have gathered together today, let us glorify the venerable father, shepherd and teacher, the God-wise mentor to the lost, the quick healer of all the sick, the Russian land, a great adornment, praising him, Sitserce: Reverend Seraphim, save us with your prayers” (stichera on the litiya).
Second prayer to Seraphim of Sarov
About help and intercession, read in despondency and sinful circumstances
O great servant of God, venerable and God-bearing Father Seraphim!
Look down from the glory on high upon us, the humble and weak, burdened with many sins, your help and consolation to those who ask. Reach out to us with your compassion and help us to preserve the commandments of the Lord immaculately, to firmly maintain the Orthodox faith, to diligently offer repentance for our sins to God, to gracefully prosper in piety as Christians and to be worthy of your prayerful intercession for us.
To her, Holy One of God, hear us who pray to you with faith and love, and do not despise us who demand your intercession; now and at the hour of our death, help us and protect us with your prayers from the evil slander of the devil, so that those powers do not possess us, but may we be honored with your help to inherit the bliss of the abode of paradise. We now place our hope in you, merciful Father, be truly a guide to salvation for us and lead us to the unevening light of eternal life through your God-pleasing intercession at the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity, so that we glorify and sing with all the saints the venerable Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever centuries. Amen
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Rule of Seraphim of Sarov
St. Seraphim of Sarov left us the following prayer rule:
“Rising from sleep, every Christian, standing before St. icons, let him read the Lord’s Prayer “Our Father” three times, in honor of the Most Holy Trinity, then the hymn to the Mother of God “Rejoice, Virgin Mary” also three times and, finally, the Creed once. Having completed this rule, let everyone go about their work to which they have been assigned or called.
While working at home or on the road somewhere, let him quietly read: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner,” and if others surround him, then, while doing business, let him say with his mind only: “ Lord have mercy,” and continues until lunch. Just before lunch, let him perform the above morning rule. After dinner, while doing his work, let him read quietly: “Most Holy Theotokos, save me a sinner,” and let him continue this until sleep.
When going to bed, let every Christian read the above morning rule again; after that, let him fall asleep, protecting himself with the sign of the cross.”
For those who, due to various circumstances, cannot follow this small rule, Rev. Seraphim advised reading it in any position: during classes, while walking, and even in bed, presenting the basis for this as the words of Scripture: “whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
St. Seraphim of Sarov, Wonderworker
Akathist to the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov
Kontakion 1
Chosen, miracle-working and wonderful servant of Christ, our quick helper and man of prayer, like Father Seraphim! Having magnified the Lord who has glorified you, we sing your praises. But you, having great boldness in the Lord, free us from all troubles, calling: Rejoice, O Reverend Seraphim, wonderworker of Sarov. Ikos 1
The Creator of angels chose you from the beginning, so that through your life you may glorify the wonderful name of the Holy Trinity: for you truly appeared as an angel on earth and as a seraphim in the flesh; Like the bright ray of the Eternal Sun of Truth, your life will be enlightened. We, seeing your praiseworthy works, with reverence and joy say to you the verb: Rejoice, rule of faith and piety; Rejoice, image of meekness and humility. Rejoice, glorious magnification of the faithful; Rejoice, quiet consolation for the sorrowful. Rejoice, beloved praise of monks; Rejoice, wonderful help to those living in the world. Rejoice, glory and protection to the Russian powers; Rejoice, sacred adornment of the Tambov country. Rejoice, like Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov. Kontakion 2
Seeing your mother, like Father Seraphim, your warm love for monastic life, we know the holy will of the Lord for you, and to God, as the perfect gift is brought, bless you on the narrow path and nightly with your holy cross, which you bore on your chest until the end of your life, Signifying the greatness of your love for Christ our God, who was crucified for us, to Him we all call with tenderness: Alleluia. Ikos 2
Heavenly intelligence has been given to you, O Holiness of God: from your youth you have not ceased to think about Heavenly things, you have left your father’s house of the Kingdom of God for the sake of His righteousness. For this reason, accept this praise from us: Rejoice, God’s chosen child of the city of Kursk; Rejoice, most honorable branch of pious parents. Rejoice, you who have inherited your mother’s virtues; Rejoice, taught by her piety and prayer. Rejoice, blessed by your mother with the cross for exploits; Rejoice, thou who keep this blessing as holy unto death. Rejoice, for the love of the Lord you left your father’s house; Rejoice, all the red of this world, imputed to nothing. Rejoice, like Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov. Kontakion 3
The power of the Most High from your youth has truly preserved you, O Reverend: from the heights of the temple, the Lord has fallen and preserved you unharmed, and the Lady of the world herself, who suffered from your suffering, appeared and was healed from Heaven. Having brought this offering, from childhood you faithfully served God, calling out to Him: Alleluia. Ikos 3
Having concern for the labor of monastic life equal to the angels, you came to the holy city of Kiev to worship for the sake of the saints of the Pechersk, and from the mouth of the venerable Dositheas you came to the desert of Sarov to direct your path, by faith from afar you kissed this holy place, and there you settled your godly life and ended. We, marveling at God’s providence for you, cry out to you with tenderness: Rejoice, you who have renounced worldly vanities; Rejoice, fiery desire of the Heavenly Fatherland. Rejoice, loving Christ with all your heart; Rejoice, you who have received the good yoke of Christ. Rejoice, thou filled with perfect obedience; Rejoice, faithful guardian of the holy commandments of the Lord. Rejoice, your mind and heart are prayerfully affirmed in God; Rejoice, unshakable pillar of piety. Rejoice, like Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov. Kontakion 4
Calming the storm of evil misfortunes, you walked the entire path of the difficult and sorrowful feat of monasticism, bearing the yoke of desert life, seclusion and silence, long-night vigil, and so, ascending by the grace of God From strength to strength, from deed to vision of God, you settled in the Abode of Gornia, where with the angels sing to God: Alleluia. Ikos 4
Hearing and seeing your holy life, like Father Seraphim, all your brethren marvel at you and, coming to you, learn about your words and struggles, glorifying the Lord, who is wondrous in holy ykh Ours. And we all praise you with faith and love, holy father, and cry out to you: Rejoice, you have sacrificed everything to the Lord; Rejoice, you who have ascended to the height of dispassion. Rejoice, victorious warrior of Christ; Rejoice, good and faithful servant of the Lord of Heaven. Rejoice, unashamed representative for us before the Lord; Rejoice, our vigilant prayer book to the Mother of God. Rejoice, deserted valley of wonderful fragrance; Rejoice, undefiled vessel of the grace of God. Rejoice, like Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov. Kontakion 5
The divine light is your dwelling place, O Reverend, when I am always sick and lying on my deathbed, the Most Pure Virgin Herself came to you with the holy apostles Peter and John, saying: “This one is from generation to yours,” and I will touch your head. Having healed Abiye, you sang to the Lord: Alleluia. Ikos 5
Seeing the enemy of the human race, your pure and holy life, like Seraphim, they wanted to destroy you: they brought evil people against you, who unlawfully tortured you and left you barely alive ; But you, Holy Father, like a gentle lamb, have endured everything, praying to the Lord for those who offend you. Moreover, we all, marveling at your kindness, cry out to you: Rejoice, in your meekness and humility, imitating Christ God; Rejoice, through your kindness you have conquered the spirit of malice. Rejoice, diligent guardian of spiritual and bodily purity; Rejoice, hermit, filled with grace-filled gifts. Rejoice, God-glorified and perspicacious ascetic; Rejoice, wonderful and godly teacher of monks. Rejoice, praise and joy to the Holy Church; Rejoice, glory and fertilization to the monastery of Sarov. Rejoice, like Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov. Kontakion 6
The desert of Sarov preaches your deeds and labors, O God-bearing saint of Christ: for you have fragrant the wilds and forests with your prayer, imitating the prophet of God Elijah and the Baptist of the Lord John I, and you appeared in the desert, abundant vegetation with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, whose many and glorious actions you accomplished, challenging the faithful sing good things to the Giver God: Alleluia. Ikos 6
Aligning in you the same God -seeker, the marsis of the hill, Serafima Boljann: the non -resistant service of the Oltarya is committed, he was spent to the mature of Christ, in the temple with the delightful lifes of the ridicule. Marveling at this good will of God for you, we sing to you: Rejoice, most glorious of God; Rejoice, illuminated by the Trisiac Light. Rejoice, faithful servant of the Most Holy Trinity; Rejoice, dwelling place adorned with the Holy Spirit. Rejoice, thou who hast seen Christ with the angels' bodily eyes; Rejoice, foretaste of the heavenly sweetness in your mortal body. Rejoice, filled with the Bread of Life; Rejoice, thou filled with the drink of immortality. Rejoice, like Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov. Kontakion 7
Although the Lord, the Lover of mankind, will show in you, O Lord, His indescribable mercy towards people, showing you as a truly God-bright luminary: by your deeds and words you have led everyone to piety and love ́ God's. Moreover, with the radiance of your exploits of enlightenment and the bread of your teaching, we zealously magnify you and cry out to Christ who glorified you: Alleluia. Ikos 7
Now seeing you as God’s chosen one, from afar I come to you faithfully in sorrows and illnesses; and these, burdened with troubles, you did not reject, exuding healing, giving consolation, intervening in prayers. In the same way, the broadcast of your miracles went out throughout the whole Russian land, and your spiritual children glorified you: Rejoice, our good shepherd; Rejoice, merciful and meek Father. Rejoice, our speedy and gracious physician; Rejoice, merciful healer of our infirmities. Rejoice, quick helper in troubles and situations; Rejoice, sweet pacifier of the troubled souls. Rejoice, the one who is to come is like the present prophet; Rejoice, perspicacious accuser of hidden sins. Rejoice, like Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov. Kontakion 8
We see a strange miracle on you, reverend: like this old man, weak and laborious, you abided in prayer for a thousand days and a thousand on the stone. Who is pleased to destroy your illnesses and struggles, blessed Father, even as you have endured, lifting up your hands to God, conquering Amalek in your mind and the Lord’s waist: Alleluia. Ikos 8
You are all desire, all sweetness, Sweetest Jesus! - thus in your prayers you cried, Father, in your desert silence. But we, who have spent our entire lives in vanity of darkness and sins, praising your love for the Lord, cry out to you: Rejoice, you who love and honor you as the mediator of salvation; Rejoice, lead sinners to correction. Rejoice, you silent and wonderful recluse; Rejoice, you who pray diligently for us. Rejoice, you who showed fiery love for the Lord; Rejoice, you who burned the arrows of the enemy with the fire of prayer. Rejoice, unquenchable light, flaming with prayer in the desert; Rejoice, lamp, burning and shining of spiritual gifts. Rejoice, like Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov. Kontakion 9
All the angelic nature was surprised at the strange vision: for the old man, who is in the shutter, the Queen of Heaven and earth appeared, commanding, let him open his shutter and let him not forbid Orthodox people to come to him, but yes He will teach everyone to sing to Christ God: Alleluia. Ikos 9
The branches of many things will not be able to utter the strength of your love, blessed one: for you gave yourself up to serve all who came to you, fulfilling the command of the Mother of God, and you were a perplexed good advisor, oh a comforter to those who go astray, a gentle admonition to those who go astray, a doctor and healer to the sick. For this reason we cry to you: Rejoice, you who have moved from the world into the wilderness, so that you may acquire virtues; Rejoice, having returned from the desert to the monastery, sowing seeds in virtue. Rejoice, illuminated by the Holy Spirit with grace; Rejoice, filled with meekness and humility. Rejoice, loving father of those who flocked to you; Rejoice, you who gave them encouragement and consolation in words of love. Rejoice, you who come to you as joy and treasure; Rejoice, for your holy love you have become worthy of the joys of the Heavenly Kingdom. Rejoice, like Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov. Kontakion 10
Your saving feat, reverend, reached the end; in prayer, on your knees, you gave up your holy soul in the hand of God, even as the angels of holiness lifted up Woe to the Throne of the Almighty May you stand with all the saints in eternal glory, singing the song of praise of the saints to the Most Holy Word: Alleluia. Ikos 10
The wall is a consolation for all saints and monks, the Most Holy Virgin appeared to you before your death, announcing your close departure to God. We, marveling at such a visit to the Mother of God, cry out to you: Rejoice, thou who has beheld the Queen of Heaven and earth; Rejoice, joyful at the appearance of God to Mother. Rejoice, you have received news from Him of the Transmigration of Heaven; Rejoice, having demonstrated by your righteous death the holiness of your life. Rejoice, in prayer before the icon of the Mother of God your tender spirit was betrayed to God; Rejoice, having fulfilled your prophecy with a painless outcome. Rejoice, thou crowned with the crown of immortality from the hand of the Almighty; Rejoice, you who have inherited the bliss of heaven with all the saints. Rejoice, like Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov. Kontakion 11
Offering unceasing singing to the Most Holy Trinity, O Venerable One, with all your life, the great ascetic of piety appeared to those who have gone astray for admonition, those who are sick in soul and body for healing. But we, being grateful to the Lord for such mercy towards us, let us call to Him: Alleluia. Ikos 11
You were a luminous lamp in life, blessed father, and after your death you shone like a luminous luminary of the Russian land: you exuded from your honest relics the currents of miracles for everyone, with faith and love I see those who flow to you. Moreover, we, like a warm prayer book for us and a miracle worker, cry out to you: Rejoice, glorified by many miracles from the Lord; Rejoice, thou who shone forth with thy love to the whole world. Rejoice, faithful follower of the love of Christ; Rejoice, consolation to all those who require your help. Rejoice, endless source of miracles; Rejoice, healer of the sick and sick. Rejoice, multi-healing water is an inexhaustible storehouse; Rejoice, for you have embraced all the ends of the earth with your love. Rejoice, like Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov. Kontakion 12
Grace and greatness are your boldness before God, we pray to you, holy father: pray warmly to the Lord, that He may keep His Holy Church from unbelief and schism, from troubles and misfortunes, and I offer you to God who benefits us: Alleluia. Ikos 12
Singing your glorification, we am pleasing to, the reverence, the prayer for us is multiplying the prayer for us, the comforter and the patch, and with the love of Tyusa: wound up, the Orthodox praise is praise; Rejoice, shield and fence for our Fatherland. Rejoice, guide, guide everyone to Heaven; Rejoice, our protector and patron. Rejoice, thou who by the power of God has performed many miracles; Rejoice, through your robe you healed many sick people. Rejoice, victorious over all the wiles of the devil; Rejoice, thou who subdued the wild beasts by thy meekness. Rejoice, like Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov. Kontakion 13
O wonderful servant and great miracle worker, like Father Seraphim, accept this little prayer of ours, offered to you in praise, and now stand before the Throne of the King of kings, our Lord Jesus Christ, pray for all of us, that we may find His mercy on the Day of Judgment, in joy singing to Him: Alleluia. This kontakion is read three times, then ikos 1 and kontakion 1 Prayer to St. Seraphim of Sarov
O most wonderful Father Seraphim, great Sarov miracle worker, quick and obedient helper to all who come running to you! During the days of your earthly life, no one was weary and inconsolable when you left, but everyone was blessed by the sight of your face and the sweet voice of your words. Moreover, the gift of healing, the gift of insight, the gift of healing for weak souls has appeared abundantly in you. When God called you from earthly labors to heavenly rest, your love ceased from us, and it is impossible to count your miracles, multiplying like the stars of heaven: behold, to all the ends of the earth You appear to the people of God and grant them healing. In the same way, we cry out to you: O humble and meek servant of God, bold man of prayer to Him, reject no one who calls you! Offer up your merciful prayer for us to the Lord of strength, may He grant us all that is beneficial in this life and all that is useful for spiritual salvation, may He protect us from the falls of sin and may He teach us true repentance, in order to threads for us to the eternal Kingdom of Heaven, where you now in everlasting glory you shine, and there sing with all the saints the Life-Giving Trinity forever and ever. Amen.
CANON FIRST TO THE REVEREND SERAPHIM OF SAROV
voice 6 Song 1
Irmos: As on dry land, Israel having walked across the abyss with its feet, seeing the persecutor Pharaoh being drowned, we sing a victorious song to God, crying out. Lord, open my unworthy lips and give me the word of reason to worthily sing the memory of the blessed Seraphim, now praying to You with the Angels to deliver us from every cruel situation. You were a great prayer book to the Mother of God, O Reverend, You were honored to see the Apostles even, and now do not stop visiting your children with your prayers. From your youth, reverend, you devoted yourself to the mind of God and, having tamed the passions of the body with strong abstinence, you adorned yourself with all sorts of virtues, O wise one. Theotokos: O All-Good Lady, Who gave birth to the Most Good God in the flesh, cleanse my heart, embittered by passions, so that with faith and love I magnify Thee. Song 3
Irmos: There is nothing holy like You, O Lord my God, who has lifted up the horn of Your faithful, O Good One, and established us on the rock of Your confession. With your prayers, reverend, standing before God with the Angels, pray for the whole world, consume the battles of the enemy and grant victory to your adversaries. From your youth, with faith and love, you clung to the Lord of the Highest Powers, Reverend Seraphim, and, having risen in the desert of Sarov, like the sun, you were a comforter to those who came to you in sorrow; pray for us to be saved. Thou hast appeared, O Reverend, to those who pray to you, an unshakable pillar and a refuge for all those who flow to the Sarov monastery and receive healing and inexhaustible grace. Theotokos: When Mother Eve heard, give birth to a child in sorrow. But you, Pure Virgin, having heard: The Lord is with you, rejoice, - with a joyful voice you consumed the sorrow of your foremother. Sedalen, voice 4
Having overcome the worldly sea of passions through abstinence and flowed into the haven of dispassion, a vessel of abstinence appeared, Reverend Seraphim, pray to Christ God to grant us great mercy. Song 4
Irmos: Christ is my strength, God and Lord, the honest Church sings divinely, crying out, pure in meaning, celebrating in the Lord. Today the Sarov monastery brightly celebrates your memory, reverend, and prays to you: ask the Lord of the universe for peace and great mercy for our souls. With your great deeds, reverend, you have flourished like a phoenix, delighting the hearts of those who flow to you with fruitful words and immaculate life, and now pray that we may find mercy from Christ our Savior. With your prayers for us, beseech God, Reverend Seraphim, and destroy the sinful darkness of our sorrow, adorn all who honor your glorious memory with dispassion, faith and love. Theotokos: Rejoice, Lady Virgin, beauty to the Churches, power and praise to pious people, unceasingly pray to Christ God, may He save us from troubles with Your prayers. Song 5
Irmos: By Thy divine light, Nearer, illumine the souls of Thy morning with love, I pray, Lead Thee, the Word of God, the true God, crying out from the darkness of sin. You were a true teacher to all who came to you and a great prayer book to the Mother of God, and now, reverend, do not cease praying for your children, for you have great boldness. May the people of Christ now descend into the temple of the Sarov monastery, to your honorable relics, Reverend Seraphim, and may they ask from you for healing, health and salvation, magnifying Christ. At night I pray to God, O Reverend, the invisible enemy wanted to frighten you, but, through your prayer, he was put to shame, and the all-evil one disappeared. Theotokos: God, Whom You gave birth to, Most Pure Mary, pray to Your servant for forgiveness of sins. Song 6
Irmos: The sea of life, raised in vain by misfortunes and storms, has flowed to Your quiet refuge, crying to You: lift up my belly from aphids, O Most Merciful One. Your holy soul was the abode of God, in which the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit dwelt, and we also pray to you, reverend, to drive away the obsessions of the enemy from those who honor you and grant peace and health to faithful people. We honor your great desert exploits and labors and the sweetness of your teaching, Reverend Seraphim, in the image of many who came to you, you enlightened and taught you to sing the praises of the Consubstantial Trinity. Having followed the Lord Christ with a pure life, you ended your good course, O Reverend, and ascended to the eternal abode, blessed one, seeing there even the Angels see. In the same way, honoring your memory, we magnify Christ. Theotokos: Now I resort to You, Most Pure One, save me with Your prayers and keep me: as much as you want, you can, as the Mother of the Almighty. Kontakion, tone 2
Having left the beauty of the world and the corruption in it, reverend, you moved into the Sarov monastery and, having lived there like an angel, you were the path to salvation for many, for this reason, and Christ glorified you, Father Seraphim, and enriched you with the gift of healings and miracles. In the same way we cry to you: Rejoice, Seraphim, our reverend father. Ikos
Having left your family and friends, your wealth, like dust, having been imputed, you settled in the desert of Sarovstey and, in passion, as if you were incorporeal, having labored, you were made worthy of the rank of the Angels. In the same way, receive spiritual understanding, grant us, reverend, to sing wisely in songs to you, who say: Rejoice, blessed Seraphim, heavenly man and earthly angel; Rejoice, imitator of Christ in love; Rejoice, abode of the Holy Spirit; Rejoice, great joy to the discouraged; Rejoice, source of healings; Rejoice, sweet consolation for sorrowing souls; Rejoice, quiet refuge for monks and wise teacher; Rejoice, praise to the Russian land; Rejoice, Seraphim, reverend our father. Song 7
Irmos: The angel made the venerable furnace a venerable youth, and the Chaldeans were admonished by the scorching command of God to the tormentor to cry out: Blessed are you, O God of our fathers. Your life has appeared wonderfully, reverend, filled with the grace of the Divine Spirit, you have truly accepted the blessed death of the saints, rejoicing in Christ. We cry to the one who glorified you: our father, God, blessed are you. Many people who have come to the holy monastery today, Venerable Seraphim, venerate your honorable relics, from whom we draw all healings, constantly calling: our father, God, blessed art thou. This broadcast went out throughout the whole earth, as if in Sarov the miracle worker appeared glorified, pouring out multitudes of healings to all who came with faith and cried out: Our father, God, blessed art thou. Theotokos: Theotokos Virgin, who gave birth to the Word more than the word, Thy Creator, pray to Him with the Venerable Seraphim to have mercy on our souls. Song 8
Irmos: From the flames of the saints you poured out dew and burned the righteous sacrifice with water: you did everything, O Christ, only as you wished. We extol You forever. Having tamed the passions of the flesh and mortified the world, you have received the words of eternal life in your heart, O blessed one, teaching all who come to you to cry out: Sing to the Lord, O deeds, and exalt Him forever. In the glorification of your holy relics, reverend, the Sarov monastery was filled with joy. All the people cried out to God, marvelous in their saints: Sing to the Lord, O works, and exalt Him unto the ages. Filled with the grace of the Divine Spirit, Reverend Seraphim, faithful people, creating your holy memory, with your prayers ask for forgiveness of sins, crying: children, bless, priests, sing, people, exalt the Lord forever. Theotokos: You have appeared to us as an Intercessor of salvation, O Mother of God, who gave birth to the Savior and Lord of all, we also pray to Thee: grant salvation to all who sing hymns to Thee faithfully throughout all ages. Song 9
Irmos: It is impossible for a man to see God, the angels do not dare to look upon the Worthless One, but with You, All-Pure One, having appeared as a man, the Word incarnate, Who is magnified, with the Heavenly howls we please You. Our little praise sung to you by unworthy lips, reverend, do not despise, but accept and sanctify all who glorify you, troubles and misfortunes, and deliver from eternal torment, so that we may sing to you forever. Having valiantly endured the scum of the night and the plague of the day in the solitude of the desert, you were the house of the Wisdom of God and you rose to the uneven radiance. Pray for us to be saved. The monastery is famous today, in which you deigned to receive the yoke of Christ: there, in the desert, you spent your days and, having enlightened many who came to you with your teachings, you taught to be children of the Church of Christ. Theotokos: You are our strength, You are our praise and joy, Our Guardian, intercession, refuge and invincible Representative, Most Pure Mother of God, save Your servants. Svetilen
Come, all faithful ones, let us praise with sacred songs the wondrous Venerable Seraphim in miracles, the new lamp of the Russian land, an angel of interlocutor and a warm prayer book to God for those who honor his holy memory.
Prayer to St. Seraphim of Sarov O most wonderful Father Seraphim, great miracle worker of Sarov, quick and obedient helper to all who come running to you! During the days of your earthly life, no one was tired of you or comforted by your departure, but everyone was blessed by the vision of your face and the benevolent voice of your words. Moreover, the gift of healing, the gift of insight, the gift of healing for weak souls has appeared abundantly in you. When God called you from earthly labors to heavenly rest, none of your love ceased from us, and it is impossible to count your miracles, multiplying like the stars of heaven: for all over the end of our earth you appeared to the people of God and granted them healing. In the same way, we cry out to you: O most quiet and meek servant of God, daring prayer book to Him, reject no one who calls you! Offer up your powerful prayer for us to the Lord of hosts, may He grant us all that is useful in this life and all that is useful for spiritual salvation, may He protect us from the falls of sin and may He teach us true repentance, so that we can unfalteringly enter into the eternal Kingdom of Heaven, where you now in everlasting glory you shine, and there sing with all the saints the Life-Giving Trinity forever and ever. Amen.
What does Seraphim Sarovsky help with?
Great, comforted and healer, the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov is an ambulance to all who ask for his help. During his lifetime, he helped people a lot - through deeds and prayer to God for them. People asked him to pray for healing from envy, for those who hate and offend, for the cooling of love for neighbors, for good relationships in the family, for spiritual adversity (despondency, apathy) ... About this and in any other difficult situations, when the heart tells us that without With the help of the patron saint, it will be difficult for us to cope on our own; we can pray to him now.
Prayer for the gift of love, read for yourself, for loved ones and for enemies
Reverend Father Seraphim, filled with Divine love, unceasing servant of Divine love, beloved of the Mother of Divine Love, hear me, who loves you little and grieves you a lot.
Grant that I too may now be a zealous servant of God-pleasing Love. That kind of love that is long-suffering, does not envy, does not boast, is merciful, is not proud, does not act outrageously, does not seek its own, does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices about others. Pray to Primordial Love, and having served Her love on earth, through your intercession and prayers I will reach the Mother of God and all the saints in the Kingdom of love and glory and light, and I will fall at the feet of my Master, who gave us the commandment about true love.
Loving Father, do not reject the prayers of the heart that loves you, and beg a loving God for the forgiveness of my sins. Help us to bear each other’s burdens, not to do to others what we don’t want for ourselves, everyone loves, in truth; He loves everything, he has faith in everything, he endures everything, even though he falls away!
This love should be a servant to me and all my relatives, and known, and to cover with love, and with a heartfelt song of love, having ended earthly life, begin with it a joyful eternal life in the land of true love. Pray for us, Father, our beloved Father, who loves us! Amen.
A short prayer for help and intercession, indicating the name of the person praying
O Reverend Father Seraphim! Offer up for us, servants of God (names), your powerful prayer to the Lord of hosts, may He grant us all that is useful in this life and all that is useful for spiritual salvation, may He protect us from the falls of sins and may He teach us true repentance, in order to heed us without stumbling to the eternal Heavenly Kingdom, where you now shine in eternal glory, and there sing with all the saints the Life-Giving Trinity forever and ever.
What do they pray to the saint for? How does he help people?
The monk, already responsive to any petitions during his lifetime, if they are useful to a person, is now asked for any everyday, spiritual needs:
- healing of diseases, including spiritual ones; Already during his lifetime, cases of the saint’s expulsion of unclean spirits are known, and there is such evidence after his death;
- after the monk was attacked by robbers, he remained hunched over until the end of his life, walking leaning on a staff, so many turn to him for healing of pain in the back and legs;
- assistance in arranging family life, about marriage;
- about help in work, in business;
- A monk who owned nothing during his life is often asked for... money - and gets it.
Stories about Father’s help through prayers to him
Sometimes the requests are the simplest, one might say mundane, but they also require a quick response. Here are just a few such examples.
“Look, boy!” The life of 40-year-old Vladimir S. can be said to have worked out: family, children, good money job. He did not forget the church - he came on holidays, and sometimes even visited monasteries. Vladimir saw the icon of Father Vladimir during one of these trips. Suddenly feeling some kind of spiritual closeness to the saint, he decided to ask him... to lose weight, and of course, to quit drinking, the addiction to which, the man understood, was beginning to become an addiction. For his part, he promised to make his own efforts. “I don’t know how to explain,” says Vladimir, “but I heard the answer: “Look, boy, I promised not to let you down!” A boy in his fifties? Not knowing what to think, the man left the temple.
And a month later, changes really began: suddenly, within a day, the craving for alcohol completely disappeared. Vladimir says:
“I haven’t been drinking for six years now, I go to the gym and the pool, I’ve gained weight and got rid of many ailments. No craving for alcohol, no effort on yourself. An Ordinary Miracle."
Family matters Servant of God Marina says that her family life did not work out at all, her relationship with her husband was deteriorating. On top of all this, problems at work were added. With her troubles, the woman went to her beloved saint, asking him to “manage” her life. Upon arrival home, Marina found out that she was expecting her second child. She left work, where it was difficult for her, to go on maternity leave, and the birth of her son improved her relationship with her husband.
“Incomprehensible money” And here is Alexandra’s story:
“Of course, Father has always helped and continues to help. And with sorrows, and with joys, and with sins, always cry to him. Always quick to help, grieves for us, does not judge. The first time I was in Diveevo and approached the relics, I was very worried - what to ask for? It seems like a solemn moment, something important needs to be said, but here comes the thought: a very small amount of money is not enough. I was even embarrassed. But before I had time to get home, they called from work: “Listen, they credited you with some strange money,” and they said exactly the same amount, penny for penny. I felt very ashamed and scared then, and since then I’ve tried to ask only for spiritual help.”
Cartoon about Seraphim of Sarov
On the last weekend of August 2015, the premiere of a cartoon took place, telling children about St. Seraphim of Sarov. The plot of the cartoon is dedicated to the story of the girl Seraphima, who was orphaned during the Great Patriotic War. She faces many trials - she is the daughter of a repressed priest, she is required to renounce her faith. But one day the heroine finds herself in an ancient temple. From that moment on, her life changes greatly. She makes an extraordinary journey into a wonderful world and meets her heavenly patron, Saint Seraphim of Sarov.
The 70-minute cartoon “The Extraordinary Adventures of Seraphim” was created by the KinoAtis studio on the initiative and with the financial support of the Russian Ministry of Culture, as well as the Foundation of St. Seraphim of Sarov.
Stage director: Sergei Antonov, producer: Igor Meshchan, scriptwriter: Timofey Veronin
Motovilov and Seraphim Sarovsky
Nikolai Aleksandrovich Motovilov (1809-1879) - Simbirsk and Arzamas landowner, “Seraphim’s servant”, was the secret man of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the Diveyevo monastery.
ON THE. Motovilov graduated from Kazan University, served as an honorary warden of the Korsun district school, a judge of the Simbirsk conscience court, a member of the Nizhny Novgorod-Ardatov Prison Committee, and was elected a member of the special commission of the State Connoisseur. (E.I. Motovilova. From memories of her husband)
It is known that at the beginning of their acquaintance, St. Seraphim healed N.A. Motovilov from a long illness: “A year before I was given the commandment to serve the Mother of God at the Diveyevo monastery, the great elder Seraphim healed me of serious and incredible, great rheumatic and other diseases, with relaxation of the whole body and the removal of legs, crumpled and swollen at the knees, and with bedsore ulcers on my back and sides, with which I suffered incurably for more than three years.” ON THE. Motovilov became the first biographer of Saint Seraphim of Sarov. He wrote down the teachings and prophecies of the great old man.
The “Conversation of St. Seraphim with N. A. Motovilov” about the acquisition of the Holy Spirit, which took place in November 1831 in the forest, not far from the Sarov monastery, and was recorded by Motovilov, is also widely known. The manuscript was discovered 70 years later in the papers of Nikolai Alexandrovich’s wife, Elena Ivanovna Motovilova.
According to the will of St. Seraphim of Sarov, it was N.A. Motovilov who completed the creation of the Diveyevo convent. ON THE. Motovilov was buried in 1879 in the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery.
