What they ask from the icon of the Seraphim of Sarov. Venerable Seraphim of Sarov
Seraphim of Sarov - patron of what? To answer this question, you first need to know life path old man After all, the name of this saint is widely known throughout the world, and he is especially revered in Rus'. The Lord gave him the ability to heal, as well as talk about the past and predict the future. Prayers with requests to the holy saint work miracles: they fulfill the most cherished desires, heal, help find a way out of a difficult situation.
The heavenly patron Seraphim of Sarov is from Kursk. Known exact date his birth was July 19, 1759. At baptism the baby received the name Prokhor.
Miracles began to happen to the boy from the very early age. There was a case when Prokhor could not resist and fell from the bell tower of the temple. Everyone saw the miracle that the boy remained completely unharmed.
In 1776 in Kiev-Pechersk Lavra happened fateful meeting young Prokhor and elder Dositheus, who indicated to the young man that he should take monastic vows in the Sarov wasteland.
After 2 years, the young man ended up in the Tambov province, where he became a novice in the Sarov Monastery. And 8 years later, in 1786, he did what Dosifei told him - he took monastic vows and became the monk Seraphim.
Seraphim did not need rest at all; the Lord himself gave him the strength to serve. In 1794, he accepted the silent feat and settled in the forest so that he could pray unceasingly.
Father Seraphim spent 16 years in the desert, and in 1810 he returned to the monastery to take another retreat, which lasted until 1825. Everything changed on November 25 of the same year. In a dream, the Mother of God appeared to Seraphim of Sarov and ordered him to stop fulfilling his vows and begin to host people in order to help them with her advice, guidance and healings.
Miracles through the prayers of Father Seraphim
For his love for God and his feats of asceticism, Father Seraphim received from the Lord the gift of healing people, as well as predicting important events. He knew everything about the past and future, gave wise advice, and helped to overcome difficulties. Sometimes what he advised seemed strange and incomprehensible to people, but those who exactly fulfilled what was predicted were later convinced that everything that Father Seraphim said made sense.
Seraphim of Sarov is the patron of what? People came to him for advice and with requests, he helped in the treatment of physical and mental illnesses, and sometimes with advice he prevented trouble.
He helped everyone who turned to him with prayer and water from the miraculous spring. Many cases of cure of hopeless patients have been recorded healing water Father Seraphim.
After the death of the saint, the healing spring continues to work miracles. Its water is truly healing, it brings you back to life, gives you health and peace of mind.
However, the main miracle that remained after Saint Seraphim of Sarov was prayer. It has long been known that people endowed with certain abilities do not heal themselves; through prayer they send their requests to God, who, loving them, fulfills their requests. Saint Seraphim of Sarov still prays for all of us before God, therefore miraculous prayer this old man fulfills his wishes, saves him in difficult times, helps him overcome trouble.
Icons of Seraphim of Sarov
Now there are many revered icons of the holy elder Seraphim of Sarov. His image is depicted not only on icons, but also on frescoes.
There are picturesque icons that were painted by skilled artists shortly after the death of the reverend elder, with the involvement of people who personally knew him. The famous portrait of Seraphim of Sarov has been preserved, which is now kept in the Moscow Theological Academy.
In the Christian world, the face of Seraphim of Sarov is revered, people pray to him, and people turn to him with requests for help.
Seraphim of Sarov is the patron of what?
Here we come to the main question. The memory of Holy Father Seraphim is revered by believers twice a year: January 15 and August 1. But this does not mean that they pray to the saint only on these days. Sincere prayer will be effective at any time, the main thing is to believe and think about good.
Whose patron is Seraphim of Sarov? They turn to him with requests for help, and also in despondency under sinful circumstances, they pray to deliver him from demonic temptations. He is asked for the grace of giving love. It helps in the development of memory, relieves diseases of the spirit and body, and helps in solving problems of a material nature.
Prayers to Seraphim of Sarov are effective; if you forgive not only for yourself, you can pray for your loved ones and for your enemies.
Prayer for a Happy Marriage
Seraphim of Sarov is the patron saint of marriages. Lonely girls turn to this saint with a request to arrange their fate. It has long been known that in order to receive help, prayer alone is not enough. The prayer will be effective if read over water. And for this it is best suited living water- spring.
Taking a liter of water, read a prayer over it, while placing a lit church candle and an icon of Seraphim of Sarov near the vessel. You should drink the water prepared in this way and also sprinkle it on your bed and room.
Of course, we should not forget that main attribute such a request is faith in God and confidence that a miracle will happen and you will meet your destiny.
It is believed that Seraphim of Sarov is the patron of late marriages, so those who have already lost all hope of arranging their destiny often turn to him. If you are over 30 years old or more and still single, contact Father Seraphim and be sure that your sincere prayer will be fulfilled.
Very strong help there will be a prayer of a mother who wants her daughter to get married, because the Lord accepts any request of the mother for his dearly beloved child.
How to pray to Seraphim of Sarov
This saint is very loved and revered in Rus'. It has long been the case that people addressed him lovingly: Seraphimushka, elder, father, saint of God, Father Seraphim, wonderworker.
Address yourself in prayer the way you like best, the main thing is that it comes from the heart and is pure with good thoughts.
So, Seraphim of Sarov is the patron of what? Probably, everyone will answer this question for themselves, because it is known that the elder’s faith and reverence for God worked true miracles.
After the saint died, Orthodox people they turned to him with faith, and a miracle happened. Back in 1895, a special commission recorded 94 miraculous healings that occurred after prayer to Father Seraphim. This is just a small part real cases the help of a saint who is always ready to support a believer.
“In 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 sweet voice of your words.”
Venerable Seraphim Sarovsky. Beginning of the 20th century. Volga region.
“Images of Father Seraphim are called and considered “icons”, they are placed in arks along with other icons with the image of the Savior, the Mother of God and saints already glorified by the Church; lamps are lit in front of them, the sign of the cross and prostrations are made and kisses<...>Between the widespread images of Fr. Seraphim has a belt, the so-called Serebryakovsky<...>completely iconic type and only the absence of a halo, not always and not noticeable to everyone, indicates that this is an image of a saint not yet glorified by the Church,” testified in 1887, the treasurer of the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery, nun Elena (Annenkova), a representative of a famous noble family .
Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, with a view of the Sarov Assumption Hermitage. Beginning of the 20th century. Workshop of the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery. Canvas, oil. Troitsky Serafimo-Diveevsky convent
Unknown artist (V.F.Bikhov?)
Late XIX century. Canvas, oil.
Trinity Seraphim-Diveevo Convent.
1829-1830s. Canvas, oil. Private collection
The earliest, lifetime portrait.
The portraits complemented the image after the Sarov celebrations of 1903 with a halo and inscription.
According to the traditions of the Synodal time, local veneration of the ascetic excluded the possibility of using this visible designation of holiness. The first chromolithographs with a halo and the inscription “Reverend” were passed by censors and saw the light only in 1902. And even in the Diveyevo Monastery, where they deeply believed in the future glorification of the founder as a saint and prayed to him, they did not dare to openly testify to this. His portraits were carried at religious processions along with icons; in front of one of them, in the cell of Mother Superior Maria (Ushakova), a lamp was burning, from the oil of which healings took place. And at the same time, in portraits, paintings and lithographs of Diveyevo origin, the saint is called “the ever-memorable elder,” “hieromonk,” or simply “Father Seraphim.”
(written on a piece of brick from a saint's tomb)
“He was a small, bent old man with a gentle and kind gaze. He lived longer in the forest and rarely came to the monastery. We walked deep into the Sarov forest and saw there the secluded cells of Father Seraphim, built by him himself" (V.E. Raev).
Third quarter XIX century. Volga region. Canvas, oil. Private collection
Mid-19th century. Canvas, oil. Patriarchal residence in Moscow
"...As if alive, the wondrous Seraphim appears before us, in the form of a bent old man, slowly making his way from the monastery to his nearby hermitage. On his face, plump and retaining a fresh color, despite his old age and difficult feats, those familiar to us shine Blue eyes who know how to discern spiritual secrets"(Russian antiquity. 1904. No. 11.)
Hieromonk Joasaph (Tolstoshev) (?). Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, on the way to the desert. Second third of the 19th century. Canvas, oil. Temple of St. Seraphim of Sarov at the Seraphimovsky cemetery in St. Petersburg
A younger contemporary of St. Seraphim, Sarov novice Ivan Tikhonovich Tolstosheev, (later Hieromonk Joasaph, in the schema Seraphim, known for his attempts to subjugate the Diveyevo monastery after the death of the elder) mastered the art of painting in the monastery. In the "Chronicle of the Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery" he is called that way - "Tambov painter" (by origin), and it is noted that he was taught by the peasant Efim Vasiliev, the monastery carpenter
. He, in turn, was engaged in painting with the blessing of the monk himself, and is known as the author of his first image with a bear, painted eleven years after the death of the elder and placed in the chapel above his tomb.
Venerable Seraphim of Sarov on the day of the Annunciation
1831. Around 1901. Serafimo-Diveevsky's workshop
monastery Wood, gesso, oil. Trinity Seraphim-Diveevo Convent
Luminosity is a special phenomenon of Diveyevo painting, and in particular the work of Mother Seraphima. At the same time, the event is reproduced historically accurately, taking into account all the details of the attire of the Mother of God and the saints, according to the description of the old woman Evdokia Efremovna, who witnessed the miraculous phenomenon. Very few icons with this plot have survived, which is difficult to solve for a multi-figure composition.
Icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” (“Joy of All Joys”). The end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century. Workshop of the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery. Wood, gesso, oil. Trinity Seraphim-Diveevo Convent.
The righteous death of St. Seraphim of Sarov. Beginning of the 20th century. Workshop of the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery. Wood, gesso, oil. TsMiAR
With great skill, the image of the saint’s righteous death before the cell image of the Mother of God “Tenderness” (CMiAR) was translated into an icon. Photographs from the beginning of the 20th century depict pictures of this scene from the monastery cell of the saint and the chapel over his tomb. A relief bronze image decorated the elder’s tomb. The state of transition to eternity in this composition borders on deep immersion in prayer, which is why it is sometimes mistakenly called “prayer” in icons and prints. The icon seems to preserve all the details of the cell furnishings - the stove, bags of crackers, the hood, mantle and bast shoes hanging on the wall. Only the walls of the cell are no longer there, instead of them there is a golden background - the glory and radiance of eternity. On the back of the icon there are two seals: about the consecration of the icon on the relics of the saint and the actual “icon painting”: “The work of the sisters of the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery of the Nizhny Novgorod province of the Ardatovsky district<да>".
Thrones of the Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery. Circa 1916. Workshop of the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery. Wood, gesso, oil. Trinity Seraphim-Diveevo Convent.
The icon “Thrones of the Seraphim-Diveev Monastery” was created around 1916, possibly for the intended consecration of the New Cathedral. The panorama of the monastery at the bottom of the image dates back to this time. Important semantic role central image may be connected not only with the dedication of the throne, but also with the significance of the Tenderness icon as the main shrine of the monastery. The images of the temple holidays are given symmetrically, according to the compositional principle, below are the heavenly patrons of the Diveyevo abbess: Saint Mary Magdalene and the martyr Alexandra the Queen. After the death of Abbess Maria (Ushakova) in 1904, the monastery was headed by Alexandra (Trakovskaya).
Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, with 12 hallmarks of his life. Beginning of the 20th century. Wood, gesso, mixed media. TsMIAR.
Seven plots from the life of the Venerable Elena Diveevskaya. 1920s. N.N. Kazintseva (?). Wood, gesso, tempera. Trinity Seraphim-Diveevo Convent
The crowning glory of the iconography of St. Seraphim of Sarov are the hagiographic icons, of which, unfortunately, few have survived. The development of stamp compositions was largely prepared in the second half of the 19th century by the publication of numerous prints, which existed as separate sheets and were placed in books. The first experience of combining several subjects in one image is the masterful lithograph of 1874 by I. Golyshev (RSL). A year before the glorification of the saint, chromolithographs with his icon-portrait in the center, the main events of his life, and views of the holy places of his exploits in Sarov began to be printed in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Odessa. Many of the subject compositions of the prints clearly influenced the creation of the stamps of hagiographic icons. One of the best examples is the icon “St. Seraphim of Sarov, with 12 marks of life” from the beginning of the 20th century (CMiAR). In the middle there is a half-length image of the “Serebryakov” version, in the upper corners there are cell icons of the Savior Not Made by Hands and the Mother of God “Tenderness”, supported by angels, in the remaining stamps - important points lives, miraculous appearances of Christ and the Mother of God, solitary exploits, righteous death.A unique work dates back to the 1920s - the hagiographic icon of St. Elena (E.V. Manturova) from the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery. Here the chosen plot is unusual and high in meaning: “The Queen of Heaven shows El[ena] V[asilievna] the heavenly Diveev.” The venerable woman is referred to everywhere by her initials (“E.V.”), and she, and even the Monk Seraphim, do not have a halo. Nevertheless, according to the instructions of Archpriest Stefan, and according to the compositional principle, and partly according to the iconography, this is still an icon, an iconographic type of thinking. In one of the last scenes (Reverend Seraphim blesses Elena Vasilyevna to die for her brother), the figure of the elder is made only with whitewash, likened to a pillar of light. The image is an example of the creative impulse to create new iconographies, so characteristic of the Diveyevo tradition, which preceded the appearance of canonical images. Such works, undoubtedly, were supposed to spiritually strengthen the faith of the sisters in the prayerful intercession of the Diveyevo ascetics during the difficult years of persecution of the Church.
“Who am I, wretched one, to paint my appearance? They depict the faces of God and Saints, but we are people, and sinners,” the Monk Seraphim of Sarov once answered a request to “copy” a portrait from him.
The Monk Seraphim of Sarov begins to dig the Ditch. Folding stamp. 1920s. Workshop of the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery. Wood, gesso, oil. Trinity Seraphim-Diveevsky Convent.
According to the “Chronicle” of Archpriest Stefan Lyashevsky, painting continued to be practiced in Diveyevo even in the early 1920s. A collection with scenes from the history of the monastery, located in the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery, dates back to this time. One of the picturesque stamps depicts the Monk Seraphim beginning to dig the Mother of God ditch, along which “the feet of the Queen of Heaven passed.” The sisters hesitated in fulfilling the commandment of the monk, and then one night at dawn they saw him himself “in his white robe,” digging the ground, “they fell straight at his feet, but, having risen, they no longer found him, only a shovel and a hoe lying ... on the dug up ground"
. Icons of this subject are very rare; they are mostly of local Diveyevo origin. The analogue image from the beginning of the 20th century from a private collection wonderfully conveys the pre-dawn sky, the surprise and joy of the novice who saw the elder. A historical detail is introduced into the composition - the millstones of the “feeder” mill in the background.
To understand what patron Seraphim of Sarov is, you need, first of all, to know his life, what he did and what mark he left on history.
Born in the city of Kursk into a family of ordinary workers. At birth he received the name Prokhor. Since childhood, the boy was taught to physical labor. My parents were building a church.
Also in childhood Strange things were happening to the child. For example, once a boy climbed a church bell tower and fell from it to the ground. The height was great, but the boy survived and remained virtually unharmed. He had no broken bones or serious wounds, just minor bruises.
After this incident, Prokhor realized that this was a sign from God and began to become interested in religion. Growing up, he wanted to devote himself to serving the Lord. In the Saratov region, he began to work as a priest and received the name Seraphim.
Seraphim of Sarov is canonized. According to legend, he had the gift of healing, so many people turned to him for help. According to legend, he could heal fatal diseases internal organs.
He is revered in the Orthodox and Catholic religions.
Seraphim of Sarov is the patron saint of helping those in need. Even during his lifetime, people turned to him with a request to free his mind from sorrow, despondency or temptation. People pray to him in a state of despair and resentment. They ask for spiritual peace and satisfaction.
What do they ask for and in what cases do they pray to Seraphim of Sarov
Many believers turn to the icon of Seraphim of Sarov for help. He knew how to heal serious illnesses. Therefore they pray to him for good health both your own and those close to you.
People ask to be protected from sins and temptations. Prayers to the icon of Seraphim of Sarov heal both physical and spiritual wounds. If someone has offended a person, or he experiences a feeling of despair and sadness, turning to a saint will help overcome this. Even during his lifetime, Seraphim of Sarov believed that despondency was the most terrible human sin, and tried to help people in the fight against it.
Prayer to the saint for marriage is quite popular. Young girls ask for help finding loving husband and a happy family. However, there is one caveat: you cannot ask a saint to leave a man from another family. This is a sin, since this happiness will be built on the misfortune of other people. If a woman wants to take her beloved away from another family, the prayer will not be heard and, on the contrary, may result in God’s punishment.
One should also pray to Seraphim of Sarov in marriage. People ask him to strengthen relationships with their loved ones. They want to enhance tender feelings between family members. When praying this way, you should read the text in the corner of the room so that the energy lingers in the house longer. You need to sit on your knees in front of the icon, light a church candle and read a prayer.
Seraphim Sarovsky also helps people doing business. However, he will not hear everyone and will not help everyone. The work must be related to church affairs. Business should be built on help ordinary people. If a person prays only with the goal of getting richer, his work will only bring losses.
The intentions of the person praying must be pure and sincere. Before prayer, you should go to church and light a candle there. The saint will be favorable if a person does some good deed.
Church ministers argue that it is not necessary to pray to a specific icon for a specific cause. It is enough to simply “give a sign” to start work. The most important thing is that prayer must be sincere and come from a pure heart.
Why do you dream about the icon of Seraphim of Sarov?
In all religions, the icon is a symbol of the highest spiritual power. Before you start interpreting a dream with an icon, you need to remember several things: firstly, how the icon appeared in the dream (standing on the table, falling to the ground, being held in your arms, etc.), secondly, who was depicted on the icon.
The second point is more important, since every saint is a patron of one or another cause. Interpretation becomes more difficult if a person does not remember the image or does not know who was depicted.
Unfortunately, the image of Seraphim of Sarov in dreams does not carry good news. The saint warns that failure and misfortune will soon overtake a person. However, we must not give up. You have to try to solve the problem yourself. You should turn to God for help, not to close friends. In this case, the bad moments will pass faster, and everything will get better in life.
There is no need to rely only on divine help. Only with his own hands can a person pave his way to a bright future. The prayer to the icon of Seraphim of Sarov warns a person not to make hasty conclusions and rash actions (other icons also warn about this).
Where is the icon of Seraphim of Sarov located?
The Russian saint is revered not only in Russia, but also in European countries. In Catholic churches you can find icons depicting Seraphim of Sarov. For example, in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Estonia.
In Russia, the icon of Seraphim of Sarov can be found in many places:
- In the Danilov Monastery.
- In Elokhovsky Epiphany cathedral.
- At the Serafimovsky cemetery (Old Peterhof).
In Orthodoxy there are a large number of different icons. Each of them has a unique history and significance that cannot be overestimated.
One of the most widespread and famous icons is the image of Seraphim of Sarov. The saint made a huge contribution to the development of the Christian faith. During his lifetime he helped a large number people, and today miracles happen through prayers to Saint Seraphim. Pray to Seraphim of Sarov in front of his icon to get rid of ailments and strengthen your faith in the Lord.
History of the icon
The first icon dedicated to the saint was painted immediately after the death of Elder Seraphim, who lived in the monastery and received people every day, relieving them of health problems and helping with advice. The saint was distinguished by his great righteousness and mercy, and therefore became an example for all future generations of Christians.
The saint died in 1833, so his first icons began to appear around the same time. New icons of St. Seraphim, including the largest of them, were painted in 1903 after Nicholas II initiated the canonization of Seraphim of Sarov.
Description of the icon
The icons depict the holy elder in full height or waist-deep. His right hand raised and fingers crossed. It is as if he makes the sign of the cross to everyone who looks at this icon. In his second hand, Seraphim holds a cross.
Where is the icon
This image was and is a mandatory icon not only at home, but also in the temple. There are practically no churches in which you would not find this image. One of ancient icons is still located in the Sarov Monastery in the Tambov region.
What does an icon help with?
During his lifetime, Seraphim helped people get rid of their problems various kinds. That is why the icon can be placed anywhere, because it is universal. They will save the marriage, bring some sense to the children, and increase their health. You can pray in front of her at any time - there are no precise instructions from the church on this matter. You can read the Our Father or the Creed.
- January 15- the day of the death of Seraphim of Sarov, which is the day of his veneration.
- August 1- the day of the discovery of the relics of the saint.
Prayer before the icon
“Oh, our reverend father Seraphim! Offer your good prayers for us to the Lord, so that he will grant us all the blessings in this life and everything that will help the salvation of the soul, may he protect us from all kinds of sins and teach us true repentance, so that he will help us enter the Kingdom of Heaven, where you now reside and sing with all the saints Life-giving Trinity forever and ever. Amen".
Live according to Christian commandments and read prayers daily, regardless of whether everything is good or bad. Know how to thank God for the bright days given to you. We wish you good luck and prosperity. Be happy and don't forget to press the buttons and
Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, Wonderworker, in the world Prokhor Moshnin is an ascetic of the Russian Church, founder and patron of the Diveyevo Monastery.Born 07/19/1759. Reposed on January 2, 1833.
The Monk Seraphim of Sarov is called the Wonderworker, because both during his life and after his death he was revered by the people for miraculous healings, prophecies and consolation of the suffering.
Canonized as a saint in July 1903. This happened in the Sarov and Diveyevo monasteries, with a huge gathering of people of different classes and conditions.
Long before the Sarov celebrations of 1903, images of Seraphim of Sarov were placed on the shrine and were revered on a par with icons: many of them were distributed to peasant huts, to the homes of wealthy people, to the palaces of those holding power. By the time the elder was glorified, it turned out that the image of the saint was created before canonization and his images became icons of the saint. There were many oral traditions and tales about the miracles of the Elder of Sarov among the people, and his biography was created publicly.
Contemporaries of Seraphim of Sarov especially noted that the saint healed not so much with a gentle word, but with the love and joy that emanated from him. People especially remembered the instructions of the reverend elder.
The relics of Seraphim of Sarov are buried in the Diveyevo monastery. They bestow miraculous healing, spiritual enlightenment, and allow you to feel all the joy of being according to the will of God. The relics were returned to the Diveyevo monastery in 1991. This event - the Second Finding of the Relics, which occurred on January 15, 1991, was celebrated with a religious procession. Patriarch Alexy II took part in the solemn service, holding a prayer service on the square adjacent to the Trinity Cathedral. Since that time, the relics of the saint have not left the walls of the monastery. In 2003 Orthodox Rus' widely celebrated the centenary of the glorification of the reverend elder among the saints of Orthodoxy.
At the site of the appearance of the Mother of God to Father Seraphim on November 25, 1825, a well was built, distinguished by its miraculous power, and below, near it, there is the former Theological Well. In the summer of 1826, at the request of the elder, the Bogoslovsky spring was renewed. The cover covering the pool has been removed; A new frame was made with a pipe for the water source. Near the pool, the elder was engaged in bodily labor. Collecting pebbles in the Sarovka River, he threw them ashore and used them to cover the spring basin. On December 9, 1826, in the Diveyevo community, by order of Fr. Seraphim, the foundation of the mill took place, and in the summer, on July 7th, it ground.
4. Death of St. Seraphim of Sarov.
Shortly before her death, on March 25 (Old Style), 1832, the Mother of God appeared to Seraphim for the twelfth (and last) time, accompanied by the holy virgin martyrs and saints. Two days before, the monk told about the upcoming miraculous event to his spiritual daughter Eupraxia, a nun from the Diveyevo convent closest to Sarov. This monastery was founded by the landowner Agafia Melgunova (monastically Alexandra) in the third quarter of the 18th century. Subsequently, the Monk Seraphim himself became the organizer of the monastery. Eupraxia was present at this extraordinary “descent of Heaven to earth,” subsequently testifying about it: “I thought I was no longer alive.” The appearance of the Mother of God ended with Her addressing Seraphim: “Soon, My beloved, you will be with us.” The holy elder began to prepare for death. He had long ago made an oak coffin for himself and, without any fear, joyfully awaited the transition to eternity. The monk said: “My life is shortening - in spirit I was, as it were, born now, but in body everything is dead!.. When I am gone, you come to my grave! And the more often, the better. Everything that is in your soul, no matter what happens to you, come to me, and bring all your grief with you to my grave! Tell me everything as if it were alive! As you always said to the living, so it is here! For you I am alive and will be forever!” The Monk Seraphim of Sarov, the ascetic, died on the night of January 2 (15), 1833.
Not long before, he predicted that his death would be revealed through a fire. Early in the morning on this day, two monks, passing by the elder’s cell, smelled smoke - no one answered the knock on the door. Then they broke it open and found the monk kneeling in prayer in front of his favorite cell, with his arms crossed on his chest, with an unusually peaceful and enlightened expression on his face. The candle that fell from the old man’s hand had already begun to smolder his clothes. Seraphim foresaw not only his imminent death, but also the future joy of his glorification. 5. Canonization of the Wonderworker. Relics of the Saint.
On January 11, 1903, a commission chaired by Metropolitan Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) of Moscow, which included Archimandrite Seraphim (Chichagov), examined the remains of Seraphim Moshnin. The “incorruptibility” of the relics was not discovered, so Metropolitan Anthony (Vadkovsky) of St. Petersburg had to make a statement in “New Time” and in “Additions to the Church Gazette”, where he stated the fact of the preservation of the “skeleton” of the Sarov elder and expressed the opinion that the presence of incorruptible relics are not necessary for glorification. The Holy Synod announced on January 29, 1903: “The Holy Synod, in full conviction of the truth and reliability of the miracles performed through the prayers of Elder Seraphim, ... stated the following decision:
1) the reverent elder Seraphim, who rests in the Sarov desert, is recognized as a saint, glorified by the grace of God, and his most honorable remains are recognized as holy relics and placed in a tomb specially prepared by the zeal of His Imperial Majesty for worship and honor from those who come to him with prayer,
2) to compose a special service for the Venerable Father Seraphim, and before the time of its preparation, after the day of glorifying his memory, to send him a service common to the venerable ones, and to celebrate his memory both on the day of his repose, January 2, and on the day of the opening of his holy relics, and 3) announce this publicly from the Holy Synod.”
The people revered the elder as a saint, long before he was officially included in the Russian calendar. Orthodox Church, but the celebration of his canonization occurred only on July 19 (August 1), 1903. He also predicted this event: “...what joy there will be! In the middle of summer they will sing Easter! And to the people, to the people from all sides, from all sides!” This is what happened in Sarov and neighboring Diveevo at the celebrations of his canonization. Then thousands and thousands of Orthodox Christians of Russia, led by Emperor Nicholas II and other representatives of the Royal Family, came to worship the great ascetic. 5.1. Relics.
There is a belief that before his death, the Venerable Elder Seraphim handed over a candle to the novices of the monastery, ordering him to be greeted with this candle when he returned. The candle was passed down from generation to generation by the novices of the monastery, and only 160 years later, the last and only survivor of the return of the relics and the opening of the monastery, schema-nun Margarita, handed it over to the protodeacon to meet the relics of the elder. After October Socialist revolution the relics of St. Seraphim, as he himself predicted, sank into obscurity. Only two facts were documented: on December 17, 1920, the relics stored in the Diveyevo Monastery near Arzamas were opened, and on August 16, 1921, they were closed and taken away. At the end of the 1920s. The relics of St. Seraphim were put on display in the Moscow Passionate Monastery, where at that time an anti-religious museum was organized. The relics remained there until 1934, when the Passion Monastery was blown up.
The further fate of the relics is revealed in words His Holiness Patriarch Moscow and All Rus' Alexy II, said by him in the Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra on January 12, 1991, the day after signing the protocol on the transfer of St. relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov of the Russian Orthodox Church. Alexia II said the following: “Already at the first meeting with the director of the Museum of the History of Religion, we agreed that the relics, as Orthodox shrines, should be returned to the Church. Employees of the Kazan Cathedral Museum checked the storerooms and found relics sewn into matting in the room where the tapestries were kept. When they were opened, they read the inscription on the glove: “Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us!” It was assumed that these were the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov. The story of the seizure of the relics of St. Seraphim is as follows. From Sarov they were delivered to Arzamas, from Arzamas to the Donskoy Monastery. Then the trail is lost... And, having compared two acts - on canonization in 1903 and on the autopsy in 1920, I sent two archpastors to Leningrad - Bishops of Tambov and Michurinsky Evgeniy and Istrinsky Arseny, who examined the relics... The archpastors who carried out the inspection, testified to the feeling of grace and fragrance of the relics that they had to examine. After comparison, there was confidence that these were indeed the relics of St. Seraphim. There were eleven days left before the transfer. A shrine was made into which the relics were transferred on the eve of their return to the Russian Orthodox Church.”
The relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov were transferred to Moscow and installed in the Epiphany Cathedral for worship. From this cathedral, where Orthodox believers walked and walked non-stop for several months, the journey of the relics began on the way from Moscow to Diveevo. This was an all-Russian “procession of the cross on wheels” (the relics were transported in a minibus, closely followed by the car of His Holiness the Patriarch), which stopped in cities and monasteries along the route. During stops, His Holiness served the Liturgy and akathists were performed to St. Seraphim.
August 1, 1991, on the day of memory of St. Seraphim of Sarov, his St. the relics were returned to the Diveyevo Monastery, founded by Ven. Seraphim. This was one of the most striking miracles of Russian church history XX century.
6. Celebrations, days of remembrance, worship.
The memory of the Venerable Wonderworker is served twice a year:- January 2/15 - the day of his blessed death;
- July 19/August 1, the day of his canonization and discovery of his relics.
On the eve of the day of memory of St. Seraphim of Sarov, an All-Night Vigil is celebrated.
On Memorial Day, the Divine Liturgy is read.
Akathist to St. Seraphim of Sarov the Wonderworker.
Akathist to the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov the Wonderworker is a chant glorifying St. Seraphim of Sarov. The Akathist is performed by those praying while standing. Consists of Akathist to the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov the Wonderworker. of alternating 13 kontakia and 12 ikos.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 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. |
Troparion to St. Seraphim of Sarov, tone 4.
Kontakion to St. Seraphim of Sarov, tone 2.
Greatness to the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov.
7. Iconography.
The iconographic image of St. Seraphim of Sorov goes back to the unpreserved lifetime portrait of him by D. Evstafiev. The old man in this portrait is younger than in the usual images, he has a thin face, smooth, slightly combed back hair and a beard as flowing as his hair. A calm, self-absorbed look attracts attention gray eyes. When looking at this work of the artist, it is clear not only how the portraits turned into icons after glorification, but also how they prepared the future stylistic diversity of images - revealing different facets of the saint’s appearance. 
The main prayer image of Saint Seraphim arose on the basis of another lifetime portrait. This work is associated with the name of monk Joseph (Serebryakov), a graduate of the Arzamas art school. He created the portrait “from life about five years before his death,” that is, around 1828. According to an early description of the painting, the image was on an olive background “in a mantle, epitrachelion and armlets, as he began to receive the Holy Mysteries. 
From this portrait it is clear that summers and monastic exploits had an influence on appearance old man Here the face is presented as pale, dejected from work; The hair on both the head and beard is thick, but not long and all gray. The right hand is placed on the stole at the chest.” 7.1. Iconographic images of St. Seraphim of Sarov.
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. Blessing - 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 Seraphim of Sarov is depicted as an old man with a staff.
Half-length icons and icons are painted where Saint Seraphim is depicted in full height. For the "blessing image" on Orthodox icons there is a mandatory attribute: prayer beads in the left hand.
The face of the saint on the icons reproduces the main features inherent in St. Seraphim of Sarov: kindness, mercy and the humble character of the miracle worker.
On all icons, the eyes of Seraphim of Sarov are especially expressive, their calm, attentive, self-absorbed gaze. Clearly defined eyes look into the heart of the person praying. This style detail becomes characteristic of almost all images of the monk. Many of the images, written in an academic manner, convey artistic means his spirit, peaceful and meek, which is captured in the life of St. Seraphim.
7.2. Life icons.
The hagiographical marks on the icons mainly describe the following events from the life of the Saint: 1. Mother blesses Prokhor to the monastery.
2. During illness.
3. Monasticism.
4. Seraphim’s vision of the Lord Jesus Christ in the temple.
5. Visit to Seraphim by Alexander I.
6. Seraphim’s vision of the Lord Jesus Christ in the temple.
7. Healing by Seraphim in the monastery.
8. Healing by Seraphim.
9. Retake into the care of Rev. Seraphim of the Diveyevo Monastery.
A modern icon from the Shchelkovo Cathedral, with eight scenes from the life, is reworked into iconographic style image of Father Seraphim. There are many icons, mosaic panels with scenes from the life of Seraphim of Sarov.
In the Epiphany Cathedral in the city of Noginsk you can see modern paintings: on the southern wall in one wall of windows - Venerable Sergius Radonezh and Seraphim of Sarov.
The paired image of these two highly revered Russian saints is becoming a tradition. The TsAK keeps an icon with these the reverends began XX century (No. 856). And in the Church of St. Philaret of the Moscow city of Lobnya there is a modern revered icon, on which are written the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, the Passion-Bearer Tsarevich Alexy, the Venerable Martyr Grand Duchess Elisaveta Feodorovna. This selection of saints suggests that the traditions of depicting the saint continue to develop 8. Brief prayer rule of St. Seraphim of Sarov.
Venerable Seraphim of Sarov taught everyone the following prayer rule: 1. “Rising from sleep, every Christian, standing in front of the holy 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.
2. 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 speak only with his mind : “Lord have mercy,” and continues until lunch. Just before lunch, let him do the above morning rule.
3. After lunch, while doing his job, let him read quietly: “Most Holy Theotokos, save me a sinner,” and let him continue this until sleep.
4. 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.”
Lord's Prayer.
Our Father, Who art in Heaven! Hallowed be it your name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.
Song of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Virgin Mary, Rejoice, O Blessed Mary, the Lord is with You; Blessed are You among women and Blessed is the Fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.
Symbol of faith.
I believe in one God the Father, Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, the only begotten, who was born of the Father before all ages;
Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, to Whom all things were.
For our sake man and for our sake of salvation came down from heaven
and became incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human.
She was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried.
And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sat
at the right hand of the Father. And again the future will be judged with glory by the living and the dead,
His Kingdom will have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the life-giving Lord, who proceeds from the Father,
Let us worship and glorify those who spoke with the Father and the Son.
Into one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.
Tea resurrection of the dead, and the life of the next century. Amen.
“Adhering to this rule,” says Fr. Seraphim, “it is possible to achieve the measure of Christian perfection, for the three prayers indicated are the foundations of Christianity: the first, as a prayer given by the Lord Himself, is a model of all prayers; the second was brought from heaven by the Archangel in greeting to the Virgin Mary, the Mother of the Lord; the symbol briefly contains all the saving tenets of the Christian faith."
For those who, for various reasons, cannot follow this small rule, St. Seraphim advised reading it in every position: during classes, while walking, and even in bed, presenting the basis for this in the words of Scripture: “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord , will be saved."
9. Miracles of Seraphim of Sarov.
Since 1825, after ending the vow of silence that lasted 15 years, Seraphim of Sarov began to receive visitors. Numerous cases of healing of the sick and clairvoyance revealed by the righteous elder date back to this period. Seraphim of Sarov died in 1833, while in a kneeling position. But even after death, the Saint continued to work miracles. One of them is the birth of a boy - the heir to the throne, Tsarevich Alexei, in the family of the Royal Passion-Bearers Nicholas II and Alexandra Fedorovna. After the birth of four daughters, Nicholas II and his wife turned with prayers to the image of Seraphim of Sarov, so that God would grant them a male heir. After their request came true, an icon of St. Seraphim settled in the emperor’s study. It should be noted that it was at the request of Nicholas II that in 1903 Seraphim of Sarov was canonized as a Venerable Saint.
From time immemorial, information has reached our days about miracles of healing that have occurred and continue to occur.
Written evidence of the elder’s miracles and prayerful deeds was mainly provided by two monasteries - Sarov and Dieeevskaya. Many manuscripts were kept here, which were copied and distributed among the people, and were later borrowed by spiritual writers.
Information sources.
http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/182687.html
- http://www.diveevo-tur.ru/moshi_serafima_sarovskogo.html
- http://diveevo52.ru/index26.htm
- http://www.temples.ru/iconography.php?TerminID=702 Icons
- http://www.pravklin.ru/publ/izobrazhenija_prepodobnogo_serafima_sarovskogo/9-1-0-2794 (Author: Zh. A. Kurbatova)
- http://serafimov.narod.ru/bibl/rasnoe/thudesa.htm
- http://www.tsurganov.info/svjatye/svjatoj-serafim-sarovskij-ikona.html