August 1: Venerable Seraphim of Sarov

According to the beliefs of believers, Seraphim of Sarov helps people even after his death. He conveys their prayers to the Lord and helps them not to go astray. In Russia, he is one of the most revered and beloved saints - you can find his icon in almost every church, and ordinary people began to pray to him long before he was canonized, almost during his lifetime. They pray to the saint for the health of relatives, a successful marriage, for help in troubles and peace of mind, for deliverance from addiction. The saint is venerated on August 1 and January 15.

“Obtain a peaceful spirit and thousands around you will be saved.”

St. Seraphim of Sarov

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.”

Prayer to the miracle worker

Believers are confident that prayer helps in difficult situations. And to whom does he pray, if not the Most Holy Saint?

When to read a prayer to the saint

They pray to Seraphim at any moment when the soul asks. But traditionally the time for prayer is early morning and late evening, when the morning and evening rules are read by the laity.

What do they pray for in front of the icon?

It doesn’t matter where the miracle worker is buried and how much of the past his life can be considered. You can always pray to him for the health of your relatives, for a successful marriage, for your daughter to marry a good man. About help in troubles, about calming the soul, about getting rid of addiction.

Figure 4. Another variation of the icon

How to pray to the holy image correctly

The icon of Seraphim in itself means nothing. It's just a painted board, a symbol - about the same as a grave - a symbol of a deceased person. Therefore, when praying, you need to think not about her, but about the person to whom the prayer is addressed. About the one who never refused help to anyone, whose prophecies were always true, to whom the Mother of God appeared more than once as a sign. The main thing is to remember that the Savior always stands behind him, and that without him the saint has no power.

Don't be distracted by worldly things. Don't think about vanity.

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.

Miracles of the Saint

In the life of Saint Seraphim there were enough deeds that can be called miracles:

A bear came to him from the forest and served him, although according to all the rules he should have torn it to pieces.
One day a clerk came to him and slandered the priest. The saint drove him away, and the clerk lost his tongue, and it remained so until he repented.
During prayer, he sometimes rose above the ground.

The Lord gave Seraphim the gift of healing and prediction, wisdom to help with instructions and prayer power. But the most impressive thing is the time when the monk did not perform a miracle, but showed true Orthodox humility.

One day, robbers came to his cell and someone whispered to them that the saint was hiding a treasure. They beat him brutally, broke his head, broke his ribs, but he not only did not resist, even though these were the days of his youth, but subsequently asked for mercy from these people.

And his wounds healed, although they were fatal, leaving only a crooked back.

Figure 3. Saint Seraphim and the bear - a very common subject in paintings and icons

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

Saint Seraphim is a helper to all who suffer

There are testimonies of pilgrims coming to the holy father for help, when the hermit fed a huge bear or other wild animals from his hands, which did not touch him, but loved him. Seraphim saw through people and knew how to recognize their needs without words. He avoided some parishioners, and those who were truly in grief and trouble accepted and gave his instructions.

The miraculous deeds of the elder

The holy wonderworker was visited not only by ordinary people , but also by noble persons. He taught everyone to live with loyalty to the Church and the Fatherland. More than once they seduced the elder with the spirit of ambition and offered him to be both an archimandrite and an abbot. But he always strived for true asceticism and rejected all offers. And only in 1810, when the elder lost the strength to come to the monastery, he left his forest cell forever and returned to the monastery, where he continued to lead a reclusive life.

For five whole years the elder did not go out to people and brethren. And even after opening the door, he still didn’t talk to anyone, because he had taken a vow of silence. And in the entryway, near the door to the cell, he placed an oak coffin, near which he prayed, preparing for eternal life. Pilgrims more than once saw how Seraphim, praying to the Lord, suddenly rose above the ground and soared. After ten years of silence, the Monk Seraphim went out to serve the world, but before that he had the appearance of the Mother of God, who gave him permission to end his seclusion.

a deacon came to the Sarov monastery , he was from Spassk, and falsely accused another priest. Saint Seraphim immediately recognized the deception and drove away the covetous man with the words: “Go away, perjurer, and serve no more.” For three years the deacon could not utter a word; his tongue became numb. He remained silent until he admitted that he was wrong and that he had falsely denounced another.

What is the miracle of the appearance of the Seraphim Spring and the Diveyevo Monastery worth? In 1825, the elder saw the Mother of God near the Sarovka River, who appeared with the apostles John and Peter, struck the ground with her staff, and at the same moment a transparent fountain burst out. It was the Mother of God who gave instructions for the founding of the Diveyevo monastery in that area. Taking a shovel in his hands, Father Seraphim himself began to dig a well. Unprecedented miracles and magical healings have occurred from this pure water to this day.

Recognition of the holiness of Elder Seraphim

Two years before the death of the elder, the Christian Church honored the great righteous Seraphim with the celebration of the appearance of the Mother of God. This event was like an omen of the departure of the holy saint from earthly life and his acquisition of imperishable glory. On January 2, 1833, smoke and a burning smell were seen from the saint’s cell. After all, candles were always burning in his little room, and he said: “As long as I’m alive, there won’t be a fire. But when I die, my death will be revealed by fire.” Having opened the doors, the governors found the lifeless body of Father Seraphim.

No one counted how many miracles Seraphim has since performed on behalf of the Lord, and how many more will be performed. In his cell, after his death, numerous unopened letters were discovered, but people received solutions to the questions outlined in them. This means that the elder, possessing the gift of insight, answered the letters sent without even opening them. After the funeral, in January 1833, St. Seraphim was declared a saint.

Almost 70 years after the elder’s earthly death, on August 1, 1903, his relics were removed, transferred to a beautiful sarcophagus (shrine), and the canonization of the holy venerable elder took place. More than three hundred thousand believers gathered for that holiday. A religious procession took place from Diveevo to the Sarov monastery. Throughout the journey, the participants sang holy chants, and Bishop Innocent of Tambov blessed the believers with the sign of the cross and the miraculous icon of the Mother of God, the favorite icon of Seraphim of Sarov - Tenderness, which the elder bequeathed to the sisters of the Diveyevo monastery. Orthodox chroniclers claim that until that day Russia had not known such crowded holidays.

In the Diveyevo Monastery and the Sarov Monastery you can read written confirmations of cases of healings that have occurred only through prayers to St. Seraphim. The terminally ill were brought back to life. Thus, by the power of prayer over the relics of the miracle worker, the landowner Manturov was cured of serious leg diseases. And as a sign of gratitude, the landowner renounced his property, sold everything, remained poor, and devoted the rest of his earthly life to serving the Lord.

The saint’s relics were returned to Diveevo in 1991. And again there was a crowded religious procession, led by Patriarch Alexy II. And all this thanks to the love for Seraphim of Sarov.

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:

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).

Brief description of the life path of the venerable elder

The heavenly patron Seraphim of Sarov is from Kursk. The exact date of his birth is known - July 19, 1759. At baptism the baby received the name Prokhor.

Miracles began to happen to the boy from a 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.

Since childhood, Prokhor loved to read the Holy Scriptures, attended church with pleasure and often prayed fervently.

In 1776, in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, a fateful meeting took place between the young Prokhor and the elder Dosifei, 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.

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.”

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

Akathist to St. Seraphim, Sarov Wonderworker

Kontakion 1

Chosen miracle worker and wonderful servant of Christ, our quick helper and prayer book, Rev. Father Seraphim! Having magnified the Lord who glorified you, we sing praises to you. But you, having great boldness towards the Lord, free us from all troubles, calling:

Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Ikos 1

The Creator of angels chose you from the beginning, so that through your life you glorified 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, enlighten your life. We, seeing your praiseworthy works, with reverence and joy say to you:

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 for those living in the world.
Rejoice, glory and protection to the Russian state; Rejoice, sacred adornment of the Tambov country.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 2

Seeing your mother, Reverend Father Seraphim, your warm love for monastic life, knowing the holy will of the Lord for you, and to God, as if you were bringing a perfect gift, bless you on the narrow monastic path with your holy cross, which you bore on your persevere until the end of your life, signifying your great 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, more holy than God: from your youth, without ceasing to think about Heavenly things, you left your father’s house for 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 inherited your mother’s virtues; Rejoice, taught by her to piety and prayer.
Rejoice, blessed by your mother with the cross for exploits; Rejoice, you have kept this blessing as a shrine until death.
Rejoice, having left your father's house for the love of the Lord; Rejoice, all the red of this world imputed to nothing.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 3

The power of the Most High has truly preserved you from your youth, reverend one: from the heights of the temple, having fallen, the Lord has preserved you unharmed, and the Lady of the world herself, who suffered from the rage, appeared, bringing healing from Heaven, and from your youth you faithfully served God, crying out to Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Having been diligent about the ascetic struggle of the monastic life equal to the angels, you came to the holy city of Kiev for the sake of worship for the sake of the venerable Pechersk, and from the lips of the venerable Dositheos we received the command to rule our way into the Sarov desert, by faith from afar you kissed this holy place, and there you settled in your godly life and died. We, marveling at God’s providence for you, cry out to you with tenderness:

Rejoice, having 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 upon yourself.
Rejoice, full of perfect obedience; Rejoice, faithful guardian of the holy commandments of the Lord.
Rejoice, prayerfully affirming your mind and heart in God; Rejoice, unshakable pillar of piety.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 4

Calming the storm of evil misfortunes, you walked the entire path of the cramped and sorrowful feat of the monastic, carried by the yoke of desert life, seclusion and silence, many-night vigils, and so, by the grace of God ascending from strength to strength, from deeds to the vision of God, you settled in the Abode of Heaven, where with the Angels sing to God: Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Hearing and seeing your holy life, Reverend Father Seraphim, all your brethren marveled at you and, coming to you, learned about your words and struggles, glorifying the Lord, wondrous in His saints. And we all praise you with faith and love, Reverend Father, and cry out to you:

Rejoice, you who sacrificed everything to yourself 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 Heavenly Master.
Rejoice, unashamed intercessor for us before the Lord; Rejoice, our vigilant prayer book to the Mother of God.
Rejoice, deserted valley of wonderful fragrance; Rejoice, immaculate vessel of God's grace.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 5

The divine light is your dwelling place, reverend one, when you are always sick and lying on your deathbed, the Most Pure Virgin Herself came to you with the holy apostles Peter and John, saying: “This is from our generation,” and I will touch your head. Having healed Abiye, you sang, grateful to the Lord: Alleluia.

Ikos 5

Seeing the enemy of the human race your pure and holy life, Rev. Seraphim, the desire to destroy you: for people brought evil upon 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 offended you. Moreover, we all, marveling at your kindness, cry out to you:

Rejoice, thou who in thy meekness and humility imitated Christ God; Rejoice, conquering the spirit of malice through your kindness.
Rejoice, diligent guardian of spiritual and physical 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, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 6

The desert of Sarov preaches your deeds and labors, God-bearing servant of Christ: for you have fragrant the wilds and forests of it with prayer, imitating the prophet of God Elijah and the Baptist of the Lord John, and you have appeared in the desert a fruitful vegetation with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, whose many and glorious actions you have accomplished, challenging the faithful sing good things to the Giver God: Alleluia.

Ikos 6

A new visionary of God has arisen in you, like Moses, the blessed Seraphim: having served immaculately at the altar of the Lord, you have been honored to see Christ in the temple with the Ethereal Powers of the future. Marveling at this favor of God for you, we sing to you:

Rejoice, most glorious of God; Rejoice, illuminated by the Trispanic Light.
Rejoice, faithful servant of the Most Holy Trinity; Rejoice, dwelling adorned with the Holy Spirit.
Rejoice, beholding Christ with the angels' bodily eyes; Rejoice, foretaste of heavenly sweetness in this mortal body.
Rejoice, thou filled with the Bread of Life; Rejoice, filled with the drink of immortality.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 7

Although the Lord, the Lover of Mankind, will show in you, O Reverend, His indescribable mercy for people, showing you to be truly a shining light of God: by your deeds and words you led everyone to piety and the love of God. With the same radiance of your deeds of enlightenment and the bread of your teaching, we zealously magnify you and cry out to Christ who glorified you: Alleluia.

Ikos 7

Seeing you again as God’s chosen one, faith flows to you from afar in sorrows and illnesses; and these, aggravated by 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, thou who art come as a real prophet; Rejoice, perspicacious accuser of hidden sins.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 8

We see a strange miracle on you, reverend: like this old man, weak and difficult, you remained on the stone in prayer for a thousand days and a thousand nights. Whoever is pleased has uttered your sicknesses and struggles, blessed Father, even as you have endured, lifting up your reverend hands to God, conquering Amalek in thought and singing to the Lord: Alleluia.

Ikos 8

You are all desire, all sweetness, Sweetest Jesus! - this is what you cried out in your prayers, Father, in your desert silence. But we, who have spent our entire life in vanity and darkness, praising your love for the Lord, cry out to you:

Rejoice, those who love and honor you as the mediator of salvation; Rejoice, lead sinners to correction.
Rejoice, wonderful silent and reclusive one; Rejoice, diligent prayer book 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, burn and shine on spiritual gifts.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 9

All the angelic nature was surprised at the strange vision: to the old man, I am 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 let him teach everyone to sing to Christ God: Alleluia.

Ikos 9

The branches of multi-proclamation will not be able to express the strength of your love, blessed one: for you have given yourself over to the service of all who come to you, fulfilling the command of the Mother of God, and you have been a good counselor to the perplexed, a comforter to the despondent, a gentle admonishment to the erring, a doctor and healer to the sick. For this reason we cry out to you:

Rejoice, you who have moved from the world into the desert, so that you may acquire virtues; Rejoice, you who returned from the desert to the monastery, sowing the seeds of virtue.
Rejoice, illumined by the Holy Spirit; 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 call those who come to you joy and treasure; Rejoice, for your holy love you have been granted the joys of the Heavenly Kingdom.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 10

You have reached the end of your saving feat, reverend, in prayer, on your knees you have given up your holy soul in the hand of God, even as the holy Angels lifted up the Mountain to the Throne of the Almighty, so that you may stand with all the saints in eternal glory, singing the hymn of praise of the saints to the Most Holy Word: Alleluia.

Ikos 10

The wall is a joy to all saints and monks; the Most Holy Virgin appeared to you before your death, announcing your imminent departure to God. We, marveling at such a visit to the Mother of God, cry out to you:

Rejoice, thou who beholdest the Queen of Heaven and earth; Rejoice, overjoyed by the appearance of God to Matera.
Rejoice, you have received news from Her about the exile in Heaven; Rejoice, having demonstrated the holiness of your life by your righteous death.
Rejoice, in prayer before the icon of the Mother of God you commended your tender spirit 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 heavenly bliss with all the saints.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 11

Lifting up unceasing singing to the Most Holy Trinity, O Reverend One, through all your life you have appeared as a great ascetic of piety, to those who have gone astray for admonition, to those who are sick in soul and body for healing. We, being grateful to the Lord for His mercy to us, call upon Him: Alleluia.

Ikos 11

You were a light-giving lamp in your life, blessed father, and after your death you shone like a luminous luminary of the Russian land: for from your honest relics you exude currents of miracles to all who flow to you with faith and love. 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, inexhaustible reservoir of multi-healing waters; Rejoice, for you have embraced all the ends of our earth with your love.
Rejoice, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 12

Your grace and great boldness before God are known to you, Reverend Father, we pray: pray warmly to the Lord, that He may preserve His Holy Church from unbelief and schism, from troubles and misfortunes, and let us sing through you to the God who benefits us: Alleluia.

Ikos 12

Singing your glorification, we bless you, reverend one, for you are a powerful prayer book for us before the Lord, a comforter and intercessor, and with love we cry out to you:

Rejoice, praise to the Orthodox Church; Rejoice, shield and fence for our Fatherland.
Rejoice, guide, guide everyone to Heaven; Rejoice, our protector and patron.
Rejoice, you who have performed many miracles by the power of God; 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, Reverend Seraphim, miracle worker of Sarov.

Kontakion 13

O wonderful saint and great wonderworker, Rev. Father Seraphim, accept this little prayer of ours, offered in praise to you, and, standing now before the Throne of the King of kings, our Lord Jesus Christ, pray for us all, 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 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 Heavenly Kingdom, where you now shine in unfathomable glory, and there sing with all the saints the Life-Giving Trinity forever and ever. Amen.

Cartoon about Seraphim of Sarov

On the last weekend of August 2015, the premiere of a cartoon will take 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

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, living water - spring water - is best suited.

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 the main attribute of 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.

The prayer of a mother who wants her daughter to get married will be a very strong help, because the Lord accepts any request of the mother for his dearly beloved child.

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.

The earthly life of St. Seraphim

Seraphim of Sarov gained his fame and glory as a righteous man during his lifetime. It is surprising that this man was not endowed with clergy, but from an early age he was honored to see the Mother of God with his own eyes. Numerous images of St. Seraphim, located in all Christian churches, are a true reminder of his spiritual exploits and the wonderful opportunities that he uses to this day for the benefit of people.

The first signs to the youth

Born in 1759, in the city of Kursk, a youth who received at baptism . His father, the famous merchant Moshnin in the city, was known as a believer and God-fearing man. He invested a lot of money in maintaining Orthodoxy and even began the construction of a temple in honor of St. Sergius. However, without completing the work, he soon died, when his son was not yet three years old. The merchant's wife, Agafya, took upon herself all the worries regarding the construction of the sanctuary.

One day, a mother took her young son to a construction site. While examining the high bell tower of the temple, the boy stumbled and fell to the ground. The frightened mother ran downstairs and found Prokhor safe and sound; she saw in this the protection of God.

Icons of Sergius of Radonezh in the online store of Orthodox icons Saints.

At the age of 10, due to illness, Prokhor’s health was in danger. But in a dream, the youth saw the Mother of God descending from Heaven to his bed and promising healing. On that day, an icon of the Sign of the Mother of God was carried through the streets of ancient Kursk in a religious procession. Agafya carried her son in her arms so that he could venerate the miraculous icon, and from that day the patient quickly began to recover.

Prokhor's elder brother, Alexey, continuing his father's merchant business, decided to accustom his younger brother to it. However, the boy was not interested in trade; his soul yearned for the Lord. Every morning he went to the temple to listen to the morning prayer. Prokhor learned to read and write early, and then his favorite pastime was reading. And he read spiritual books, the Holy Scriptures, the Gospels, the Lives of the Saints. The mother rejoiced at such godly aspirations of her son.

The monastic path of Prokhor Moshnin

Upon reaching the age of 17, the young man already knew for sure that he did not want to lead a worldly life . Prokhor decided to devote himself to monastic life and first went to the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. The recluse Dosifei, who was called perspicacious in the monastery, saw in the young man a true servant of Christ. After two years of the monk’s stay in the monastery, Dositheus advised Prokhor to go to the Sarov Monastery, which was located in the Tambov province, and blessed him on his way.

In 1778, a 19-year-old monk found himself in the Sarov monastery, with its abbot, Elder Pachomius. From then on, Prokhor began to diligently fulfill all the obediences assigned to him, read his favorite spiritual books, the psalter, the Apostolic Epistles every day and remained in constant prayer. The soul of a true Christian longed for a strict life, he received permission from the brethren and began to go into the forest to perform prayers, surprising the monks with his patience.

He practically did not sleep, endured all illnesses on his feet and in prayer, rejected all help, trusting in his suffering only in God. One day, when Prokhor’s condition was so critical that his life was again under threat, the Mother of God appeared to him again and, as in his distant childhood, healed him of his illness. After this miracle, on the site of the cell in which this salvation took place, a temple and hospital wards were built.

And in August 1786, Prokhor was already 28 years old , he was tonsured a monk and named Seraphim. A year later, the monk was ordained a hierodeacon. And he spent six years in this ministry, without resting, forgetting to eat, but the Lord gave him strength for everything. At the age of 35, in the rank of hieromonk, Seraphim left the monastery and went to live in a deep forest, at a distance of 6 km from the Sarov Monastery, on the bank of the Sarovka River. He lived in a cell where there was only one room with a stove.

One day the monk was attacked by evil people who demanded money, which the hermit, of course, did not have. The bandits tied up and severely beat Seraphim. But, having found in the cell only a few potatoes and a single icon of the Mother of God - Tenderness, they got scared and ran away. And the saint, having regained consciousness, thanked the Almighty for his suffering and began to pray for the forgiveness of the robbers.

When the ascetic of Christ, covered in blood, came to the monastery, and everyone saw his wounds, they were greatly surprised. The old man had all his ribs broken and his head fractured. Then Seraphim fell ill, and again a vision of the Most Holy Theotokos came to him, descending to the sick man with the words addressed to the doctors: “Why are you working. After all, this is from my family!” And five months after suffering serious wounds, the monk returned to his cell again. People, having learned about their father being reborn from death, began to come to him for advice and help.