Seraphim of Sarov: short biography, life and teachings

The childhood of the future ascetic

The Holy Reverend Seraphim of Sorov, whose biography is an example of selfless service to God, was born in 1754 in Kursk. His parents led a strict and pious life, raising their son Prokhor (that was the name of the future saint from birth) in the spirit of the commandments of God. His father, Isidor Moshnin, was involved in construction contracts. When the boy was still at an early age, his father died before finishing the construction of the temple in Kursk. His work was continued by Agathia, Prokhor's widowed mother.

From that time on, the future Saint Seraphim of Sarov was already marked by the Lord. His biography tells about an amazing incident that happened during these years. One day his mother took him with her to the bell tower of a temple under construction. The boy stumbled and fell from a great height, but by the will of God he remained safe and sound.

Everyone was amazed by the future ascetic’s extraordinary memory and diligence in study. From an early age he learned to read and write and could freely read the Bible and the lives of saints. But even more surprising was the boy’s love for church services. He preferred them to the games and amusements so typical of children of his age.

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

First appearance of the Queen of Heaven to Prokhor

Soon a new miracle was revealed, foreshadowing that from the quiet and pious youth the future lamp of the church, Seraphim of Sarov, would grow. His biography mentions such a case. The boy fell ill and was in extremely serious condition. Everyone was afraid that he would die. But one day the Queen of Heaven appeared to him in a dream and said that she would soon visit and heal him. Indeed, a few days later a religious procession with the icon of the Sign of the Most Holy Theotokos took place near their house. His mother took Prokhor out of the house, and he venerated the icon. A miracle happened and he recovered.

The decision to devote oneself to serving God

When he grew up, he announced to his mother his cherished desire to devote his life to serving God and embark on the path of monasticism. Agathia blessed her son, and he and his comrades made a pilgrimage to the Kiev Pechersk Lavra.

One of the elders of the Lavra, Schemamonk Dosifei, endowed with the gift of clairvoyance, ordered Prokhor to go to the Sarov hermitage and save his soul there. This is how the future holy elder Seraphim of Sarov was born. His biography is a path of continuous labor on the path of spiritual growth. On the way from Kyiv, he stopped only for a short time at his mother’s house, said goodbye to her and went on to Sarov. In November 1778, the future ascetic entered the gates of the monastery for the first time.

Biography

Seraphim of Sarov (real name - Prokhor Mashnin) was born in July 1754 in the city of Kursk. His father was a wealthy merchant, and his mother was a simple housewife. Unfortunately, when Prokhor was little, his father passed away, leaving the child to be raised by his mother alone. He began to develop curiosity about the church, prayers and services at the age of seven. At the same age, he fell from a great height, from a bell tower, but, fortunately, did not receive any damage. Then he was tormented for a long time by a serious illness, which in those days claimed many lives. The Mother of God appeared to him in a dream and promised that Prokhor would be healed. And so it happened - an icon was carried past the house while the procession was going on. The child touched her and recovered the next day. After this event, faith became even stronger.

At the age of twenty-two he became a pilgrim and went to the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. There he was told about a certain place where Prokhor needed to go and stay. This place was a monastery, where he, having obeyed the “order,” remained. After ten years in the monastery, he took the name Seraphim. Became a monk.

Monastery of Sarov Monastery. Place of tonsure of Seraphim of Sarov

At the age of forty, he began to live in the forest in a cell he built with his own hands. There he also built a beehouse and planted plants. There is a fact that for several years the only food was grass. How he managed to survive by eating the plant is unknown.

But the most notorious incident that made Seraphim hunched over was the incident with the bandits. They learned that Seraphim’s frequent visitors were people from the upper classes, and decided to check his cell, which did not contain anything valuable. Having caught him praying, they hit him hard with an ax in the back of his head, breaking his skull. Of course, they escaped some kind of punishment, since they were forgiven and released.

Already at the age of fifty, Seraphim decides to take a vow of silence, which lasted three years. During this time, not a single word was spoken. After this time, he returned to his “native” monastery. His stay there was short-lived - after some time Seraphim decides to “shut himself up.” This seclusion lasted fifteen years.

After coming out of a long seclusion, I began to meet people, give advice and help. There was an opinion that Seraphim was able to cure any disease, be it a common cold or extreme cancer. One day, news of a wise old man reached Alexander I, and he decided to visit him personally. The surprise was huge. As the king himself says, he never met a wiser man. Anyone who came was greeted with a joyful smile and the words “Christ is Risen.”

Seraphim-Diveevo Monastery

With his own efforts, Seraphim was able to found a convent, which is currently called the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery. It is located in the Nizhny Novgorod region, where thousands of pilgrims come every year.

But, unfortunately, life is not eternal. Seraphim also understood this very well. He knew in advance the date of his death - January 1833. As he wanted, he died during prayer.

Tomb of Seraphim of Sarov

The elder believed that death during this action would bring him one step closer to God. By turning to the search engine, you can find out and even show on the map where Seraphim of Sarov is buried. But we won’t waste time on this, so we’ll cover this issue ourselves. The burial place was the Diveyevo Monastery he founded. This was his last wish.

In the Sarov monastery

The abbot of the monastery in those years was the respected elder Father Pachomius. From the first days, he treated the young novice with warmth and love and entrusted the care of him to the wise elder Joseph. He led the novice at the very beginning of his journey. The main thing he put into the young man’s consciousness was a complete rejection of idleness and boredom, which are the worst enemies of young, “novice” monks. From them arise sinful thoughts and desires. Elder Joseph taught Prokhor to fill his time as much as possible with prayers and work.

Already during this period, a desire for solitary prayer was noted in him. For this purpose, the young novice went into the forest thicket and there he talked with God alone. The second appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos to him dates back to this period, which is mentioned, due to the importance of the event, even in a short biography. Seraphim of Sarov had several such phenomena during his earthly life.

Prayers to Saint Seraphim of Sarov

Troparion of St. Seraphim, tone 4:

From your youth you loved Christ, O blessed one, and passionately longed for the One who worked, you labored in the desert with unceasing prayer and labor, and having acquired the love of Christ with a tender heart, you appeared as the chosen one beloved of the Mother of God. For this reason, we cry out to you: save us with your prayers, Seraphim, our reverend father.

Kontakion of St. Seraphim, voice 2:

Leaving the beauty of the world and the corruption in it, reverend, you moved into the Sarov monastery; and having lived there like an angel, you were the path to salvation for many. For this reason, Christ will glorify you, Father Seraphim, and enrich you with the gift of healings and miracles. In the same way we cry to you: Rejoice, Seraphim, our reverend father.

Prayer to St. Seraphim of Sarov

O wonderful Father Seraphim, great Sarov wonderworker, quick and obedient helper to all who come running to you! During the days of your earthly life, no one left you weary and inconsolable, but everyone was blessed with the vision of your face and the benevolent voice of your words. Moreover, the gift of healing, the gift of insight, the gift of healing for weak souls has appeared abundantly in you. When God called you from earthly labors to heavenly rest, your love ceased from us, and it is impossible to count your miracles, which multiplied like the stars of heaven: for throughout the ends of our earth you appeared to the people of God and granted them healing. In the same way, we cry out to you: O most quiet and meek servant of God, daring man of prayer to Him, denying no one who calls you, offer up your powerful prayer for us to the Lord of hosts, may He strengthen our power, may He grant us all that is useful in this life and all that is spiritual useful to salvation, may he protect us from the falls of sin and teach us true repentance, so that we can enter without stumbling into the eternal Heavenly Kingdom, where you now shine in unfathomable glory, and there sing with all the saints the Life-Giving Trinity until the end of the age. Amen.

Second prayer to St. Seraphim of Sarov

O Reverend Father Seraphim! Offer up for us, servants of God (names), your powerful prayer to the Lord of hosts, may He grant us all that is useful in this life and all that is useful for spiritual salvation, may He protect us from the falls of sins and may He teach us true repentance, in order to heed us without stumbling to the eternal Heavenly Kingdom, where you now shine in eternal glory, and there sing with all the saints the Life-Giving Trinity forever and ever.

Prayer three to St. Seraphim of Sarov

O great servant of God, venerable and God-bearing Father Seraphim! Look down from the heavenly glory on us humble and weak, burdened with many sins, your help and consolation to those who ask. Approach us with your mercy and help us to preserve the commandments of the Lord immaculately, to firmly maintain the Orthodox faith, to diligently bring repentance for our sins to God, to gracefully prosper in piety as Christians and to be worthy of your prayerful intercession for us. To her, Holiness of God, hear us praying to you with faith and love and do not despise us who demand your intercession: now and at the hour of our death, help us, and protect us with your prayers from the evil slander of the devil, so that those powers do not possess us, but yes With your help, let us be worthy to inherit the bliss of the abode of paradise. We now place our hope in you, merciful Father: be truly a guide to our salvation and lead us to the unevening Light of eternal life by your God-pleasing intercession at the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity, may we glorify and sing with all the saints the venerable name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever centuries. Amen.

Appearance of the Mother of God and healing from dropsy

In the third year of his stay in the monastery, he became seriously ill with dropsy, but refused the help of doctors, relying only on the Queen of Heaven. And she did not leave him, appearing in a dream along with the apostles Peter and John. The Mother of God touched Prokhor's body, and the water that was causing him suffering erupted out. Complete healing has occurred. Here the Mother of God testified before the holy apostles that Prokhor belonged to the Kingdom of God. Subsequently, a hospital church was built at the site of the appearance of the Virgin Mary.

Taking monastic tonsure

Eight years have passed, and the time has come to take monastic vows. From now on, Prokhor Mashnin died for the world and a young monk was born, the future Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, whose life and teachings would become a reference book for many pious people. The name Seraphim, given upon entering monasticism, perfectly conveys the fervor of his faith.

A year later he was ordained to the rank of hierodeacon. Daily services in the temple were accompanied by incessant prayers the rest of the time. The Lord vouchsafed his faithful servant to see visions of grace. Angels of God appeared before him repeatedly, and once during the service there was a vision of Jesus Christ himself coming on the clouds. Only the most zealous servant of God could be honored with this. This gave strength for new works and monastic deeds. Leaving himself only the smallest time for sleep, he served in the monastery during the day, and at night he went to a distant forest cell for prayer and vigil.

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.”

Life in a forest cell

At the age of 39, Seraphim of Sarov rose to a new level of service to the Holy Church. The biography reports that, having been ordained as a hieromonk, he asked for blessings from the abbot of the monastery for the feat of living in the desert. From that time on, the monk settled in a lonely forest cell, devoting himself entirely to prayer and spiritual contemplation. He appeared within the walls of the monastery once a week to receive the Holy Gifts.

There is a Charter of the ancient desert inhabitants. His demands are unusually strict and full of asceticism. It was they who guided the ascetic. In addition to constant prayer, he filled his time with reading the works of the holy fathers of the church, and, of course, the New Testament, which he knew almost by heart. Near his cell, he planted a vegetable garden, where he grew the essentials for food. He ate food once a day, and on Wednesdays and Fridays he abstained from food altogether. Occasionally they brought him bread from the monastery. Living this way, the saint entered into complete unity with nature. A bear even began to visit him, and, treating him, the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov shared his last piece of bread with him. The biography for children, illustrated with scenes from the life of the saint, necessarily shows this episode of feeding the clubfooted guest.

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

Removal from people and 1000 days and nights on stone

Gradually, the fame of the new hermit began to spread among the inhabitants of the surrounding villages, and people began to come to the monk for spiritual instructions. This greatly distracted him from his internal concentrated prayer, and over time, at his request, the brethren of the monastery blocked the path to his cell with branches and logs. Now only the birds of the air and animals visited him. The time has come for absolute silence.

At all times, monks who took the path of ascetic deeds were subjected to angry attacks from the enemy of the human race, and the monk was no exception. Even his short biography tells about this important episode. Seraphim of Sarov survived the most difficult “internal battle.” The enemy tormented him with harmful temptations, and to fight them he took upon himself the feat of stylite life. From then on, the saint spent every night standing in the thicket of the forest on a huge stone and constantly reciting the Jesus Prayer, raising his hands to the sky. During the day, he returned to his cell and continued his feat of prayer, standing on a smaller stone, specially brought from the forest, and interrupted his work only for a short rest and reinforcement. The feat continued for 1000 days and nights.

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:

Robber Attack

Unable to break the spirit of the ascetic, the enemy tried to take his life, showing the way to the cell to the robbers. They, threatening death, demanded money, but the hermit, filled with humility, did not resist them, although he was armed with an ax. Having searched the home and found nothing, the villains brutally beat him, and, leaving him alone to die, they left. The Lord saved the life of his faithful servant and helped him get to the monastery. Here the Mother of God appeared to him again and, touching him again, granted healing. The monk recovered, but until the end of his earthly life he walked bent over. Returning to the forest cell, he resumed the feat of silence. The reward for this was peace in the soul and “joy in the Holy Spirit.” After some time he returned to the monastery.

Feat of old age

Soon Seraphim of Sarov was honored to enter a new stage of spiritual growth. The biography, a brief summary of which conveys only a small part of the saint’s exploits, shows everyone an example of the highest asceticism and selflessness. The Lord was pleased to place him in service in the highest monastic feat - eldership. From now on, the doors of his cell were open to everyone who thirsted for spiritual nourishment.

The monks of the monastery built a cell for him near a spring called Bogoslovsky. Every time he left her, the elder carried a knapsack with stones on his shoulders. In this way the monk exhausted the flesh, driving out harmful passions. His main occupation was conversations with pilgrims. Weak souls flocked to him from all over, demanding guidance, consolation and help. And the holy elder found the right words for everyone.

Among his admirers was a man who, through the prayers of the elder, received healing from an illness. His name was Nikolai Aleksandrovich Motovilov. He stayed with Father Seraphim for a long time, talked with him and wrote down his teachings. In addition, listening to the elder’s stories about life, Motovilov composed a whole essay, which could be entitled “St. Seraphim of Sarov. Biography".

Controversial opinions

Available memoirs about Seraphim of Sarov and collections of his statements clearly describe the elder as a supporter of the official church, hierarchy and the three-fingered sign of the cross. On the other hand, on icons St. Seraphim is usually depicted with a specially shaped rosary (flest), and in some cases, in Old Believer (pre-schism) monastic clothing (and an “Old Believer” cast copper cross). Lestovka, along which St. prayed. Seraphim, preserved among his personal belongings.

According to some sources, the well-known difficulties with the canonization of Seraphim of Sarov were associated precisely with his sympathies for the Old Believers. Suggestions have been made about the origin of the elder either from co-religionists, or from crypto-Old Believers, with a subsequent transition to an “improvised” type of co-religion.

Snapshot of handwriting

Seraphim of Sarov did not leave any written works behind him at all. In the biographies written after the death of Seraphim, after 1833, the question of the Old Believers does not appear. In a later edition of 1863, 30 years after Seraphim’s death, the compiler and editor of this book was the censor N.V. Elagin, who became famous for his free “pious” and patriotic insertions and unceremonious editing of texts, “Seraphim’s conversations” with Old Believers appear, “ Seraphim's reasoning about the Old Believers; in one of these conversations, Seraphim teaches: “This is the Christian folding of the cross! So pray and tell others. This composition was handed down from St. Apostles, and the double-fingered constitution is contrary to the holy statutes. I ask and pray you: go to the Greek-Russian Church: it is in all the glory and power of God!”

Diveevo

Constantly busy receiving everyone who needed him, Father Seraphim devoted time to caring for the nearby Diveyevo convent. His contribution to the well-being of the lives of the sisters of the monastery and their spiritual growth is invaluable. Providing them with personal assistance, the monk convinced influential persons from among the pilgrims of the need for patronage of the monastery. Shortly before his death, the monk was honored with another appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos to him. She informed the saint about the imminent end of his earthly life and entrusted him with the sisters of the Diveyevo monastery.

Repose and canonization of the saint

The strength of the holy elder began to leave. He left his cell less and less often. In his entryway there was a coffin, prepared in advance for the day of his death. On January 1, 1833, having served the Liturgy for the last time and received Holy Communion, Father Seraphim locked himself in his cell. The next day, his lifeless body was found, bowed in a prayerful position in front of the images.

Over the course of the seventy years that have passed since his death, miraculous healings took place at the elder’s grave through prayers addressed to him. In 1903, Seraphim of Sarov was canonized and canonized. The solemn ceremony took place in the presence of the royal family, representatives of the Synod and a large crowd of believers. From this day on, the holy Venerable Seraphim of Sarov also appeared among the heavenly patrons of our Fatherland.

“Father Seraphimushka,” they call him with love in Diveevo, and in Sarov, and throughout the vastness of Russia. In all Orthodox families, children know the good old man Seraphim of Sarov. The biography, a summary for children of its main episodes and illustrations for them are loved by many boys and girls from an early age.

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's Instructions

The teachings and spiritual instructions of the holy ascetic that have reached us are an invaluable treasure. The main idea in them is the task of “acquiring the Holy Spirit.” The monk not only indicates the purpose of human life in this, but also helps to find the way to achieve it. One of the most important moments on this path is the constant calling of the Lord, who, by His coming into the souls of people, is able to expel from them the cold instilled by the Devil and breathe in the warmth of love not only for him, but also for his neighbors. The holy Venerable Seraphim of Sarov generously shared such warmth with people. His biography, days of remembrance and his teachings are kept in the memory of many generations of believers.

“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.