Finding the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov miracle worker Brooklyn - Church.org

Finding the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov miracle worker  Orthodox life On August 1, the Holy Church celebrates the acquisition of the relics of our venerable and God-bearing father Seraphim, the miracle worker of Sarov. In 1903, the acquisition of the relics and the glorification of St. Seraphim of Sarov, took place 70 years after his death. Рака с мощами преподобного Серафима Саровского чудотворца Cancer with the relics of the prep. Serafima Sarovsky Just on the birthday of the saint on July 19 (August 1 on the new century), his relics were discovered with great triumph and placed in a cooked cancer. Father Seraphim said: “What a great joy will be! In the midst of the summer Easter will be sung, my joy! ”And it was like this: On the evening of July 30, 1991, at the Holy Gates of the Seraphim-Diveevo monastery, they met a procession with St. relics of prep. Seraphim At night, three Liturgies served, and the people who prayed in the temple, repeating after the sisters, sang the Easter Poems: “Easter is Red, Easter is Easter! Easter is every kind of food, Easter will come to us! With each other's joy we hug! Oh Easter! ” The long-awaited event was accompanied by many wonderful healings of the sick, in large numbers arrived in Sarov. Revered very widely during his lifetime, St. Seraphim becomes one of the most beloved saints of the Orthodox Russian people, as well as St. Sergius of Radonezh. The spiritual path of St. Seraphim is marked by the great modesty inherent in Russian saints. Since childhood, chosen by God, the devotee of Sarov without hesitation and doubt rises from strength to strength in his quest for spiritual perfection. Eight years of obedience works and eight years of church service in the rank of hierodeacon and hieromonk, desert breeding and pillar-making, the shutter and the silence replace each other and are crowned with old age. The exploits far surpassing the natural human possibilities (for example, prayer on a stone for a thousand days and nights) harmoniously and simply enter into the life of the saint. The mystery of living prayerful fellowship determines the spiritual heritage of St. Seraphim, but he left the Church one more wealth - brief, but excellent instructions, written in part by himself, and in part by those that heard them. St. Seraphim of Sarov St. Seraphim of Sarov Shortly before the glorification of the saint, the “ Conversation of St. Seraphim of Sarovsky about the purpose of the Christian life ” was found and published in 1903, which took place at the end of November 1831, a little over a year before his death. This conversation was the ascetic’s most precious contribution to the treasury of Russian patristic teaching. In addition to the doctrine of the essence of the Christian life, it contains a new explanation of many of the most important passages of Holy Scripture. “Fasting, prayer, vigilance and all other Christian matters,” the Rev. taught, “however good in themselves, but not in doing it alone, is the goal of our Christian life, although they serve as the means to achieve it. The true goal of our Christian life is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God . ” “The purpose of our life,” said the monk, “is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God . The main remedy for the acquisition of the Holy Spirit is prayer . Every virtue, for Christ’s sake, is for the good of the Holy Spirit, but prayer is the most. ” Once, being in the Spirit of God, the monk saw the whole Russian land, and it was filled and as if covered with the incense of the prayers of believers praying to the Lord. In the descriptions of the life and deeds of Saint Seraphim there are many testimonies of the grace-giving gift of insight, which he used to excite people of repentance of sins and moral correction. “The Lord revealed to me,” he said, “that there will be a time when the bishops of the Russian Land and other clergymen will avoid preserving Orthodoxy in all its purity, and for that the wrath of God will strike them. For three days I stood, asked the Lord to have mercy on them, and asked better to deprive me, poor Seraphim, of the Kingdom of Heaven, rather than punish them. But the Lord did not bow to the request of the wretched Seraphim and said that he would not have mercy on them, for they would teach the teachings and commandments of men, but their hearts would be far from Me. ” Presenting the grace-giving gifts and the power of God to the people, the Monk Seraphim instructed those who came to him how to walk the narrow path of salvation. He commanded obedience to his spiritual children and was faithful to him until the end of his life. обретение мощей Преподобного Серафима Саровского чудотворца Finding the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov the Miracle-worker After spending his whole life in exploits that were beyond the reach of ordinary people, he advised him to go along the patristic "royal (middle) way" and not take upon himself overly difficult acts: "he should not take any higher measure of feats; but to try so that our friend — our flesh — is faithful and capable of creating virtues. ” The monk considered prayer to be the most important feat and means to the acquisition of the Holy Spirit. "Every virtue, for the sake of doing Christ, gives the blessings of the Holy Spirit, but ... prayer brings the Spirit of God more than anything, and it is more convenient for everyone to correct." Rev. Seraphim advised to stand in the temple with eyes closed, then look at an image or a burning candle, and, expressing this idea, offered a perfect comparison of human life with a wax candle. If they complained to the holy elder about the impossibility of fulfilling the rule of prayer, then he advised to pray constantly: both during work, and walking somewhere, and even in bed. And if anyone has time, the Rev. said, let him add other religiously useful prayers and canons, akathists, psalms, the Gospel and the Apostle. He advised the saint to study the order of the Divine service and keep it in memory. Rev. Seraphim considered it unnecessary to have long prayer rules and his rule of Diveevo community gave an easy rule. Our Lady forbade Fr. Seraphim obliging novices to read long akathists, so as not to impose unnecessary burdens on the weak. But at the same time, the saint strictly reminded that the prayer should not be formal: “Those monks who do not connect external prayer with internal prayer are not monks, but black heads!” The Seraphimovo rule became famous for those lay people who, due to life circumstances, cannot read the usual morning and evening prayers: in the morning, before dinner and in the evening three times read “Our Father”, three times - “The Virgin of the Virgin, rejoice,” once “I Believe”; doing the necessary work, from morning to dinner, create the Jesus Prayer: “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me sinner” or simply “Lord, have mercy”, and from lunch to evening - “Holy Mother of God, save me sinful” or “Lord, Have mercy on me a sinner, Jesus Christ, the Mother of God. ” St. Seraphim of Sarov “Take care of yourself in prayers,” the ascetic advised, “that is, gather the mind and connect it with the soul. First day, two and more, do this prayer with one mind, separately, listening to each particular word. Then, when the Lord warms your heart with the warmth of His grace and unites it in you into one spirit: then the prayer will flow in you constantly and always will be with you, enjoying and nourishing you ... ”The monk said that, fulfilling this rule with humility, you can to attain Christian perfection in worldly life. “It is necessary to equip the soul with the Word of God. In total, more should be practiced in reading the New Testament and the Psalter. From this there is enlightenment in the mind, which is changed by the change of the Divine, ”the holy ascetic of Sarovskii instructed, himself constantly reading the entire New Testament during the week. Every Sunday and every feast of the Holy Communion, without sacrament, joining the Holy Mysteries, Reverend Seraphim asked how often to proceed with Communion, replied: "The more often, the better." To the priest of the Diveyevo community, Vasily Sadowski, he said: “The grace given to us by Communion is so great that no matter how unworthy and no matter how sinful a person is, but only in a humble tokmo consciousness of his sinfulness he started from the head to the feet of the sores covered with sores, and the grace of Christ will be cleansed, will brighten more and more, will brighten completely and be saved. " “I believe that by the great goodness of God, grace will also be marked on the communion of the communion ...” The saint, however, did not give everyone the same instructions regarding frequent communion. He advised many to go to all four posts and all the Great Feasts. It is necessary to remember his warning about the possibility of joining a condemnation: “Sometimes it happens like this: here on earth they are attached; but with the Lord remain unattached! ” Holy Seraphim: “The Earth Angel is a Heavenly Man” Holy Seraphim: “The Earth Angel is a Heavenly Man” “There is no worse sin and nothing is more terrible and more pernicious than the spirit of despondency,” said Saint Seraphim. He himself glowed with spiritual joy, and with this quiet, peaceful joy, he filled the hearts of those around him in abundance, greeting them with the words: “My joy! Christ is Risen!" Every burden of life became light near the devotee, and a multitude of people grieving and seeking God was constantly crowded around his cell and hermitage, wanting to partake of the grace pouring from the saint of God. In the eyes of all, the truth expressed by the saint himself in the great angelic exhortation was confirmed: "Bind the world, and thousands will be saved around you." This commandment of the acquiring of the world elevates to the doctrine of the acquiring of the Holy Spirit, but in itself is the most important step on the path of spiritual growth. Rev. Seraphim, who experienced the whole of the ancient Orthodox science of the ascetic feat, foresaw what the spiritual work of future generations would be, and taught to search for the peace of the soul and not condemn anyone: “Whoever goes about in a peaceful dispensation, draws spiritual gifts, as it were, to a liar”. "In order to preserve the peace of the soul ... in every way should avoid condemnation of others ... To get rid of condemnation, you should listen to yourself, do not accept extraneous thoughts from anyone and be dead to everything." Elder Seraphim of Sarov Elder Seraphim of Sarov St. Seraphim can rightly be called a disciple of the Mother of God. The Blessed Virgin Mary thrice healed him from deadly diseases, repeatedly appeared to him, instructed and strengthened him. Even at the beginning of his journey, he heard the Mother of God, pointing to him, lying on the bed of his illness, said to the Apostle John the Theologian: "This is from our kind." Upon leaving the gate, the monk gave many forces to the dispensation of the girl’s monastic community in Diveyevo and said himself that he did not give any instructions from himself, he did everything according to the will of the Heavenly Queen. St. Seraphim stands at the beginning of the startling rise of Russian Orthodox spirituality. His reminder sounds with great force: “The Lord is looking for a heart filled with love for God and neighbor; here is the throne on which he loves to sit and be in fullness of his neglected glory. “Son, give Mi your heart,” He says, “and I will add all the rest to you,” for the Kingdom of God can fit in the human heart. ” And so, St. Seraphim of Sarov (1759-1833) was glorified by the Russian Orthodox Church in the face of the saints on July 19 (the day of his birth) of 1903 with active participation and at the insistence of Tsar Nicholas II. On the report of the Holy Synod with the decision to glorify the Emperor wrote: "I read it with a feeling of true joy and deep emotion." All the Russian people, headed by the Sovereign, desired and waited for the glorification of the holy saint of God, and on July 19, 1903 it took place - in the presence of the Royal Family, with a huge crowd of people. About three hundred thousand people gathered at the celebrations in Sarov from all over Russia. It was accompanied by countless miracles and healings. The Sovereign and Grand Dukes, along with the bishops, carried the shrine with the holy relics, and all the people sang Easter during the summer. Vice-Rector of the Pskov Spiritual School, Priest Nikolai Egorov about the event of the discovery of the relics of St. Seraphim: Обретение мощей преподобного Серафима Саровского, чудотворца Finding the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov, a miracle worker “ On August 1, in a new style, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the acquisition of the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov, the day of the glorification of the holy saint of God . In 1903, 70 years after his death, the canonization of the Sarov elder took place. The Russian people gave much to the holy devotees from among themselves, but the Monk stands special, and the glorification of God's saint Seraphim of Sarov became one of the great and joyful events, because his prayer before the Throne of the Most High is strong. Elder Seraphim was revered by the Orthodox people during his lifetime, and Sovereign Nicholas II, now glorified, sharing the popular faith in the sanctity of the elder, raised the question of his canonization, which was not easy: almost all of the Holy Synod of the Church was against. Only at the request of the Emperor considered the issue of canonization of St.. Seraphim of Sarov, and on August 1, the elder Seraphim was glorified. Celebrations of glorification took place in Sarov, in the desert, in which old monk Seraphim performed his monastic feat, while the Imperial family was present at the glorification. Eyewitnesses describe this moment in the following way: “It’s time for the polyeleos, they sang“ Praise the Name of the Lord ”, all those present lit candles, the clergy made triple prostrations, Metropolitan Anthony opened the coffin, and all those who were in the church knelt - the minute of glorification of St. Seraphim came. Triumphant and touching, shaking the soul, sounded greatness: "We appease thee, Rev. Father Seraphim." St. Seraphim of Sarov St. Seraphim of Sarov Later, in connection with the events connected with 1917, it turned out that the relics were opened in accordance with the special provision on the liquidation of holy relics developed in 1920 and taken out of Sarov, their trail was lost. At the triumph of the second finding of the holy relics of Seraphim of Sarov in 1991, His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II said that, as it became clear, the relics were closed by someone else's pious hands, and no one was listed in any records, nobody knew about them. The monk predicted that in the middle of the summer they would sing Easter, as it was: when the relics arrived at the Diveyevo monastery in 1991 on July 30, they were greeted with Easter chants, and the sun, as eyewitnesses say, began to play Easter. There was a special solemn joy and experience of the old man returning to his native land. At the time of the first and second acquisition of the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov, healings took place, and everything was filled with wonderful events. The glorification of the saint is always a testimony to the world that the way of moral ascent from strength to strength is open to each of us, and the Rev. the Elder showed this path. For our time, when there are very few examples in modern life, it is necessary to know more about the life of the saints in order to be equal and inspired. Not only do holy devotees intercede with the Lord for people, but they also need to learn the true life.