Church commemorates St. Seraphim of Sarov

St. Seraphim of Sarov. Photo: open sources

On August 1, the Orthodox Church celebrates the finding of the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov. On this day, the faithful commemorate the solemn glorification of the saint and the opening of his holy relics, which took place in 1903 in the presence of a great multitude of pilgrims.

A pivotal stage in the formation of the spiritual path of St. Seraphim of Sarov (born Prokhor Moshnin) was his pilgrimage to the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. As a young man, Prokhor Moshnin traveled to Kyiv on foot to venerate the holy shrines of the ancient monastery and to seek spiritual guidance from its experienced elders.

It was at the Kitaiv Hermitage that the elder Dositheus discerned God's will in the young pilgrim and blessed him to embrace the monastic life at the Sarov Hermitage. Praying before the relics of Sts. Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves finally strengthened Prokhor's resolve to dedicate his life entirely to God.

The life of Father Seraphim in Sarov became an example of true ascetic endeavor. The ascetic passed through severe trials, including many years of solitary life as a hermit in the remote forest, three years of complete silence, and fifteen years of seclusion.

A special place in Church tradition is given to his feat of stylitism: for one thousand consecutive days, he stood in unceasing prayer upon a granite boulder with his hands raised toward heaven. Even after suffering a brutal attack by robbers, who fractured his skull with the butt of an axe and left him permanently stooped, the venerable saint displayed the highest Christian humility by insisting that his attackers be forgiven.

Having acquired the gifts of spiritual discernment and healing, the elder welcomed thousands of people in need, greeting each one with the words, "My joy! Christ is Risen!" To his disciples, St. Seraphim left the enduring teaching that the principal aim of the Christian life is "the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God." The saint reposed peacefully in 1833 while at prayer, kneeling in his cell. He was buried in a coffin that he had crafted with his own hands many years before his death.

As the UOJ reported, Ostapenko said whether the fresco of Seraphim of Sarov in the Lavra would be painted over.

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