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The Flame in the Snow:
The Centenary of
St Seraphim's Glorification
Dr. Alexander Roman
alex@unicorne.org
This year marks 100 years since the formal glorification/canonization
of Saint Seraphim, the Wonderworker of Sarov. One of the most
illustrious of all the Holy Elders of Orthodoxy, he is also widely
known and venerated throughout the West. And one of the little known
facts about his life is that St Seraphim was a Monk who was tonsured
at the Kyivan Caves Lavra which is why a major conference on his life
and work will be held there this year . . .
Born as Prochor Moshnin in 1759 in a merchant family in Kursk, he
suffered a serious illness at the age of 10. Alerted in a dream that
he would soon be healed by the Mother of God, a procession with the
Icon of the Kursk-Root Theotokos in the streets of the city took a
"short-cut" due to bad weather. The route wound up near his home and
Prochor's mother ran out with the young boy to place him before the
icon. Prochor was soon healed of his illness.
Later, Prochor developed his own deeply ascetical way of life,
withdrawing frequently into the nearby forest to pray in solitude. He
developed another disease that crippled him for three years.
One day, however, Prochor saw a vision of the Mother of Christ
accompanied by several saints. She turned to John the Theologian and
said, "This one is of our lineage . . ." Then She touched Prochor
with Her staff and healed him.
At the age of 27, Prochor became a monk and took the name "Seraphim"
which in Hebrew means "Fiery" or "Flaming" and refers, of course, to
the Angelic Choir with that title - a reference also to his
ceaseless, burning prayer.
His constant prayer actually enabled him to see the Angels in Church,
as St John Chrysostom and other saints frequently did. St Seraphim
also saw Christ Himself with the Heavenly Hosts in a vision - and was
unable to speak for a time after this vision.
Trained in the ascetic traditions of the Kyivan Caves Lavra and of
the Kyivan Church, his spiritual Mother, St Seraphim was counseled by
the Ihumen there, St Dositheus (in reality a woman!) to go to Sarov -
which he did.
At Sarov, he withdrew into the deep forests for intense prayer and
asceticism. Beaten by robbers in search of money, Seraphim became
physically bent over from the ordeal. He later interceded on behalf
of the captured robbers in court . . .
While in the forest, Seraphim befriended many wild animals, including
a bear whom he fed from his own hands. It is perhaps because of St
Seraphim's close connection to nature that is one of the reasons he
is so popular!
St Seraphim then began a particular ascetic struggle of the
pillar-saints of the desert. For a thousand days, he knelt on a rock
in the forest in continuous prayer. Pieces of that rock were a
particularly prized relic of pilgrims to Sarov.
A later disciple of his, St Seraphim Vyritsky, actually repeated this
ascetic feat. This Seraphim's miraculous icon entitled, "I am with
you and no one can be against you" is now in the hands of a Ukrainian
Orthodox monastery and has been glorified as a miraculous icon of
Ukraine!
Following another vision of the Mother of God, Seraphim came out of
seclusion and took up the responsibilities of a spiritual Elder.
Thousands of people flocked to see him and get his advice. He would
greet everyone, calling to each, "My Joy - Christ is Risen!"
He counseled all to "acquire the Spirit of Peace and a thousand souls
will be converted around you." And he always taught that the goal of
the Christian life is the "acquisition of the Holy Spirit."
He counseled his spiritual children to daily say a special prayer
rule that consisted of praying the "Our Father" 150 times and the
"Rejoice, O Theotokos" (Hail Mary) 150 times for all family and
friends, living and dead. After this, one was to ask for a special,
needed favour - and it would be granted.
He also taught ceaseless invocation of the Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus
Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!" And he prayed on his
leather "Lestovka" or Vervitsa, which is quite similar to the modern
Roman Catholic "Ladder Rosary."
For those busy with jobs and responsibilities, he counseled saying
the Our Father and Hail Mary three times each with the Nicene Creed
recited once, morning and evening. In between, one could say the
Jesus Prayer, a prayer that lends itself to every life situation,
nomatter how busy or distracting.
A journalist and admirer of St Seraphim's, Motovilov, visited him and
walked with him in the forest.
It was there in the middle of a wintery forest that he experienced
the Grace of the Holy Spirit with St Seraphim.
He saw a heavenly Light envelope the Holy Elder's face and felt a
warmth in his own body, even though it was quite cold out. Thus
Motovilov experienced the descent of the Holy Spirit and what His
transfiguration of a person really meant!
St Seraphim prayed before an icon of the Mother of God "Of Tender
Feeling."
It is an icon of the Annunciation, the moment when the Word was made
Flesh in the womb of the Mother of Christ.
The icon depicts the Mother of God with Her hands folded cross-wise
and looking in deep prayer and contemplation into Her heart at that
most sacred moment.
Around Her starry and flaming halo is written the refrain from the
Akathist to the Annunciation of the Mother of God: Rejoice, O Thou
Bride Unwedded!
This miraculous icon, much revered throughout Ukraine and Russia, in
Soviet times and especially now, is the perfect icon for the saying
of the Jesus Prayer, the "Prayer of the heart."
It helps us focus our heart-felt prayer as we gaze and think on the
great Divine Miracle of the Incarnation of our Lord, God and Saviour,
Jesus Christ, through His Most Holy Mother, the Ark of the New
Covenant!
St Seraphim reposed in the Lord before this icon and his kneeling
body simply gave way and his head leaned forward to touch the Hands
of the Mother of God in the icon . . .
And it was St Seraphim who prophesied the downfall of atheistic
communism in Russia and elsewhere!
He continues to work his miracles of grace at his renewed shrine and
throughout the world. The Kyivan Church can justly take great pride
in this one of her most illustrious sons and members of the Choir of
the Venerable Fathers of the Kyivan Caves Lavra!
His feast days are 19 July and 2 January by the Old Calendar (August
1 and January 15 by the new).
At Sarov, icon medallions were distributed to pilgrims with the
miraculous Icon of Tender Feeling (Joy of all Joys) on one side and
with St Seraphim of Sarov on the other.
I am privileged to have come across just such an antique medallion
that I am blessed to wear, together with the Sarov Cross. I am also
blessed to be in the possession of a tiny fragment of the hat worn by
St Seraphim of Sarov and of the Kyivan Caves.
Recently, a number of new Orthodox Churches were dedicated in Ukraine
to St Seraphim of Sarov and, at one dedication, the people sang hymns
in his honour until well into the night!
May the prayers of this Wonderworking Elder protect and guide us all
in this, the centenary of his glorification!
Troparion of St Seraphim of Sarov, Tone 4
"Thou didst love Christ from thy youth, o Blessed One, and longing to
work for Him alone thou didst struggle with constant prayer and
labour. With penitent heart and great love for Christ thou wast
favoured by the Mother of God. Wherefore we cry to thee, Save us by
thy prayers, O Seraphim our Righteous Father!"
See also
St Seraphim of Sarov
and the Uncreated Light
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