Seraphim of Sarov is a real person who was counted among the saints in 1903. Before deciding on the canonization of the elder, the synod provided the emperor with information on the miraculous healings that Seraphim performed during his lifetime. Nicholas II left a mark on these notes: "I read it with a feeling of true joy and deep tenderness."
Seraphim of Sarov was close to the royal family. The wise thoughts and prayers of the saint are appreciated by believers to this day. The personality of the elder is unusual in the history of the church. His life is marked by rigor and amazing willpower. Memorial Day falls on January 15th. August 1 was the day of finding the relics of Seraphim of Sarov.
The elder left a legacy to believing descendants in the form of morning and evening Orthodox prayers and rules. Seraphim of Sarov envisioned their appointment in instilling discipline in the church. But for the laity, a brief morning and evening rule came in handy. During life, believers complained to the elder about the lack of time for prayer and temple attendance. This problem does not lose relevance today. Seraphim of Sarov advised to pray daily from any convenient place. The main thing is that prayer comes from the heart. For the convenience of this process, the morning and evening prayer rule of Seraphim of Sarov has been created.
Childhood
In worldly life, the elder bore the name Prokhor Moshnin. He was born July 19, 1759. Place of birth is the city of Kursk. The merchant family to which the boy belonged was not constrained by funds. Isidor Moshnin, the father of Prokhor, owned brick factories and was actively interested in and carried out construction activities. Parents adhered to the rules of Orthodox life, participated in the construction of the church in their hometown, and set a fine example for their son. Prokhor's father left this world early, transferring the whole fortune and the work of building the temple to his wife Agafier, an extremely pious woman. The main part of her life was spent in prayer and helping the poor. At that time, Prokhor was barely three years old.
The first sign of the grace of the Lord over Prochor appeared when the child was about 7-8 years old. When examining the next temple, mother and son climbed the highest bell tower. The boy, as befits a child at his age, was smart and was interested in the world around him. Running along the upper platform of the bell tower, he could not resist and fell. Mother rushed down, thinking that Prokhor was already dead. However, the boy met her unharmed, standing on two legs.
The second sign happened two years later. Prokhor was seriously ill, and no treatment helped. In a dream, the Virgin appeared to him and said that she would visit him and save him from ailments. At that time, there was a service in the nearby church and a procession was held with the icon of the Sign of the Mother of God. By coincidence, the procession procession ran through the land allotment Moshninyh. Then the mother of Prokhor decided to bring the child to people and bow to the icon. And the disease receded. So it became clear that the Lord chose the boy for important matters and his fate would be connected with the Orthodox faith.
Youth
Prokhor Moshnin had an older brother Alexei. From childhood, both children were taught to conduct their father’s affairs, to work in trade. But, unlike his brother, Prokhor was not disposed to making money in this field. Having passed the age of twelve, the boy became more and more interested in reading the Bible, tried to attend all services in the temple, studied the Psalter.
Agafya Moshnina, of course, noticed this inclination of her son and did not impede his impulses. Since Prokhor did not have the opportunity to attend evening liturgies (he studied business), he was used to getting up early and going to morning services. At that time, a holy fool lived in Kursk (his name was not preserved). The holy fool was considered blessed and revered, the boy quickly made acquaintance with him. This man influenced the strengthening of the Orthodox faith within the young soul. It was then, in his youth, that discipline began to be laid in him, which led to the creation of the morning and evening rules of prayer.
Acceptance of Faith
Over time, Prokhor began to realize that worldly cares and troubles prevented from giving all thoughts to serving the Lord. Gradually, the awareness that his life should go beyond the monastery walls strengthened in his head. In serving the world and people, he saw his future. About this, the young man told his friends who supported him in these aspirations. Over the years, the intention to become a monk was only confirmed in his soul, and Prokhor decided to open himself to his mother. Agafia, as always, fully supported her son, whose inclinations were discovered long ago.
Prokhor said goodbye to his relatives and, in the company of five associates, went to the Kiev-Pechersk monastery. Before leaving, Agathia allowed him to bow before the icons of Christ and the Mother of God. After she blessed and hung a copper cross on her chest. This cross Prokhor carried through his whole life and was buried with it.
There was a long way to Kiev, which had to be overcome on foot. The road of the young man and his associates ran through all the local shrines. In one of them he met the monk Dosifei, who was distinguished by a deep vision of people and insight. Interesting fact: under the name of Dosifei, the noble daughter of Daria Tyapkina was hiding. She was hiding from relatives in a monastery, disguised as a man. About this change learned only after her death. And of course, Prokhor Moshnin did not know about it then. The monk Dosifei saw the grace of God over the youth and ordered him to go to the Sarov desert. There, Prokhor was to carry the word of the Savior into the souls of men.
Life path
After talking with Dosifei, Prokhor returned to Kursk and lived there for another two years. During this period, he strengthened the faith within himself. Gradually, the young man departed from all worldly things, did not take part in trade matters anymore. And at the call of his soul, at the age of nineteen, he gathered on the road again. With two associates, with the blessing of his mother, he moved to Sarov.
In 1786, Prokhor Moshnin forever changed his name. Seraphim becomes a hierodeacon, later a hieromonk.
Hermit
It is known that when he was seraphim of Sarov, he lived away from the monastery. His cell was located in the forest, the monk led an ascetic lifestyle, as befits a clergyman. Seraphim throughout his life preached a rejection of excesses, austerity in food and life. At any time of the year one could see the same clothes on it. He got his own food in the forest. Seraphim of Sarov slept briefly, prayed incessantly, and read the Holy Scriptures. Next to his cell, the monk broke the garden and planted an apiary. He could eat feed for months.
Seraphim chose the feat of spirituality as a feat for his spiritual path. He stood on a stone for months and tirelessly recited prayers. In this way, the title of reverend, that is, like Jesus, came to him. Since 1807, Serafim Sarovsky practically ceased to receive visitors, for many months he kept a vow of silence. Later, returning to the monastery, he went into retreat, which lasted fifteen years. After his graduation, the monk continued to receive visitors.
Prayer rule
Seraphim of Sarov was a model of piety, spirituality and devotion to the faith of Christ. He supported the exclusion of excesses both in food and in everyday life. He considered important the adoption of strict restrictions, the rejection of material wealth. The Sarov elder believed that daily time should be allocated for prayer. At any time of the day or night, you can find a few minutes to repeat three simple prayers to the Lord. Why read the morning and evening rule? The essence of these appeals is to let go of temporal cares for a while and become spiritually cleaner. This ritual gives spirituality in the bustle of the day, returns thoughts to God in faith and in the soul.
The daily use of the morning and evening rules of prayer is of tremendous benefit for the believer. In this case, even the busiest will find time to repeat the appeal to the Savior. The main actions of observing the morning and evening rules of the prayer of an Orthodox person are as follows:
1. After the morning awakening, the believer needs to receive a blessing on the coming day so that things can be argued and the day will go easily. The morning prayer rule marks the primacy of faith in the soul of man. The fact that the Orthodox first thing in the morning turns to Jesus indicates that spiritual life is a priority for him.
2. It is desirable to say prayers at the icons, light candles.
3. The sequence of prayers must be strictly observed. Please note that some are repeated several times.
4. During the day, it is important to remember God, to turn to him. Worldly concerns should not distract the soul of a truly Orthodox person.
5. If desired and possible, repeat the prayer rule at lunch time. It is enough to find a quiet place where you can relax and delve into yourself.
Seraphim of Sarov claimed that a systematic repetition of the morning and evening rules of prayer cleanses the soul, pacifies sins.
rules
The rules of prayer of Seraphim of Sarov consist of the following texts:
• "Our Father". Triple repetition.
• “Virgin Mary, rejoice.” Triple repetition.
• "Symbol of faith". Repeat once.
What is the interpretation of the prayers of the morning and evening rules?
The first prayer has been known to all Orthodox since childhood. It is used in various life situations. It is short and easy to remember. Use in the morning and evening prayer rule.
The second text is an appeal to the Mother of God. Helps to overcome difficulties throughout the day and facilitates failures after it. The text is also short, it’s easy to repeat, it is used both in the morning and in the evening.
“Creed” is a long prayer word, it is allowed to read it from any medium. Its essence is the reflection of the basic tenets of the Orthodox faith. It is allowed to read it only in the morning. However, repeating the text in the evening will strengthen the spirit of the believer, temper for future achievements.
How to pray
Starting the morning and evening prayer rule of Seraphim of Sarov, you need to get up, cross yourself and start reading the sacred texts. For women, a scarf covering the head is a necessity in the process of praying. Men should be without a hat. At the end of the morning action, ask for a blessing for the coming day and go to work or study.
In the evening prayer rule, the believer thanks the Lord for the day he has lived. You can add the text of the prayer, “May God rise again”. At the end of the ritual, cross the corners of the room in which you are.
In the case when there is no time left to observe the entire ritual, Seraphim of Sarov called for a short morning and evening prayer rule to be pronounced during the day as a symbol of connection with higher powers. Words such as “have mercy on me a sinner / sinner” will not be difficult to pronounce in the bustle of ordinary everyday life. For those who do not find time to purify the soul with prayer, these short phrases make it possible to remember that one does not have to strive for the ideal and that one has to bring good to the world.
Who the rules are for
Not every person makes sense to use the morning and evening rules of Seraphim of Sarov. The beneficial effect will be felt by the Orthodox, selflessly believing in Jesus Christ. It is important to understand your spiritual path, to strive for its development and growth. Each word of these short texts carries a sacred meaning, which should be echoed in the soul of the believer. You should be characterized by spiritual self-improvement. When is the morning and evening rule not read? For those whose faith is not so strong, there is the opportunity to make appeals to the Lord on the territory of the church, to confess to the priest.
Value
The morning and evening rules of Seraphim of Sarov are akin to regular physical exertion. As exercises train the body, so prayers temper the souls of believers, strengthening them. The holy elder himself urged all of his associates and visitors to pray daily, in this way to purify thoughts, fully devoting consciousness to the Lord. The interpretation of the morning and evening rules comes down to perfection in the Christian faith. Saying all three prayers every day, a person grows spiritually, his worldview changes.
Miracles of Seraphim of Sarov
After seventeen years of hermitage, the elder rejected silence. Having spoken, he addressed everyone only "My Joy!" Greetings from Seraphim of Sarov was the phrase "Christ is Risen!" He founded the Diveyevo Convent for Women, for which the daily morning and evening rules of Seraphim of Sarov were originally written. By this action, the elder sought to instill discipline in the nuns and gradually strengthen their spirit in faith in God.
Already in the monastery, visitors begin to come to the holy elder. Some had illnesses, both physical and spiritual. It is known for certain that members of the royal family also visited Seraphim of Sarov. It is believed that thanks to the elder’s prayers, the grand-ducal couple had a son - Tsarevich Alexei Romanov.
In the fall of 1831, Seraphim of Sarov healed a wealthy landowner. Nikolai Motovilov subsequently became a benefactor of the Diveevo monastery. He also recorded from the words of Serafim Sarovsky a conversation with him, later released in print. It is called "On the Purpose of the Christian Life."
After the death of the elder, this book will symbolize his will. Seraphim of Sarov died in 1833 in his cell, prayerfully worshiped. The relics of the holy elder and the miracle worker are stored in the Trinity Cathedral of the Diveevo Convent. The canonization of Seraphim of Sarov caused a lot of controversy, as it was initiated by the Grand Duchess Alexandra (wife of Nicholas II), in gratitude for the prayers for her son and heir to the throne. But taking into account the old man’s life and the miracles that he performed and his life, Alexandra Fedorovna’s request was granted.
Predictions
The elder, throughout his entire conscious life, called for pacifying the physical body, forsaking worldly goods, and leading an ascetic lifestyle. Luxury and wealth, even the smallest, in his opinion, have no meaning in the life of a truly Orthodox believer.
Seraphim of Sarov predicted that the royal branch of the Romanov princes would break off in the Ipatiev’s house. From a young age, the miracle worker foresaw the historical events of Russia. It is known that his first prediction was the uprising of the Decembrists. Later, he was given the sign of the Crimean War (1853-55). Russian-Japanese and other world wars were also predicted by this great man.
His most famous prophecies relate to the royal family. About Nicholas II, he said that he would glorify him. The martyrdom of the entire royal family and the subsequent revolution were foretold by the phrase: "Angels will not have time to count souls."
The elder predicted the canonization of the royal family with the words: "God will magnify the king." About the current time, Serafim Sarovsky said that after the communist government (called them invaders, rebels and murderers), the country will have 15 years to repent. During these years, the people should ask for forgiveness from Christ and pray according to the prayer rules of Seraphim of Sarov.
Massive popular repentance never happened, which is probably why the default occurred in 2000. After all, the holy elder foretold the troubles and deprivations of the country if repentance does not occur. Elder Seraphim also knew about the impending fall of the Orthodox faith. But he warned that there should be no contention between people. Otherwise, the collapse of the entire state will come, the people need to learn to negotiate among themselves.
Finally
One of the greatest miracle workers, Elder Seraphim of Sarov remains revered to this day. In the days of the remembrance of the saint, it is especially important to observe his morning and evening Orthodox rules. Hieromonk Sergius, a novice of the Diveevo monastery, collected the main documentary memorial of the monk.
Cancer with the relics of the holy elder is kept in the Diveyevo monastery, where there is an opportunity for parishioners to come and pray to Seraphim of Sarov. The icon "Tenderness of Seraphim of Sarov" due to the lifetime of the selfless faith of the old man in the Lord and his service is revered not only in the Orthodox faith, but also in the Catholic.
The saint is considered a model of piety, asceticism and righteousness. His desire to attain spiritual perfection is indicative of many believers. Therefore, a short morning and evening prayer rule of Seraphim of Sarov are recommended for execution for all laity. The firmness of faith, the kindness of a monk is transmitted to believers through an icon. The image of Seraphim of Sarov is prayed for the cessation of mental suffering, finding peace. They ask you to direct on the right path, to find harmony with yourself and the outside world.
Prayer to the elder gives help to combat despair, abolishes pride and vanity. According to the reviews, the holy water collected from the source allows getting rid of foot diseases and some other ailments. A petition to Seraphim of Sarov helps to find a soul mate, create a strong relationship with her and consolidate the union with a wedding.