Seraphim of Sarov, whose biography is known to all Orthodox Christians, was born in 1754 in the family of the famous merchant Isidore and his wife Agathia. Three years later, his father, who was engaged in the construction of a church in honor of St. Sergius, died. Agafia continued the work of her husband. Four years later, the temple was ready, and young Seraphim went with his mother to inspect the building. Climbing to the very top of the bell tower, the boy stumbled and fell. To the joy of his mother, he did not receive any injuries, in which she saw God's special care for her son.
First vision
At the age of 10, Serafim Sarovsky, whose biography is an example to follow, became very ill and ended up dying. In a dream, the Queen of Heaven appeared to him and promised to grant healing. At that time, a miraculous image of the Mother of God was carried through their procession. When the procession caught up with the house of Agathia, it started to rain, and the icon was carried through its courtyard. She endured her sick son, and Seraphim kissed the icon. From this day the boy started recovering.
Ministry start
At the age of 17, Serafim Sarovsky, whose biography is covered in religious books, decided to leave home and devote himself to the life of a monk. He spent two years on a pilgrimage in the Kiev Pechersk Lavra. Then the local recluse Dosipheus, having seen the ascetic of Christ as a young man, sent him to the Sarov Desert. In his spare time from obedience, the young man regularly went to the forest. Such a rigor of life attracted the attention of the brethren, admiring the strength of his exploits, most of which the reader will be told the life of Seraphim of Sarov. For example, as a reverend, he only ate grass for 3 years. Or how for 1000 days he stood on a stone in the forest, going down only to eat.
Reclusiveness
After three years of standing on a stone, Seraphim returned to the monastery for a new feat - 17 years of seclusion. The first 5 years, no one from the brethren saw him, not even a monk, who brought meager food to the old man. After the expiration of this period, Sarovsky sometimes opened the cell’s door and received those who wished, but did not answer questions, as he vowed silence. In the cell there was only an icon of the Mother of God with a lectern and a stump serving as a reverend chair. In the entrance hall there was an oak coffin, next to which Seraphim often prayed, preparing for the departure to eternal life. After another 5 years, the cell doors opened from the beginning of the morning liturgy and did not close until 8 pm. At the end of 1825, in a dream, the mother of God appeared to the elder and allowed her to leave the cell. Thus ended his retreat.
End of the earth
Almost two years before his death, the Monk Seraphim of Sarov again saw the Mother of God, who, as it were, foreshadowed him with a blessed demise and awaiting his imperishable glory. On January 1, 1833, the saint went to church and set candles for all the images. After the liturgy, he said goodbye to the prayers, who noticed that the saint was almost exhausted. But the spirit of the old man was joyful, cheerful and calm. On the evening of this day, Seraphim sang Easter songs. The next day, the brethren entered his cell and found the reverend kneeling before the lectern. At the same time, his head lay on crossed arms. They began to wake him and found that the old man was dead. Seventy years later, Seraphim of Sarov, whose biography was set forth in this article, was counted among the saints by the Holy Synod .