Almost every believer knows one or two stories about miracles that happened after prayer at the icon of the saint. The elders who, during their lifetime, served God and through His grace helped people, and after their death work miracles. The priests say that in case of serious life problems or in cases when trouble comes to the family, it is best to immediately go to church and make a sincere request to God. And in order to have intercessors before His face, it is worthwhile to find the icon of a saint who can help you in overcoming difficult life situations. If it seems to you that the whole world has taken up arms against you, every new day brings new troubles and illnesses, and you have already lost faith in the best, you must pray before the icon of Alexander Svirsky. This saint is considered one of the most unique people, because for his good deeds and righteous life, the Most High appeared to him in the form of the Trinity. Such a thing in the entire history of Christianity only happened with the Old Testament Abraham. This alone puts St. Alexander Svirsky and the icon painted on his face after death in a special row. Therefore, it is to this old man that people turn in the most difficult moments of life. Today we will tell you not only about the icon of Alexander Svirsky, but also about the life of the saint and the fate of his relics, which over the past centuries have been lost several times and returned to the Orthodox.
Life of the saint
Historians believe that Alexander was born around the middle of the fifteenth century in a family of ordinary peasants. In the world, he was called Amos in honor of one of the biblical prophets. For many years the saint's parents prayed to God for posterity, they waited in vain for the birth of a son or daughter and already despaired of waiting for the birth of a child. Already at an advanced age, God-fearing peasants conceived the baby, and Amos was born.
Parents linked all his dreams and hopes with him. According to their ideas, the young man had to undergo training, marry a good girl and give them many grandchildren. However, from early childhood, Amos showed a tendency to prayer and study the Scriptures, so he was very reluctant to study at school.
Very little is known about this period of the elder's life. Later, the monks, gathering together the life story of the saint, mentioned that only because of his godly fear the young man finished his studies. But having reached nineteen, he firmly declared that he could not see his future life without God and intended to accept monastic tonsure.
Way to god
Many Orthodox who have received miracles from the icon of Alexander Svirsky claim that already at the first glance at the image of the old man one can get an idea of what a righteous person he was. This is not surprising, because his path was completely predetermined by God.
The elderly mother and father were categorically against letting go of their only and long-awaited son, but Amos secretly went to Balaam. He hoped that in time they would understand the young man and forgive him.
Where exactly to go, the young man did not know, but angels appeared to him and conveyed a blessing from the Almighty. They gave Amos a satellite in a difficult way, with which they came straight to the monastery. While they were walking, the saint talked with the angels more than once, and they showed him the place where, sometime in the future, with the help of the Lord, he would erect a new beautiful temple.
In Valaam, Amos became a novice and honestly performed his hard work for seven years. The brothers loved him for his meek disposition, fear of God, humility and wisdom. He confidently walked along his path and was ready to fulfill any will of God.
The adoption of monastic tonsure and life in the monastery
A lot of unusual stories go about the icon of St. Alexander Svirsky, but the saint himself has done many amazing things in his life. At twenty-six years old, he took monastic tonsure, which he had dreamed about since childhood. He received the name Alexander and spent in the monastery for about thirteen years.
Since the saint was obedient to God's will, he headed away from the monastery to Roshchinsky Lake. There he settled on a small island, where he built a simple dwelling for himself and began to dig a cave with his hands. He spent seven years on this island in labor, fasting and prayer. Alexander got his livelihood in the forest, most often berries, mushrooms and roots became his food.
In the future, the island where the elder lived, was called the "Holy". And at the place of his dwelling and cave, the monks built a monastery. Pilgrims who come here are shown the very cave where Alexander Svirsky lived for seven years.
Trinity phenomenon
Once the face of the Trinity appeared to the saint. He talked with the Lord about the future, the construction of the temple, and how to gather brothers who would work for the glory of God. After these conversations and prayers, the Almighty pointed out to Alexander the place where he should build a temple.
Immediately after this, he went to the abbot of the Valaam monastery. After asking for his blessings, he set about building a new monastery. He worked hard and was appointed hegumen of the new monastery, but this did not force Alexander to refuse to work. He continued to erect new structures with his assistants, making the monastery more and more beautiful. So the Trinity Monastery appeared, which gradually became known throughout Russia.
Alexander spent the rest of his life in this monastery. But the saint did not rest on his laurels, already at an advanced age he built a monastery of stone in honor of the Virgin Mary, which still exists. Alexander Svirsky died (we will tell you about the icon written from it in one of the following sections of the article) in the early thirties of the sixteenth century. At that time he was eighty-five years old. Eyewitnesses of those events said that at the time of death his face shone. Later, they tried to convey this light when writing the icon of St. Rev. Alexander Svirsky. His brothers buried him in the Waste Desert, located near the Transfiguration Church.
Finding the relics of a saint
Fourteen years after her death, the church canonized Alexander Svirsky. The icon with its face was not yet painted, but many more miracles awaited the Orthodox clergy when the saint's tomb was opened. His body was preserved imperishable, and relics almost immediately began to exude the world. Moreover, there were so many of him that bees flew into the church building where the remains of the elder were sent more than once.
Interestingly, the separation of the world depended on the number of believers and the fact whether worship was currently taking place. The Orthodox vied with each other that one touch of fragrant oil could remove sorrows from the soul and cure the disease.
Many spoke of the fact that during his life the saint also helped believers. Ordinary people often turned to him for advice in difficult life situations, and with his prayer he more than once removed the most serious diseases from the suffering.
The loss and return of relics
Before the revolution, the relics of the elder were in one of the cathedrals of St. Petersburg, from where representatives of the People’s Commissariat seized them. In the eighteenth year of the last century, the government fought against the religious worldview of the people, destroying churches and icons. What helps Alexander Svirsky was known far beyond the borders of the cathedral, therefore his power and image were very interested in revolutionaries. They excavated relics from the crayfish and disassembled it. In newspapers, it was announced that believers had been deceived for a long time and that there was a wax doll in the church. In fact, the relics were sent for examination and scientists, to their surprise, recognized them as genuine. For storage they were identified in the anatomical museum. Moreover, even its employees did not know which particular exhibit was delivered to them. It seemed that the trace of the relics was lost forever, as well as the precious icons of Alexander Svirsky, whose photos at that time were carefully hidden.
In the nineties, initiative groups spent much time in search of the relics of the saint, and only about twenty years ago they were found and solemnly returned to the Orthodox Church. This event took place in St. Petersburg, the icons of Alexander Svirsky at that time were in several monasteries and churches in Russia. And the return of his relics strengthened that miraculous power, which possess the image of this amazing old man.
Icon Description
What the icon of Alexander Svirsky helps, we will describe in one of the following sections, and now we’ll talk about how his first image appeared and describe it. Today, an icon depicting an elder is found in many temples. But few Orthodox people know that it appeared only at the end of the nineteenth century. It is surprising that the icon of Alexander Svirsky was painted (in Moscow, she enjoys great reverence among the Orthodox) was with relics. They are so well preserved that the features of the saint's face are not only distinguishable, but also well readable.
From the first image after, copies appeared that were dispersed in the monasteries and churches of Russia. Usually, an icon depicts an old man with a wise and soulful look addressed to believers. After prayer, it seems to many that he looks directly into their souls and reads all the most sacred in it.
Above the bare head of the old man is a halo, and his right hand is raised to bless all those who come to the icon to bow. In his left hand the old man holds a staff, which helped him to stand firmly on his feet. Sometimes icon painters put scripture texts into the elder’s hand, the study of which he devoted so much time during his lifetime.
Icon of Alexander Svirsky: value, what helps
The image of the saint is very important for the Orthodox. It is known that the icon helps with many problems, and even monks and novices often turn to it, who pray the elder to strengthen them in the faith and take them on the path intended for them. Ordinary people can also turn to Alexander Svirsky in moments of mental turmoil and disbelief. If you begin to doubt the Almighty and His love for you, then be sure to come to church and look for the image of the saint. He will help you recover from doubt and trust the Creator.
Many barren couples pray at the icon for the gift of posterity. Some parents with several daughters come to the saint with a request for an heir. They say that sincere prayer brings its results in the form of a treasured bundle tied with a blue ribbon.
Priests send parents of novices who are going to take tonsure to the icon of Svirsky. Often parents are very upset by the departure of their children to the monastery, it is difficult for them to put up and make this decision. Bearing in mind that young Alexander also faced a similar problem and eventually managed to convince loved ones of the correctness and righteousness of his path, believers turn to him for support.
They also pray to the saint for healing in the most difficult and hopeless cases. Sincere prayer of the patient and his family contributed to many miraculous recoveries.
Keep in mind that helps Alexander Svirsky and people who can not decide on their life paths, prioritization and ask for protection from sinful thoughts.
Icon and Prayer to Rev. Alexander Svirsky
If you want to bow to the relics of a saint and pray at his image, then you can do this in the Holy Trinity Monastery in St. Petersburg. In Moscow, believers can touch images in two places:
- Temple of the Life-Giving Trinity;
- Church of St. Alexander Svirsky.
The text of the prayer, which must be addressed to the saint, we give below.
Do not forget that any appeal to the Almighty and the Saints should come from a pure heart.
Miracles and Testimonies
Many people saw the miracles from the icon of Alexander Svirsky, the monks carefully recorded all the testimonies of believers, some of which have been dating back more than a hundred years. We cannot give them all in this article, but we simply could not ignore some cases.
It has long been known about healing from diseases after numerous prayers in the image of a saint. He helped people recover from cancer, see through blindness, gain sensitivity with complete paralysis. It was recorded that the disabled, who for many years had dreamed of rising again, suddenly gained strength in their muscles and then came to thank the saint with their own feet.
It is noteworthy, but sometimes Alexander Svirsky did not allow young people to take tonsure. He came to them in a dream and spoke of another way that the Lord had prepared for him. Thus, they got the opportunity to avoid the most important mistake in their life.
There are cases when even the icons located in the home iconostasis began to flow. These miracles do not lend themselves to logical explanation, like many other things that happened in the image of the saint.
The priests say that if despondency penetrated your soul and you can’t find yourself in this world of storms and injustices, then do not hesitate to come to the temple. Take a look into the wise and kind eyes of St. Alexander Svirsky and tell him about everything that lies burden on your heart. Do not doubt that after a sincere prayer near the icon your life will sparkle with new colors.