How does the icon of Seraphim of Sarov help, what is asked of him. Venerable Seraphim of Sarov

Icon of Seraphim of Sarov - meaning, what helps?

Seraphim of Sarov, thanks to his good deeds, was rewarded by God with the gift of clairvoyance and healing. He could see people's hearts and their true thoughts. Seraphim knew how to look into the past and the future. The value of the icon of Seraphim of Sarov for Orthodox people is enormous, since it constantly performs miracles, helping believers in various issues. People can turn to the saint for various reasons, and they can ask not only for themselves, but also for loved ones, and even enemies.

The meaning of the icon of Seraphim of Sarov and how does it help?

The possibilities of the image of this saint are directly related to his abilities during his lifetime. The icon has several areas of application, and everyone can turn to the Higher Forces with its help.

How does the icon of Seraphim of Sarov help:

To get help Higher powers, it is necessary to address the saint with a pure heart and an open soul. Any selfish motives will become a wall that will prevent prayer from reaching its goal. It is recommended to go to church, put a candle in front of the image and read a prayer. In the temple, it is also worth buying an icon and three candles, and already praying in front of the image of the house.

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Icon of Seraphim of Sarov: how to pray, meaning, help

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Seraphim of Sarov became famous for his exploits of monasticism, hermitage, vows of silence, seclusion, pillage, and obedience. For this, the Lord endowed him with the ability to heal and the gift of predictions. Prayers to the icon to Saint Reverend Seraphim of Sarov helped the queen to give birth to the heir to Emperor Nicholas II. During his lifetime, the saint wrote a letter to the "last king" and warned of the overthrow.

Seraphim Sarovsky

Seraphim was born in Kursk. At baptism in 1779 he was given the name Prokhor. The boy loved to read the scriptures in solitude. After meeting with Elder Dositheus in his youth, he made a decision with the blessing of his mother at the age of seventeen to take monastic vows. He was given the Name Seraphim in the Sarov monastery, where Elder Joseph was his teacher. Seraphim spent almost half of his life praying in the forest. He grew vegetables in the vegetable garden and was engaged in beekeeping, he ate this.

Father Seraphim spent his days in labors and tireless prayers. He did not feel envy and lived very modestly, rejoiced in trifles and did not lose heart. Glory found Seraphim after long years of reclusive life. Laymen and monks turned to him for advice and help. Everything that the elder sometimes advised people seemed strange and incomprehensible. But then they were convinced that he was right. All who converted received support in prayers and treatment with spring water, which healed and gave peace of mind.

He cured the landowner Manturov from a leg disease. As a token of gratitude, Manturov gave up the property, sold it, became a beggar and devoted his further life to serving God. In the Sarov and Diveyevo monasteries, the cases of healing by Father Seraphim were confirmed in writing.

He addressed people tenderly and reverently with lacquer words. Therefore, in prayers he is called "Seraphimushka", "Father", "Father Seraphim". His face is depicted on icons and frescoes. Usually this is a gray-haired old man in simple clothes.

Orthodoxy celebrates the memory of Father Seraphim twice a year: January 15 and August 1. But this does not mean that they apply only these days.

The meaning of the icon of Seraphim of Sarov and how it helps

The image of a saint is support in despondency and temptation. They pray to him to bestow love and develop memory, they ask him to get rid of devilish obsessions.

What they pray to the icon of Seraphim of Sarov:

  • about curing a disease;
  • about a successful marriage;
  • about protection from ill-wishers and robbers;
  • about help in financial matters.

The icon has several areas of application and everyone who applies receives support. The image of a saint is especially helpful in dealing with diseases. Seraphim himself was ill a lot. At ten years old, a serious illness threatened with death, but the icon of the Mother of God helped. Later he suffered from a serious illness, dropsy. But the prayers to the Mother of God helped him cope with the illness.

During his lifetime, Father Seraphim advised never to lose heart and believe in your own strength, to be demanding of yourself, not to condemn people. The saint convinced all converts of the steadfastness of faith. Many schismatics were influenced and joined the church. The words were confirmed by predictions, cures and miracles. The soldiers who received the blessing of Seraphim remained unharmed in battle.

The miraculous icon of Seraphim of Sarov "Tenderness" helps to find harmony, find peace of mind, overcome temptations and doubts, and gives healing. The icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness" was revered by the Saint, he died in front of her during prayer.

Lonely girls and women turn to the image of the Saint. He is the patron saint of successful marriages. A prayer read for spring water will be effective. A lit candle and the image of the Saint are placed near the water, they drink water and sprinkle the bed and the room.

How and in what way does the icon of Seraphim of Sarov help for business related to trade. It is important that petitions are directed not at personal strengthening of the financial condition, but at helping other people and at various benefits. Selfish requests will become a wall and will not allow you to get what you want.

To receive support, people are approached with sincere faith and an open mind. It is recommended to visit the temple, put a candle in front of the icon and read a prayer service. In the temple, you can also buy an icon, three candles, and read a prayer at home.

Oh, the delightful saint of God, the glorious glory of Orthodoxy, the adornment of the Russian Land, the great lamp of the whole world, Spiritual Father Seraphim! With warm faith, we tenderly glorify thee, for you have been blessed with the Holy Spirit more than measure. For the sake of your purity and for your many deeds and incessant prayers, God enrich you with wondrous gifts: heal the sick in the hedgehog, drive out demons, comfort the weak, see the future, as if the present. More than the glorious manifestations of the Most Pure, you have been honored with many things, even your favorite name is thee. The Lord is one too

You have been rewarded with the Savior in the temple. And you yourself shone wondrously with the grateful uncreated light of the Kingdom of God, and the whole world was teaching the acquisition of the grace of the Holy Spirit by word and deed. But even now, enjoying the blessed light of the Holy Trinity, do not forget to visit people, all over the world your name is calling.

Even so, if we are sinful beings, in our sorrows we ask for your mercy: direct us to the path of repentance, ask for grace and to us unworthy, please our hearts with good hopes for the mercy of God: for many times you have said to the sad: do not be discouraged to us; Christ is risen, death kill, abolish the devil. And I also commanded you to come to your grave. May we also hear your friendly voice: do not be discouraged, my joys! stay awake, save yourself! crowns for such are prepared in the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

How does the icon of Seraphim of Sarov help and what is its meaning

The Monk Elder Seraphim of Sarov gained fame and glory as a holy righteous man during his lifetime. It is surprising that this man did not have a spiritual dignity, however, from an early age he was honored to behold the Mother of God with his own eyes.

The icons of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov are a living reminder of his spiritual deed and the gifts that he received from the Holy Spirit and used for the benefit of people.

In Orthodox Christianity, the icons of Seraphim of Sarov are not so much a decorative function as they enable a believer to focus all his thoughts on prayer and communion with God and the saints. After all, human nature is very weak, and he can easily be distracted by foreign objects.

The life of Saint Seraphim

Speaking about the iconographic image of the Monk Seraphim, it is important to know who this saint was and what his earthly life and spiritual feat.

The Monk Seraphim was born more than two centuries ago in a wealthy merchant family who lived in Kursk. At birth, the boy was named Prokhor. The family was left without a father when the boy was very young. All the brightest and kindest that was in his soul, he absorbed from his mother. As a child, Prokhor was honored with the appearance of the Mother of God, and his whole life passed under her patronage and protection. At the age of 17, the young man received a blessing from a pious old woman and went to the Sarov desert for obedience.

A few years later, the young man was tonsured under the name Seraphim.

In 1807, the monk Seraphim received God's blessing for the deed of silence and for this purpose retired in the forest. He spent three years in the forest, after which he returned to the monastery, but continued to avoid meeting people.

Then Seraphim began to receive both monastic brethren and worldly pilgrims throughout the day. Everyone who came to him, he hugged and kissed with the words "Christ is Risen" and anointed with oil from the lamp.

Throughout his life, Seraphim carried a reverent attitude in the Mother of God. There was always an icon "Tenderness" in his cell. It was near this image that during prayer the monk Seraphim departed to the Lord.

Towards the end of his life, the old man's legs hurt badly, but at the same time, heartfelt joy and peace did not leave him for a minute. Before his death, he again had the honor of contemplating the Queen of Heaven. She told the elder that soon he would be taken to her heaven. After this, the monk elder prepared a grave for himself and gave his last orders. The elder did not feel fear in the face of death, but perceived it as an opportunity to be in the heavenly abode next to the Lord.

Since the elder knew about the day of his death in advance, he managed to say goodbye to all his acquaintances and give them his last instructions. He bequeathed his favorite icon "Tenderness" to the sisters of the Diveyevo Monastery. The elder even gave money to the abbess of the monastery so that a "cell for the Lady" was prepared there.

Miracles performed through the prayer of Seraphim

  1. For the first time such a miracle happened when young Prokhor fell from a high church bell tower. After that, he got to his feet and had no injuries on him. And at the age of 10, Prokhor was healed by the Mother of God, who appeared to him in a dream, from a serious incurable illness.
  2. Already being in the monastery, Prokhor suddenly fell ill with dropsy. His body was swollen. After the Communion of the holy gifts, the Mother of God appeared to the young man, touched his leg with her rod and healed him.
  3. The Monk Seraphim indicated to his sibling the exact day of his death 48 years before this event.
  4. Once a deacon arrived at the Sarov monastery, who the day before falsely accused another priest of unseemly acts. When this deacon came to the holy elder, he drove him away, seeing deceit and slander against an innocent man. After that, for three years the sinner could not serve in the church - his tongue began to grow numb. This continued until he confessed to slander and repented.
  5. Even animals listened to the Monk Seraphim. One of the monks, who lived in the monastery at the same time as Seraphim, told how Seraphim sat on a block and fed breadcrumbs to a huge bear standing in front of him. Out of fear, the monk hid behind a tree and watched as the wild beast left the Monk Seraphim into the forest. When the animal left, Seraphim asked the monk Peter not to disclose to anyone what he had seen until the death of Seraphim.
  6. In 1825, the Monk Elder, while on the banks of the Sarovka River, beheld the Mother of God and the holy apostles John and Peter. The Blessed Virgin struck the ground with her staff and a fountain of water gushed out from there. Then she ordered the construction of the Diveyevo monastery in this place. Father Seraphim brought from the monastery necessary tools and dug a well with my own hands for 2 weeks. Subsequently, the water from this well began to bring people miraculous healings from various ailments.
  7. The Monk Elder Seraphim possessed a great gift of clairvoyance. Very often he received letters and knew about their contents without even opening the envelope. Many such unopened letters were subsequently found in his possession.
  8. There are witnesses of how the elder ascended above the earth during prayer. However, he demanded to keep it secret until his death.

Through the prayers of Seraphim, health was repeatedly restored even to incurable patients. These miracles are far from the only ones performed by the elder according to his great faith and mental purity. Even after the death of the saint, his icon helps people to gain health and courage in difficult times, strengthens spirit and flesh those who turn in sincere prayer.

Uncovering of the relics of Seraphim of Sarov

The canonization and acquisition of the relics of the Monk Elder Seraphim of Sarov took place on August 1, 1903. His relics were solemnly transferred to the shrine on his birthday.

On this day, more than 300 thousand people gathered in the city of Sarov for the celebration. All-night funeral services were held in the Sarov monastery. Before the canonization, a procession was made to the Sarov monastery from the Diveyevo monastery. Throughout this procession, sacred hymns were sung. On the way, the procession stopped at the chapels where the litias were performed.

The second procession went out to meet the relics. After the meeting, the united procession moved towards Sarov. In the evening of the same day, St. Seraphim of Sarov glorified in the face of saints.

After that there was the coffin with the relics of the holy elder is opened... At this time, everyone knelt down, including the emperor himself. According to historians, this holiday was one of the most solemn in Russia. The instructions of the venerable elder were voiced. Some of them were written down with their own hand, while others were heard and recorded from the saint by other people. The relics of the saint rest in the Sarov desert.

Was printed and released shortly after canonization "Conversation on the Purposes of the Christian Life"... This conversation took place shortly before the dormition of the monk.

The history of the icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov

Already some time after the Assumption of the Monk Father Seraphim, it was written the first icon dedicated to him... Since the holy elder throughout his life was distinguished by mercy and a righteous lifestyle, he became a shining example to all generations of Orthodox Christians.

The very first icons began to appear after 1833, when the venerable elder passed away. In 1903, after the canonization of the reverend father, a series of new icons was painted on the initiative of Emperor Nicholas. These included and largest in size.

On these images the venerable elder is depicted up to the waist or in full height... The right hand of Saint Seraphim is raised up, and his fingers are crossed. With such a gesture, the saint, as it were, overshadows everyone sign of the cross everyone looking at the icon. Seraphim holds a cross in his left hand.

What you can pray for in front of the icon of Seraphim

The Monk Seraphim acquired the gift of performing miracles during his lifetime. The people revered him as a saint and very often asked for advice and support on a wide variety of everyday and spiritual issues. That is why it is very useful to offer prayers in front of the icon or the relics of the holy elder at the moment when any trouble overtook you, you experience despair and breakdown.

Saint Seraphim called our despondency and sorrow the most serious sins... Therefore, in order to get rid of these misfortunes, one can make a prayer request to the icon. This will help you gain strength and joy in life.

The miraculous capabilities of the holy icon are directly related to the lifetime abilities of Saint Seraphim. Anyone can refer to the icon, as it has many different sides application.

In what cases should one pray to Seraphim of Sarov?

  1. During his earthly life, the monk elder told those who came to him that very it is important to be tolerant of others and remain demanding of your own personality... He called people believe in yourself and never give up... Thus, you can offer a prayer to this saint when you need strength and faith in yourself to solve all your pressing problems.
  2. The icon of Seraphim of Sarov "Tenderness" will help all those who turn to it to find themselves and their destiny, pacify our emotional experiences and find peace and strength of spirit. The icon helps to find inner harmony and balance between the external material world and internal state person. In these cases, the holy elder will become your spiritual guide and comforter.
  3. It is very useful to offer prayers in front of the icon of Seraphim of Sarov for people who have serious problems with health... The Monk Seraphim possessed the gift of healing the sick even during his lifetime. Turning to an icon will help to get rid of not only bodily but also mental ailments.
  4. There are many cases when a prayer appeal to the icon of St. Seraphim helped single girls find their betrothed and successfully marry... For family people, this icon will help to establish warm atmosphere in the house and keep the love and warmth of the relationship in marriage for a long time.
  5. Another important area of ​​our earthly life, in which we can ask Seraphim for help, is business... First of all, we are talking about trade. However, in this case, it is very important to remember that you need to ask not for material well-being for yourself, but blessings for good endeavors that can benefit people.

How to pray to the reverend elder

The Holy Scriptures teach that in order to receive help from our Father in heaven and the saints, one should offer prayers with a pure heart and soul. If you have any secret or obvious selfish motives, your prayer may not achieve the goal.
  1. It would be best to come to the temple with a pure soul, light a candle and read a prayer in front of the holy image. In addition, you can buy an icon and several candles in the church, and then pray also at home.
  2. When offering prayers, one should remember that it would be more correct to pray, not proceeding from the "specialization" of one or another heavenly patron, but believing in the unshakable power of God, which is endowed with every icon or prayer.
  3. However, there are still traditions of praying to the saints based on the real events of their lives. If we are talking about the Monk Elder Seraphim, all his life he was constantly busy with some useful work for the good of others. In his opinion, in this way one can approach the Heavenly Father.
  4. The saint bequeathed to people to rejoice in what you have and to be grateful to God. In addition, he taught never to give up and not give up, to do more and speak less. It is on the basis of these instructions that we need to raise our prayers in front of the icon of Seraphim, ask him for spiritual support, so as not to succumb to temptation and receive strength and wisdom in a difficult situation.
  5. The Monk Seraphim helps to find peace in the process of mental throwing. These prayers help to find harmony and peace of mind.

It should be noted, however, that Orthodox teaching does not recommend giving saints and icons the opportunity to help in strictly specific requests. After all, the most important thing that is required when offering prayer is sincere faith and an openness of the soul.

One can offer prayers to the holy elder Seraphim of Sarov not only for oneself, but also for our relatives and friends. You can even pray for your enemies.

He gained fame and glory as a holy righteous man during his lifetime. It is surprising that this man did not have a spiritual dignity, however, from an early age he was honored to behold the Mother of God with his own eyes.

The icons of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov are a living reminder of his spiritual deed and the gifts that he received from the Holy Spirit and used for the benefit of people.

In Orthodox Christianity, the icons of Seraphim of Sarov are not so much a decorative function as they enable a believer to focus all his thoughts on prayer and communion with God and the saints. After all, human nature is very weak, and he can easily be distracted by foreign objects.

The life of Saint Seraphim

Speaking about the icon-painting image of the Monk Seraphim, it is important to know who this saint was and what his earthly life and spiritual deed were like.

The Monk Seraphim was born more than two centuries ago in a wealthy merchant family who lived in Kursk. At birth, the boy was named Prokhor. The family was left without a father when the boy was very young. All the brightest and kindest that was in his soul, he absorbed from his mother. As a child, Prokhor was honored with the appearance of the Mother of God, and his whole life passed under her patronage and protection. At the age of 17, the young man received a blessing from a pious old woman and went to the Sarov desert for obedience.

A few years later, the young man was tonsured under the name Seraphim.

In 1807, the monk Seraphim received God's blessing for the deed of silence and for this purpose retired in the forest. He spent three years in the forest, after which he returned to the monastery, but continued to avoid meeting people.

Then Seraphim began to receive both monastic brethren and worldly pilgrims throughout the day. Everyone who came to him, he hugged and kissed with the words "Christ is Risen" and anointed with oil from the lamp.

Throughout his life, Seraphim carried a reverent attitude in the Mother of God. She was always in his cell. It was near this image that during prayer the monk Seraphim departed to the Lord.

Towards the end of his life, the old man's legs hurt badly, but at the same time, heartfelt joy and peace did not leave him for a minute. Before his death, he again had the honor of contemplating the Queen of Heaven. She told the elder that soon he would be taken to her heaven. After this, the monk elder prepared a grave for himself and gave his last orders. The elder did not feel fear in the face of death, but perceived it as an opportunity to be in the heavenly abode next to the Lord.

Since the elder knew about the day of his death in advance, he managed to say goodbye to all his acquaintances and give them his last instructions. He bequeathed his favorite icon "Tenderness" to the sisters of the Diveyevo Monastery. The elder even gave money to the abbess of the monastery so that a "cell for the Lady" was prepared there.

Miracles performed through the prayer of Seraphim

It is not possible to list all the miracles that the Heavenly Father performed through the prayer of Elder Seraphim. The news of the created miracles appears again and again.

  1. For the first time such a miracle happened when young Prokhor fell from a high church bell tower. After that, he got to his feet and had no injuries on him. And at the age of 10, Prokhor was healed by the Mother of God, who appeared to him in a dream, from a serious incurable illness.
  2. Already being in the monastery, Prokhor suddenly fell ill with dropsy. His body was swollen. After the Communion of the holy gifts, the Mother of God appeared to the young man, touched his leg with her rod and healed him.
  3. The Monk Seraphim indicated to his brother the exact day of his death 48 years before this event.
  4. Once a deacon arrived at the Sarov monastery, who the day before falsely accused another priest of unseemly acts. When this deacon came to the holy elder, he drove him away, seeing deceit and slander against an innocent man. After that, for three years the sinner could not serve in the church - his tongue began to grow numb. This continued until he confessed to slander and repented.
  5. Even animals listened to the Monk Seraphim. One of the monks, who lived in the monastery at the same time as Seraphim, told how Seraphim sat on a block and fed breadcrumbs to a huge bear standing in front of him. Out of fear, the monk hid behind a tree and watched as the wild beast left the Monk Seraphim into the forest. When the animal left, Seraphim asked the monk Peter not to disclose to anyone what he had seen until the death of Seraphim.
  6. In 1825, the Monk Elder, while on the banks of the Sarovka River, beheld the Mother of God and the holy apostles John and Peter. The Blessed Virgin struck the ground with her staff and a fountain of water gushed out from there. Then she ordered the construction of the Diveyevo monastery in this place. Father Seraphim brought the necessary tools from the monastery and dug a well with his own hands for 2 weeks. Subsequently, the water from this well began to bring people miraculous healings from various ailments.
  7. The Monk Elder Seraphim possessed a great gift of clairvoyance. Very often he received letters and knew about their contents without even opening the envelope. Many such unopened letters were subsequently found in his possession.
  8. There are witnesses of how the elder ascended above the earth during prayer. However, he demanded to keep it secret until his death.

Through the prayers of Seraphim, health was repeatedly restored even to incurable patients. These miracles are far from the only ones performed by the elder according to his great faith and spiritual purity. Even after the death of the saint, his icon helps people to gain health and courage in difficult times, strengthens spirit and flesh those who turn in sincere prayer.

The canonization and acquisition of the relics of the Monk Elder Seraphim of Sarov took place on August 1, 1903. He was solemnly transferred to the shrine on his birthday.

On this day, more than 300 thousand people gathered in the city of Sarov for the celebration. All-night funeral services were held in the Sarov monastery. Before the canonization, a procession was made to the Sarov monastery from the Diveyevo monastery. Throughout this procession, sacred hymns were sung. On the way, the procession stopped at the chapels where the litias were performed.

The second procession went out to meet the relics. After the meeting, the united procession moved towards Sarov. In the evening of the same day, St. Seraphim of Sarov glorified in the face of saints.

After that there was the coffin with the relics of the holy elder is opened... At this time, everyone knelt down, including the emperor himself. According to historians, this holiday was one of the most solemn in Russia. The instructions of the venerable elder were voiced. Some of them were written down with their own hand, while others were heard and recorded from the saint by other people. The relics of the saint rest in the Sarov desert.

Was printed and released shortly after canonization "Conversation on the Purposes of the Christian Life"... This conversation took place shortly before the dormition of the monk.

The history of the icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov

Already some time after the Assumption of the Monk Father Seraphim, it was written the first icon dedicated to him... Since the holy elder throughout his life was distinguished by mercy and a righteous lifestyle, he became a shining example to all generations of Orthodox Christians.

The very first icons began to appear after 1833, when the venerable elder passed away. In 1903, after the canonization of the reverend father, a series of new icons was painted on the initiative of Emperor Nicholas. These included and largest in size.

On these images the venerable elder is depicted up to the waist or in full growth. The right hand of Saint Seraphim is raised up, and his fingers are crossed. With such a gesture, the saint, as it were, makes the sign of the cross over everyone who looks at the icon. Seraphim holds a cross in his left hand.

What you can pray for in front of the icon of Seraphim

The Monk Seraphim acquired the gift of performing miracles during his lifetime. The people revered him as a saint and very often asked for advice and support on a wide variety of everyday and spiritual issues. That is why it is very useful to offer prayers in front of the icon or the relics of the holy elder at the moment when any trouble overtook you, you experience despair and breakdown.

Saint Seraphim called our sorrow the most grievous sins... Therefore, in order to get rid of these misfortunes, one can make a prayer request to the icon. This will help you gain strength and joy in life.

The miraculous capabilities of the holy icon are directly related to the lifetime abilities of Saint Seraphim. Anyone can refer to the icon, since it has many different aspects of application.

In what cases should one pray to Seraphim of Sarov?

  1. During his earthly life, the monk elder told those who came to him that very it is important to be tolerant of others and remain demanding of your own personality... He called people believe in yourself and never give up... Thus, you can offer a prayer to this saint when you need strength and faith in yourself to solve all your pressing problems.
  2. The icon of Seraphim of Sarov "Tenderness" will help everyone who turns to it to find themselves and their destiny, pacify our emotional experiences and find peace and strength of spirit. The icon helps to find inner harmony and balance between the external material world and the inner state of a person. In these cases, the holy elder will become your spiritual guide and comforter.
  3. It is very useful to offer prayers in front of the icon of Seraphim of Sarov for people who have serious health problems... The Monk Seraphim possessed the gift of healing the sick even during his lifetime. Turning to an icon will help to get rid of not only bodily but also mental ailments.
  4. There are many cases when a prayer appeal to the icon of St. Seraphim helped single girls find their betrothed and successfully marry... For family people, this icon will help to establish a warm atmosphere in the house and keep the love and warmth of a marriage relationship for a long time.
  5. Another important area of ​​our earthly life, in which we can ask Seraphim for help, is business... First of all, we are talking about trade. However, in this case, it is very important to remember that you need to ask not for material well-being for yourself, but blessings for good endeavors that can benefit people.

How to pray to the reverend elder

The Holy Scriptures teach that in order to receive help from our Father in heaven and the saints, one should offer prayers with a pure heart and soul. If you have any secret or obvious selfish motives, your prayer may not achieve the goal.

  1. It would be best to come to the temple with a pure soul, light a candle and read a prayer in front of the holy image. In addition, you can buy an icon and several candles in the church, and then pray also at home.
  2. When offering prayers, it should be remembered that it would be more correct to pray, not proceeding from the "specialization" of one or another heavenly patron, but believing in the unshakable power of God, which is endowed with every icon or.
  3. However, there are still traditions of praying to the saints based on the real events of their lives. If we are talking about the Monk Elder Seraphim, all his life he was constantly busy with some kind of useful work for the good of his neighbors. In his opinion, in this way one can approach the Heavenly Father.
  4. The saint bequeathed to people to rejoice in what you have and to be grateful to God. In addition, he taught never to give up and not give up, to do more and speak less. It is on the basis of these instructions that we need to raise our prayers in front of the icon of Seraphim, ask him for spiritual support, so as not to succumb to temptation and receive strength and wisdom in a difficult situation.
  5. The Monk Seraphim helps to find peace in the process of mental throwing. These prayers help to find harmony and peace of mind.

It should be noted, however, that Orthodox teaching does not recommend giving saints and icons the opportunity to help in strictly specific requests. After all, the most important thing that is required when offering prayer is sincere faith and an openness of the soul.

One can offer prayers to the holy elder Seraphim of Sarov not only for oneself, but also for our relatives and friends. You can even pray for your enemies.

In Christianity, there are a large number of legendary icons. One of the most popular is the icon of Seraphim of Sarov, the value of which is very difficult to overestimate. The saint was born in the 18th century, but over the years of his life he contributed to the formation of the Christian faith by righteous deeds. During his lifetime, he managed to help a large number of people. And today they turn to his image with prayers.

In the article, we will consider some facts from the life of the saint, the meaning, in which the icon of Seraphim of Sarov helps, and what miracles are performed today.

The life of the monk

Seraphim was born in the middle of the 18th century in Kursk. The saint's family was prosperous.

When the boy was three years old, his father died. Shortly before the death of Seraphim, he began the construction of the temple. After his death, all responsibilities fell on the boy's mother. Once she took her son with her to a construction site. The child, playing, fell from the bell tower. The woman was very frightened, but, going downstairs, she saw her son safe and sound. In this she considered God's care.

The second time the boy's life was threatened when he was 10 years old. He became very ill. There was no hope of recovery. But one night little Seraphim dreamed of the Mother of God, who promised to heal him.

At this time, a march was going along Kursk with the miraculous icon of the Sign Mother of God... Agafya, that was the name of the child's mother, put her son to her and asked for his speedy recovery. After that, Seraphim, or, as he was also called after baptism, Prokhor, went on the mend.

Later, when the boy grew up, his older brother, who was engaged in trade, began to teach Prokhor his skills. The boy was not at all interested in this. His soul yearned for God. He visited the temple daily and prayed all the time. To do this, he had to wake up early in the morning in order to be in time for the morning service. Prokhor quickly learned to read and write Holy Bible... Mom drew attention to the desire of her son to be closer to the Lord and was delighted with this, so she did not force him to go to help his brother.

Already in adolescence, the young man made the decision to devote his life to serving God. His mother did not object to her son and gave her blessing.

His first teacher was the recluse Dosifei from the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery. It was he who considered the guy as a true servant of Christ and blessed the young guy to live in the Sarov desert.

At the age of nineteen in Sarov, Prokhor was received by elder Pachomius as the abbot in the desert. This is how the divine service of the monk to the Lord began. After that they began to call him Seraphim of Sarov. Throughout his life, he carried his special relationship to the Mother of God.

Death of Seraphim

Seraphim of Sarov's icon "Tenderness" was in his cell all his life, near which he smeared parishioners with oil from an icon lamp. And it was near this icon, praying, that the elder gave his soul to God. Before his death, the Mother of God came to him in a dream and announced his imminent death. Knowing that he would soon be gone, the elder prepared his own grave and gave his last orders.

The elder expected his death with joy. It was an opportunity for him to be reunited with the Lord.

And his main inheritance - the icon of "Tenderness" - Seraphim of Sarov bequeathed to the sisters of the Diveyevo monastery. And he gave the order to arrange a separate cell for her, for which he allocated funds.

"Tenderness", a favorite icon of Seraphim of Sarov, in the photo below.

Finding relics

Only at the beginning of the last century was the canonization of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov carried out. On his birthday, the relics were transferred to the Sarov monastery. The procession with the relics and the icon, according to historians, was grandiose and lasted all day. They also claim that such a holiday was the first time in Russia. During the opening of the coffin with the relics, all those present fell on their knees, including the emperor, who also participated in the procession.

In the same year, a book was published with the teachings of the monk, which he managed to write before repose.

Iconography

The icon of Seraphim of Sarov for Orthodox people is of great value.

The portrait of the elder was painted during his lifetime. Today it is stored in America.

Below is a photo of the icon, Seraphim of Sarov is depicted on it younger than those years in which he passed away.

His gaze is confident, happy and intent. The face expresses calmness, thin in shape, hair combed back. Generally appearance the monk radiates kindness and grace.

Near the icon of Seraphim of Sarov, the feeling that he is looking directly into the soul does not leave.

Iconographic images of the monk

Often on icons, Seraphim of Sarov is presented in 4 guises:

  • The most common is an old man with a staff.
  • The feat of standing. The period when Seraphim stood on a stone in a prayer position for about 1000 days.
  • An image with a rosary in one hand and the other blessing those in need.
  • Prayerfully folded hands crosswise on the chest.

The history of the icon

Before talking about how the icon of Seraphim of Sarov helps, let us consider its history.

The first was written immediately after the death of the elder. He was awarded this thanks to his bright deeds during his lifetime. Seraphim constantly received parishioners, relieved them of illness, and helped with advice. He was merciful and generous.

The next and one of the largest icons was painted a little later, at the beginning of the last century. That year when the relics of the monk were transferred. This happened thanks to Nicholas II, who initiated the canonization of the Monk Seraphim.

On these icons, the elder is depicted both waist-deep and full-grown. He holds a cross in one hand, and raises the other up, crossing his fingers. With this gesture, he directs everyone who looks at the icon towards the sky.

Where is the icon?

As noted above, one of the first icons is located in America. In general, today, perhaps, there is not a single Orthodox church, wherever there is an image of Seraphim of Sarov.

And, of course, the most ancient icon is in the Sarov Monastery in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

The miraculous face is located in Old Peterhof at the Serafimovskoye cemetery.

The miraculous image is kept in Estonia in the Church of the Resurrection of Christ.

One of the most famous images of an old man with a stone is kept in the Yelokhovsky Epiphany Cathedral.

Part of the relics of the elder remained in the Danilov Monastery. Two miraculous lists are also kept here.

Icon of Seraphim of Sarov. Meaning, what helps

Often, many of us, coming to church, do not even know where which icon is located and how it helps. We mistakenly approach the first one that we like, and ask for ourselves, relatives. This does not mean that our hopes will not come true, and our requests will go unnoticed. After all, if we come with faith in our souls and truly need help, the Lord will not leave us.

But it is much better to understand which saint, angel, archangel is responsible for what, to ask for protection and blessing purposefully.

Seraphim of Sarov differs from all other saints in his great love for the Almighty, for which he was gifted with the ability to heal and the ability to predict the future.

He knew practically all the questions for answers with which the suffering ones came to him. Therefore, to this day, the icon of the elder brings grace and blessing to the house.

Of course, not everyone believed him and often questioned his words, but later they became convinced that they were wrong. The icon especially helps those who truly believe in its power of healing.

Healing methods

Its methods are quite simple. He helped only with prayer and holy water. Nothing has changed today. It is better to ask a saint for help, turning to him in prayer.

Despite enough simple methods, Seraphim could heal even seriously ill people, often already incurable. The world knows plenty of such cases even today.

Water from the holy spring is considered curative. It is located in the Diveyevo Monastery. Many come there to bathe in the sacred spring and be cured of diseases.

With the help of prayer, he asked the Lord to help everyone who asked for help during his lifetime, and after death he prays for everyone in need.

The meaning of the icon of the Monk "Tenderness", or as it is called "Seraphim-Diveyevo Icon"

It was believed that the icon brings health. The monk called her "The Joy of All Joys."

The Mother of God often appeared to the elder. Once she and he himself healed from a fatal illness.

Today, the original is kept in the Church of the Vladimir Icon in Moscow.

On the image, the eyes of the Virgin Mary are humbly lowered, which indicates that she is waiting for the coming of the Son of the Lord. Both arms are folded across the chest in a cross.

It is believed that this icon patronizes the female half of humanity:

  • Girls ask for help in personal matters. For the husband to be good and faithful, the children are healthy.
  • The Mother of God also helps with everyday life problems.
  • It instills in a person confidence and strength to cope with everyday troubles.

The Virgin Mary demonstrates by her example how you can overcome despair and at the same time remain humble.

Seraphim's "Affection" is considered the purest and most sublime image of the Virgin Mary.

What do they pray for in front of the face of Seraphim of Sarov?

Since the priest was revered during his lifetime, many prayers and akathists were written immediately after his death. And this despite the fact that Seraphim had not yet been canonized at that time.

Often they pray in front of the icon:

  • On the preservation of the family.
  • About healing both your own and those close to you.
  • In case of difficult childbirth.
  • If a girl wants to get married successfully.
  • About getting rid of bad habits.
  • In case of difficulties, get rid of the temptation.
  • About help in work.
  • Women turn to when they cannot conceive a child.
  • In moments of sorrow and despair.

When addressing a saint through prayer or from oneself, it is very important to have open heart and pure thoughts. Otherwise, the request will not be fulfilled. It is very important to sincerely believe in what you are asking for.

What is the right way to pray?

It is not often that people who come to the temple understand how to pray correctly and why to do it.

Prayer is a conversation with the Almighty. She shows us our sins. But what is the right way to do it?

Reading a prayer correctly is hard work that needs to be learned.

  1. Reading it requires complete concentration. Memorizing and automatic reading will not bring any results. It is important to focus on what you are saying. A technical reading of a prayer can evoke "prayer" pride, which is also considered a sin.
  2. Sincere repentance and true awareness of your sins.
  3. Accept. One of the important factors that does not allow from a sincere reading to pass unnoticed to pharisaism.
  4. While reading a prayer, you can light a church candle. It doesn't matter where you pray - in church or at home in front of the image.
  5. Before reading any prayer, it is necessary to read Our Father.
  6. When addressing a particular saint, it is important to take into account real events from their lives. And if we talk about Seraphim, then he spent his whole life in work and believed that this was the only way to get closer to the Almighty.
  7. He said that you need to rejoice in what you have.
  8. Turning to him helps to find peace and peace of mind.

Memorial day of the reverend

Memorial Day of the saint is celebrated twice a year.

On these days, solemn services are held in churches throughout the country in honor of the memory of the saint. And the men who bear the name Seraphim celebrate their name days.

Miracles created through prayers to Seraphim of Sarov

It is impossible to list all the miracles that were performed during the life of the saint and after his death. But you can remember the most famous and first ones:

  1. The first and the most famous miracle- when he fell from the bell tower as a child and remained unharmed. This case has already been mentioned above.
  2. The next miracle happened to the saint in his youth, when he was in a monastery. His body was swollen from dropsies. In a dream, he saw the image of the Virgin Mary, who touched his leg with her rod. Since that time, Seraphim has been on the mend.
  3. Seraphim predicted the exact date of death for his own brother 48 years before it happened.
  4. He possessed the gift of clairvoyance. He always knew in advance the content of the letters that came to him, without even opening them.
  5. Even the animals listened to him. One of the servants who lived with Prokhor, after his death, said that he witnessed how the elder hand-fed a bear that was initially trying to attack him.

In the article, we examined short description the life of the saint, the miracles that happened to him, the description of the icon of Seraphim of Sarov, its meaning, which helps. And also how to read prayers correctly so that they have their power. We hope that our article will be useful to you.

The Monk Seraphim of Sarov the Wonderworker, in the world Prokhor Moshnin is an ascetic of the Russian Church, the founder and patron of the Diveyevo Monastery.
Born on 07.19.1759. Reposed on 2.01.1833.
The Monk Seraphim of Sarov is called the Wonderworker, because both during his lifetime and after his death he is revered by the people for miraculous healings, prophecies and consolation of the suffering.
Nominated as a saint in July 1903. It happened in the Sarov and Diveyevo monasteries, with a huge gathering of people of different classes and conditions.
Long before the Sarov celebrations of 1903, images of Seraphim of Sarov were placed on the shrine and revered along with the icons: many of them spread across peasant huts, in the homes of wealthy people, holding power in palaces. By the time the elder was glorified, it turned out that the image of the saint was created before canonization and his images became icons of the saint. There were many oral legends and tales about the miracles of the Sarov elder among the people, his biography was created nationwide.
Seraphim of Sarov's contemporaries especially noted that the saint healed not so much with a meek word, as with love and joy that emanated from him. Especially people remembered the instructions of the reverend elder.
The relics of Seraphim of Sarov are laid to rest in the Diveyevo monastery. They grant miraculous healing, spiritual enlightenment, and allow you to feel all the joy of being by the will of God. The relics were returned to the Diveyevo monastery in 1991. This event - the Second uncovering of relics, which took place on January 15, 1991, was celebrated with a procession of the cross. The solemn service was attended by Patriarch Alexy II, who held a prayer service on the square adjacent to the Trinity Cathedral. Since that time, the relics of the saint have not left the walls of the monastery.
In 2003, Orthodox Russia widely celebrated the centenary of the glorification of the venerable elder in the face of the saints of Orthodoxy.


On the site of the appearance of the Mother of God to Father Seraphim on November 25, 1825, a well was built, distinguished by miraculous power, and below, near it, there is the former Theological well. In the summer of 1826, at the request of the elder, the Theological Spring was renewed. The roll-off that covered the pool was filmed; a new blockhouse was made with a pipe for the source of water. Near the pool, the elder was engaged in bodily labor. Collecting pebbles in the Sarovka River, he threw them ashore and lowered the pool of the spring with them.
December 9, 1826 in the Diveyevo community, by order of Fr. Seraphim, the laying of the mill took place, and in the summer, on July 7, she ground it down.

4. Death of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov.


Shortly before his death, on March 25 (Old Style) 1832, the Mother of God appeared to Seraphim for the twelfth (and last) time, accompanied by the holy martyrs and saints, etc. Two days before that, the monk told about the upcoming miraculous event of his spiritual daughter Eupraxia, a nun of the female Diveyevo monastery closest to Sarov. This monastery was founded by the landowner Agafia Melgunova (monastic Alexandra) in the third quarter of the 18th century. Subsequently, the Monk Seraphim himself became the organizer of the monastery. Eupraxia was present at this extraordinary "descent of Heaven to earth", subsequently testifying about it: "I thought that I was no longer alive." The appearance of the Mother of God ended with Her appeal to Seraphim: "Soon, my beloved, you will be with us."
The holy elder began to prepare for death. He had already made for himself an oak coffin-deck for a long time, and without any fear, happily awaited the transition to eternity. The monk used to say: “My life is shortening - it is as if I was born in spirit, but in my body I am dead to everything! .. When I am gone, you go to my coffin! And the more often the better. All that is in your soul, no matter what happens to you, come to me, and bring all the grief with you to my coffin! As if alive, tell everything! As you always spoke with the living, so here! For you I am alive and I will be forever! ". The Monk Seraphim of Sarov ascetic died on the night of January 2 (15), 1833. Shortly before that, he predicted that his death would be revealed through a fire. Early in the morning that day, two monks, passing by the elder's cell, smelled smoke - no one answered the knock on the door. Then they hacked it and found the monk kneeling in prayer in front of his beloved cell, with his arms crossed on his chest, with an unusually peaceful and enlightened expression on his face. From the candle that fell from the elder's hand, his clothes had already begun to smolder. Seraphim foresaw not only his imminent death, but also the future joy of his glorification.

5. Canonization of the Wonderworker. The relics of the Saint.


On January 11, 1903, a commission chaired by Metropolitan Vladimir (Epiphany) of Moscow, including Archimandrite Seraphim (Chichagov), examined the remains of Seraphim Moshnin. The "incorruptibility" of the relics was not found, so Metropolitan Anthony (Vadkovsky) of St. relics are not necessary for glorification. The Holy Synod on January 29, 1903 announced:
“The Holy Synod, fully convinced of the truth and reliability of the miracles that are being performed through the prayers of Elder Seraphim, ... set forth its following decision:
1) to recognize the reverent elder Seraphim, resting in the Sarov desert, in the face of saints, glorified by the grace of God, and his honorable remains as holy relics and put them in a tomb specially prepared by the diligence of His Imperial Majesty for worship and honoring from those flowing to him with prayer,
2) to compose a special service to the Monk Father Seraphim, and before the time of compilation of such, after the day of glorification of his memory, send him a general service to the monks, and celebrate his memory both on the day of his repose, January 2, and on the day of the discovery of his holy relics, and 3) to announce this to the nationwide news from the Holy Synod. "
The people venerated the elder as a saint, long before his official entry into the calendar of the Patriotic Orthodox Church, but the celebration of his canonization took place only on July 19 (August 1), 1903. He also predicted this event: “… what joy there will be! In the middle of summer they will sing Easter! And the people, the people from all sides, from all sides! " This is what happened in Sarov and neighboring Diveyevo at the celebrations of his canonization. Then, thousands and thousands of Orthodox Christians of Russia came to bow to the great ascetic, led by Tsar Nicholas II and other representatives of the Royal family.

5.1. Relics.


There is a belief that before his death, the Monk Elder Seraphim handed a candle into the hands of the novices of the monastery, ordering them to meet him with this candle when he returned. The candle was passed down from generation to generation by the novices of the monastery, and only 160 years later, the last and only schema-nun Margarita, who survived the return of the relics and the opening of the monastery, handed it over to the protodeacon to meet the relics of the elder.
After the October Socialist Revolution, the powers of the Monk Seraphim, as he himself predicted, sank into obscurity. Only two facts were documented: on December 17, 1920, the relics stored in the Diveyevo monastery near Arzamas were opened, and on August 16, 1921, they were closed and taken away. In the late 1920s. The relics of the Monk Seraphim were exhibited for viewing in the Moscow Passion Monastery, where an anti-religious museum was organized at that time. The relics remained there until 1934, when the Passionate Monastery was blown up.
The further fate of the relics is revealed in the words of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, which he said in the Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra on January 12, 1991, the day after the signing of the protocol on the transfer of St. relics of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov of the Russian Orthodox Church. Alexia II said the following:
“Already at the first meeting with the director of the Museum of the History of Religion, we agreed that the relics, as Orthodox shrines, should be returned to the Church. Employees of the Kazan Cathedral Museum checked the storerooms and in the room where the tapestries were kept, they found relics sewn into a mat. When they were opened, they read the inscription on the glove: "Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us!" It was assumed that these are the relics of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov. The story of the seizure of the relics of the Monk Seraphim is as follows. From Sarov they were taken to Arzamas, from Arzamas - to the Donskoy Monastery. Further, the trace is lost ... And, comparing two acts - on the canonization in 1903 and on the autopsy in 1920, I sent two archpastors to Leningrad - Bishops of Tambov and Michurinsky Eugene and Istra Arseny, who examined the relics ... The archpastors who carried out the examination, testified to the feeling of grace and the fragrance of the relics that they had to examine. After comparing, the confidence arose that these were indeed the relics of the Monk Seraphim. Eleven days remained before the transfer. A shrine was made, into which the relics were transferred on the eve of their return to the Russian Orthodox Church. "
The relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov were transferred to Moscow and installed in the Epiphany Cathedral for worship. From this cathedral, where Orthodox believers walked and walked non-stop for several months, the wandering of relics began on the way from Moscow to Diveyevo. This was an all-Russian "religious procession on wheels" (the relics were transported in a minibus, followed by the car of His Holiness the Patriarch), which stopped in cities and monasteries along the way. During the stops, His Holiness served the Liturgy and acathists were performed to the Monk Seraphim.
August 1, 1991, on the feast day of St. Seraphim of Sarov, his St. the relics were returned to the Diveyevo monastery, founded by St. Seraphim. This was one of the most striking wonders of Russian church history in the 20th century.

6. Celebration, days of remembrance, worship.

The memory of the Monk Wonderworker is served twice a year:
- January 2/15 - on the day of his blessed death;
- July 19 / August 1, the day of his canonization and the uncovering of his relics.
On the eve of the Day of Remembrance of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov, the All-Night Vigil is celebrated.
On the day of remembrance, the Divine Liturgy is read.

Akathist to the Monk Seraphim of Sarov the Wonderworker.

Akathist to the Monk Seraphim of Sarov the Wonderworker is a chant that glorifies St. Seraphim of Sarov. The akathist is performed by those praying standing up. Consists Akathist to the Monk Seraphim of Sarov Wonderworker. of alternating 13 kontakions and 12 ikos.


Prayer to the Monk Seraphim of Sarov.

O wonderful Father Seraphim, the great Sarov miracle worker, a hasty helper to everyone who comes running to you! In the days of your earthly life, no one else is skinny and inconsolable from you, but everyone will see your face in sweetness and the pleasant voice of your words. To this, the gift of healings, the gift of insight, the gift of the weak souls of healing are abundant in you. Whenever God calls you from earthly labors to heavenly rest, no matter how much your rest is from us, and it is impossible to count your miracles, multiplied, like the stars of heaven: behold, all over the end of our earth, our people of God appear and grant them healings. With the same we cry out to you: O pretiff and meek servitor of God, bold prayer to Him, cut off no one calling you! Raise up for us your beneficent prayer to the Lord of forces, may grant us all that is useful in this life and all that is useful to spiritual salvation, may he protect us from the falls of sinful and true repentance, may he teach us, in his hedgehog without impediment to bring us into the eternal Heavenly Kingdom, where are you now shine forth in unfailing glory, and there to sing with all the saints the Life-Giving Trinity for ever and ever. Amen.


Troparion to the Monk Seraphim of Sarov, Tone 4.



Kontakion to the Monk Seraphim of Sarov, voice 2.



Magnification to the Monk Seraphim of Sarov.



7. Iconography.

The icon-painting image of the Monk Seraphim of Sorovsky goes back to the portrait of D. Evstafiev that was not preserved during his lifetime. The old man in this portrait is younger than in the usual images, he has a thin face, smooth, slightly combed back hair and the same flowing beard as hair. Attention is drawn to the calm, self-absorbed look of gray eyes. When looking at this work of the artist, it is clear not only how the portraits turned into icons after being glorified, but also how they prepared the future stylistic variety of images - showing different facets of the saint's appearance. The main prayer image of Saint Seraphim arose on the basis of another lifetime portrait. This work is associated with the name of the monk Joseph (Serebryakov), a graduate of the Arzamas art school. He created the portrait “from nature, five years before his death,” that is, around 1828. According to early description paintings, the image was on an olive background “in the mantle, epitrachelium and rudders, as he approached the communion of the Holy Mysteries. This portrait shows that the years and monastic exploits had an impact on the appearance of the elder. Here the face is presented pale, dejected from work; the hair on both the head and the beard is thick, but not long and all gray. The right hand is placed on the stole at the chest. "

7.1. Iconographic images of St. Seraphim of Sarov.

There are four main iconographic images of Seraphim of Sarov:
1.With hands folded in prayer at the heart - only right hand touches the heart or hands lie on the chest in the area of ​​the heart in a cross-to-cross manner, the right hand is on top of the left,
2. Blessing - the right hand blesses, prayer beads in the left hand,
3. Prayer on a stone - Father Seraphim is kneeling on a stone, raising both hands to the sky,
4. The image where Seraphim of Sarov is depicted as an old man with a staff.
The half-length icons and icons are being painted, where Saint Seraphim is depicted in full growth. For a "blessing image" on Orthodox icons there is a required attribute: prayer beads in the left hand.
The face of the saint on the icons reproduces the main features inherent in the Monk Seraphim of Sarov: kindness, mercy and the humble character of a miracle worker. On all the icons, the eyes of Seraphim of Sarov are especially expressive, their calm, attentive, self-absorbed gaze. Clearly outlined eyes look into the heart of the praying person. Such a detail of style becomes inherent in almost all the images of the saint.
Many of the images, written in an academic manner, convey by artistic means his spirit, peaceful and meek, which is captured in the life of the Monk Seraphim.

7.2. Life icons.

The hallmarks of the icons mainly describe the following events from the life of the Saint:
1. Mother blesses Prokhor to the monastery.
2. During illness.
3. Monasticism.
4. Vision of the Lord Jesus Christ to Seraphim in the temple.
5. A visit to Seraphim by Alexander I.
6. The vision of the Seraphim of the Lord Jesus Christ in the temple.
7. Healing by Seraphim in the monastery.
8. Healing by the Seraphim.
9. Re-surrender to the care of St. Seraphim of the Diveyevo Monastery. The modern icon from the Shchelkovo Cathedral, with eight scenes from the life, shows the image of Father Seraphim, reworked in the iconographic style.
There are many icons, mosaic panels with scenes from the life of Seraphim of Sarov.
In the Epiphany Cathedral in the city of Noginsk, you can see modern murals: on the southern wall, in one pillar of windows, there are Venerable Sergius of Radonezh and Seraphim of Sarov. The paired image of these two highly revered Russian saints is becoming a tradition. In the TsAK there is an icon with these reverends of the beginning of the 20th century. (No. 856). And in the church of St. Philaret in the Moscow city of Lobnya there is a modern revered icon on which St. Seraphim of Sarov, Passion-bearer Tsarevich Alexy, Martyr grand duchess Elisaveta Feodorovna. Such a selection of saints suggests that the traditions of depicting the monk continue to develop.

8. Brief prayer rule of the Monk Seraphim of Sarov.

The Monk Seraphim of Sarov taught everyone the following prayer rule:
1. "Having risen from sleep, every Christian, standing in front of holy icons, let him read the Lord's Prayer" Our Father "three times, in honor of the Most Holy Trinity, then the song to the Theotokos" Virgin Mary, Rejoice ", also three times and, finally, the Symbol of Faith once. Having fulfilled this rule, let everyone do their own thing, for which they are assigned or called.
2. While working at home or on the way somewhere, let him quietly read: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner (uyu)", and if others surround him, then, doing business, let him speak with his mind only : "Lord have mercy," and continues until lunchtime. Before lunch, let him do the above morning rule.
3. After dinner, doing his job, let him read quietly: "Most Holy Theotokos, save me a sinner (uyu)", and let this continue until sleep.
4. When going to sleep, let every Christian read the above morning rule again; after that let him fall asleep, protecting himself with the sign of the cross. "

The Lord's Prayer.

Our Father, Who art in Heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also leave our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.

Song of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Virgin Mary, rejoice, Blessed Mary, the Lord is with you; Blessed are You in wives and Blessed is the Fruit of Your womb, for you gave birth to the Savior of our souls.

Symbol of faith.

I believe in one God the Father Almighty,
Creator to heaven and earth, visible to all and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
The Son of God, the Only Begotten, Who was born of the Father before all ages;
Light from Light, God true from God true,
born, uncreated, consubstantial with the Father, Who was all.
For us for the sake of man and for ours for the sake of salvation descended from heaven
and incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and incarnate.
Crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried.
And he rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sitting
at the right hand of the Father. And the packs of the coming with glory, judge the living and the dead,
His Kingdom will never end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the life-giving Lord, who proceeds from the Father,
Alike with the Father and the Son we are worshiped and glorified, who spoke the prophets.
In one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
I confess one baptism for the remission of sins.
I tea the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the century to come. Amen.

"By keeping this rule," says Fr. Seraphim, "you can achieve the measure of Christian perfection, for the three designated prayers are the foundations of Christianity: the first, as a prayer given by the Lord Himself, is a model of all prayers; the second was brought from heaven by the Archangel to greet the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Lord; The symbol briefly contains all the saving tenets of the Christian faith. "
For those who, for various reasons, could not fulfill this small rule, the Monk Seraphim advised to read it in every position: during classes, and while walking, and even in bed, presenting as the basis for this the words of Scripture: "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. "

9. Miracles of Seraphim of Sarov.


Since 1825, after the end of the vow of silence, which lasted 15 years, Seraphim of Sarov began to receive visitors. Numerous cases of the healing of the sick and of sagacity, revealed by the righteous old man, belong to this period.
Seraphim Sarovsky died in 1833 while in a kneeling position. But even after his death, the Saint continued to work miracles. One of them is the birth of a boy - the heir to the throne of Tsarevich Alexei in the family of the Royal Passion-Bearers Nicholas II and Alexandra Feodorovna. After the birth of four daughters, Nicholas II and his wife turned with prayers to the image of Seraphim of Sarov, so that God would grant them a male heir. After their request came true, an icon of the Monk Seraphim settled in the emperor's study. It should be noted that it was at the request of Nicholas II in 1903 that Seraphim of Sarov was canonized in the face of the Monk Saint.
From time immemorial, information about miracles of healing that happened and continue to occur reaches our days.
Written testimonies of miracles and prayerful deeds of the elder were mainly possessed by two monasteries - Sarov and Dieyeevskaya. Many manuscripts were kept here, which were copied and distributed among the people, and later were borrowed by spiritual writers.

Sources of information.

Http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/182687.html
- http://www.diveevo-tur.ru/moshi_serafima_sarovskogo.html
- http://diveevo52.ru/index26.htm
- http://www.temples.ru/iconography.php?TerminID=702 Icons
- http://www.pravklin.ru/publ/izobrazhenija_prepodobnogo_serafima_sarovskogo/9-1-0-2794 (Author: Zh.A. Kurbatova)
- http://serafimov.narod.ru/bibl/rasnoe/thudesa.htm
- http://www.tsurganov.info/svjatye/svjatoj-serafim-sarovskij-ikona.html

Seraphim of Sarov is the patron saint of what? To answer this question, you first need to know the life of the elder. After all, the name of this saint is widely known throughout the world, he is especially revered in Russia. The Lord gave him the ability to heal, as well as talk about the past, predict the future. Prayers with requests to the saint work miracles: they perform the most cherished desires, heal, help to find a way out of a difficult situation.

A Brief Description of the Life Path of the Reverend Elder

Heavenly patron Seraphim of Sarov hails from Kursk. The exact date of his birth is known - July 19, 1759. At baptism, the baby was named Prokhor.

Miracles began to happen to the boy from the very early age... There was a case when Prokhor could not resist and fell from the bell tower of the temple. Everyone saw a miracle in the fact that the boy remained completely unharmed.

In 1776, in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the fateful meeting of the young Prokhor and the elder Dositheus took place, who indicated to the young man that he should take monastic vows in the Sarov wasteland.

After 2 years, the young man ended up in the Tambov province, where he became a novice in the Sarov monastery. And 8 years later, in 1786, he did what Dositheus told him - he took monastic vows and became the monk Seraphim.

Seraphim did not need rest at all, the Lord himself gave him the strength to serve. In 1794, he accepted a silent feat and settled in the forest in order to be able to pray incessantly.

Father Seraphim spent 16 years in the desert, and in 1810 he returned to the monastery to receive another shutter, which lasted until 1825. Everything changed on November 25 of the same year. In a dream, the Mother of God appeared to Seraphim of Sarov and ordered him to stop fulfilling his vows and start accepting people in her to help them with her advice, guidance and healings.

Miracles through the prayers of Father Seraphim

For his love for God and feats of asceticism, Father Seraphim received from the Lord the gift of healing people, as well as predicting important events... He knew everything about the past and the future, he gave wise advice, helped to overcome difficulties. Sometimes what he advised seemed strange and incomprehensible to people, but those who did exactly what was predicted were convinced in the future that everything that Father Seraphim said makes sense.

Seraphim Sarovsky - the patron saint of what? People came to him for advice and with a request, he helped in the treatment of bodily and mental ailments, and sometimes with advice he prevented trouble.

He helped everyone who turned to him with prayer and water from a miraculous spring. Many cases of the healing of hopeless patients with the healing water of Father Seraphim have been recorded.

After the death of the saint, the healing spring continues to work miracles. Its water is truly curative, it brings you back to life, gives you health and peace of mind.

However, the main miracle that remained after Saint Seraphim of Sarov is prayer. It has long been known that people endowed with certain abilities do not heal themselves, they send their requests to God through prayer, who, loving them, fulfills their requests. Saint Seraphim of Sarov still prays for all of us before God, therefore the miraculous prayer of this elder fulfills desires, saves in difficult moment, helps to overcome the trouble.

Icons of Seraphim of Sarov

Now there are many revered icons of the holy elder Seraphim of Sarov. His image is painted not only on icons, but also on frescoes.

There are pictorial icons that were painted by skilful artists soon after the death of the venerable elder, with the involvement of people who personally knew him. A well-known portrait of Seraphim of Sarov has survived, which is now kept in the Moscow Theological Academy.

In the Christian world, the face of Seraphim of Sarov is revered, they pray to him, they turn to him with requests for help.

Seraphim Sarovsky - the patron saint of what?

So we come to the main question. The memory of Holy Father Seraphim is venerated by believers twice a year: January 15 and August 1. But this does not mean that they pray to the saint only on these days. Sincere prayer will be effective at any time, the main thing is to believe and think about good.

Whose patron is Seraphim of Sarov? They turn to him with requests for help, as well as in despondency under sinful circumstances, they pray to get rid of demonic temptations. He is asked for the grace of giving love. It helps in the development of memory, relieves diseases of the spirit and body, helps in solving problems of a material nature.

Prayers to Seraphim of Sarov are effective, if you forgive not only for yourself, you can pray for your loved ones and for your enemies.

Prayer for a happy marriage

Seraphim Sarovsky is the patron saint of marriages. This saint is asked to arrange the fate of lonely girls. It has long been known that prayer alone is not enough to receive help. Prayer will be effective if read on the water. And for this, living water is best suited - spring water.

Taking a liter of water, read a prayer on it, while placing a lit church candle and an icon of Seraphim of Sarov near the vessel. The water prepared in this way must be drunk, as well as sprinkled with it on your bed and room.

Of course, do not forget that the main attribute of such a request is faith in God and the confidence that a miracle will happen and you will meet your destiny.

It is believed that Seraphim of Sarov is the patron saint of late marriages, so those who have already lost all hope of arranging their fate often turn to him. If you are over 30 years old or more, and you are still single, contact Father Seraphim and be sure that your sincere prayer will be fulfilled.

A very strong help will be the prayer of a mother who wants her daughter to get married, because the Lord accepts any mother's request for his ardently beloved child.

How to pray to Seraphim of Sarov

This saint is very much loved and revered in Russia. It has long been so vulgar that people approached him lovingly: Seraphimushka, elder, father, saint of God, Father Seraphim, miracle worker.

In prayer, address yourself the way you like best, the main thing is that it comes from the heart, be pure with good thoughts.

So, Seraphim of Sarov is the patron saint of what? Probably, everyone will answer this question for himself, because it is known that faith and veneration by an elder to God worked true miracles.

After the saint died, Orthodox people turned to him with faith, and a miracle happened. Back in 1895, a special commission recorded 94 miraculous healings that occurred after a prayer to Father Seraphim. This is just a small part of real cases of the help of a saint who is always ready to support a believer.

Prayer to Seraphim of Sarov

Seraphim Sarovsky was born under the name Prokhor, in a merchant family in Kursk. When he was just a boy, his father began the construction of the Kursk Cathedral, but died before he could finish the work. Prokhor's mother, a very religious woman, took up the continuation of the construction, and then the first miracle happened to the boy. Having fallen from the bell tower while visiting the construction site with his mother, he found himself on the ground, safe and sound.

After this incident, the boy devoted most of his time to Holy Reading, and by the age of 17 he made a decision - to serve God. The mother approved the choice of her son and blessed him on the way to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. From there, Prokhor was sent to the Sarov desert, where he spent many years, and, subsequently, received the name - Seraphim of Sarov.

Then there were years of hermitic prayers in a deserted cell, and then, 25 years later, the saints appeared to him, ordering him to leave the seclusion and receive people - the sick and the weak.

So miracles began to happen through the prayers of Seraphim of Sarov - healing from deadly ailments.

Miracles of Seraphim of Sarov

Who did not come to Seraphim, he healed everyone with the help of the miraculous water of his source. One day a woman came to him, so exhausted from an illness that she could not even eat the food allowed by fasting. Seraphim ordered her to wash in the waters of his source, and the disease passed.

There is also famous story about the healing of a woman with dropsy. She walked to his monastery for two days, during a stop at the monastery, she was already admonished to die. But when he arrived at Seraphim, he accepted her first of all, dried himself with a towel, which she brought with her as a gift, and ordered him to come tomorrow. The next day he gave her a vessel to draw water from the spring and wash herself. Arriving at the hotel, the woman, contrary to the contraindications of the doctors, washed herself with this water and was completely healed.

Of course, Saint Seraphim of Sarov healed not only with water, but also with prayer. Holy people do not heal themselves, but they pray with their sinless souls for the sick and God delves into their requests.

Subsequently, the miraculous prayer of Seraphim of Sarov arose, which saves hundreds and thousands of people after his death. After all, the saint still prays for us before God.

After his death, the miraculous source still continues to heal. Once the mother sent her son there, who had suffered from drug addiction for many years. His mother asked him to go there with his wife and get married in the Diveyevo monastery. So they did, but the disease did not recede.

Three years later, the man, still hopelessly addicted to drugs, alcohol and tobacco, went to the monastery of his own free will. He plunged into the sacred spring three times, and instantly felt how all the blackness left his soul. At that moment he recovered and became an exemplary family man.

Prayer for marriage

They also turn to Seraphim of Sarov in prayers for marriage. He is considered the patron saint of late marriages, therefore, if you are over 30, 40 or more, Seraphim of Sarov will help you find a worthy husband.

In order for the prayer to Seraphim of Sarov to work, it should be read on the water. Take 1 liter of water (preferably live, spring water), light a candle on the table, put the icon of St. Seraphim in front of you and read the text of the prayer. Water should be consumed inside, sprayed with it on the room and bed.

In addition, the mother's prayer for the marriage of her daughter to Seraphim of Sarov is most effective. For God, there is nothing louder and more sincere than words saturated with ardent love for their child.

Prayer "Merciful"

In 1928, a miracle happened to an old man. In a dream, Seraphim of Sarov appeared to him and dictated the All-Merciful prayer - the prayer to the Mother of God. The elder was threatened with arrest (in those years the church was actively oppressed), and the Saint told him to write down the prayer and go through life with it on his lips. She will help him and the church to survive.

The next day there was an arrest and many years in the camps, all 18 years of which the elder incessantly prayed to the Mother of God.

Prayer for marriage


Prayer for the marriage of a daughter


Prayer "Merciful"


Meaning of icons

What is the icon for what:
"THE HOLY TRINITY" - written by Andrei Rublev. The Trinity symbol is God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Or - wisdom, intelligence, love. One of three main icons that should be in every home. Before the icon they pray for the forgiveness of sins. It is considered confessional.
"IVERSKAYA MOTHER OF GOD" - keeper hearth... She is considered the patroness of all women, their helper and intercessor before the Lord. The icon used to remove the "crown of celibacy" from both men and women. In front of the icon, they also pray for the healing of bodily and mental ailments, for consolation in troubles.
"KAZAN MOTHER OF GOD" - the main icon of Russia, the patron of the entire Russian people, especially in difficult troubled times... All the main events in life take place with her, starting with baptism. The icon gives a blessing for marriage, she is also an assistant in work. An icon that stops the fire and helps those with vision problems. Before the icon they pray for help in various everyday needs.
"MOTHER OF GOD OF VLADIMIR" - written by the Evangelist Luke. The icon is considered one of the most revered images of the Most Holy Theotokos in Russia. Before this icon, kings were crowned and chief priests were elected. Before her they pray for the humility of those at war, for the softening of evil hearts, for the healing of bodily and mental weakness, as well as for the healing of the possessed.
"MOTHER OF GOD OF TIKHVIN" - written by the Evangelist Luke. The icon is considered for children, it is also called a "guidebook". She helps children with illness, calms the restless and disobedient, helps them in choosing friends, protects them from the bad influence of the street. It is believed that it strengthens the bond between parents and children, that is, children do not abandon their parents in old age. Helps women during childbirth and pregnancy. Those who have problems also turn to her.
"SEMISTRAL" is the strongest icon in protecting the house and any premises, as well as the person on whom it is located, from evil, envious
people, from the evil eye, damage and curses. Reconciles warring parties, brings peace, harmony, she is also taken on important matters. At home, she should be located opposite front door to see the eyes of the person entering. Before installing the icon, you need to read a prayer, then observe who will stop going to your house.
"THE HOPE OF THE HERE" - the image was painted in the 10th century. They pray in front of the icon when they need a quick and urgent care, for the healing of mental and physical ailments, including paralysis, blindness, cancer, and also ask for the birth of healthy children and the release of prisoners.
"HEALER" - the icon is one of the most ancient and revered. Before the icon, they pray for the healing of the soul and body, it protects from various misfortunes, troubles, sorrow, eternal condemnation, and takes care of liberation from imprisonment. Childbirth assistant.
"THE UNRESENTABLE BOWL" - the Mother of God prays for all sinners and calls to an inexhaustible source of spiritual joy and consolation, proclaims that an inexhaustible cup of heavenly help and mercy is prepared for those who ask with faith. She is for prosperity in the house, and also helps to heal from addictions, drunkenness, drug addiction, gambling.
"UNREMOVABLE WALL" - located in the main altar of the Kiev-Sophia Cathedral. For more than ten centuries this miraculous icon remained intact. This is probably why it is so named. Before the icon for every need: for the sick - healing, for the grieving - consolation, for the lost - admonition, guard the babies, educate and teach the young, encourage and instruct husbands and wives, support and warm the old, deliver them from all misfortunes.
The "TRINESTRESS" - the miraculous image of the Mother of God was written in the eighth century in honor of the Monk John Damascene - the church hymnographer, innocently slandered. Before the icon, they pray for healing from pain in the hands or their injuries, from getting rid of a fire, as well as from illness, grief and sorrow.
"UNEXPECTED JOY" is an icon about the forgiveness of sins and grateful healing. Before the icon, they pray for the conversion of the lost, for the health and well-being of children, for the healing of deafness and ear diseases, for the preservation of marriage in love and harmony.
"BLESSED MATRONA" is a very powerful saint of our time. They turn to her on any difficult issue. She is our most "fast helper" and intercessor, a supplicant for us before the Lord. The relics are in the Intercession Women's Monastery on Taganka, where countless people come every day and turn to her for help.
"NIKOLAI UGODNIK THE WONDERWORKER" is the beloved saint of the Russian people. He protects from poverty and want: when his icon is in the house, he makes sure that there is wealth in the house, protects from the need for anything. In addition, he is the patron saint of all travelers, drivers, sailors, pilots and just people who are on the road and worship Nicholas the Wonderworker. The relics of St. Nicholas the Pleasant are in Italy.
"THE HOLY GREAT MUTTER PANTELEIMON" is a great healer, patron saint of doctors. During his lifetime, he brought healing to many people from serious ailments. And now, from the icon with the face of St. Panteleimon, people receive a charge for miraculous healing.
"GEORGY POBEDONOSETS" is the patron saint of Moscow, as well as an assistant to those people whose work is connected with weapons, the risk to life - the military, police, firefighters, rescuers. They also include athletes and people starting new businesses.
"SERGY OF RADONEZH" - the founder of the Sergiev - Trinity Lavra in the 14th century. He is the patron saint of all students. They take the icon with them when passing exams and tests. It is very good that the icon is always in the pocket of your purse or briefcase every day when the child goes to school.
"SERAFIM OF SAROV" is one of the beloved and revered saints of Russia. He devoted his whole life to serving our Lord, founded Diveevsky convent in the Nizhny Novgorod province. Prayer to the holy father Seraphim of Sarov very well helps with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, spine, joints.
"ANGEL - KEEPER" - they pray to him: for help with headaches; about his patronage, from
insomnia, in grief, about happiness in marriage, about driving out evil spirits, about getting rid of harm from wizards and sorcerers. About the intercession of widows and orphans, in despair, about getting rid of sudden or sudden death, about casting out demons. Those who go to sleep pray to him for deliverance from prodigal dreams.

Day of Seraphim of Sarov January 15: how the saint helps *

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* Day of Seraphim of Sarov January 15: how the saint helps *
Seraphim of Sarov is one of the most revered Orthodox saints. Many people are associated with this person. unusual facts, which will be interesting to know for every believer.


Seraphim of Sarov is highly revered by the church because of his deeds. He underwent many problems on the way to harmony with the outside world and with God. Some of his exploits are still considered impossible, so faith plays an important role in matters of reliability. Those who are strong in their faith make a pilgrimage to the relics of the saint in Diveyevo in order to put their hands and head to the place where one of the greatest Russian saints is buried in peace. January 15 is the official day of remembrance of the saint according to the church calendar.
The history and wonders of Seraphim of Sarov
This one was born great person in Kursk in 1754. Despite the fact that Seraphim's family was rich and noble, he dedicated himself to God. The child's father died when he was still at an early age.
Miracles began to happen to him as a child. Prokhor, as the saint was called before taking monasticism, once fell from the bell tower, but remained unharmed. Soon he fell seriously ill, but in a dream the Virgin Mary came to him and promised to heal him. After a while, it happened. The boy was surrounded by faith, so he devoted a lot of his personal time to the study of Christianity. His faith grew stronger day by day.
When Prokhor was 17 years old, he decided to leave his father's house. He took monastic vows on the advice of the eldress in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. The choice fell on the Sarov Monastery in Tambov. In 1778 he became a novice, and a full-fledged monk in 1786. He was ordained a hieromonk seven years later. Monk Seraphim always had a penchant for solitude, so he tried to live away from other people. He lived in a forest in a cell, looked for food for himself, observed the strictest fast and prayed constantly. He did not consider it a feat - that was his sincere desire.
According to historical sources, Seraphim was engaged in pillage, that is, constant prayer for many years. He prayed on a stone, which people learned about and began to come to him for advice. Day and night he devoted himself completely to prayer. They say that miraculously wild animals constantly came to him, including even bears, which the saint fed with bread. In the forest, trouble happened to him - before bad people news came that the rich were visiting him, leaving him gifts. The robbers found the place of seclusion of Seraphim of Sarov and severely beat him, causing serious injury. After the monk recovered, he remained hunched over for life. They say that he did not even resist, and later completely forgave his offenders, stating that they must be released. These people were never brought to justice.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the saint took a vow of silence, which he tried to fulfill for almost 20 years. For the last 7-8 years of his life, he healed people's diseases and accepted everyone who wanted to see him. Even Tsar Alexander I was among the guests. The elder died at the age of 78 during prayer. He was canonized only 70 years after his death. On August 1, the uncovering of the relics of the saint is celebrated, and January 15 is the official day of remembrance and the name day of all a man named Seraphim.
January 15 - Memorial Day of Seraphim of Sarov
People like Monk Seraphim can be counted on one hand. Only devoted faith and selflessness were almost nonexistent. He demonstrated strength of spirit and faith in Christ, which helped him live a worthy life.
Icons and prayers are dedicated to Elder Seraphim. It is believed that Saint Seraphim helps us in alleviating suffering and in healing diseases. Every home should have an icon of this saint, which will bring good luck to all believers. Prayers in front of the icon to Seraphim of Sarov help restore faith in God, therefore mothers of children who have lost faith in God often resort to this prayer.
On January 15, every church in the Orthodox world remembers the life of Saint Seraphim from year to year. On this day, the clergy recommend not to quarrel with loved ones, to do only good deeds and believe in miracles. God is merciful to all who devote their time to prayer on this day.
Prayers to Seraphim of Sarov have special power not only on Memorial Day or August 1. On January 15 and on any other day ask the monk to pray for our souls and for the health of all those close to us. Be happy!
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