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than 200 years ago there lived in Russia a young boy named Prochorus.
When he was 27 Prochorus was made a monk and given the name Seraphim.
At the age of 3l he became a priest and for a long time he served Liturgy
and received Holy Communion every day. A year later, like the ancient
desert-dwellers, St. Seraphim went to live alone in a dense pine forest.
Next to his one-room hut or cell he planted a vegetable garden. Later
he also kept bees. Even while he worked, St. Seraphim was always praying
or singing hymns. Every day he would read several chapters from the New
Testament. "The soul must be fed on the word of God," he said
later, "for the word of God is the bread of angels, and souls that
are hungry for God are fed by it." In this way St. Seraphim spent
the week alone in the forest, praying, fasting and working in his garden.
On feast days and on week-ends he would go to the monastery and attend
the services there. Then, taking some bread with him, he would return
to his forest cell. He often shared his bread with the wild animals and
birds. Sometimes he was visited by a bear who obeyed him just as the animals
in Paradise obeyed Adam.
St. Seraphim's holy life was so pleasing to God that the devil became
very angry. He began to attack the Saint with terrible thoughts and visions.
Sometimes, while standing at prayer, it would seem as though wild beasts
were rushing towards him. At other times an open coffin would suddenly
appear in front of him and out would come a dead man. All this only caused
St. Seraphim to increase his prayers. He found a rock in the middle of
the forest and for a thousand days and nights he prayed on that rock,
stopping only for a little food and rest. This put the devil to shame,
but still he did not leave the Saint alone.
Once, when St. Seraphim was cutting wood in the forest, three strange
men came up to him; and asked him for money. When the Saint replied that
he had none they beat him until they thought he was dead. It was a long
time before St. Seraphim recovered, and once again, it was thanks to the
help of the Mother of God. From then on he was bent over and walked leaning
on a stick. The robbers were caught, but the Saint asked that they not
be punished. Soon they came to him in tears asking his forgiveness. They
received his blessing and promised to change their lives to please God.
Even this great trial did not persuade St. Seraphim to leave his forest
which he loved so much. Soon he chose a life of absolute silence in order
to better concentrate his mind and heart on God; He would tell people:
"Silence brings a man near God and makes him like an earthly angel."
After 15 years in the forest, St. Seraphim returned to the monastery.
There he began to share with others the spiritual gifts and understanding
which he had received from God. Hundreds of people came to see the Saint-young
and old, rich and poor. Lie greeted each person who came to him with the
words "Christ is risen, my joy." This reminded them of the saving
power of Christ's Resurrection. Each left full of peace and joy and the
desire to lead a life pleasing to God.
St. Seraphim helped people in many ways. He anointed the sick and they
became well; he helped poor peasants to find what had been lost or stolen;
he comforted those that were sad and brought sinners to repentance. When
the people thanked him for what he had done, he told them: "Do not
thank me; I am only the servant of Jesus Christ."
For his pure and holy life, God gave St. Seraphim the gift of being able
to see into people's hearts. Often he knew their thoughts before they
said anything to him. Many times he also told what was going to happen
in the future.
Not far from Sarov Monastery was a convent called Diveyevo. St. Seraphim
took care of the nuns who were very obedient to him. One day one of the
older nuns came to see him. He told her that the Mother of God was going
to appear to them and that she should not be afraid. Soon the door of
his cell opened. It became brighter than day and there was a wonderful
smell like incense. In came two angels holding branches, after them came
St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist. Then came the brother
of God. With her were twelve virgins-saints and martyrs. They all wore
beautiful crowns covered with crosses. The Most Holy Mother of God said
to St. Seraphim, "Soon, my beloved, you will be with us."
The next year St. Seraphim began to prepare himself to die. He began to
give his last words of advice and encouragement to those who came to him.
To one monk he said, "Sow, Father Simon, sow! Sow everywhere the
wheat that has been given to you. Somewhere or other it will sprout and
grow and bear fruit." By this he meant that the monk should tell
everyone about Jesus Christ and His Heavenly Kingdom.
After receiving Holy Communion on New Year's day in the year 1833, St.
Seraphim said goodbye to all the brethren in the monastery. He told them
not to be sad because the Lord was preparing crowns for them in heaven.
Early the next morning the Saint was found kneeling before his icon corner.
His eyes were closed and he looked so peaceful that I some of the monks
thought he was asleep. But when they tried to wake him they realized that
his soul had gone to be with the Lord.
Even after his death, St. Seraphim continues to perform miracles. He appears
to many people in dreams, and comforts and heals those who pray to him
with faith. |
