Saint Seraphim of Sarov
Saint Seraphim of Sarov (born July 19, 1754 AD in Kursk, Russia; died January 2, 1833 AD in Sarov, Russia) was a Russian Orthodox mystic, hermit, and spiritual father (staretz) who is one of the most beloved saints of the Eastern Christian tradition. He is known for his radiant joy, his teaching that the goal of Christian life is the "acquisition of the Holy Spirit," and for the Motovilov conversation — a recorded encounter in which he appeared transfigured in light. He was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1903. His feast days are January 15 (Old Style Julian Calendar) and July 19 (New Style Gregorian Calendar / feast of his glorification).
Stored in Cargo: Saint Seraphim of Sarov
| Saint Seraphim of Sarov | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | January 15 (Old Style — date of death); July 19 (New Style — feast of glorification/canonization 1903) |
| Profession | Russian Orthodox hieromonk (priest-monk); hermit; spiritual father (''staretz''); mystic; healer; confessor |
| Rel. Affiliation | Russian Orthodox Church; Catholic Church (recognized); Sarov Hermitage; Diveyevo community; 19th-century Russian spirituality; hesychast tradition; theosis; kenotic spirituality |
| Patronage | Russia; the Russian Orthodox Church; hermits; spiritual directors; those seeking joy in Christian life; Diveyevo; Sarov; healers; those with paralysis (miracles of healing during his life); Tsar Nicholas II and the Royal Martyrs (who venerated him) |
| Attributes | White pilgrim's robe (he wore a white robe in his later years rather than monastic black — a sign of his inner renewal); large cross pectoral; bears (reportedly a bear came to him in the forest as to a friend); kneeling in prayer (his death position); the radiant light of the Motovilov encounter; the Diveyevo monastery in the background |
| Birthplace | Kursk, Russia |
| Death Place | Sarov, Russia |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; he was found in his cell on January 2, 1833 (Old Style), kneeling in prayer before an icon of the Mother of God; he had been in declining health; his hands were clasped; he had apparently died during prayer; he was 78 years old; he had told his fellow monks that he would die in this position; this death-in-prayer position became one of the hallmarks of his sanctity in popular veneration |
| Primary Shrine | Holy Trinity-Seraphim-Diveyevo Monastery, Diveyevo — his relics, returned 1991; hundreds of thousands of pilgrims annually; one of the great pilgrimage sites of Russian Orthodoxy |
| Liturgical Class | Feast in Russian Orthodox Church; January 15 (OS) and July 19 (NS); celebrated in Catholic Church as Optional Memorial |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar |
Biography
Seraphim was born July 19, 1754 (Old Style: July 30), in Kursk, Russia, as Prokhor Isidorovich Moshnin, son of a merchant. As a child he fell from a church tower and was unharmed — taken as a sign of divine protection. He had a vision of the Mother of God during a childhood illness.
At age 19 he entered the Sarov Hermitage. He was tonsured a monk in 1786 with the name Seraphim ("burning one"). He was ordained hierodeacon, then hieromonk (priest-monk). After ordination he lived as a hermit in the forest for approximately 17 years, practicing extreme asceticism — standing in prayer on a rock for 1,000 nights.
After 1810 he lived in strict enclosure. From 1825 until his death he received thousands of visitors, counseling all with his characteristic greeting: "My joy!" He was known for miraculous healings, including the healing of Nicholas Motovilov.
The Motovilov conversation (1831) documented a visible transfiguration in which Seraphim shone with radiant light during their discussion of the Holy Spirit.
He was found dead on January 2, 1833 (Old Style), kneeling in prayer before an icon of the Theotokos.
The Russian Orthodox Church canonized him in 1903 at Sarov, attended by Tsar Nicholas II. His relics, lost under Soviet rule, were rediscovered in 1991 and translated to Diveyevo.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Kursk, Russia
Death location: Sarov, Russia
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Parishes
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Holy Trinity-Seraphim-Diveyevo Monastery, Diveyevo — his relics; hundreds of thousands of pilgrims annually; one of the great pilgrimage sites of Russian Orthodoxy.
- Sarov Hermitage — his place of life and death; now partially accessible.
Feast day
January 15 (Old Style, date of death); July 19 (New Style, feast of glorification 1903)
Veneration
Saint Seraphim of Sarov is the most beloved Russian Orthodox saint of the modern era, known for his teaching that the goal of Christian life is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit and for the Motovilov conversation in which he appeared transfigured in light. His feast is January 15 / July 19.
Prayers
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