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Where can I find out about St Seraphim of Sarov? I've been getting some of his spiritual maxims along with my daily gospel service in my email and it strikes me for three reasons: 1) He's the only modern Eastern source they use; 2) He's Orthodox and not Catholic--Greek or Latin; 3) He's profound.

Any help would be most welcome
Myles

Our departed Pope John Paul II had devotion to St. Seraphim of Sarov, and mentioned him on occasion publicly. He is a great saint, a guiding light among the Fathers. His intercession is strong and sure.

A great book with sayings of the Saint is Volume I of the "Little Russian Philokalia" which is dedicated to St. Seraphim of Sarov. It is usually readily avaible from Amazon.

Bishop Alexander (Mileant) of blessed memory has a nice on-line article at http://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/seraphim_e.htm

A nice prayer to St. Seraphim can be found at http://www.orthodox.net/trebnic/to-seraphim-of-sarov.html

Christos Anesti! Diak, nice to see you're back in the village

As the good Saint Seraphim greeted everyone all year round: CHRIST IS RISEN! There is a resonably sized biography of Saint Seraphim available (in English) from the bookstore of Saint Vladimir's Seminary; I believe Valentine Zander wrote it. There is also a smaller biography, with part of the service to Saint Seraphim, available from Jordanville.

Incognitus

Randy,

Although I understand that he continues to be quite ill, as of yesterday, Bishop Alexander has not reposed, as far as I know.

Prayers for Bishop Alexander's recovery and that God grant him many more years in His service.

Many years,

Neil

Quite correct, Neil. Age-enhanced mental performance. Eis polla eti, Despota!!!

Incognitus,
Christ is Risen!
Mentioning St Seraphim and Jordanville in the same sentance moved me to post the following picture of the abbot of Jordanville, Metropoliton Laurus, venerating the relics of Saint Seraphim Sarovsky

[Linked Image]

What relics of St Seraphim do they have there??

Alex can tell you quite a bit about St. Seraphim, especially his prayer rule. It's a devotion that is simple and easily learned, but very habit forming.

Ooooh cool. Hey Alex, mind educating a Latin?

That picture is from Russia ... it is nearly the entire body of Saint Seraphim; note that the face is covered with a chalice veil, which is how a priest is buried in the Byzantine Rite.

(However, at Jordanville, as I recall, there is a splinter of bone from Saint Seraphim.)


This was taken in May 2004 when Metropoliton Laurus headed a delegation to begin official joint meetings with the Moscow Patriarchate to restore Eucharistic Communion; while over there, they traveled to many holy places in Russia.

The Photo is from:
http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/01newstucture/pagesen/news04/vnn.html

... scroll down to the text
At Diveevo and in Nizhny Novgorod (photoreport)
and click to get to the page of photos there.

Christ is Risen!
Photius

Photius

Thank you for that link - what great photos

Anhelyna

Myles, this is the Rule of St. Seraphim:

"Upon rising from sleep, let each Christian, standing before the holy icons, read the prayer "Our Father" thrice, in honor of the Most Holy Trinity. Then the song of the Mother of God: "Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos Mary, full of grace�" also thrice. In conclusion the Creed: "I believe�" � once.

Completing such a rule, let each Orthodox engage in his duties, to which he is assigned or called. During his work at home or along the way anywhere he should quietly read "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon me, a sinner," but if others surround him, then, while busy with his duties, let him only say in his mind "Lord, have mercy," � and thus until lunch.

Right before lunch let him repeat the morning rule. After lunch, busy with his work, let every Christian read just as quietly: "Most Holy Mother of God, save me, a sinner." When preparing for sleep, let every Christian again read the morning rule, i.e., "Our Father" thrice, "Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos Mary" thrice and once "I believe."

Here is another version:

St. Seraphim of Sarov taught everyone the following rule of prayer:
�Let any Christian, upon arising from sleep stand before the holy icons, and read the Lord�s Prayer �Our Father� thrice, in honor of the Most-holy Trinity, then the hymn to the Theotokos �O Theotokos and Virgin, rejoice�� three times as well, and finally, the Symbol of Our Faith once. Having completed this rule, let each one attend to the tasks to which he was appointed or to which he is called.

�During work at home or while traveling somewhere, let him quietly read �Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.� If there are others in his vicinity while he is working, let him silently repeat �Lord have mercy,� until supper.

�After supper, upon completing his tasks, let him quietly read �Most Holy Theotokos, save me a sinner,� and let him repeat this until falling asleep.

�Going to bed, let any Christian again read the above-mentioned morning rule. Thereafter, let him go to sleep, having protected himself with the sign of the Cross.� Fr. Seraphim said �Keeping this rule, it is possible, to reach Christian perfection, for the three prayers indicated are the foundation of Christianity. The first, as the payer given [to us] by Christ Himself, is the model for all prayers. The second was brought from Heaven by the Archangel to greet the Virgin Mary, the Mother of Our Lord. The Symbol [of our faith] contains in brief all of the salvific dogmas of the Christian Faith.�

To those who for whatever reason could not complete this little rule, Venerable St. Seraphim recommended reading it under whatever circumstance: during lessons, while walking, and even in bed. He based this advise on the words of the Scriptures �whosoever should call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved��

Myles, many of his nuns at Diveyevo were illiterate and had been refused at other convents.

He called them his "orphans" because no one basically wanted them as nuns. He taught them a simple prayer rule which could be easily memorized as some of them could not read a Horologion or Psalter, had little or no formal schooling. The nuns ran a mill for their sustenance.

St. Seraphim, pray to God for us!!!