Seraphim of Sarov

Seraphim (in the world - Prokhor Sidorov Moshnin), desert elder and recluse, hieromonk of the Sarov desert (1759–1833). The son of a merchant, born in Kursk on the night of July 19-20, 1759, he was brought up and learned to read and write under the guidance of his mother. Helping his brother in trade, Prokhor visited the church of God every day, and at the age of 17 he decided to leave the world, visited Kiev, and on November 20, 1778 he became one of the novices of the Sarov Hermitage. He passed cell, public, fraternal and monastic obediences; I was in the bakery, the prosphora shop, the carpenter's shop, I was a wake-up caller and a sexton, I also went to collect money for the construction of the church. Having passed all the degrees of monastic art at the age of 8, on August 13, 1786 he was tonsured a monk and named Seraphim, in December 1787 he was ordained a hierodeacon and on September 2, 1793 - a hieromonk. Not content with monastic deeds in the monastery, Seraphim voluntarily retired to the desert for higher deeds, where he spent all his time in strict fasting, in labor and in prolonged prayer on a stone, etc. Then he took upon himself a new feat - three years of silence, and finally the highest feat - seclusion - complete for five years and weakened, that is, with the doors open to visitors, for ten years, until November 25, 1825. Upon leaving seclusion, he took special care to establish and expand the Diveevo women's community, forming a special Seraphim-Diveevo community. His works extended to the organization of the Ardatov women’s monastery and the Zelenogorsk community. In all these monasteries, everything was done with the blessing and on the advice of Seraphim, who helped them in any way possible. His name was known everywhere as the name of a great ascetic. Both noble and simple, both rich and poor - everyone flocked to the threshold of his cell, fell on their faces before the bent old man, dressed in a poor robe, revealed to him the secrets of their conscience, confided in their sorrows and needs and accepted his every word with sincere love and gratitude. His death followed on January 2, 1833. Drawings from the life of Fr. Seraphim. There are also many descriptions of the life and exploits of the elder with the appendix of his instructions, in short and lengthy form, which have gone through up to 10 or more editions.