Священник Павел Беляев. Великие саровские торжества в июле 1903 года

And see Easter before Easter The week of the great and wonderful celebration has ended, the wondrous sound of the Sarov bells, like an organ, which announced to the entire Orthodox world about the glorification and canonization of the Venerable Elder Seraphim, fell silent. Numerous pilgrims returned to their native places and, in sacred delight and tenderness, told everyone the pictures of the unforgettable days they had experienced, when, together with the Great and Most Pious Sovereign, the Empresses and other Members of the Royal House, with one mouth and one heart they reverently glorified the Merciful God and brightly glorified His newly-minted saint. But although the wonderful pictures of the experience, behind the bustle of life, begin to be forgotten, the slightest memory, the slightest reminder and questions from others and... already before your mind's eye the sacred Sarov is resurrected in all its charm... the picturesque, truly paradisiacal area of ​​a distant monastery, with the shining golden domes of cathedrals and churches, is resurrected in your memory... you can hear that extraordinary trembling noise of many thousands of people, you can again feel that spiritual delight, the high rise of faith and religious spirit and... tears of tenderness are ready to water your face and make your heart tremble!.. Having been honored to be present at these celebrations, we also wish to tell the story for the glory of God about this great holiday of the beautiful Sarov monastery and the entire Orthodox Russian Church... With a feeling of languid anticipation, we left the Ufa diocese, where pious parishioners saw us off with their best wishes and earnest requests to pray for them at the shrine of the Reverend. “Pray for us, father!” - “And for us!” – was heard on the street along which our carriage was following. Or they stop you, and the hardworking hand of a village woman, with tears in her eyes, hands you a few coins for a candle to St. Seraphim. “And you, dear father, put it on the first day!” – she finishes her request. We arrived in Ufa, where more pilgrims joined us; in Samara, too, and in Penza our train arrived already crowded: at the station, all the rooms and passages, the entire platform and the station garden were literally dotted with pilgrims... At about 9 o'clock in the evening on July 16, we arrived at the Ruzaevka station of the Moscow-Kazan Railway, where we had to move to another train, but it was impossible to find seats on it, therefore, having put our things here and there and somehow, we had to stand on the platform until my good companions somehow freed up a whole bench, persuading the peasants to move forward. There are only two stations from Ruzaevka to Timiryazev, and our train, after a short stop, should have departed at night to Arzamas and arrived there at about 11 o’clock in the morning on July 17, but, due to the passage of the Tsar’s train, we were stopped in Timiryazev and we stood all night until 10 o’clock in the morning. We were incredibly pleased with this involuntary captivity, since at 5 o’clock in the morning the Grand Duke’s and Tsar’s trains passed one after another past the windows of our carriage and we were fortunate enough to see the salon carriage of the Royal Family, which was still deigning to rest, since the white silk curtains in the wide mirrored windows were lowered. The Imperial train with two locomotives, on which numerous officials stood in ceremonial uniforms and wearing orders, passed quietly and smoothly. All along the royal route, people from the surrounding villages, dressed in festive attire, came out to the stations and joyfully shouted “Hurray!” greeted his beloved Monarch. The clergy came out from nearby churches with a religious procession, bells solemnly rang, station buildings and houses of rural inhabitants were buried in green garlands and were decorated with multi-colored flags. Since we were following the royal train, we tried to question people who had the good fortune to see the beloved Sovereign and Empresses. The faces of those who told how, for example, the Emperor, noticing at the Nikolai-Dar station the rural clergy and the people respectfully standing behind the station building, breathed with tears of tenderness and joy, ordered everyone to be let onto the platform, opened the window and graciously talked with the peasants. His Majesty was pleased, by the way, to ask: why is this village called “Nikolai-Dar”? The sovereign was told that the land on which the village and arable land were located had been granted to the peasants by Emperor Nicholas I. In the city of Lukoyanov (Nizhny Novgorod province) the railway line runs along one of the streets, therefore, when the royal train passed, the city and surrounding rural population stood on both sides of the track, in view of which the Imperial train, by special order of the Sovereign, passed quietly, the windows in the cars were open and the entire Royal family graciously bowed to the enthusiastic and incessant cries of the joyful people. The city of Lukoyanov was picturesquely spread out along the mountainside, and from the windows of the carriage one could clearly see the elegant decoration of the city, the street leading to the rather architectural cathedral, and the greenery of the surrounding forests. At the Shatki station, the merciful gaze of the young Empress focused on two Mordovian peasant girls in national costumes, and She became so interested in them that, at Her request, at the next Arzamas station, 16 Mordovian peasant girls in significant numbers, in elegant Mordovian costumes, were among those who met the Royal couple at the noble pavilion, and then were present at all the celebrations in Sarov, repeatedly receiving gracious glances and words of the Sovereign and Empresses. In Arzamas, the Emperor deigned to accept bread and salt from the city, the peasants of the suburban volost and the nobles of the Nizhny Novgorod province, honoring many with gracious words; the delight of the people is beyond description. The Nizhny Novgorod provincial leader of the nobility, offering bread and salt on a silver platter, among other things, said: “And now, and henceforth, and forever, the Nizhny Novgorod nobleman will stand up for the faith, the Tsar and the Fatherland.” Golden words! – they must be imprinted in the heart of every Russian. At 25 minutes of the 1st hour, the Sovereign, Empresses, Grand Dukes and Duchesses departed on horseback for the Sarov Hermitage amid deafening cries of the enthusiastic people. This sixty-verst journey of the Emperor to the monastery was a truly triumphant procession. The population of villages and villages erected beautiful arches with touching inscriptions and strewn the royal route with flowers; old and young shed tears of tenderness, joyfully making the sign of the cross. “Glory to You, Lord, I had the opportunity to see the Tsar-Father and the Mother Empresses.” In the village of Pavlovskoe, to meet the August guests, all the clergy of the district along which the Tsar's cortege followed were gathered, peasant girls in festive attire stood on both sides of the road, banners fluttered in the air and altar crosses and vestments of the clergy shone in gold. While singing “Save, O Lord, Thy people,” many fell to their knees with delight and tenderness. The Sovereign and Empress, seeing such a touching manifestation of people's love, graciously bowed to both sides with bright, smiling eyes. Two girls from the village of Pavlovsky told us how they and their friends in a whole line met the Tsar’s carriage at the bridge, shouting a loud “Hurray” for the first time, and on the second attempt everyone suddenly cried with joy. At about six o'clock in the evening on July 17, Their Majesties and Highnesses arrived in Sarov and were solemnly greeted at the Holy Gates by His Eminence Anthony, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, with numerous clergy. In his short welcoming speech, His Grace the Metropolitan mentioned the joy with which the holy Sarov monastery greets the Most Pious Sovereign, adding that “and all the great multitude of Orthodox people gathered here rejoices to meet the Tsar, praying with him.” On the way from the Holy Gates to the Assumption Cathedral of the monastery, the August guests passed between the rows of Sarov monks, who greeted the Great Sovereign and Empresses with deep bows. Outside the fence, enthusiastic shouts of welcome from the people were heard, echoed by the solemn ringing of bells. After a short prayer service in the Assumption Cathedral, Their Imperial Majesties and Highnesses went to the church of St. Zosima and Savvaty, where the relics of the Reverend were temporarily located and, reverently bowing to them, proceeded to the prepared royal chambers. The Palace of Their Majesties is located on the right side of the main cathedrals, in line with the church of St. Zosima and Savvatius, and is a two-story building with a pointed Gothic-style tower, decorated with a gilded state coat of arms. On the top floor there are apartments for the Sovereign Emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich and the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, and on the bottom floor for Grand Duke Sergius Alexandrovich and his wife Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna. Her Imperial Majesty Empress Maria Feodorovna with her August daughter Olga Alexandrovna and her husband Prince Peter Alexandrovich of Oldenburg were placed in the former bishop's chambers, on the right side of the Assumption Cathedral, adjacent on one side to the newly built cathedral above the cell of St. Seraphim, and on the other to the main monastery refectory. The palace for the Grand Dukes: Nikolai Nikolaevich, Peter Nikolaevich with his wife Militsa Nikolaevna and George Maximilianovich, Duke of Leuchtenberg, and his wife Anastasia Nikolaevna - was built outside the monastery on the banks of the Satis River, among a picturesque clearing of a pine forest; it is a simple log and pine building. Opposite the Grand Duke's Palace, between the most luxurious flower beds and flower beds, an artistically decorated Imperial tent from the Tambov nobility is laid out. On the morning of July 17, a majestic religious procession took place from the Seraphim-Diveevo first-class convent, located 12 versts from Sarov. The morning was wonderful, but the afternoon was too hot. The pilgrims settled from the Holy Gates of the monastery on both sides of the Arzamas road to the village of Balykova and reverently awaited the procession, to meet which the Most Reverend Innocent, Bishop of Tambov and Shatsky, came out of the Sarov monastery with the procession; the meeting took place in the forest, after which the united procession moved back to Sarov. This sacred procession presented a picture of amazing majesty. In front were banner bearers from Moscow, Sergiev Posad, Kolomna, Kursk, Yaroslavl and other cities in black caftans with silver trim, followed by singers. Further, up to fifty golden banners, a gift from the banner bearers of various cities, all looked with reverence at the banners with a beautiful image of St. Seraphim. Then came the nuns of the Arzamas, Ardatov, Seraphimo-Ponetaevsky, Seraphimo-Diveevsky, Temnikovsky and other convents of the Nizhny Novgorod and Tambov dioceses with two banners and icons. Behind them were priests in vestments and monks, then in a row three archimandrites in miters, behind them the monks carried the miraculous icons of the Mother of God “Tenderness” from the Diveyevo Monastery and the “Sign” from Ponetaev. And finally, His Grace the Bishop of Tambov walked behind the miraculous icons in full vestments and with a staff in his hands. The monastics of the Sarov monastery brought up the rear in rows of this solemn religious procession 17 . The people, in exemplary order, remained in their places on the sides of the road, and this entire majestic procession in orderly and sacred order at the beginning of ten o'clock in the morning solemnly entered through the main gates of the monastery into the Assumption Cathedral, where the funeral liturgy immediately began, performed by the bishop's service. On the morning of July 18, in the chapel of the Assumption Cathedral, Archimandrite Andrei 18 celebrated the Liturgy and Their Majesties the Emperor and the Empresses received Holy Communion. The famous St. Petersburg archpriest Father Philosopher Ornatsky delivered a sermon, mentioning that “now is the last time Father Seraphim is remembered and for him a propitiatory prayer is offered to the Church and all believers, for the soul of the Reverend during his life in the desert was “tormented by temptations”” 19. Their Majesties spent this entire day inspecting the monastery. We visited the new Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, erected above the cell of Father Seraphim, visited and reverently examined his cell and the banners donated to the monastery. Above the cell of Father Seraphim there is a church-shaped tent in the old Russian style, in front of the icons in the cell there are a lot of unquenchable lamps, things left over from the righteous elder, and even a couch preserved in the same form are enclosed in bronze cases under glass. From the Church of Their Majesties we proceeded to the grave of the Venerable One, and also examined the tomb of the schema-monk-silent Mark and bowed to it. A small cast-iron staircase has been built to the resting place of the Rev. and the walls of the grave are already lined with marble; the open oak coffin in which the remains of Father Seraphim were found, with the underside and side boards noticeably decaying, stands on the floor; Several donated valuable lamps are hung above it; for safety, this grave niche of the Saint, precious for the Orthodox, is covered with mirror glass in a bronze frame; Believers reverently take sand from under the coffin. Then Their Majesties went to the Church of St. John the Baptist, and from there to the Church of St. Zosima and Savvaty. At twelve o'clock Their Majesties attended the last solemn funeral service for Fr. Seraphim and after her - at the litany at the grave of the Reverend in the chapel. When the Father Archdeacon proclaimed eternal memory to the Reverend, Their Majesties knelt. At the end of the second hour, the Sovereign Emperor with Their Highnesses the Grand Dukes Nikolai Nikolaevich and Peter Nikolaevich set off on foot to the source of Father Seraphim in the nearest desert. The Empresses and the August Persons went there in carriages. The Sovereign was accompanied by the Ministers of the Imperial Court and Internal Affairs, Count Vorontsov-Dashkov and the generals of the retinue. Along the way, Archimandrite Seraphim, and at the source, Abbot of the Sarov Hermitage Hierotheus gave explanations to Their Majesties. Having examined the source and baths in detail, tasting the water from the source, we walked further to the stone of Father Seraphim, on which he prayed for a thousand days, and from here we proceeded to the distant desert, where the Most Reverend Tambovsky met the August guests and showed them the sights of the place. Their Majesties descended into the cave where the Reverend retired, and then returned to the monastery. The Emperor again walked on foot with the Grand Dukes. It was necessary to see the enthusiastic and joyful mood of the people, who dotted all the picturesque meadows and hills along the route of the royal pilgrimage and incessantly greeted their beloved Sovereign with a loud, heartfelt “Hurray!” In some places, His Majesty, smiling graciously, came close to the people who loved him, and many, in a fit of joy and tenderness, rushed to kiss His royal hand or the hem of his white robe. In one place, a joyful and large crowd, seeing the Tsar from afar, falls to their knees and cannot hold back their tears... The Tsar is apparently excited; a sweet, joyful, amazingly affectionate smile does not leave his bright gaze; everyone is rejoicing; everyone understands the significance of this experienced, majestic moment of communication between the King and his loving people... Everyone is touched to the depths of their souls by His high piety and with complete love and reverence they look at Him, although in His befitting royal grandeur, but in the humility of the spirit who arrived in the distant desert to testify to his faith in the wondrous Elder and, together with his faithful and great people, glorify him as a saint and thereby establish the greatness and truth of the faith and the Orthodox Church. On the same day, Their Majesties and Persons of the Imperial Family inspected the cathedral in the name of the Life-Giving Spring. Before the all-night vigil, the Sovereign Emperor and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna entered the Assumption Cathedral and examined their Royal gift - a shrine for the relics of the Reverend and artistic lamps donated by Their Majesties, Grand Dukes and Princesses and various benefactors; The Grand Dukes and their spouses also visited the cathedral. When Their Majesties left the church, the banner bearers in front of the porch of the cathedral presented the Sovereign Emperor from all societies of banner bearers with an icon of St. Seraphim, the Vladimir banner bearers - an icon of the holy princes George, Andrei and Gleb, the Smolensk banner - an icon of the Smolensk Mother of God 20 and a towel... Their Majesties were thanked for offering and retired to the chambers of Empress Maria Feodorovna, where they deigned to remain until the beginning of the all-night vigil... Exactly at 6 o'clock the first strike of the large bell rang out, and for a long time its wonderful chords resounded in the heights with a wave-like roar, penetrated into the depths of the Sarov forests and captured the hearts of believers with their melodic mystery. Everything instantly shook up; a huge sea of ​​thousands of Orthodox people, with reverent expectation occupying the entire space between the hotel buildings, in sight of the main Holy Gates of the monastery, like one person, bared their heads and earnestly, earnestly, in some inexplicably majestic awe, made the sign of the cross. A wonderful, amazing moment! Everyone’s gaze humbly rose to the holy heavens, many pious pilgrims knelt down, reverent whispers and touching exclamations were heard: “Father Seraphim,” “Reverend Father!”, “Our zealous prayer book, pray to God for us!” The smooth and enchanting sounds of the gospel flowed solemnly, a brilliant line of royal dignitaries, high-ranking officials, clergy, monastics of male and female monasteries and selected pilgrims began to slowly pass through the Holy Gates. But whole hundreds of thousands of people, behind the limitations of the monastery fence, had to remain outside the gates of the monastery and, although all-night vigils began simultaneously in all cathedrals, churches, chapels, near and far hermitages and specially constructed elevations among the people's barracks in the forest, many, many pilgrims prayed in the open air; Folk choirs were formed, and enthusiastic singing was heard everywhere. So the pious monastic sisters of distant monasteries, having chosen a picturesque corner in the Sarov virgin forest, harmoniously and melodiously sang: “Bless the Lord, my soul,” and continued chanting until the end of the all-night vigil in the cathedrals. When we entered the monastery enclosure, we were first of all struck by the artistic and majestic appearance of the renovated cathedrals; the bright golden domes of the Cathedral of the Life-Giving Spring shone dazzlingly in the sun and with the light of their rays increased the beauty of the view of the holy monastery; the purity of the heavenly vault was amazing and reminded everyone of the wondrous purity of the life of the Venerable One, and this great multitude of Orthodox people gathered from all over the Russian land in all its amazing grandeur represents to us the glory of the wondrous ascetic, and what an aura of love and a crown of holiness is surrounded by his name!.. “Great is your glory, wonderful deeds, immeasurable love for you, Rev. Father Seraphim,” mentally we whispered, looking at his image... Now the last harmonious sounds froze in the air and from the heights of the majestic bell tower a solemn red ringing was heard - and soon, with the continuing pealing, the procession of the Metropolitan with glory began from the Metropolitan's chambers. At the head of the procession were the metropolitan choristers in uniform caftans with silver trim and blue lapels, then the subdeacons with the dikiri and trikiri, then the archpriests in cassocks, two in a row, behind them the archimandrites and behind them all the Most Reverend Metropolitan in a heavenly colored robe, in a white hood with a diamond cross and with a staff in hands, accompanied by subdeacons, protodeacons and archdeacon. On the sides stood banner bearers in their uniform caftans, behind them were pilgrims; His Eminence, walking into the cathedral, blessed the people. Upon the entrance of the Metropolitan into the Assumption Cathedral, the Highest Procession followed, and we were lucky enough to take a place at the very porch in the row of banner bearers. We were filled with great joy when we saw for the first time in our lives the Most Pious Sovereign and Empresses, accompanied by the Grand Dukes, Princesses, ministers and brilliant retinue. At their head were the Imperial Majesties the Sovereign Emperor with the Empress Maria Feodorovna, in the center of them, retreating a little, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, behind her Grand Duke Sergius Alexandrovich with his wife Elizaveta Feodorovna and then Grand Dukes Nikolai Nikolaevich, Peter Nikolaevich with the August wife Grand Duchess Militsa Nikolaevna, Prince George Maximilianovich Romanovsky, Duke of Leuchtenberg with his August wife, Princess Anastasia Nikolaevna, and Prince Peter Alexandrovich of Oldenburg with his August wife, Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna. The Sovereign Emperor and the Grand Dukes were in white uniforms, with orders, stars and St. Andrew's ribbons; also their retinue, ministers, military commanders and the entire officer corps were in white tunics and with all the insignia. The all-night vigil began solemnly with the wonderful singing of the Metropolitan and Tambov Bishop's choirs. This majestic presence of the Sovereign, the most august and high-ranking persons, the deeply reverent mood of those praying, the artistic splendor of the festively illuminated cathedral - produced an inexpressible impression. With a feeling of high tenderness, everyone looked at the Most Pious Sovereign, Empresses, Grand Dukes and Princesses, fervently praying and humbly kneeling at especially sacred and significant moments. In the stichera on “Lord, I cried” the name of St. Seraphim was clearly and repeatedly heard, “a wondrous ascetic, in the days of his youth from the city of Kursk to Kyiv 21 and in Sarov received salvation and great grace from God”... “In the quiet light of holy glory... we sing the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, God”... - the believers were invited with a wondrous melody to the glorification of the Merciful God, and more than one tear of tenderness watered faces, dripped onto clothes and the church floor... Before the start of the lithium, the metropolitan singers headed to the exit in orderly order and, stopping on the porch of the cathedral, slowly and quietly, miraculously sang the first lithium stichera to the Venerable: “Come, faithful... let us praise the wondrous among the saints of the Venerable Seraphim” 22 . This slow proclamation of the name of the Reverend somehow especially clearly touched our ears and tender hearts, the faces of many were watered with tears of reverence and true joy, prepared candles lit up in everyone’s hands, banner bearers with donated artistic banners were placed in orderly rows from the porch of the cathedral to the church of Saints Zosima and Savvaty, and the gaze of the believers stopped in silent anticipation of the solemn processions for the relics of the Venerable. For many, for the first time on behalf of the Orthodox Church, they heard the solemn testimony and title of the humble Father Seraphim “Reverend,” and from that moment for the Orthodox world he became a “saint,” a chosen saint, a man of prayer and a representative before the throne of God. The spiritual procession was truly majestic, marching slowly, with the continued singing of sacredly touching stichera in honor of the Venerable. As soon as the metropolitan choir began to descend from the high porch of the cathedral, a procession of clergy in shiny golden vestments, with beautifully embroidered Seraphim, appeared at the gates of the cathedral. Subdeacons and deacons walked with altar crosses, dikirios, trikirios and ripids, then twenty archpriests and twelve archimandrites, followed by archpastors - in full vestments and with staves, and then, surrounded by protodeacons and archdeacon, His Eminence Anthony, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, in a miter with a diamond cross, and behind the Right Reverend Metropolitan are Their Imperial Majesties with their August persons, ministers and retinue. When the spiritual procession approached the Church of Saints Zosima and Savvatius, His Eminence Anthony, together with Archbishop Demetrius, Bishops Innocent and Nazarius and the archimandrites, entered the church and performed incense before the tomb of St. Seraphim. The Sovereign, the Grand Dukes and the Archimandrites lifted the coffin of the Venerable One, placed it on a stretcher and, covering it with a precious velvet cover, preceded by numerous banners, began the solemn encircling of the holy relics around the cathedrals. His Eminence Anthony and his Eminence bishops walked behind the tomb of St. Seraphim. It is impossible to express all the touching reverence of the Orthodox people, with lit candles, humbly on their knees, prayerfully and touchingly looking at the coffin of the Reverend, with great “glory and honor” carried by the sovereign hands of the beloved Sovereign and the Grand Dukes. The Empresses and Grand Duchesses deigned to follow the coffin, surrounded by a brilliant retinue. These wonderful minutes of the solemn carrying of the holy remains of the wondrous ascetic were sacred and majestic in the simplicity of the deeply religious spirit of the people. Many sick sufferers at the very feet of the Sovereign Emperor shed tears and with hope loudly cried out to the Reverend for healing. Pious peasant women, wishing from their labors to contribute to the monastery of the Venerable One, threw rolls of canvas, embroidered towels, and these low-value items of national sacrifice onto his coffin. Our most pious Sovereign sometimes himself deigned to convey it to the monk who followed in front of the coffin. While carrying the coffin, the singers continued to sing lithium stichera, a harmonious chime was heard from the heights of the bell tower, candles burned brightly in the hands of Orthodox pilgrims, the banners and domes of the cathedrals shimmered with gold, and the emerald vault of heaven became even purer and brighter. The Sarov monastery and with it all of Orthodox Russia experienced a great and wonderful evening... It was like a bright Easter night in the sacred ancient throne of the Kremlin... And we remembered the prediction of the Reverend himself: “and you will see Easter before Easter!..” And everyone felt in these bright and trembling moments that the Reverend Seraphim from the heights of heaven was looking with love at us who had come to honor him holy memory, and one can hear his soft, affectionate voice: “Look, my joy, what great honor and glory I, poor and unworthy, have been honored with!” Oh no, Reverend Seraphim! You are worthy of this honor, this great glory, this glorification, for your life full of wonderful feats, and we believe that you have received boldness and holiness from the Lord. Our mind and heart were filled with such thoughts and feelings in these sacred moments... After surrounding the cathedrals, at the porch of the Assumption Cathedral, the procession with the relics of the Reverend stopped and the litany was completed here, then the coffin was carried into the cathedral and placed on a special elevation in the middle. This significant moment of the solemn entry of Saint Seraphim with his honorable remains into the cathedral for his constant residence in the fragrance of the shrine and among the splendor of the sacred made a deeply touching impression on everyone. In the midst of the reigning silence, the gracious invisible presence of the righteous elder here was reverently felt, and some inexpressibly bright, highly joyful mood gripped all the believers; It seemed to our mind’s eye that at the height of the church there was no longer a church vault, but a pure, clear, as azure, vast sky, and there among the celestial beings in the radiance of grace, the Venerable Seraphim, diligently offering up his prayers for Holy Rus' and the Orthodox people... We involuntarily dwell in our thoughts on the amazing greatness that the modest, humble and wretched Seraphim achieved. For 70 years, his honest remains were hidden in the bowels of the earth, now solemnly taken out of the darkness of the grave and placed before the eyes of believers in a most precious shrine, among the magnificent and famous Sarov Cathedral... for what? In order to show how high, how saving the Christian life of the Rev. was; so that believers, looking with tenderness at his multi-healing remains, would understand how the Lord loved St. Seraphim for his pure, holy life, adorning him with the crown of holiness and the glory of miracles abundantly flowing from his tomb and, reverently worshiping him, imitate his life. We were deeply amazed by this moment, and at the sight of the Rev.’s coffin being slowly brought in, we were reminded of the sacredly touching and joyful words of one wonderful Easter song: “We celebrate the mortification of death, the destruction of hell, the beginning of another eternal life...” Yes, we were so enchanted, so highly touched by the spirit and the whole believing heart, that it seemed that we were truly beginning some kind of new life and to this wonderful, new life, to this eternal blissful beginning the Reverend himself irresistibly calls us... So they solemnly sang “Praise the name of the Lord” - and a host of clergy, pastors and archpastors came out into the middle of the cathedral and surrounded the coffin of the Venerable One with a shiny ribbon. His Eminence Innocent, Bishop of Tambov, pronounced a deeply felt word of praise in honor of the Monk, after which His Eminence Anthony opened the coffin and all the concelebrating clergy with lighted candles loudly and solemnly sang the first magnification of the Monk Seraphim: “We bless you, Rev. Father Seraphim, and honor your holy memory, teacher of monks and interlocutor of the Angels,” and this powerful combination of voices of the clergy was echoed with tenderness by everyone - both the Sarov monks and countless Orthodox Christians. In grandeur, the Most Reverend Metropolitan, the bishops and all the clergy, the Sovereign, Empresses and Persons of the Imperial Family, bowed their knees with tenderness and venerated the relics of the newly-minted miracle worker. The all-night vigil continued and ended as usual. During the all-night vigil at the side porch of the cathedral, a 21-23 year old girl who had not been able to use her legs since she was 14 was healed. We saw her when she, with a joyfully bright gaze, with a lit candle in her hand, accompanied by a multitude of pilgrims of all ranks, walked around the cathedral, with tears in her eyes glorifying and thanking God and the newly-minted saint. This healing, according to her, happened like this. At the time when they sang the hymn to the Reverend, she was sitting on the porch itself, the doors of the cathedral were open and the words of the hymn clearly reached her ears: “We honor you, Reverend Father Seraphim...” - and in great reverence of faith, with hope, she mentally turned to the Reverend for healing and soon felt the strength to stand up. And when she got up, she lost consciousness at that very moment from intense joy and understandable excitement. Good people refreshed her with cold water, brought her to her senses - and she already walked unhindered, sometimes as if falling, not believing that by the grace of God, through the intercession of Saint Seraphim, she received the opportunity to walk... At the end of the all-night vigils, prayers to St. Seraphim were solemnly celebrated for the first time in all cathedrals, churches, chapels and hermitages. We attended a prayer service in the Cathedral of the Life-Giving Spring and were honored to take part in the cathedral service itself. Numerous pilgrims prayed earnestly, and the mass of lit candles in huge candlesticks and chandeliers gave this service, despite the remarkable beauty and artistry of the cathedral, a great festive look. And the significance of these prayers performed for the first time to St. Seraphim was great and significant; At these moments, the Russian Orthodox Church solemnly and clearly testified to the Orthodox world that the righteous elder Seraphim is now a Saint, glorified, a new lamp of God’s grace, a zealous prayer book for all. And with what zeal and reverent reverence, together with the clergy, the Orthodox exclaimed: “Reverend Father Seraphim, pray to God for us!..” All night long, pilgrims walked into the Assumption Cathedral in an uninterrupted line and in order, venerating the relics of the Rev., leading and carrying the sick and sick, with deep faith and hope for their healing, and believers witnessed amazing healings. When we left the gates of the monastery, the entire vicinity of the monastery with the surrounding forests was already illuminated by a number of bonfires and pilgrims, with lighted candles in their hands, divided into groups, read akathists and sang troparia to the Rev.; prayers were continuously served in chapels in the middle of the forest. Seeing the fatigue of the priests and hieromonks assigned to serve in the chapels, we served for them from time to time. The service of prayers continued long after midnight; pious pilgrims wanted to pray all night, and the inspired singing, indeed, did not stop until the morning. The corner of our stay was among the virgin Sarov forest; We, like most of the pilgrims, did not find a place even in the barracks, and for rest we chose a picturesque clearing near the river, under a huge pine tree. It is surprising that when some expressed regret about the conveniences, they were immediately stopped by a reference to the exploits of the Reverend: “Father Seraphim prayed for a thousand nights on a stone, enduring the cold, but what are we?..” was heard to the side. And so began the incessant stories about his exploits, miracles and, of course, the comforts and even sleep itself were forgotten... The rest was short, and at 5 a.m. on July 19 the bell rang for the early liturgy; In the Sarov monastery and throughout Orthodox Russia, the day of great and bright celebration has arrived. We hastened to the gates of the holy monastery, but due to the crowded crowd we could not soon enter the monastery fence; the ringing stopped and, unfortunately, we arrived at the Cathedral of the Life-Giving Spring already at the end of the liturgy, in the service of which, at the invitation of the 23rd primate, we should have participated. At the end of the liturgy in the Cathedral of the Life-Giving Spring, we headed to the Church of St. Zosima and Savvaty and, fortunately, we also found “Cherubimskaya”. Here, together with the common people, high-ranking and august Persons prayed. On the right choir were Their Imperial Highnesses the Grand Dukes: Peter Nikolaevich and Duke George Maximilianovich of Leuchtenberg and their August spouses, the Grand Duchesses Militsa Nikolaevna and Anastasia Nikolaevna. During the sacrament, the Grand Dukes and Duchesses touchingly asked each other for forgiveness, prayed on their knees and venerated local images, and then bowed to the people in all directions. Before the opening of the royal doors, Their Imperial Highnesses again knelt. It was touching to see how, following the Grand Dukes and Princesses, ordinary peasants and peasant women approached the Holy Gates and together with Them were honored to receive the Holy Mysteries of Christ. That morning, early liturgies were also celebrated in the Assumption Cathedral and the churches of St. John the Baptist and Cemetery. Many pilgrims filled the churches, many fasting people took communion. At exactly 8 o'clock the bell rang for the late liturgy in the Assumption Cathedral. We arrived at the cathedral even before the ringing began and were honored with the great happiness of holding the coffin of the Venerable One for several minutes together with Suzdal Archimandrite Seraphim 24 while the carpets in the cathedral were being straightened. The honorable remains of the Monk Seraphim are encased in silver glazed clothing, a copper cross hangs on his chest - the well-known maternal blessing, the gold chain and frame for it were made by the dependence and diligence of Empress Maria Feodorovna. The very remains were placed in a cypress coffin, and the cypress coffin was placed in an oak coffin, artistically executed and decorated with silver flowers; it resembles the simple deck in which the relics of Seraphim were found. The precious shrine for the relics of the Reverend, built at the expense of Their Imperial Majesties, is amazingly magnificent. The shrine is made of Russian “Vaselem” marble and with a majestic, truly artistic canopy-tent, undoubtedly, further embellishes the splendor of the cathedral. Around the tomb is a bronze lattice topped with double-headed eagles; on the silver-gilded lid of the reliquary there is an iconographic image of the Venerable One lying in a coffin, with the image of the Seraphim in the corners. On the ledges of the tent canopy there are images: the appearance of the Mother of God to the Saint before his death, the prayer of the Saint on the stone and his blessed death. Soon, His Eminence Anthony, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga, entered the cathedral, solemnly and gloriously greeted by all the clergy, with the Tambov bishop’s choir quietly and touchingly singing: “It is fitting to eat as truly.” In the wondrous and vast altar of the cathedral, the bishops, the rector of the Sarov Hermitage, Abbot Hierotheus, archpriests and other clergy were vested. His Eminence Anthony, after putting on his holy robes, began to celebrate the Divine Liturgy with the wonderful singing of the Metropolitan and Tambov Bishop's Choirs. During the service, Their Imperial Majesties the Sovereign Emperor and Sovereigns Empress Maria Feodorovna and Alexandra Feodorovna, Their Imperial Highnesses the Grand Dukes and Duchesses, arrived at the cathedral, accompanied by ministers and a numerous brilliant retinue. Their Imperial Majesties took the prepared places at the right choir, and Their Imperial Highnesses on the dais at the feet of the Reverend's shrine. The most solemn moment came during the small entrance with the Gospel. While singing “Come, let us worship...”, the archimandrites lifted the coffin with the relics of the Venerable One onto a stretcher and, while repeatedly singing “In the saints, the wondrous One who sings Ti,” they slowly entered the open royal doors into the altar and, after carrying it around the holy altar, placed it in the prepared precious and magnificent shrine. The holy relics were followed from the middle of the church by the Most Reverend Metropolitan and His Eminence Bishops: four subdeacons in orarions held ripids over the Reverend throughout the entire liturgy, with shrines on both sides. At this solemn and touching moment, many shed tears. While carrying the cypress coffin with the relics of the Saint, a miraculous healing took place of the mute girl Ekaterina Maslennikova, who had been living with her mother in Moscow for 12 years. Maslennikova’s mother reverently and with faith touched the head of the coffin with her handkerchief and wiped the girl’s face with it. At the same instant, the latter said loudly: “Mom, let’s go.” These words were spoken so clearly that they were heard by many pilgrims and among the Royal Family, causing surprise and bewilderment. A deep mood fell upon the believers during the wondrous performance by the Metropolitan Choir of the Cherubic Song and then the great exit of the host of clergy with the Holy Gifts in the presentation of the sacred ripids and other signs and features of the priesthood and ministry. During the ringing of the “Worthy” monks of the Sarov monastery, nuns of Diveyevo and other monasteries, banner bearers of various cities and clergy free from serving the liturgy, established themselves in a certain order, awaiting the exit of the cathedral at the end of the liturgy of Their Majesties and Their Highnesses, the metropolitan, bishops and all the clergy with holy relics. Before the end of the liturgy, His Eminence Dimitri, Archbishop of Kazan and Sviyazhsk, with high enthusiasm and feeling, spoke a short word about the significance of this great and wonderful celebration and especially about the powerful, bright and high manifestation of the people's spirit, faith and piety... During the reading of Psalm 33, “I will bless the Lord at all times,” the venerable relics of Saint Seraphim were raised by the archimandrites and placed on a stretcher in the middle of the cathedral; Your Eminence Metropolitan, Archbishop, Bishops, etc. The clergy left the altar and, after the dismissal, began singing a prayer service to the Venerable Seraphim. The troparion was sung, and His Imperial Majesty the Sovereign Emperor, Their Imperial Highnesses the Grand Dukes: Sergius Alexandrovich, Nikolai Nikolaevich, Peter Nikolaevich, Prince Peter Alexandrovich of Oldenburg, Duke George Maximilianovich of Leuchtenberg and the archimandrites accepted the coffin with the holy relics, carried them out of the church and with the solemn bell ringing began to make a religious procession around the Assumption Cathedral, with prayer singing continuing. Their Imperial Majesties Empresses Alexandra Feodorovna and Maria Feodorovna and Their Imperial Highnesses Grand Duchesses: Elizaveta Feodorovna, Olga Alexandrovna, Militsa Nikolaevna and Anastasia Nikolaevna followed the coffin of the Reverend. The crowd of people was enormous. Many sick people prayed to St. Seraphim with especially deep faith and bright hope. The religious procession ended, the majestic procession with the relics of the Saint returned back to the cathedral; the coffin is again encased in a precious shrine. Archdeacon of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra John proclaims the royal longevity, calling the Most Pious Sovereign Zealot of piety and Defender of Orthodoxy. Then many years: to the Most Holy Synod, the Most Reverend Metropolitan and the Bishops present at the celebration, the Blessed Governing Synclite... the Christ-loving army and all Orthodox Christians. From both choirs the solemn sound of “many years!” is heard. His Eminence the Metropolitan congratulates Their Imperial Majesties and Highnesses on the bright triumph that has taken place and blesses St. Seraphim with icons in memory of the celebrations and the Sarov monastery. Their Majesties and August Persons venerate the relics of the Pleasant of God and proceed to their chambers with the majestic ringing of all the Sarov bells. And at the end of the solemn service in the cathedral, the Orthodox pilgrims did not leave for a long time and, taking their places behind the line of banner bearers, awaited the Most High exit into the refectory. Their Imperial Majesties the Sovereign Emperor, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and all the Most August Persons gathered in the chambers of Empress Maria Feodorovna. Great was the delight of the people when Empress Maria Feodorovna deigned to open the window; In an instant, a crowd of people gathered at the palace and greeted the adored Empress, and then the beloved Sovereign and the young Empress, with touching exclamations of love. They bowed long and graciously. At 2 o'clock Their Majesties and Their Highnesses attended the festive monastery meal. Among those who ate were: the metropolitan, bishops, ministers, the Sovereign's retinue, clergy, high authorities, the mayor of the city of Kursk - the homeland of St. Seraphim - and banner bearers. Opposite Their Majesties, the Most Reverend Metropolitan, Archbishop and Bishops took their places. Before the start of the meal, according to Sarov custom, a prayer was sung by the clergy and at the end of the meal, many years to the Sovereign, the Empresses and the entire Royal House were proclaimed and sung. At half past four, Their Majesties and Their Highnesses with their retinue visited the pavilion of the Tambov nobility, located near the Satis River and beautifully decorated with plants. Upon arrival at the pavilion, Their Majesties were met by the Tambov nobility, led by the provincial leader. Their Majesties deigned to gratefully accept the hospitable cordiality of the Tambov nobility. As Their Majesties walked to the pavilion and back, a brilliant procession of nobles and an innumerable multitude of Orthodox and faithful people enthusiastically greeted Them with an incessant “Hurray!” All this day in the Assumption Cathedral in front of the saint’s shrine, as well as in the hermitages and at the source, prayers were served continuously, and pilgrims with reverence and zeal hurried to purchase icons of St. Seraphim, crosses, paintings depicting the wonderful feats of his life and views of the holy monastery; then oil from the lamps in front of the shrine and water from the Venerable Spring. In the evening of this day, during Sunday all-night vigils, the monastery cathedrals, churches and chapels were also crowded with pilgrims, and all day and all night the believers venerated the relics of the wondrous miracle worker. At about 4 o'clock that day we visited the spring of St. Seraphim and on the way back we witnessed a miracle happen - the healing of an old woman who had not been able to use her legs for many years. This pious old woman crawled to the source of Father Seraphim, resting incessantly and, seeing from a distance the chapel above the source of the righteous Elder, with tears of deep faith and hope, loudly cried out: “Reverend Father Seraphim, heal me! we ourselves were healed. We saw how she, choking with tears and constantly crossing herself, rose to her feet and... walked, glorifying the newly-minted saint. Many pilgrims surrounded her with tears in their eyes, two richly dressed ladies congratulated the happy, poor old woman with sympathy and led Father Seraphim to the source; a mass of people followed them and sang psalms with great enthusiasm and joy; Troparion to the Venerable. “Glory to Thee, Lord!”, “Glory to St. Seraphim!” – we exclaimed enthusiastically along with the touched people. Cases of healings at the tomb and source of St. Seraphim are increasingly increasing, and they are being recorded in detail and in detail. Seeing and hearing about these amazing miraculous healings, one could say in the words of the Gospel: “the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the dumb speak.” With great joy the Orthodox people heard and told about these miracles, everyone cried with emotion, tried to see the healed and talk to them, kissed them and rewarded them with whatever they could; many asked them for something as a souvenir... On July 20 at 8 o'clock in the morning, Their Majesties and Their Highnesses served a farewell prayer service in the Assumption Cathedral and left for the Seraphim-Diveevsky Convent. Along the route of the royal passage from Sarov there were countless crowds of pilgrims, and an enthusiastic “hurray!” for a long time did not fall silent after the crews of the August Pilgrims. Leaving Sarov, His Majesty at the last minute wished to pray together with the people and in the area called “Town”, where the premises for the people are located; in one of the chapels, the Most Reverend Innocent, Bishop of Tambov, performed a prayer service; a mass of people surrounded the chapel and prayed with the beloved Sovereign, the Empresses and the Royal House. The prayer service ended, and Their Majesties and Highnesses, escorted by His Grace Innocent in full vestments and with a cross, leave the chapel and get into the carriages. Again, dear and dear to the Russian people, the friendly and affectionate bows of the Tsar and Queen, again the powerful, popular, enthusiastic “Hurray!” Their Majesties follow next. The entire road from Sarov to Diveevo was strewn with people; some went from Diveevo to Sarov, others returned from Sarov. There is great excitement in the villages located on the royal route; several arches were erected; one of them is remarkable in design: it is decorated with two wheels, a scythe, a shovel, a rake and even a pair of bast shoes, its top is crowned with the Imperial crown, on the sides of the crown are sheaves and two birdhouses; this entire arch is intertwined with greenery, and the farmers’ tools stand out even better and attract everyone’s attention. The peasant population in festive clothes enthusiastically greeted the Emperor and shed tears of happiness and joy; all the huts were decorated with greenery, flags and scarves, the streets were swept and strewn with sand. Some pilgrims, meeting the royal carriages along the road, fell to their knees and sang as best they could: “Save, O Lord, Thy people...” From afar this inspired prayer for Him still reached the ears of the Tsar; The singers saw how the royal carriage, approaching them, slowed down, and the Emperor and the Empresses bowed affably and affectionately. And the people will never forget these unforgettable days of seeing the Tsar, and they, the Orthodox, Tsar-loving Russian people, will tell their children and grandchildren, neighbors and acquaintances, how closely they saw the Tsar-Father and the Empresses, how they met and greeted them, they will remember the high piety of the Tsar, and the Orthodox Tsar will become even higher and better, brighter and more beloved to his great people... Published in abridged edition: St. Pavel Belyaev. Great Sarov Celebrations in July 1903. Saratov, type. Feokritova, 1907. Nizhny Novgorod province, from which it is 60 versts to Sarov. The most detailed description of this religious procession is in the transmission of I.V. Preobrazhensky, on p. 29 Head of missionary courses at the Kazan Theological Academy. Approximately. Text of the sermon - on p. 244 The icons presented by the banner bearers were solemnly consecrated by His Eminence Anthony, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg. As you know, the Monk Seraphim was in Kiev, where the perspicacious elder Dosifei blessed him to enter Sarov, predicting that he would end his life there. I reproduce the words of the stichera approximately. Actually, another priest was appointed, but he did not appear for the service of the all-night vigil and therefore it was proposed to me to replace him. (Author).