Evening star., 1903-07-30
RELICS OF A SAINT
TO Be Exposed at Sarof
Monastery.
GREAT RELIGIOUS FErE
THE CAR AND FAMILY WILL At
TEND.
Pilgrims From All Parts of the Empire
Will Gather-History Of
st. Seraphim.
GREAT RELIGIOUS FE'rE

ST. PETERSBURG, July 3o.-The cere-
monies at the monastery at Saron promise
to be very interesting, The relics of St.
Seraphim will be exposed for alteration af-
ter five days of religious EXERCISES. These
relics have been installed In n solid silver
casket beneath a silver baldachn. The eX-
penSe of the installation was borne by the
emperor from his private purse. and his
majesty testified his interest by writing the
following marginal note on the act of can
cniZation: Read with feelings of genuine
pleasure and deep emotion
The monastery, which is the scene of the
ceremonial. is a woman's asylum several
miles from the village of Saroff and forty
miles from the nearest railway station.
Imperial Family to Attend.
The attendance includes the imperial fam
lily and court with many officials and multi
tudes of pilgrims. Temporary barracks have
been erected to shelter the more favored
guests, but the great majority of the pill
grims will be forced to sleep in stables
in the open air.
The holy synod has issued a statement
that ii remarks the appearance of new
miraculous intercessor as renewal OF
heavens blessing. upon the government or
our most exalted monarch, who lahors un-
ceasingly tor the welfare of the orthodox
love and all of his true bJects, of
every class and condition.
Most elaborate preparations have been
made for the celebration. All of the pomp
and magniticence of the eastern church.,
with its most impressive and elaborate
ceremonies. its imposing PROFESSIONS and its
solemn liturgies, will be employed
History of the Ceremony.
The hermit Prakhor Moshnin died ia
aI, Pol in, bsr
sanctity and miraculous intercession with
heaven seems to have been widespread
during his life and to have grown steadily
since his demise. An inquiry begun in
1892 into the alleged miracles attributed to
his relics, and satisfied the holy synod of
their verify.
AS a result an act of canonization under
the name of st. Seraphim issued on
January 20, which date was added TO the
orthodox calendar.
An authorized biography says that ST.
SeraphimS 5 father was pious merchant,
who built stone ana brick churches in south
Russia. His widow continued the work
and 1t is related. that her little son ac-
companied her on tour of inspection. and
fell from great height TO the ground
without being hurt.
Entered Monastery at Seventeen.
The boy entered the monastery of Saroy
when only seventeen years old. There he
distinguished himself in all religious eX-
ercises, even carrying a great granite rock
into his cell in order that his knees might
not rest easily during his long prayers.
Later in life he spent fifteen years in silent
meditation, during which time he did not
leave his hermits cell except when abso-
lutely necessary. When he resumed in
tercourse with the world all classes of peo-
pie fiocked to him for advice. 1t is said
that he answered questions before they
were put, and letters that he never un-
sealed, that he revealed the inmost secrets
of the heart and foretold future events,
Since his death many millions of pilgrims
have visited his grave.