Seraphim of Sarov

Seraphim of Sarov
File:Sarov.png
Confessor, Wonderworker, Starets, Ascetic
Born: July 30, 1754 (Kursk, Russia)
Died: January 2, 1833 (Sarov, Russia)
Feast: January 2
-Life
Seraphim was born on July 30, 1754 in Kursk, Russia. He was a sickly child his whole life, but when he encountered the Kursk icon of the Virgin Mary, he was healed and began to experience visions. At 19, he joined the monastery in Sarov where he subsequently was tonsured, given his name "Seraphim", ordained a hierodeacon, ordained a hieromonk, and became spiritual leader of the Diveyeno Convent. He retired to a log cabin in the woods where he lived as a hermit for 25 years. He was so holy that animals would line up to receive food from him, including a bear. His fasting was so strict and extreme that for three years, he ate only grass. One day, while chopping wood, a gang of thieves beat him mercilessly with his axe, and despite this, he never resisted. During the trial of the thieves, Seraphim begged for the judge to have mercy on them. When he recovered from his injuries, he returned to his life of asceticism. After the incident, he spent 1,000 nights on a rock in continous prayer with his arms raised to the sky. After a spiritual experience with the Virgin Mary, he began admitting pilgrims to his hermitage where they would confess to him. He became well-known for his healing powers, gift of prophecy, and his ability to answer questions before the pilgrims would ask. Despite his harshness towards himself, he was extremely kind and gentle to all around him. He reposed in the Lord on January 2, 1833 while kneeling under an icon of the Theotokos exclaiming "The Joy of all Joys".