What does the icon of Seraphim of Sarov help with and what is its significance. Folk saint - images of St. Seraphim of Sarov

The Russian land is filled with righteous people and holy ascetics who carry the Orthodox faith. In many churches there is an icon of Seraphim of Sarov, a saint who, with his unique example, showed miracles of faith. Of course, most of all, he is revered in Diveevo, because the ascetic himself created this monastery and much of his biography is connected with this territory near Sarov. Nevertheless, Saint Seraphim looks from the icon in many lands at the faithful and listens to the prayers of the Orthodox, many of whom are helped by admonition or even a miracle.

History of Saint Seraphim

Seraphim of Sarov - hieromonk of the Sarov Monastery, who became the heavenly patron. Such a rank is received by saints who are actually elevated to the rank of angels. Many believers choose these saints for their entire earthly journey. They do not choose what to pray for the icon of Seraphim of Sarov, but ask for everything, both great and small.

Seraphim was born on July 19, 1759 in Kursk into the family of a wealthy merchant. And from a very early age, various miracles began to happen to him. So, for example, a vivid example of such a miracle is that in childhood he could not stay on the bell tower of the temple and fell in front of the crowd, however, to the surprise of everyone around, he was alive and unharmed. After this, there were many other miracles, and the saint himself constantly strove for ascetic deeds. Although he could well have made a career as a merchant and enjoyed various benefits and pleasures, since his youth he has been sent to serve as a monk and rejects simple pleasures in order to achieve the highest good.

What helps the icon of Seraphim of Sarov

Seraphim of Sarov has always been distinguished by special love and reverence for God, and he was gifted for all his life's exploits. He received the ability to heal people and began to predict the future. He knew absolutely all the details of future phenomena and events of the past days and gave life advice to all those in need and helped in solving difficult situations. Therefore, until now, the icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov brings grace and help from the elder to the house.

The description of the holy image does not stand out with anything special, but if you know the life, then an idea arises of what to think about and the believer understands what power is behind this person.

Not all people believed the words of Seraphim and were skeptical about them. However, all those who followed his instructions were convinced of their veracity. Therefore, ordinary people always turned to Seraphim for help and advice, asked to heal their mortal bodies and prevent impending troubles. Also, the image of Seraphim of Sarov still helps all believers. Especially those who turn with sincere prayer.

His methods seemed simple, because he helped people only with the help of prayer and water from a holy spring. Despite this, he cured even the most seriously ill and sometimes hopeless people. And there are quite a lot of such miraculous cases of healing. The water drawn from the holy spring continued to have a healing effect even after the repose of Seraphim. People who are now coming to Diveevo give a high value to the icon of St. Seraphim, and many sick people go to bathe in the spring and receive healing.

But his gift consisted not only in healing water, but also in prayer, because people gifted by God do not heal themselves, they send their prayers for a cure to the Almighty, who always fulfills their requests. Even after his repose, prayers help people in difficult situations, because Seraphim even now prays to God for the healing of those in need.

The meaning and content of the icon

If we trace the iconographic image of Seraphim of Sarov, which appears after the 19th century, then the description of the icon is simple and concise. Almost always, the monk is depicted with a blessing gesture and a rosary in his other hand.

In fact, these details reflect the general meaning of the entire life of the elder, he always prayed (often went into seclusion, stood on a stone in prayer for 1000 days and performed other feats) and gave people various benefits. In addition, there are icons of Seraphim of Sarov with hallmarks, the meaning of which is clear - they depict the most significant details of life, various feats are described.

Prayers to the Reverend Elder

There are many days when Saint Seraphim is venerated church calendar: January 15, June 27, August 1, August 10.

Prayer to the Monk Seraphim of Sarov

Oh, wonderful Father Seraphim, the great miracle worker of Sarov, quick-to-obedient helper to all who come running to you! In the days of your earthly life, no one is thin and inconsolable from you when you leave, but the sight of your face and the amiable voice of your words were sweet to everyone. To this, the gift of healing, the gift of insight, the gift of weak souls of healing is abundant in you. When God called from earthly labors to heavenly rest, your love never ceased from us, and it is impossible to count your miracles, multiplied like the stars of heaven: behold, throughout all the ends of our earth, you are the people of God and give them healing. In the same way, we cry out to you: O quiet and meek servant of God, daring to pray to Him, do not rebuke those who call on you, lift up your pious prayer for us to the Lord of Powers, may he grant us all that is necessary in this life, saving all to the soul He will teach us from sinful falls and teach us true repentance, in which he will unstumblingly enter us into the eternal Heavenly Kingdom, even though you now shine in glory without entering, and there sing the Life-Giving Trinity with all the saints until the end of time. Amen.

Prayer two

Oh, great servant of God, reverend and God-bearing our Father Seraphim! Look down from the Heaven of glory upon us, humble and weak, burdened with many sins, asking for your help and consolation. Come to us with your mercy and help us to keep the commandments of the Lord immaculately, keep the Orthodox faith strong, repentance for our sins zealously bring to God, in the piety of Christians to prosper with grace and be worthy of your intercession to God. Hey, holy lord of God, hear us praying to you with faith and love, and do not despise us who demand your intercession: now and at the hour of our death, help us and intercede with your prayers from the evil slanders of the devil, but those forces do not possess us, but we May we be honored by your help to inherit the bliss of the abode of paradise. Here we have the hope now, good now, good: Wake us to vibrate to save the guiding and leading us to the ignorance of the Living God, the Holy Through the Holy Thrones and the Holy Sorcery, , till the end of time. Amen.

He gained fame and glory as a holy righteous man during his lifetime. It is surprising that this man did not have a spiritual dignity, however, from an early age he was honored to see the Mother of God with his own eyes.

The icons of St. Seraphim of Sarov are a living reminder of his spiritual feat and the gifts that he received from the Holy Spirit and used for the benefit of people.

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In Orthodox Christianity, the icons of Seraphim of Sarov are not so much a decorative function as they enable the believer to focus all his thoughts on prayer and communion with God and the saints. After all, human nature is very weak, and he can easily be distracted by foreign objects.

Life of Saint Seraphim

Speaking about the icon-painting image of the Monk Seraphim, it is important to know who this saint was and what were his earthly life and spiritual achievement.

Reverend Seraphim was born more than two centuries ago in a wealthy merchant family living in Kursk. At birth, the boy received the name Prokhor. The family was left without a father when the boy was very small. All the brightest and kindest that was in his soul, he absorbed from his mother. Prokhor, as a child, was honored with the appearance of the Mother of God, and his whole life flowed under her patronage and protection. At the age of 17, the young man received a blessing from the pious old woman and went to the Sarov Hermitage for obedience.

A few years later, the young man took the tonsure under the name Seraphim.

In 1807, monk Seraphim received God's blessing for the feat of silence, and for this purpose retired to hermitage in the forest. He spent three years in the forest, after which he returned to the monastery, but continued to avoid meeting people.

Then Seraphim began to receive both the monastic brethren and worldly pilgrims throughout the day. He hugged and kissed everyone who came to him with the words “Christ is Risen” and smeared them with oil from the lamp.

Throughout his life, Seraphim carried a reverent attitude in the Mother of God. She was always in his cell. It was near this image during the prayer that the monk Seraphim went to the Lord.

Towards the end of his life, the elder's legs hurt badly, but at the same time, heartfelt joy and peace did not leave him for a minute. Before his death, he was again honored to see the Queen of Heaven. She told the elder that soon he would be taken to her in heaven. After that, the venerable elder prepared a grave for himself and gave his last orders. The elder did not experience fear in the face of death, but perceived it as an opportunity to be in a heavenly abode next to the Lord.

Since the elder knew about the day of his death in advance, he managed to say goodbye to all his acquaintances and give them his last instructions. He bequeathed his favorite icon "Tenderness" to the sisters of the Diveevo Monastery. The elder even gave money to the abbess of the monastery so that a “cell for the Lady” would be prepared there.

Miracles created through the prayer of Seraphim

It is not possible to list all the miracles that the Heavenly Father performed through the prayer of Elder Seraphim. News of the miracles performed appear again and again.

1. For the first time such a miracle happened when young Prokhor fell from a high church bell tower. After that, he got to his feet and there were no injuries on him. And at the age of 10, Prokhor was healed by the Mother of God, who appeared to him in a dream, from a serious incurable illness.
2. Already in the monastery, Prokhor suddenly fell ill with dropsy. His body was swollen. After Communion of the holy gifts, the Mother of God appeared to the young man, touched his leg with her rod and healed him.
3. The Monk Seraphim indicated to his own brother the exact day of his death 48 years before this event.
4. Once a deacon arrived at the Sarov monastery, who on the eve falsely accused another clergyman of unseemly deeds. When this deacon came to the holy elder, he drove him away, seeing the deceit and slander against the innocent. After that, for three years the sinner could not serve in the church - his tongue began to go numb. This continued until he confessed to the slander and repented.
5. Even animals listened to the venerable seraphim. One of the monks, who lived in the monastery at the same time as Seraphim, told how Seraphim sat on a log and fed a huge bear standing in front of him with breadcrumbs. Out of fear, the monk hid behind a tree and watched the wild beast leave St. Seraphim into the forest. When the animal left, Seraphim asked the monk Peter not to reveal to anyone what he had seen before the death of Seraphim.
6. In 1825, the venerable elder, while on the banks of the Sarovka River, saw the Mother of God and the holy Apostles John and Peter. Blessed Virgin struck the ground with a staff and from there a fountain of water gushed out. Then she ordered the construction of the Diveevo monastery in this place. Father Seraphim brought the necessary tools from the monastery and dug a well with his own hands for 2 weeks. Subsequently, the water from this well began to bring people miraculous healings from various ailments.
7. The Monk Elder Seraphim possessed a great gift of clairvoyance. Very often he received letters and knew about their contents without even opening the envelope. Many such unopened letters were later found from him.
8. There are witnesses of how, during prayer, the elder ascended above the ground. However, he demanded that this be kept secret until his death.

Through the prayers of Seraphim, health was repeatedly restored even to terminally ill patients. These miracles are far from the only ones performed by the elder due to his great faith and spiritual purity. Even after the death of the saint, his icon helps people gain health and courage in difficult times, strengthens the spirit and flesh those who speak with sincere prayer.

Canonization and acquisition of relics Reverend Elder Seraphim of Sarov took place on August 1, 1903. He was solemnly transferred to the shrine on his birthday.

On this day, more than 300 thousand people gathered for the celebration in the city of Sarov. In the Sarov monastery, all-night funeral services were performed. Before the canonization, a religious procession was made to the Sarov monastery from the Diveevsky monastery. Throughout this procession, sacred hymns were sung. Along the way, the procession stopped at chapels where litias were celebrated.

The second religious procession went out to meet the relics. After the meeting, the united procession moved towards Sarov. In the evening of the same day, the Monk Seraphim of Sarov glorified in the face of saints.

After that was open coffin with the relics of the holy elder. At this time, everyone knelt down, including the emperor himself. According to historians, this holiday was one of the most solemn in Russia. The instructions of the reverend elder were voiced. Some of them were written down with his own hand, while others were heard and written down from the saint by other people. The relics of the saint rest in the Sarov desert.

Shortly after the canonization was printed and issued "Talk about Goals" Christian life» . This conversation took place shortly before the Assumption of the Reverend.

The history of the icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov

Some time after dormancy reverend father Seraphim was written the first icon dedicated to him. Since the holy elder was distinguished throughout his life by mercy and a righteous way of life, he became a shining example to all generations of Orthodox Christians.

The very first icons began to appear after 1833, when the reverend elder reposed. In 1903, after the canonization of the Reverend Father, on the initiative of Emperor Nicholas, a series of new icons was painted. Among them was also largest in size.

On these images, the reverend elder is depicted waist-deep or full-length. The right hand of Saint Seraphim is raised up, and his fingers are crossed. With such a gesture, the saint, as it were, overshadows everyone with the sign of the cross to everyone who looks at the icon. Seraphim holds a cross in his left hand.

What can you pray for in front of the icon of Seraphim

Saint Seraphim acquired the gift of working miracles during his lifetime. The people revered him as a saint and very often asked for advice and support on a wide variety of everyday and spiritual issues. That is why it is very useful to offer prayers before the icon or the relics of the holy elder at the moment when some kind of misfortune overtook you, you experience despair and a breakdown.

The most serious sins Saint Seraphim called our grief and. Therefore, in order to get rid of these misfortunes, you can make a prayer request to the icon. This will help you gain strength and joy in life.

The miraculous possibilities of the holy icon are directly related to the lifetime abilities of St. Seraphim. Anyone can turn to the icon, as it has many different uses.

In what cases should one pray to Seraphim of Sarov?

1. During his earthly life, the venerable elder told those who came to him that it is important to be tolerant of others and at the same time remain demanding of oneself. He called people believe in yourself and never give up. Thus, you can offer a prayer to this saint when you need strength and faith in yourself to solve all your pressing problems.
2. The icon of Seraphim of Sarov “Tenderness” will help all who turn to it to find themselves and their destiny, pacify our spiritual experiences and find peace and strength of spirit. The icon helps to find inner harmony and the balance between the outer material world and the inner state of man. In these cases, the holy elder will become your spiritual mentor and comforter.
3. It is very useful to offer prayers before the icon of Seraphim of Sarov to people who have serious health problems. Saint Seraphim had the gift of healing the sick even during his lifetime. Turning to the icon will help get rid of not only bodily, but also mental ailments.
4. There are many cases where prayer appeal to the icon of St. Seraphim helped single girls find their betrothed and successfully marry. For family people, this icon will help to establish a warm atmosphere in the house and preserve the love and warmth of relationships in marriage for a long time.
5. Another important area of ​​our earthly life in which we can ask Seraphim for help is business. First of all, we are talking about trade. However, in this case it is very important to remember that you should not ask for material well-being for yourself, but blessings for good deeds that can benefit people.

How to pray to the reverend old man

The Holy Scriptures teach that in order to receive help from our Heavenly Father and the saints, prayers should be offered with a pure heart and soul. If you have any secret or obvious selfish motives, your prayer may not reach the goal.

1. It would be best to come to the temple with a pure soul, light a candle and read a prayer in front of the holy image. In addition, you can buy an icon and a few candles in the temple, and then pray at home as well.
2. When offering prayers, one should remember that it would be more correct to pray without proceeding from the “specialization” of one or another heavenly patron, but believing in the unshakable power of God, which every icon is endowed with or.
3. However, there are still traditions of praying to saints based on the real events of their lives. If we are talking about the Reverend Elder Seraphim, all his life he was constantly busy with some useful work for the benefit of his neighbors. In his opinion, in this way one can approach the Heavenly Father.
4. The saint bequeathed to people to rejoice in what you have and be grateful to God. In addition, he taught never to give up and never give up, to do more and talk less. It is on the basis of these instructions that we need to offer our prayers before the icon of Seraphim, ask him for spiritual support in order not to succumb to temptation and receive strength and wisdom in a difficult situation.
5. The Monk Seraphim helps to find peace during mental turmoil. These prayers help to find harmony and peace of mind.

It should, however, be noted that Orthodox teaching does not recommend giving saints and icons the opportunity to help in strictly specific requests. After all, the most important thing that is required when offering prayer is sincere faith and openness of the soul.

You can offer prayers to the holy elder Seraphim of Sarov not only for yourself, but also for our relatives and friends. You can even pray for your enemies.

Seraphim of Sarov

The Monk Seraphim of Sarov, in the world Prokhor, was born on July 19, 1759 in the city of Kursk into a pious merchant family. His whole life is marked by the signs of God's mercy. When, as a child, his mother took him with her to the construction of the temple and he fell from the bell tower, the Lord preserved him unharmed. During the illness of the lad, the Mother of God in a dream vision promised her mother to heal him. Soon near their home with procession carried the Kursk Root Icon of the Sign Holy Mother of God, the mother carried the patient out, he venerated the icon and after that quickly recovered (kontakion 3).

At the age of seventeen, the young man had already firmly decided to leave the world, and his mother blessed him for the monastic feat with her copper cross, with which the monk did not part until the end of his life (kontakion 2).

The Elder of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra Dositheus (Reverend Dosithea) blessed Prokhor to go to the Sarov Assumption Hermitage, on the border of the Nizhny Novgorod and Tambov provinces, known for the strict observance of monastic statutes and the ascetic life of the inhabitants (ikos 3). After two years of monastic labors and feats of obedience, Prokhor fell seriously ill and for a long time refused the help of doctors. Three years later, the Mother of God appeared to him with the apostles Peter and John and healed him (kontakion 5).

On August 18, 1786, the novice took monastic vows with the name Seraphim (“Flaming”) and in December 1787 was consecrated to the rank of hierodeacon. Already at that time, the young ascetic was honored during divine services to see the holy angels and our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, coming in the air surrounded by Heavenly Forces(ikos 6).

In 1793, Saint Seraphim was ordained to the rank of hieromonk and laid the foundation for the feat of hermitage and solitary prayer in a forest cell on the banks of the Sarovka River (kontakion 6). The devil intensified the battle against the ascetic, and the monk took upon himself the feat of pilgrimage. For a thousand days and nights he prayed on the stone with uplifted hands: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner” (kontakion 8).

Powerless to depose the ascetic spiritually, the devil sent robbers upon the monk, who inflicted mortal wounds on him, but the Mother of God appeared and healed him for the third time (ikos 5).

Upon his recovery, the Monk Seraphim labored the feat of silence for three years, and in 1810, after a 15-year stay in the desert, he opened himself in the monastery cell. For love for God, humility and deeds, Saint Seraphim was vouchsafed the spiritual gifts of clairvoyance and miracle-working. On November 25, 1825, the Mother of God with Saints Clement of Rome and Peter of Alexandria appeared to the ascetic and allowed him to complete the retreat. The venerable elder began to receive those who came to him for blessing, advice, and spiritual consolation, lovingly calling everyone: “My joy, my treasure” (kontakion and ikos 9).

The Monk Seraphim invariably based the word of edification, as throughout his life, on the word of God, the works of the holy fathers and examples from their lives, while especially honoring the holy champions and zealots of Orthodoxy. He liked to talk about Russian saints. The monk urged all those who turned to him to stand for the unwavering faith, and explained what the purity of Orthodoxy consists in. He convinced many schismatics to leave their errors and join the Church. The reverend plentifully reinforced his teaching word with prophecies, healings and miracles. Many soldiers who received a blessing from the Monk Seraphim testified that, through his prayers, they remained unharmed on the battlefield. The Monk Seraphim took care of and led the sisters of the Diveevo monastery and, at the direction of the Mother of God, founded a separate Serafimo-Diveevo mill community for the girls. The Queen of Heaven announced to the ascetic in advance of his death, and on January 2, 1833, the Monk Seraphim surrendered his soul to the Lord, during a kneeling prayer before the icon of the Mother of God (kontakion and ikos 10).

Through the prayers of St. Seraphim, numerous signs and healings were performed at his grave. On July 19, 1903, the saint of God was glorified.

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In the middle of the 18th century, a boy was born in the Moshnin family, who was named Prokhor. From childhood it was clear that he was under the special protection of the Lord. The boy's father died early, and his mother took care of his upbringing.

The path of Seraphim of Sarov to the Lord

Miracles with Prokhor began to happen from early childhood. One day, a little boy followed his mother to see how the construction of a new temple started by his father was going. The child, driven by curiosity, climbed the bell tower and fell off it. However, the boy did not receive a single injury. Many considered this a sign of the special mercy of God.

Prokhor studied hard, loved attending church services and praying. When he was ten years old, he became seriously ill. The Mother of God herself appeared to him and promised that he would soon recover. After some time, the icon of the Mother of God "The Sign" was carried past the widow's house in a procession. The mother put the boy to her, and he went on the mend. This event predetermined the fate of the child - he decided to devote his life to serving the Lord.

The monastic path of Seraphim of Sarov

At the age of 17, the young man decided to become a monk and went to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. In the holy monastery lived the perspicacious recluse Dositheus, who saw in the young man a servant of Christ. Two years later, the hermit blesses the novice to go to the Sarov Monastery.

From the age of 19, the guy has been obedient in the Sarov monastery with the rector, Elder Pachomius. All free time he dedicates reading the psalter, spiritual books and prayer. However, the soul of the ascetic yearned for solitude. And he, having received the permission of the brethren, began to go into the forest, where he prayed for a long time.

He slept only a few hours a day, endured illnesses on his feet and refused any help, relying only on the Lord. When Seraphim of Sarov fell so ill that his life was in danger, the Mother of God appeared again and healed him.

At the age of 28, Prokhor was tonsured a monk and named Seraphim. A year later he was ordained a hierodeacon. At the age of 35, the ascetic leaves the monastery and goes to live in a dense forest.

Spiritual exploits of Seraphim

All his life, the Monk Seraphim lived in solitude in a cell, which was located in an impenetrable forest. Only once a week did he come to the monastery to take part in the Liturgy.

• The ascetic planted a vegetable garden near his cell, bred bees, from which he ate. He ate very little and only vegetable food.
• He wore the same clothes all year round.
• I read the gospel and spiritual literature daily.
• Seraphim of Sarov, imitating the great pillar monks, prayed on a stone for a thousand days. This is how the ascetic is most often depicted on icons.

The spiritual exploits of the righteous man angered the Devil. He sent robbers to him who wanted to make money, thinking that Seraphim had wealth. Finding nothing, they severely beat the saint. And only thanks to the intercession of the Mother of God, he remained alive and soon recovered. After this incident, the elder had a hunched figure.

The monk founded the Diveevo Monastery and spiritually took care of the sisters who came to him for advice. The Mother of God instructed him to settle separately widows and young girls, which he did. It is in this monastery that the incorruptible relics of the saint and the icon of the Mother of God "Tenderness", belonging to him, are kept.

In 1810 the monk returned to the monastery, but continued to keep a vow of silence and lived in seclusion. And only when the Queen of Heaven, having appeared to him, allowed him to remove the vow of silence and complete the retreat, he began to receive believers.

In what cases do they ask for help from Seraphim of Sarov

• During mental anguish. They ask the Holy Spirit to visit the heart and give peace to the soul. The first sign of His presence is considered to be a state of humility and repentance. Only through them can one feel spiritual joy.
• If a person gets lost, stumbles and begins to lead an inappropriate lifestyle, through prayers to a saint, he can direct a Christian to the true path.
• They pray to the saint with a request for deliverance from pride and despair. Sometimes a person cannot cope with these mortal sins on his own, so you need to ask for help from the saints and the Lord.
• Prayer to the righteous can help you get a good position or find a job. God blesses those who seek to provide for their families by earning their livelihood through honest work.
• In prayers to the saint, they ask for healing from serious illnesses. There is evidence that Seraphim of Sarov performed many miracles during his lifetime, healing even from mortal diseases with the help of prayer and water from the source. However, a person must understand why the Lord allowed him this or that disease. Especially the saint helps with diseases of the internal organs and legs.
• Young people can pray to the righteous that he will help them find a spouse and create a strong Orthodox family. The married believers ask for the strengthening of love between spouses, as well as for peace and prosperity in the family.
• Often a saint helps in business or trade, but only if the money is earned honestly, and part of the funds will be spent on good deeds.

The monk taught how to pray correctly. You should carefully listen to each word, delving into their meaning. During prayer, it is necessary to connect the mind and soul. Over time, the Lord will warm the soul, and prayer will bring joy. Do not take on prayer work that you cannot afford. For the laity, the saint made up a small prayer rule which is in every prayer book.

On the old New Year, on the eve of the holiday in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov, pilgrims gather in Diveevo to go through the procession along the groove of the Virgin at night, together with the sisters. Believers go, reading 150 times the prayer "Hail to the Mother of God!"

Christians believe that it is at this moment that the prayer addressed to the saint is the most powerful and is able to heal the most serious diseases and receive help in any petition.

You can pray to the saint at any life situation or when you need spiritual support or protection.

Prayers to Seraphim of Sarov

Prayer to Seraphim of Sarov for healing and good luck in trading

Oh wonderful Father Seraphim, the great wonderworker of Sarov, a hasty helper to all who resort to you! In the days of your earthly life, no one is thin and inconsolable from you when you leave, but for everyone in the sweetness there was a vision of your face and a benevolent voice of your words. To this, the gift of healing, the gift of insight, the gift of weak souls of healing is abundant in you. When God has called from earthly labors to heavenly rest, your love has never ceased from us, and it is impossible to count your miracles, grown like the stars of heaven: behold, at all ends of our earth, you are the people of God and grant them healing. At the same time, we cry out to you: O quiet and meek servant of God, daring to pray to Him, never refrain from calling you, lift up your pious prayer for us to the Lord of Forces, may He strengthen our power, may He grant us all that is useful in this life and all for the spiritual useful for salvation, may it protect us from the falls of sin and teach us true repentance, in a hedgehog without fail enter us into the eternal Kingdom of Heaven, where you now shine in imperishable glory, and there sing with all the saints Life-Giving Trinity until the end of the century. Amen.

Prayer for love and marriage

O great servant of God, reverend and God-bearing Father Seraphim!

Look from the Mountain of glory on us, humble and weak, burdened with many sins, asking for your help and comfort. Come close to us with your mercy and help us to keep the commandments of the Lord immaculately, keep the Orthodox faith strong, repentance for our sins diligently bring to God, in the piety of Christians to prosper gracefully and worthy of being your prayerful intercession to God for us

Hey, Holy One of God, hear us praying to you with faith and love, and do not despise us who demand your intercession; now and at the hour of our death, help us and intercede with your prayers from the evil slanders of the devil, may those forces not possess us, but may we be worthy of your help to inherit the bliss of the abode of paradise

We now place our hope in you, good-hearted father, truly be our guide to salvation and lead us to the non-evening light of eternal life by your God-pleasing intercession at the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity, may we praise and sing with all the saints the revered Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit forever centuries. Amen!

Prayer to Seraphim of Sarov for help

O Reverend Father Seraphim! Raise up for us, servants of God (names), your pious prayer to the Lord of strength, may it grant us all that is useful in this life and all that is useful for spiritual salvation, may it protect us from the falls of sin and true repentance, may it teach us how to insinuate us into the eternal Kingdom of Heaven, even if you now shine in imperishable glory, and there sing the Life-Giving Trinity with all the saints forever and ever.

Troparion to the Monk Seraphim of Sarov, tone 4

From the youth of Christ, thou hast loved, blessed, and to that One work ardently lust, with unceasing prayer and labor in the wilderness thou hast labored, having acquired the love of Christ with a touched heart, the chosen one beloved of the Mother of God has appeared. For this sake, we cry out to you: save us with your prayers, Seraphim, our reverend father.

Kontakion to the Monk Seraphim of Sarov, tone 2

Leaving the beauty of the world and even the perishable in it, reverend, you settled in the Sarov monastery; and having lived there like an angel, you were the way to salvation for many. For this sake, and Christ to you, Father Seraphim, glorify, and enrich with the gift of healings and miracles. We also cry out to you: Rejoice, Seraphim, our reverend father.

Seraphim of Sarov - the patron of what? To answer this question, you first need to know the life path of the elder. After all, the name of this saint is widely known throughout the world, he is especially revered in Russia. The Lord gave him the ability to heal, as well as to talk about the past, to predict the future. Prayers with requests to the saint work wonders: they fulfill the most cherished desires, heal, help find a way out of a difficult situation.

Brief description of the life path of the venerable elder

Heavenly patron Seraphim of Sarov comes from Kursk. The exact date of his birth is known - July 19, 1759. At baptism, the baby received the name Prokhor.

Miracles began to happen to the boy from a very young age. There was a case when Prokhor could not resist and fell from the bell tower of the temple. Everyone saw a miracle in the fact that the boy remained absolutely unharmed.

In 1776 in Kiev-Pechersk Lavra there was a fateful meeting between the young Prokhor and the elder Dositheus, who indicated to the young man that he should take tonsure in the Sarov wasteland.

After 2 years, the young man ended up in the Tambov province, where he became a novice in the Sarov Monastery. And after 8 years, in 1786, he did what Dosifei told him - he took tonsure and became a monk Seraphim.

Seraphim did not need rest at all, the Lord himself gave him the strength to serve. In 1794, he accepted a silent feat and settled in the forest so that he could pray without ceasing.

Father Seraphim spent 16 years in the desert, and in 1810 he returned to the monastery to take another seclusion, which lasted until 1825. Everything changed on November 25 of the same year. In a dream, the Mother of God appeared to Seraphim of Sarov and ordered him to stop fulfilling his vows and start receiving people in order to help them with her advice, guidance and healing.

Miracles through the prayers of Father Seraphim

For his love for God and the exploits of asceticism, Father Seraphim received from the Lord the gift of healing people, as well as predicting important events. He knew everything about the past and the future, gave wise advice helped to overcome difficulties. Sometimes what he advised seemed strange and incomprehensible to people, but those who exactly fulfilled what was predicted later became convinced that everything that Father Seraphim said made sense.

Seraphim of Sarov - patron of what? They went to him for advice and with a request, he helped in the treatment of bodily and mental ailments, and sometimes with advice he prevented trouble.

He helped everyone who turned to him with prayer and water from a miraculous spring. Many cases of curing hopeless patients have been recorded healing water Father Seraphim.

After the death of the saint, the healing spring continues to work miracles. Its water is truly healing, it brings back to life, gives health and peace of mind.

However, the main miracle that remained after St. Seraphim of Sarov is prayer. It has long been known that people endowed with certain abilities do not heal themselves, they send their requests to God through prayer, who, loving them, fulfills the petitions. Saint Seraphim of Sarov and now prays for all of us before God, therefore miraculous prayer this elder fulfills wishes, saves in difficult times, helps to overcome trouble.

Icons of Seraphim of Sarov

Now there are many revered icons of the holy elder Seraphim of Sarov. His image is painted not only on icons, but also on frescoes.

There are picturesque icons that were painted by skillful artists shortly after the death of the venerable elder, with the involvement of people who personally knew him. A well-known portrait of Seraphim of Sarov has been preserved, which is now kept in the Moscow Theological Academy.

AT Christian world the face of Seraphim of Sarov is revered, they pray to him, they turn to him with requests for help.

Seraphim of Sarov - patron of what?

Here we come to the main question. The memory of the Holy Father Seraphim is revered by believers twice a year: January 15 and August 1. But this does not mean that the saint is prayed only on these days. Sincere prayer will be effective at any time, the main thing is to believe and think about good.

Whose patron is Seraphim of Sarov? They turn to him with requests for help, as well as in despondency under sinful circumstances, they pray to save him from demonic temptations. He is asked for the grace of giving love. It helps in the development of memory, relieves diseases of the spirit and body, helps in solving problems of a material nature.

Prayers to Seraphim of Sarov are effective, if you forgive not only for yourself, you can pray for your loved ones and for your enemies.

Prayer for a Happy Marriage

Seraphim of Sarov is the patron saint of marriages. This saint is approached with a request to arrange the fate of lonely girls. It has long been known that in order to receive help, one prayer is not enough. Prayer will be effective if it is read into the water. And for this, living water - spring water - is best suited.

Taking a liter of water, read a prayer on it, while placing a lit church candle and an icon of Seraphim of Sarov near the vessel. Water prepared in this way should be drunk, as well as sprinkled on your bed and room.

Of course, one should not forget that the main attribute of such a request is faith in God and confidence that a miracle will happen and you will meet your destiny.

It is believed that Seraphim of Sarov is the patron of late marriages, therefore those who have already lost all hope of arranging their fate often turn to him. If you are over 30 years old or more, and you are still single, contact Father Seraphim and be sure that sincere prayer will be fulfilled.

A very strong help will be the prayer of a mother who wants her daughter to get married, because the Lord accepts any request of a mother for her dearly beloved child.

How to pray to Seraphim of Sarov

This saint is very much loved and revered in Russia. From time immemorial, it has become so that people addressed him lovingly: Seraphimushka, an old man, a father, a saint of God, Father Seraphim, a miracle worker.

Address yourself in prayer in the way you like best, the main thing is that it comes from the heart, be pure with good thoughts.

So, Seraphim of Sarov is the patron of what? Probably, everyone will answer this question for himself, because it is known that faith and veneration of God by the elder worked true miracles.

After the saint died Orthodox people turned to him with faith, and a miracle happened. Back in 1895, a special commission recorded 94 miraculous healing that took place after a prayer to Father Seraphim. This is only a small part of the real cases of the help of a saint who is always ready to support a believer.

Prayer to Seraphim of Sarov

Serafim Sarovsky was born under the name Prokhor, into a merchant family in Kursk. When he was just a boy, his father began the construction of the Kursk Cathedral, but died before he could finish the work. Prokhor's mother, a very religious woman, took up the continuation of the construction, and then, the first miracle happened to the boy. Having fallen from the bell tower while visiting the construction site with his mother, he found himself on the ground, safe and sound.

After this incident, the boy devoted most of his time to Holy reading, and by the age of 17 he decided to serve God. The mother approved the choice of her son and blessed him on the way to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. From there, Prokhor was sent to the Sarov desert, where he spent many years, and, subsequently, received the name - Seraphim of Sarov.

Then there were years of hermit prayers in a desert cell, and then, 25 years later, the saints came to him, ordering him to leave the seclusion and receive people - sick and infirm.

So miracles began to happen through the prayers of Seraphim of Sarov - healing from deadly ailments.

Miracles of Seraphim of Sarov

Who did not come to Seraphim, he healed everyone with the help of the miraculous water of his source. One day a woman came to him, so exhausted from her illness that she could not even eat the food allowed by fasting. Seraphim ordered her to wash in the waters of his spring, and the disease passed.

Also have famous story about the healing of a woman with dropsy. She walked to his monastery for two days, during a stop at the monastery, she was already admonished for death. But when he arrived at Seraphim, he received her first of all, dried himself with a towel, which she brought with her as a gift, and ordered to come tomorrow. The next day, he gave her a vessel to draw water from the spring and wash her face. Arriving at the hotel, the woman, contrary to the contraindications of doctors, washed her face with this water and was completely healed.

Of course, Saint Seraphim of Sarov healed not only with water, but also with prayer. Holy people do not heal themselves, but they pray with their sinless souls for the sick, and God listens to their requests.

Subsequently, the miraculous prayer of Seraphim of Sarov arose, which saves hundreds and thousands of people after his death. After all, the saint is still praying for us before God.

After his death, the miraculous spring still continues to heal. Somehow, the mother of her son, who had suffered from drug addiction for many years, sent there. His mother asked him to go there with his wife and get married in the Diveevo Monastery. So they did, but the disease did not recede.

Three years later, the man, still hopelessly addicted to drugs, alcohol and tobacco, went to the monastery of his own free will. He plunged into the sacred spring three times, and in an instant he felt how all the blackness had departed from the soul. At that moment, he recovered and became an exemplary family man.

Prayer for marriage

Seraphim of Sarov is also addressed in prayers for marriage. He is considered the patron saint of late marriages, so if you are over 30, 40 or more, Seraphim of Sarov will help you find a worthy husband.

In order for the prayer to Seraphim of Sarov to work, it should be read into the water. Take 1 liter of water (preferably live, spring), light a candle on the table, put the icon of St. Seraphim in front of you and read the text of the prayer. Water should be consumed inside, sprinkled with it in the room and bed.

In addition, the mother's prayer for the marriage of her daughter to Seraphim of Sarov has the strongest effect. For God, there is nothing louder and more sincere than words saturated with ardent love for your child.

Prayer "All-merciful"

In 1928, a miracle happened to an old man. In a dream, Seraphim of Sarov appeared to him and dictated the All-Merciful prayer - a prayer to the Mother of God. The elder was threatened with arrest (in those years the church was actively oppressed), and the Saint told him to write down a prayer and go through life with it on his lips. It will help both him and the church to survive.

The next day there was an arrest and many years in the camps, all 18 years of which the elder prayed unceasingly to the Mother of God.

Prayer for marriage

Prayer for daughter's marriage

Prayer "All-merciful"

Meaning of icons

Which icon for what:
"HOLY TRINITY" - written by Andrei Rublev. The symbol of the "Trinity" is God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Or - wisdom, reason, love. One of the three main icons that should be in every home. Before the icon they pray for the forgiveness of sins. It is considered confessional.
"IVERSKAYA MOTHER OF GOD" - the keeper of the hearth. She is considered the patroness of all women, their helper and intercessor before the Lord. An icon with which the "crown of celibacy" is removed from both men and women. Before the icon, they also pray for the healing of bodily and spiritual ailments, for consolation in troubles.
"THE MOTHER OF GOD OF KAZAN" is the main icon of Russia, the intercessor of the entire Russian people, especially in difficult troubled times. All the main events in life take place with her, starting with baptism. The icon gives a blessing for marriage, it is also an assistant in work. An icon that stops the fire and helps those with vision problems. Before the icon they pray for help in various everyday needs.
"THE MOTHER OF GOD OF VLADIMIR" - written by the evangelist Luke. The icon is considered one of the most revered images of the Most Holy Theotokos in Russia. Tsars were crowned before this icon and high hierarchs were elected. Before her, they pray for the humility of the warring, for the softening of evil hearts, for the healing of infirmities of the body and soul, as well as for the healing of the possessed.
"TIHVINSKAYA MOTHER OF GOD" - written by the evangelist Luke. The icon is considered to be a child icon, it is also called a “guidebook”. She helps children in illnesses, calms the restless and disobedient, helps them in choosing friends, protects them from the bad influence of the street. It is believed that it strengthens the bond between parents and children, that is, children do not leave their parents in old age. It helps women during childbirth and during pregnancy. It is also addressed to those who have problems.
"SEMI-SHOT" is the strongest icon in protecting the house and any premises, as well as the person on whom it is located, from evil, envious
people, from the evil eye, damage and curses. It reconciles the warring, brings peace, harmony, it is also taken on important matters. At home, she should be opposite front door to see the eyes of the incoming. Before installing the icon, you need to read a prayer, then observe who will stop going to your house.
"The quick listener" - the image was painted in the 10th century. They pray before the icon when they need quick and urgent help, for the healing of the soul and bodily ailments, including from paralysis, blindness, cancer, and also ask for the birth of healthy children and the release of prisoners.
"HEALER" - the icon is one of the most ancient and revered. Before the icon they pray for the healing of the soul and body, it protects from various misfortunes, troubles, sorrow, eternal condemnation, takes care of release from prison. Childbirth assistant.
"INEXPENSIVE BOWL" - The Mother of God prays for all sinners and calls to an inexhaustible source of spiritual joy and comfort, announces that the inexhaustible cup of heavenly help and mercy is prepared for those who ask with faith. It is for prosperity in the house, and also helps to heal from addictions, drunkenness, drug addiction, gambling.
"INDESTROYABLE WALL" - located in the main altar of the Kiev-Sophia Cathedral. For more than ten centuries, this miraculous icon remained intact. That's probably why it's named like that. In front of the icon for every need: the sick - healing, the grieving - consolation, the lost - admonition, protect babies, educate and teach the young, encourage and instruct husbands and wives, support and warm the old, deliver from all misfortunes.
"THREE-HANDED" - a miraculous image Mother of God was written in the eighth century in honor of the Monk John of Damascus, a church hymnographer, innocently slandered. Before the icon, they pray for healing from the pains of the hands or their injuries, from getting rid of the fire, as well as from illness, sorrow and sadness.
"UNEXPECTED JOY" - an icon about the forgiveness of sins and grateful healing. Before the icon they pray for the conversion of the lost, for the health and well-being of children, for the healing of deafness and ear diseases, for the preservation of marriage in love and harmony.
"BLESSED MATRON" is a very strong saint of our time. She is approached for any difficult issue. She is our most "first helper" and intercessor, intercessor for us before the Lord. The relics are in the Intercession Convent on Taganka, where countless people come every day and turn to her for help.
"NICHOLAS PLEASANT THE WONDERWORKER" is a beloved saint of the Russian people. He protects from poverty and want: when his icon is in the house, he makes sure that there is prosperity in the house, saves from the need for anything. In addition, he is the patron of all travelers, drivers, sailors, pilots and just people who are on the road and revere St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The relics of St. Nicholas the Pleasant are in Italy.
"HOLY GREAT MARTYR PANTELEIMON" - a great healer, patron of doctors. Even during his lifetime, he brought healing to many people from serious illnesses. And now, from the icon with the face of St. Panteleimon, people receive a charge for miraculous healing.
"GEORGE THE VICTORIOUS" is the patron of Moscow, as well as an assistant to those people whose work is related to weapons, risk to life - the military, police, firefighters, rescuers. In addition, they include athletes and people who open a new business.
"SERGIUS OF RADONEZH" - the founder of the Sergius - Trinity Lavra in the 14th century. He is the patron saint of all students. The icon is taken with them when passing exams and tests. It is very good that the icon is always in the pocket of a handbag or briefcase every day when the child goes to school.
"SERAPHIM SAROVSKII" is one of the beloved and revered saints of Russia. He devoted his whole life to serving our Lord, founded the Diveevsky convent in the Nizhny Novgorod province. Prayer to the Holy Father Seraphim of Sarov helps very well with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, spine, and joints.
"GUARDIAN ANGEL" - they pray to him: for help with headaches; about his patronage, from
insomnia, in sorrow, about happiness in marriage, about driving away evil spirits, about getting rid of harm from wizards and sorcerers. About the intercession of widows and orphans, in despair, about deliverance from sudden or sudden death, about casting out demons. Those going to sleep pray to him for deliverance from prodigal dreams.

Seraphim of Sarov Day January 15: what does the saint help in *

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* Day of Seraphim of Sarov January 15: what helps the saint *
Seraphim of Sarov is one of the most revered Orthodox saints. Many unusual facts are connected with this man, which it will be interesting to know for every believer.



Seraphim of Sarov is very revered by the church because of his deeds. He endured many problems on the way to harmony with the outside world and with God. Some of his exploits are still considered impossible, so faith plays an important role in matters of reliability. Those who are strong in their faith make a pilgrimage to Diveevo to the relics of the saint, in order to put their hands and head to the place where one of the greatest Russian saints is laid to rest in peace. January 15 is the official commemoration day of the saint according to the church calendar.
History and miracles of Seraphim of Sarov
This one was born great person in Kursk in 1754. Despite the fact that Seraphim's family was rich and noble, he dedicated himself to God. The father of the child died when he was still at an early age.
Miracles began to happen to him in childhood. Prokhor, as the saint was called before becoming a monk, once fell from the bell tower, but remained unharmed. Soon he fell seriously ill, but in a dream the Virgin Mary came to him and promised to heal him. After some time this happened. The boy was surrounded by faith, so he gave a lot of his personal time to the study of Christianity. His faith grew stronger day by day.
When Prokhor was 17 years old, he decided to leave his father's house. He took the tonsure on the advice of an old woman in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. The choice fell on the Sarov Monastery in Tambov. In 1778 he became a novice and a full-fledged monk in 1786. The rank of hieromonk was assigned to him seven years later. Monk Seraphim always had a penchant for solitude, so he tried to live away from other people. He lived in the forest in a cell, sought food for himself, observed the strictest fast and constantly prayed. He did not consider this a feat - such was his sincere desire.
According to historical sources, Seraphim was engaged in pilgrimage, that is, constant prayer for many years. He prayed on a stone, which people learned about and began to come to him for advice. Day and night he devoted himself entirely to prayer. They say that miraculously, wild animals constantly came to him, including even bears, which the saint fed with bread. Trouble befell him in the forest bad people news came that the rich were visiting him, leaving gifts for him. The robbers found the place of seclusion of Seraphim of Sarov and severely beat him, causing serious injuries. After the monk recovered, he remained hunched for life. They say that he did not even resist, and later completely forgave his offenders, declaring that they needed to be released. These people were never brought to justice.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the saint took a vow of silence, which he tried to fulfill for almost 20 years. For the last 7-8 years of his life, he healed people's diseases and received everyone who wanted to see him. Among the guests was even Tsar Alexander the First. The elder died at the age of 78 while praying. He was canonized as a saint only 70 years after his death. August 1 marks the uncovering of the relics of the saint, and January 15 is the official day of memory and name day of all men with the name Seraphim.
January 15 - Seraphim Sarovsky Memorial Day
People like the monk Seraphim can be counted on the fingers. Only almost no one had devoted faith and selflessness. He demonstrated fortitude and faith in Christ, which helped him live a decent life.
Icons and prayers are dedicated to Elder Seraphim. It is believed that Saint Seraphim helps us in alleviating suffering and in healing diseases. In every house there should be an icon of this saint, which will bring good luck to all believers. Prayers before the icon to Seraphim of Sarov help to restore faith in God, therefore mothers of children who have lost faith in God often resort to this prayer.
January 15 in every church Orthodox world from year to year the life of St. Seraphim is remembered. On this day, the clergy recommend not to swear with loved ones, to do only good deeds and believe in miracles. God is merciful to all who devote their time to prayers on this day.
Prayers to Seraphim of Sarov have special power not only on Memorial Day or August 1st. On January 15 and on any other day, ask the reverend to pray for our souls and for the health of all loved ones. Be happy!
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