Sergius of Radonezh has been revered in Rus' since ancient times. He lived in the XIV century, became famous for a large number of miracles. The main one is considered to be assistance in the Battle of Kulikovo. Dedicating himself to serving God, Sergius opened churches, helped the poor and punished the greedy.
Life of Sergius of Radonezh summary which has more than 40 chapters, was compiled in the 15th century by his student, the writer Epiphanius the Wise. He was a monk built by Sergius Lavra. In the 20th century, the life of the saint was the work of the historian, Candidate of Sciences Boris Mikhailovich Kloss. He analyzed about 400 manuscripts mentioning the miraculous abilities of the saint, discovered new facts about his life.
Significance of personality for history
The life of Sergius of Radonezh Epiphanius the Wise is difficult to read for people far from the church. More than forty chapters of the biography of the saint are painted with references to Holy Bible. In each, Epiphanius describes in detail God's grace descended on Sergius.
"Life reverend father of our Sergius Abbot of Radonezh "he began to write during the life of the saint from his words. Faithful helpers Hieromonk Pachomius Logofet and Elder Simon Azaryin became for him.
Briefly, the life of Sergius of Radonezh for children is included in the primary school curriculum (grades 2-4). It was written according to the plan of Epiphanius, but accessible plain language. The personality of Sergius in the formation of Rus' and the Orthodox is of great importance.
Boris Zaitsev discovered the personality of St. Sergius of Radonezh for the West. This is the first author who introduced foreigners to the reverend Russian saint at the beginning of the 20th century.
The Miracle of Birth
The family of Maria and Kirill, living in Rostov, was expecting the birth of their second child. During pregnancy, the mother fasted, attended church services, liturgies, observing all the religious rules of Christianity.
At one of the services on the day off, Maria was very frightened. Her baby, still in the womb, screamed three times. People standing nearby began to look for the baby in the church, and when they found out that he had not yet been born , then many left the pregnant woman with unkind looks.
With tears in her eyes, Maria returned home and told her husband what had happened. At that moment, she decided that she would definitely dedicate the child to the Lord if a boy was born. The baby was born healthy, but wayward.
The baby was baptized with the name Bartholomew on the fortieth day after birth. The parents told the rector about his cries from the womb during the liturgy. The clergyman reassured Mary and Cyril, saying that the boy would become a servant of the Holy Trinity and a great man.
Bartholomew fasted from infancy:
- He did not take his mother's breast after she had eaten meat.
- He refused the nurse's milk, desiring only his mother's.
- Didn't breastfeed on Wednesday and Friday.
Unyielding charter
Bartholomew had an older brother Stephen and a younger Peter. When the boys grew up, their parents sent them to learn to read and write. The middle son did not succeed, while his brothers improved their knowledge every day.
Once Cyril sent his son in search of foals. Bartholomew saw an old man praying under an oak, approached him and told him about his pain with a request to pray for his success. The elder listened attentively to the youth, read a prayer, then handed the boy a piece of prosphora.
The elder explained to the boy that from now on he would not have problems with reading and writing, God himself would grant him abilities. Bartholomew persuaded the benefactor to visit parental home. Maria and Cyril prepared refreshments, but first the elder and the boy went to a small home chapel.
The elder explained that their child was special, chosen and marked by the Lord for the service of the Holy Scriptures. After the words that Bartholomew would be a majestic person and would not betray the faith, the elder left the house. The boy began to test his abilities and was glad that he could read and understand any text.
Bartholomew did not play with other children, spending free time in the church for worship. He was especially interested in the Holy Scriptures.. Maria, worried about her son's behavior, asked him not to torture herself.
The family, fleeing ruin, moves to Radonezh. Peter and Stefan started families and left their father's house. Bartholomew asked permission to take the veil as a monk, but his parents asked not to leave them alone and take care to death. Maria and Cyril took monastic vows and went to monasteries, where they died some time later. Bartholomew honored them with prayers, gave the due inheritance to his younger brother Peter, and he himself went to Stefan, who took tonsure in the Khotkovo-Pokrovsky monastery after the death of his wife.
Life in the desert
Bartholomew persuaded Stefan to go in search of a deserted place. They built a hut in the forest and cut down a small church. The older brother could not bear the burden of seclusion and returned to Moscow, where he chose the Epiphany Monastery for service.
Bartholomew called Abbot Mitrofan to him. On October 7, he tonsured Bartholomew, naming him Sergius in honor of the memory of Saints Sergius and Bacchus. After spending a few more days in the desert monastery, the abbot went back, giving instructions to the young monk.
Sergius spent a lot of time in prayer. He was tried to drive out demons led by the devil, but were smitten with prayer texts and the sign of the cross.
Wild animals came to the hut, throughout the year the monk shared bread with the bear. Many monks came to the monastery of Sergius and asked to stay. He did not allow, realizing that not every one of them would endure hardships and hardships. Some remained, Sergius did not drive away, but warned of a hard life.
Each of the monks independently arranged a cell for himself. Upon reaching a dozen, the dwellings of the monks were surrounded by a fence. They served matins, evening services, and invited a priest to the afternoon.
The abbot, who tonsured Sergius as a monk, has died. The young monk prayed for the gift of a new spiritual abbot of the monastery, refusing the request of the brothers to become abbot and priest. The monk went to Pereslavl to ask the bishop for the allocation of an abbot for his desert monastery. The bishop fulfilled the work of the brethren of monks and ordered Sergius to take the rank of abbot and priest.
Abbot Sergius
Sergei continued his modest and righteous life, reading prayers and liturgies. He taught his fellow monks:
- Keeping the commandments.
- Patience and endurance.
Sergius did not tolerate complaints and did not allow his wards to ask for food, believing that everything had to be earned by one's own labor. Over time, the number of monks increased. Stefan brought his youngest son Ivan to Sergius. He was tonsured with the name Fedor.
During his service to the Lord, Sergius performed several miracles:
Not all monks liked the administration of Sergius. One day, older brother Stefan spoke unflatteringly about his methods. The monk left the Church of the Holy Trinity and went to the river Kirzhach. There he built a new monastery and began to settle down, but the Metropolitan asked to return to his former place of service.
Sergius did not disobey, and in every monastery built, disciples of the monk became abbots and priests. Some later left to build their own churches.
Sergius knew about the death for six months and asked not to bury him in the church. But Cyprian ordered the body to be laid on the side of the monastery. Since then, the relics of the monk have been kept in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in Moscow.
In the first half of the 14th century, the famous Trinity-Sergius Lavra arose. Its founder, Reverend Sergius (in the world Bartholomew) was the son of the Rostov boyars Cyril and Mary, who moved closer to Moscow in the village of Radonezh. At the age of seven, Bartholomew was given to learn to read and write. He longed for learning with all his heart, but the letter was not given to him. Grieving over this, he prayed day and night to the Lord to open the door of bookish understanding for him. One day, looking for lost horses in the field, he saw an unfamiliar old man-chernoriz under an oak tree. The monk prayed. The lad approached him and told his grief. Having listened sympathetically to the boy, the elder began to pray for his enlightenment. Then, taking out the ark, he took out a small particle of prosphora and, blessing Bartholomew with it, said: “Take, child, and eat: this is given to you as a sign of the grace of God and the understanding of Holy Scripture.” This grace really descended on the lad: the Lord gave him memory and understanding, and the lad began to easily assimilate book wisdom.
After this miracle, young Bartholomew's desire to serve only God grew even stronger. He wanted to retire, following the example of the ancient ascetics, but love for his parents kept him in his own family. Bartholomew was modest, quiet and silent, he was meek and affectionate with everyone, never irritated and showed perfect obedience to his parents. Usually he ate only bread and water, and in fast days completely abstained from food. After the death of his parents, Bartholomew granted an inheritance to his younger brother Peter and, together with his older brother Stefan, settled 10 miles from Radonezh, in a deep forest near the Konchura River. The brothers cut wood with their own hands and built a cell and a small church. The priest, sent by Metropolitan Theognost, consecrated this church in honor of the Holy Trinity. This is how the famous monastery of St. Sergius arose.
Soon Stefan left his brother and became rector of the Epiphany Monastery in Moscow and confessor of the Grand Duke. Bartholomew, who was tonsured a monk with the name Sergius, labored alone in the forest for about two years. It is impossible to imagine how many temptations the young monk endured at that time, but patience and prayer overcame all difficulties and diabolical misfortunes. Whole packs of wolves ran past the cell of St. Sergius, bears also came, but not one of them harmed him. One day the holy hermit gave bread to a bear that came to his cell, and since then the beast began to constantly visit St. Sergius, who shared his last piece of bread with him.
No matter how hard Saint Sergius tried to conceal his exploits, the fame of them spread and attracted other monks to him, who wished to be saved under his guidance. They began to ask Sergius to take the rank of priest and abbot. Sergius did not agree for a long time, but seeing in their relentless request a calling from above, he said: "I would rather obey than rule, but I am afraid of the judgment of God and I commit myself to the will of the Lord." This was in 1354, when Saint Alexei entered the chair of the Moscow Metropolitan.
The life and labors of St. Sergius in the history of Russian monasticism have special meaning, because he laid the foundation for the life of hermits, having arranged a monastery with a communal life outside the city. Built on new principles, the monastery of the Holy Trinity at first suffered extreme poverty in everything; the vestments were of simple krashenina, the sacred vessels were wooden, in the temple a torch shone instead of candles, but the ascetics burned with zeal. Saint Sergius gave the brethren an example of the strictest abstinence, the deepest humility and unshakable hope in God's help. In labors and deeds, he went first, and the brethren followed him.
One day the supply of bread was completely exhausted in the monastery. The abbot himself, in order to earn a few pieces of bread, built a vestibule in the cell of one brother with his own hands. But in an hour of extreme need, through the prayers of the brethren, generous help was unexpectedly given to the monastery. A few years after the founding of the monastery, peasants began to settle around it. Not far from it there was a big road to Moscow and to the north, thanks to which the monastery’s funds began to increase, and, following the example of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, it began to generously distribute alms and take care of the sick and wanderers.
The rumor about St. Sergius reached Constantinople, and Patriarch Filofey sent him his blessing and a letter, which approved the new rules of desert community life, instituted by the founder of the Holy Trinity Monastery. Metropolitan Alexei loved St. Sergius as a friend, instructed him to reconcile the warring princes, assigned important powers to him and prepared him for his successors. But Sergius refused this election.
Rev. Sergius of Radonezh. Icon with life, 1st third of the 16th century. Workshop Feodosia
Once, Metropolitan Alexei wanted to place a golden cross on him as a reward for his labors, but Sergius said: “From my youth I have not worn gold on myself, in my old age I want to be in poverty all the more” - and resolutely rejected this honor from himself.
Grand Duke Dimitri Ivanovich, nicknamed Donskoy, honored the Monk Sergius as a father, and asked his blessing to fight the Tatar Khan Mamai. “Go, go boldly, prince, and hope for God’s help,” the holy elder told him and gave him two of his monks as associates: Peresvet and Oslyabya, who fell heroes in the Battle of Kulikovo.
Rev. Sergius of Radonezh. Icon, 17th century
Even during his lifetime, St. Sergius performed miracles and was rewarded with great revelations. Once the Mother of God appeared to him in marvelous majesty with the apostles Peter and John and promised protection of his monastery. On another occasion, he saw an extraordinary light and many birds filling the air with harmonious singing, and received a revelation that many monks would gather in his monastery. 30 years after his blessed death (September 25, 1392), his holy relics were revealed.
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Prayer to St. Sergius of Radonezh:
- Prayer to St. Sergius of Radonezh. Saint Sergius of Radonezh is one of the most famous Russian saints. Founder of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, teacher and mentor of many dozens of Russian saints. The monk became truly the abbot and intercessor of the entire Russian Land, a model of meekness and humility for monks and laity. They pray to St. Sergius for help in teaching, in monastic deeds, for overcoming passions, for the growth of faith, for the preservation of the Fatherland from the invasion of foreigners
At the end of the XIV century, Russian lands were under the yoke of the Tatar-Mongolian Golden Horde. At this time, the biggest battle for the entire time of the invasion of the Tatar-Mongols took place - the Battle of Kulikovo. The Russian army was led by the Moscow prince Dmitry, who after the battle became known as Dmitry Donskoy. Before crossing the Don, the prince met with the monk and asked him for a blessing before the battle. This monk, who blessed Prince Dmitry Donskoy for battle, was St. Sergius of Radonezh, the founder of the famous Trinity-Sergius Lavra. This greatest ascetic of Rus' has been revered since the 15th century Orthodox Church in the face of a saint.
Biography of Sergius of Radonezh
Place and time of birth
We know the life of Sergius of Radonezh mainly from his disciple Epiphanius the Wise, who compiled a biography of the saint. The future Orthodox saint was born into the family of the boyar Kirill and was baptized under the name Bartholomew. Bartholomew's parents had three sons besides him. As for the date of birth of the saint, there is some disagreement. Some researchers call the year 1314, others - 1322. The village of Varnitsa, not far from Rostov, is considered the birthplace.
Reverend Sergius of Radonezh
Video "Prayer to St. Sergius of Radonezh"
In this video you can listen to an audio recording of a prayer to St. Sergius of Radonezh.
Childhood and first miracles
Bartholomew was sent to study at the age of seven. But knowledge was given to him with difficulty, it was especially difficult for him to learn to read. At that time, his brothers quickly mastered the letter. Parents and teachers scolded Bartholomew and punished him, but this did not help the cause.
And here the first miracle happened, connected with the life of the monk. One day Bartholomew met a mysterious black monk in the field. The elder, like an angel, stood and prayed with tears. Bartholomew waited until the end of the prayer and told the elder about his inability to learn to read and write. The elder prayed fervently and gave the boy a prosphora, which he ate. After that, the lad gained the ability to quickly grasp new knowledge and soon surpassed his brothers in academic success. This story formed the basis of the painting by Mikhail Nesterov "Vision to the youth Bartholomew." Even in adolescence, Bartholomew began to observe all fasts, on Wednesday and Friday he did not eat at all, and the rest of the time he ate only bread and water. At night, the lad often did not sleep, but prayed.
Relocation to Radonezh
After some time, the Bartholomew family became very impoverished. This was due to the difficult years of the Tatar-Mongol invasion and unbearable requisitions. The family of the monk was forced to move from Rostov to Radonezh.
monastic life
Already in adolescence, Bartholomew decided to devote his life to monasticism. His parents did not object to this, but asked not to be tonsured monks until their death. Bartholomew did just that. He cared for his parents until their death.
After Bartholomew buried his parents, he gave his share of the inheritance due to his brother Peter, and he himself went to the Intercession Monastery, where his brother Stefan was. Then, together with his brother Bartholomew, he went to the desert, where they cut down a cell and began to lead a hermit life. Over time, next to the cell, the brothers cut down a small church and, after conferring, consecrated it in the name of the Holy Trinity.
However, soon brother Stefan could not stand the hardships of hermit life and left the desert, heading for Moscow. Bartholomew, on the contrary, remained in the desert to accomplish the feat of hermitage. Soon he received monastic vows from hegumen Mitrofan under the name of Sergius.
Life of Sergius of Radonezh Soon other monks, who became his disciples, begin to settle around the monk's cell. After some time, the number of brethren increased to twelve people. The famous Trinity-Sergius Lavra originates from this monastic monastery.
Having become abbot of the resulting monastery, St. Sergius forbade the monks to beg for alms. This became an immutable rule, when all the monks lived only from their labor. At the same time, the abbot himself fully observed this rule all his life and set an example for the monks in this.
At this time, through the efforts of Sergius of Radonezh, the so-called hostel was included in the way of life of the monasteries instead of the previously existing special residence.
However, not everything went smoothly in the life of the monastic brethren. Due to disagreements that appeared, St. Sergius left the monastery he founded and founded a small monastic monastery on the Kirzhach River, thus becoming the founder of the Blagoveshchensk monastery that exists today.
In addition to these two monasteries, Sergius of Radonezh is the founder of several more. In total, about forty monasteries were founded by his disciples, many of whose inhabitants later became abbots of other monasteries. Thus, St. Sergius is rightfully considered the founder of monasticism in Rus'.
Service to the Fatherland
Saint Sergius of Radonezh made a great contribution to the formation of the unity of the then Rus'. In those difficult years for Rus', with quiet and meek words, he penetrated the most bitter and rude hearts of the warring princes, reconciled them among themselves and, most importantly, urged them to recognize the supremacy of the Moscow prince.
The great merit of the holy elder is that by the beginning of the Battle of Kulikovo, which was mentioned at the beginning of this story, the majority of Russian princes recognized the supremacy of the Moscow prince Dmitry, who received the name Dmitry Donskoy after the battle with the Mamai horde.
When the soldiers of Dmitry Donskoy crossed the Don and saw the army of Mamai, they stopped in indecision. And at that moment, a messenger appeared from Sergius of Radonezh, who conveyed to the prince the words of the reverend elder, who said decisive words: “Be bold, great prince, against the fierce enemies, not being afraid of them at all, and the Lord God will certainly help you in this battle!”
Service to the Fatherland of Sergius of Radonezh Old age and death of the saint
Saint Sergius of Radonezh lived a long life and died at the age of seventy-eight. Six months before his death, he notified the brethren of the monastery about this. Calling on the monks, he handed over the hegumenship to his disciple, giving him brief instructions, after which he became silent. Just before his death, foreseeing his departure to God, he called the brethren to him and delivered his last instruction to them.
veneration of the reverend
Documentary evidence of the time when Sergius of Radonezh was first venerated as a saint has not come down to us. Some church researchers say that St. Sergius became a Russian saint by himself, because of his glory. Church historians cite the text of a princely charter of the middle of the 15th century, in which he is called a reverend. Probably, this time should be considered the beginning of the veneration of Sergius of Radonezh in Rus'.
It is also interesting that, along with the Orthodox Church, St. Sergius is also considered a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. By decree of Pope Paul VI, his name is included in the Catholic Martyrology.
The glorification of St. Sergius of Radonezh is celebrated:
- October 8, new style;
- July 18 finding of relics.
Features of iconography
The most ancient image of Sergius of Radonezh, dating from the beginning of the 15th century, is now in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
The Russian icon painter Andrei Rublev owns an icon with seventeen hallmarks of life, which is now in the Rublev Museum. In the middle of this icon, St. Sergius is depicted in full growth, right hand folded in a blessing gesture, and in the left is a scroll.
Temples in honor of the saint
The most famous is the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, founded by St. Sergius himself. It is located in the city of Sergiev Posad near Moscow. In total, in Russia there are (including chapels and temples with aisles of Sergius of Radonezh) more than seven hundred churches dedicated to him. In Moscow alone there are about seventy churches of Sergius of Radonezh. If you count only the temples in which he is dedicated high altar, then there will be five such main temples in Moscow. There are churches in honor of St. Sergius and abroad, for example, in Johannesburg (South Africa) and the monastery of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Montenegro.
The divinely inspired face of an old man is depicted on the holy image Theological interpretation of the holy image
The divinely inspired face of the elder is imprinted on the holy image. In his hand is a scroll, which is a reminder to the Christian of what is for him the meaning of his whole life - the salvation of the soul.
In front of the icon of the miracle worker, they cry out for the admonition of the rulers - after all, through his efforts, in the difficult time of unrest and the Mongol-Tatar invasion, the recalcitrant princes still found a common language and united against a common enemy. They ask before the icon for protection from enemy invasion, for the sending of peace.
Pavel Florensky called Sergius of Radonezh the Guardian Angel of Russia. And indeed, by kneeling before the icon of St. Sergius, every Christian becomes more merciful, more tolerant and kinder, strengthens in faith, learns to trust in our Lord in any circumstances.
Prayer to St. Sergius of Radonezh
O sacred head, our reverend and God-bearing Father Sergius, with your prayer, and faith and love, even to God, and purity of heart, still on earth in the monastery of the Most Holy Trinity, arranging your soul, and angelic communion and the Most Holy Theotokos visit, and the gift of miraculous received grace, after your departure from the earthly, most of all drawing closer to God and partaking of heavenly forces, but also from us with the spirit of your love, and your honest power, like a vessel of grace full and overflowing, leaving us! Having great boldness to the all-merciful Master, pray to save His servants, the grace of His believers in you and flowing to you with love. Help us, may our Fatherland be well governed in peace and prosperity, and may all resistances submit under its feet. Ask us from our great-gifted God every gift, to everyone and to whom it is beneficial: the observance of faith is immaculate, the affirmation of our cities, the peace of peace, deliverance from gladness and destruction, preservation from the invasion of foreigners, consolation to those who are grieving, healing to the fallen, resurrection to those who err on the path of truth and return of salvation, striving fortification, doing good in good deeds, prosperity and blessing, upbringing as a baby, admonition to young people, admonition to unbelievers, intercession to orphans and widows, moving away from this temporary life to eternal good preparation and parting words, blessed repose for those who have departed, and all of us helping your prayers vouchsafe, on the day of the Last Judgment, part of the shuiya will be delivered, the gums of the country are partakers of life and hear the blessed voice of the Lord Christ: come, bless my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Sergius of Radonezh refers to the holy leaders of the Russian land, according to the historian V.O. Klyuchevsky, his name "glistens bright constellation in the XIV century, making it the dawn of the political and moral revival of the Russian land. Sergius, by his life, by the very possibility of such a life, made the grieving people feel that not everything in them had died out and froze ... He opened their eyes to themselves. people, awakened in him confidence in himself, in his strength, breathed faith in his future.
IN. Klyuchevsky speaks of admiration for the personality of Sergius for five centuries 1 and characterizes the thoughts and feelings of the pilgrims returning from the Sergius Lavra to all ends of the Russian land. "Even during the life of the Reverend, many multitudes came to him from various countries and cities, among those who came were monks, and princes, and nobles, and simple people, “living in the countryside.” “Statesmen and ordinary people came to him with their thoughts, feelings, at difficult turning points in people’s life in sad or joyful moments of their lives. “And this influx has not changed over the centuries, despite repeated and deep changes in the structure and mood of Russian society: old concepts dried up, new ones made their way or flooded, and the feelings and beliefs that attracted people here from all over the Russian land still beat with the same fresh spring as they beat in the XIV century. "These feelings represent expression moral life people. With the image of Sergius, they grow together; they are its nourishing soil; in them his roots; tear it away from them, it will wither like cut grass. "Creating the memory of St. Sergius, we check ourselves, reconsider our moral stock, bequeathed to us by the great builder of our moral order." His moral influence is great, the bright and strong impressions made by Sergius sunk into the soul of the people. The great Russian ascetic delighted and surprised foreigners. The Bishop of Constantinople, having arrived in Moscow, exclaimed: "How can such a lamp appear in these countries?"
Russian people of the XIV century recognized such a manifestation of the spiritual influence of Sergius as a wonderful creative act. It "survived his earthly existence and poured into his name, which from historical memory became an eternally active, moral engine and became part of the spiritual wealth of the people" 2 .
A "political fortress" is strong only when it rests on moral strength - this is the most precious contribution of St. Sergius to living soul people, their moral self-consciousness. It is modern even today.
The moral feat and moral lessons of Sergius of Radonezh
"The Life of Sergius of Radonezh" was written at the turn of the XIV-XV centuries by a talented writer Epiphanius the Wise.
Epiphanius strove to show the greatness and beauty of the moral ideal of a person who, first of all, serves the common cause - the cause of strengthening the Russian state. He was born in Rostov in the first half of the 14th century, and in 1379 he became a monk in one of the Rostov monasteries. He traveled a lot, visited Jerusalem and Athos. He was fluent in Greek and other languages. For his erudition and literary skill, Epiphanius was nicknamed "the Wise." He perfectly knew the works of contemporary and ancient literature, and the hagiographies compiled by him richly included a wide variety of information: geographical names, the names of theologians, historical figures, scientists, and writers.
"The Life of Sergius of Radonezh" is narrative in nature, it is full of rich factual material. A number of episodes are distinguished by a peculiar lyrical tone (for example, the story of Sergius's childhood). In this work, Epiphanius acts as a master of storytelling.
In the "Life" appears the ideal hero of ancient literature, a "beacon", "God's vessel", an ascetic, a person who expresses the national self-consciousness of the Russian people. The work is built in accordance with the specifics of the genre of life. On the one hand, Sergius of Radonezh is a historical person, the creator of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, endowed with reliable, real features, and on the other hand, he is artistic image, created by traditional artistic means of the hagiographic genre.
The life opens with the author's introduction: Epiphanius thanks God, who gave the holy elder St. Sergius to the Russian land. The author regrets that no one has yet written about the “wonderful and kind” elder, and with God help refers to the writing of "Life". Calling the life of Sergius a "quiet, marvelous and virtuous" life, he himself is inspired and obsessed with the desire to write, referring to the words of Basil the Great: "Be a follower of the righteous and imprint their life and deeds in your heart" 3 .
The central part of the "Life" tells about the deeds of Sergius and the divine destiny of the child, about a miracle that happened before his birth: when his mother came to church, he screamed three times in her womb. His mother wore it "like a treasure, like gem like wonderful pearls, like a chosen vessel."
By the power of divine providence, Sergius is destined to become a servant of the Holy Trinity. From divine revelation, he mastered the letter, after the death of his parents he went to desert places and, together with his brother Stefan, "began to fell the forest, carry logs on his shoulders, built a cell and laid a small church." The lot of the hermit was "desert labor", "mournful, harsh housing", full of hardships: no food, no drink, no other supplies. "There were no villages around that desert, no yards, no people, no carriageways, there was neither a passer-by nor a visitor, but on all sides it was all forest and desert" 4 .
Seeing this, Stefan was upset and left the desert and his brother "desert-lover and desert servant." At the age of 23, Bartholomew (as he was called in the world), having taken the monastic form, was named in memory of the holy martyrs Sergius and Bacchus - Sergius.
Further, the author tells about his deeds and ascetic labor and asks the question: who can tell about his labors, about his exploits, what he alone suffered in the wilderness? It is impossible to tell what spiritual labor, what worries the beginning of everything cost him when he lived for so many years in the forest as a hermit, despite the intrigues of demons, the threats of animals, "for then there were many animals in that desert forest."
He taught the monks who came to him and wished to live next to him: "If you have come to serve God, prepare to endure sorrows, misfortunes, sorrows, every need and shortcoming, and unselfishness and vigil" 5 .
Epiphanius writes that the monk endured many difficulties, performed great feats of fasting life; his virtues were: vigil, dry eating, reclining on the ground, purity of soul and body, work, poverty of clothes. Even after becoming abbot, he did not change his rules: "if anyone wants to be the oldest, let there be fewer of all and a servant to everyone!"
He could go three or four days without food and eat rotten bread. To earn food, he took an ax in his hands and worked as a carpenter, hewed boards from morning to evening, and made poles.
Sergius was also unpretentious in clothes. He never put on new clothes, "what was spun and woven from sheep's hair and wool, he wore." And whoever did not see and did not know him, he would not have thought that this was Abbot Sergius, but would have mistaken him for one of the blacks, a beggar and wretched, for a worker who does all kinds of work. This is how the villager who came to the monastery perceived him, not believing that the abbot himself was in front of him, he was so simple and unprepossessing in appearance. In the mind of a commoner, the Monk Sergius was a prophet, and on him there are no beautiful clothes, no youths, no hasty servants around, no slaves serving him and honoring him. Everything is torn, everything is poor, everything is gray. "I don't think it's the same one," exclaimed the peasant. Sergius, on the other hand, showed purity of soul, love for one's neighbor: "For whom you grieve and whom you are looking for, now God will give you that one."
Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy bows to the ground to Sergius, accepting the blessing of the monk for the battle with the Mamaev horde. Sergius says: “It is fitting for you, sir, to take care of the Christ-named flock handed over by God. Go against the godless, and, since God will help you, you will win and return to your fatherland in health with great praise.”
And when Prince Dmitry hesitated before the battle, seeing the great army of Mamaev, a runner came from the saint with a message: ““ Without any doubt, sir, go boldly against their ferocity, do not be horrified, God will help you in every way. ”And immediately the great prince Dmitry and all his army took great courage from this and came out against the filthy ones. And they fought, and many bodies fell, and God helped the great victorious Dmitry, and the filthy Tatars were defeated ... "5.
Modesty, spiritual purity, unselfishness are the moral traits inherent in St. Sergius. He refused the hierarchal rank, considering himself unworthy: "Who am I - a sinful and worst of all people?" And he was adamant.
The author emphasizes the "lordship and holiness", the greatness of Sergius, describing his death. “Although the saint did not want glory during his lifetime, the strong power of God glorified him, angels flew before him when he reposed, escorting him to heaven, opening the doors of paradise to him and leading him into the desired bliss, into the chambers of the righteous, where the light of the angels and All Saints He accepted the illumination of the Trinity, as befits a fasting person. Such was the course of a saint's life, such was his gift, such was his miracle-working - and not only during life, but also at death..." 6 .
So Sergius of Radonezh "shone" with the virtues of life and wisdom. People like Sergius, from historical figures, turn into an ideal in the minds of generations, they become eternal companions, and "for centuries they reverently repeat their dear names, not so much in order to gratefully honor their memory, but in order not to forget the rules themselves , bequeathed by them. Such is the name of St. Sergius: this is not only an edifying, encouraging page in our history, but also a bright feature of our moral national content "7.
QUESTIONS AND TASKS
- Read the article by V.O. Klyuchevsky "The Year of Sergius" and try to comprehend: why is Sergius a "beacon", the pride of the Russian people, and why does he express his feelings and beliefs? How are the moral feelings of the people connected with the image of Sergius?
- What are the origins of Sergius's morality? Remember the essay by B. Zaitsev about Sergius of Radonezh.
- What delights and surprises the personality of Sergius?
- Read the life written by Epiphanius the Wise. What do you know about the author?
- How is the work structured, does it take into account the canonical tradition of hagiographic literature?
- Why does Epiphanius the Wise in his work refer to the description of the life of Sergius of Radonezh?
- What feelings of the author are expressed in life?
- Retell the text that tells about the life of Sergius (from the birth to the death of the saint).
- What is said about the parents of Sergius?
- What miracle happened before the birth of the monk during the church service, and how does this testify to the special destiny of Sergius?
- Tell us about the teachings of Sergius. What episode, which influenced the successful acquisition of the venerable literacy, is the author talking about?
- What kind of life did Sergius lead in his youth?
- How did the life of the monk develop after the death of his parents?
- Tell us about the life and work of Sergius in the desert.
- List the virtues of a saint.
- Under what conditions did Sergius and the brethren build the Sergius Monastery?
- Tell us about the ascetic work of Sergius, evaluate his moral qualities.
- How is the holiness of Sergius manifested: appearance, clothes, occupations, work, relations with the brethren?
- How in different situations, described by Epiphanius, reveals the spiritual wealth of Sergius, his moral qualities (authority and role in deciding the fate of the people: a meeting with a commoner and Prince Dmitry Donskoy before the Mamaev massacre, renunciation of the bishopric, etc.)?
- What does the author write about the death of Sergius, about his significance for the development of the self-consciousness of the people?
- What miracles happen after the death of Sergius?
- Why, according to V.O. Klyuchevsky, people like Sergiy are turning into an ideal in the minds of generations?
The life of St. Sergius of Radonezh is full of a large number of righteous and charitable deeds and miracles. The saint is God's messenger, called by the Almighty Lord at critical times for the Church.
Significance of Sergius of Radonezh for the Orthodox
Sergius of Radonezh came to Russian soil when the Tatar tribe flooded almost the entire territory of the fatherland, and the princes were fierce civil strife.
These grandiose problems promised complete destruction for Rus', so the Lord called on St. Sergius to free the people from cruel misfortune. In order to strengthen and raise the moral forces that had been weakened for a long time, the saint set a vivid example of a pious life: an honest and disciplined performance of work, the limitations of the flesh and tongue.
Saint Rev. Sergius of Radonezh
St. Sergius of Radonezh demonstrated unprecedented philanthropy, patience and knowledge psychological aspects. He knew how to devote all his time to the common cause, propagating the true religiosity in good manners.
The saint did not hesitate to try on the duties of any profession: he was engaged in cooking, baking, carpentry, chopping wood, grinding flour. He was a true servant of the brethren, not sparing himself and never falling into despondency.
Read about Sergius of Radonezh:
Biography of the Reverend
The parents of Bartholomew (the secular name of Sergius) were called Cyril and Maria. They were the Rostov boyars, lived in a village called Radonezh and led a humble household life, caring for horses and cattle.
Parents denied licentiousness and luxury, were considered respectable, religious and fair people. They always gave alms to the poor and warmly welcomed travelers in their own home.
- At the age of seven, Bartholomew went to learn to read and write. The child showed an undeniable desire, but his studies did not work out at all. Bartholomew prayed for a long time to God that He would help open the heart and mind to receive true knowledge.
- When the child was looking for the missing horses in a large field, he saw a monk in a black robe and approached him to tell him about his own grief. The elder, showing mercy, spent a long time in prayer for the enlightenment of Bartholomew. The monk treated the boy to a consecrated prosphora and promised that henceforth the child would be able to delve into the essence of the Scriptures. The lad really felt great grace and began to easily perceive book teaching.
- After a fateful meeting, young Bartholomew grew stronger in faith and desire to selflessly serve the Almighty Lord. He remained in the family, with loving parents, despite the desire for solitude. Those around him noted his modesty, silence, ability to be meek and affectionate, the lad never got angry and did not show disrespect to his elders. His diet included only bread and water, and during the fasts he completely abstained from any food.
- When charitable parents left the mortal world, Bartholomew left an inheritance to his younger brother and settled in a dense forest, a few miles from his native Radonezh. He was accompanied by his elder brother Stefan, together they built a wooden cell and a small chapel. This place was soon consecrated in honor of the Trinity.
Reverend Sergius. Construction of the monastery
On a note! The monastery of the majestic abbot was distinguished by simplicity and begging. The parishioners noted the scarcity of food and furnishings, but learned to unite even in years of difficult conditions. When the brethren did not even have a piece of bread, they did not lose heart, but continued to work and humbly read prayers. In each of the monks, the hidden fire of self-sacrifice and the desire to give everything for the good of religion was felt.
Took monastic vows
After some time, Stefan leaves his younger brother and becomes the abbot of a Moscow monastery. Bartholomew is tonsured a monk and receives spiritual name Sergius, he spends two years alone, living in a dense forest.
- Thanks to prayer and courageous patience, the young monk managed to overcome the flattering temptations that attacked his consciousness with hostility. Near the cell of Sergius, predatory animals ran, but not one dared to harm the true servant of the Lord.
- The fame of the ascetic deeds of the monk spread beyond the boundaries of his monastery and attracted other humble monks who wished to receive instructions for a righteous life. Soon the disciples persuaded St. Sergius of Radonezh to accept the priesthood.
- Some time after the founding of the fraternal monastery, ordinary peasants began to settle nearby. Thanks to the nearby road to Moscow, the funds of the monastery of the Holy Trinity began to increase, which allowed the monks to distribute alms and take care of the unfortunate sick and wandering pilgrims.
- I learned about the holy life of Sergius of Radonezh Patriarch of Constantinople Philotheus, who blessed the deeds of the saint and sent the approval of the routine of the desert community, created by the monk. Metropolitan Alexei extremely revered the founder of the Holy Trinity Monastery, treated him with friendly love and entrusted the reconciliation of the Russian princes, and also counted on him as his successor. However, Sergius humbly refused the offer to take a high church post.
Miracles and visions of St.
Prince D. Donskoy greatly revered Sergius of Radonezh and asked for blessings for victory in the fight against the hordes of the Tatar-Mongols. The saint approved the heroic impulse of the Russian army and ordered two ascetics to take part in a grandiose battle.
Saint Sergius blesses D. Donskoy
- The Mother of God repeatedly came to Sergius, accompanied by the first apostles of Christ. The Virgin Mary promised to make sure that the meager monastery would never again need housing and food.
- One day, an indescribable light illuminated him, and hundreds of birds whirled in the sky, announcing the area with harmonious singing. Immediately he received a revelation promising the imminent arrival of a large number of monks in his monastery.
- When Kazan still belonged to the Tatar horde, many residents of the city saw St. Sergius, who walked along the walls with the sign of the cross, sprinkling them with holy water. The Tatar sages announced that Russian soldiers would soon capture them and the Tatars would lose power over the city.
- When enemies were approaching the Trinity Monastery, Sergius appeared in a dream to a resident of the monastery and warned of an imminent siege. The saint went around the walls and sprinkled them with holy water. The next night, the Tatar hordes, wanting to attack unexpectedly, met a courageous rebuff and left this place.
- One person had severe eye pain, he could not sleep at all. When he fell, exhausted from illness, the venerable elder appeared to him and ordered him to come to the temple and serve a prayer service. He received his sight after he saw the holy abbot riding a white horse. Realizing that the disease was gone by the grace of God, he hastened to thank Him in the Church.
- Once Sergius healed a possessed nobleman who shouted swear words, raged and bit. They brought him by force to the holy elder, who cured him with the help of strong prayer and the cross. The nobleman later said that he saw a terrible flame and escaped from it in the water.
- Three decades after his death, his remains began to stream myrrh. After a while, the icon of the appearance of the Virgin was solemnly placed on the coffin of Sergius. This shrine is extremely revered in Orthodox world and performs various miracles.
- The venerable elder learned from his own experience the true Christian life, united with God and became a partaker of the religious nature. Everyone who communicated with Sergius gained faith and communed with the Holy Trinity. The venerable monk received from the Almighty the gift of prophecy, miracle-working, heartfelt consolation and dispassion. He had no differences in the vision of the three times, people from other cities came to him, as well as foreigners.
Read about prayers to the saint:
Interesting! The Russian army, led by D. Donskoy, stopped in some doubt and fear, seeing the superior forces of a cruel enemy. At the same moment, a messenger appeared, bringing a blessing from St. Sergius. At the same time, the entire Russian army was filled with invincible courage, as they believed in the help of the Almighty. The Tatar hordes were crushed and turned into a stampede. Prince Donskoy thanked the saint and made large investments for the needs of the monastery.Farewell to the world
The sight of death never frightened the holy monk, since the ascetic life accustomed him to a courageous perception of what was happening. The incessant work exhausted the body, but Sergius never missed a church service and set an example of zeal to his young students.
Vision of St. Sergius about the disciples
Six months before his death, the monk was granted a vision of the exact time of death. He gathered his students around him and transferred management rights to the monk Nikon. In September 1391, the elder fell seriously ill and, having again called the brethren, he began to give the last fatherly teaching. There was infinite love, power and simplicity in his words.
Sergius of Radonezh preached to his disciples the path of benevolence towards all, the preservation of unanimity, the observance of Orthodox principles, and the absence of arrogance.
Before his death, the saint longed for the last communion with the Body and Blood of Christ. With the help of his disciples, he got up from the wretched bed and drank from the cup. Experiencing grace-filled peace, the monk raised his hands to heaven, pronounced a blessing to the Lord, and departed with a pure soul.
As soon as Sergius expired, a divine aroma spread inside the cell, and his face shone with a beautiful light.
Finding relics
All the disciples wept and sighed, walked drooping, poured out to each other their grief of irreparable loss. They often visited the grave of the elder and talked with his image, asking for mercy and salvation. The brethren sincerely believed that the spirit of Sergius was constantly nearby and guided the disciples along the true path.
Once the pious abbot saw the saint at an all-night vigil: he sang laudatory hymns to the Lord along with others. This episode instilled joy in the disciples and was a mystical answer to the sorrows over his grave.
In July 1422, during the creation of a new stone monastery, the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh were found. Opening the coffin, eyewitnesses felt a fragrant fragrance, the body of the monk and his clothes remained completely untouched by decomposition. Four years later, the miraculous remains were transferred to the Trinity Cathedral. The Church gives praise to St. Sergius on July 5, the day of the uncovering of the relics.
Parts of the saint's remains can be found in several churches in Moscow.
- In the Cathedral Life-Giving Trinity- The local courtyard looks like a small monastery, where the necessary services are performed.
- The relics of Sergius of Radonezh are also in the church of St. Nicholas, located in Klenniki. During the Time of Troubles, a famous community was created here under the rule of St. Alexis.
- In the temple, lit in honor of Elijah the Ordinary, Orthodox believers observe the icon of Sergius and particles of his miraculous remains.
- In the Cathedral of the Vladimir Icon of the Virgin Mary there are relics and one consecrated chapel.
Studying the life of St. Sergius of Radonezh, the believer is imbued with great respect and love for this saint. From an early age, his whole nature showed mercy, meekness and selfless love for the Lord. He became the founder of the Trinity Monastery, where crowds of pilgrims and monks flocked to join the simple way of life of St. Sergius.
Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh
