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Saint Seraphim was born in the city of Kursk. His father died early in his life and the boy was raised by his mother. Seraphim was a companionable, cheerful boy and exercised a strong influence on all his friends though he was not fond of sports or games and devoted much time to the reading of spiritual books. At the age of seventeen he got his mother’s permission to “leave the world,” and became a monk. Her blessing gift, a heavy brass cross, to be worn on the chest, remained with St. Seraphim all his life. His first years in the monastery were spent in manual labor. He was good natured and carried out his assignments willingly and cheerfully. From time to time he received permission to leave the monastery and spend long days in silent prayer in the solitude of the forest. Following a long illness, he chose to live alone in the “wilderness” of the surrounding forests where he made friends with the beasts of the forests. He was fifty years old when he returned to the monastery, but for another five years he remained a recluse in his cell. Then, after more than thirty years of solitude and prayer, he opened the doors of his cell to all those who needed his guidance and advice. Thousands of people from all walks of life came in crowds to the Monastery of Sarov and brought to St. Seraphim their problems, their sorrows, and their sins. He fell asleep in the Lord in 1833 and his passing is commemorated on January 2. Before his death, N . Motoviloff, a well educated man, visited St. Seraphim and stated that St. Seraphim explained to him the Christian meaning of life. He stated that, “the Christian meaning of life lies in acquiring the Spirit of God, and whatever good deeds we do in life, for the sake of Christ, are simply a means of acquiring the Spirit of God. We should practice those virtues which give us the greatest measure of God’s grace.

Troparion in tone 4
From your youth you loved Christ, O blessed one!
You strove with zeal in the wilderness to win Him alone!
Constantly absorbed in prayer and labor with repentance of heart,
You were set on fire with the joy of the Risen Lord.
You became the chosen favorite of the Mother of God.
Therefore we cry out to you:
Save us by your prayers, O venerable Father Seraphim!