 Seraphim
of Sarov, Saint (1759-1833), Russian monk, ascetic, and spiritual
counselor, who followed the contemplative tradition of ancient Eastern
Christian hesychast monks (see Hesychasm). Born Prokhor Moshnin in Kursk,
he entered the monastery of Sarov at the age of 19 and took the name Seraphim
on becoming a monk. From 1794 to 1810 he was a hermit in the forest near
Tambov. His way of life included constant mental prayer (the Jesus Prayer)
and the weekly reading of all four Gospels. Toward the end of his life
he settled in the convent of Diveyevo, near Sarov, welcoming pilgrims and
giving spiritual direction. Some of his teachings and visions were recorded
by a man he cured of illness, Nicholas Motovilov, in Conversations with
Motovilov. Canonized in 1903, he has become one of the most popular saints
of the modern Orthodox church. |
About
Seraphim
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