St. Serpahim of Sarov
In the Orthodox Church saints emerge. No central office in an institution checks, qualifies and certifies a person as a saint. On one reading, we are all saints. The word simply means "set apart" and that's how Christians have understood themselves since ancient times: set apart for service to God in, but not of, the world. "He who truly loves God considers himself a wanderer and newcomer on earth, for in him is a striving towards God in soul and mind, which contemplates God alone." Certain people emerge as standouts in the church. Their chief characteristic is the search to live in the presence of God with every fiber of their being, and to recognize God's presence in creation and humanity.
Such a saint was Seraphim of Sarov, author of the saying quoted above. Seraphim was born Prohor Moshnin in 1759 in Kursk, Russia, to a merchant family, and he showed strong spiritual sensitivity from childhood. After recovering from a childhood illness, he entered the monastery at Sarov in 1778. In 1786 he took final vows to become a monk and received the name Seraphim, which means "fire" or "burning," in part because of his zeal at prayer. After 1793, the year he was ordained a priest of the church, he moved to a forest hermitage five miles north of the monastery, and began to see people as a starets, Russian for "elder," meaning a spiritual director. People flocked to him over the last decades of his life. Early in this period he sustained a severe beating at the hands of robbers, which left him with a hunchback for the rest of his life. At the trial for these men, who had been captured, Seraphim offered them words of forgiveness.
The animals in the forest especially loved Seraphim, and he fed them even as legend says that they fed him, too. Among his animal friends was a bear often depicted with him on one of the icons that commemorate his life.
St. Seraphim says about faith: "Faith, according to the teachings of St. Antiochos, is the beginning of our union with God: the true believers are the stone of the church of God, prepared for the edifice of God the Father, which is raised up to the heights by the power of Jesus Christ, that is, by the Cross and help of the grace of the Holy Spirit. "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26). The works of faith (fruits of the Spirit) are love, peace, longsuffering, mercy, humility and bearing one's cross. True faith cannot remain without works. One who truly believes will also surely perform good works."
Central to Seraphim's approach to the faith was the acquisition of the Holy Spirit, which he called the "true goal of the Christian life." He gave his life over to this acquisition through prayer and discipline and he urged the same practice on his visitors. His most remembered saying is, "Acquire a peaceful spirit, and thousands around you will be saved." Prayer, ascetic discipline and acts of mercy achieve this, over a long time. Seraphim said, "Only deeds performed for Christ give us the fruits of the Holy Spirit."
The Orthodox Church in Russia recognized Seraphim as a Saint in 1903, the 70th year after his death. Orthodox churches around the world held a centennial celebration of his recognition as saint in 2003. People continue to come to pray at the grave of St Seraphim and to experience his presence in their lives in many ways for counsel and healing.
The uncovering of the holy relics of Saint Seraphim of Sarov on July 19, 1903 was attended by many thousands, among them the foremost of the clergy and royalty; the holy Tsar Nicholas II (commemorated on July 4) was one of the bearers of the relics in procession, and the Grand Duchess Elizabeth (commemorated on July 5) wrote an eyewitness account of the many miracles that took place. Not only had the Saint foretold the coming of the Tsar to his glorification, and that from joy they would chant "Christ is Risen" in summer, but he had also left a letter "for the fourth sovereign, who will come to Sarov." This was Nicholas II, who was given the letter when he came in 1903; the contents of the letter are not known, but when he had read it, the Tsar and future Martyr, though not a man to show his emotions, was visibly shaken. During the violent and bloody Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, his relics were sealed up in a wall of the cathedral by the rector in order to save them from desecration by the revolutionaries. They were preserved there, unknown to most, until after the fall of Communism and the Church was free again. The wall was opened and sure enough, the relics of St. Seraphim the Wonderworker of Sarov were found undisturbed!
Nota Bene
*THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED WITH THE FESTIVAL!!! Everyone worked so hard over these past few months in preparation for this year's festival! Thank you to all those who contributed, in whatever form, and in whatever manner. Thank you, especially, to those whose work is often "behind the scenes" and often gets little credit.
*Welcome to all those visiting us this morning!
*Wednesday July 19: Hours 5:30 pm; Divine Liturgy 6:00 pm for St. Seraphim.
*Bible Study!!! Father Seraphim will be starting a Bible Study every week in the Sunday School building conference room. The schedule will be forthcoming. We will be using The Orthodox Study Bible (with reference to the Greek text). If you don't have one, we will have some available through the parish bookstore in time for classes.
*Chanting!!! All those wishing to learn the Byzantine Chant of our church are invited to come to Chant classes beginning soon. The schedule will be forthcoming.
*Altar boys: All baptized and chrismated Orthodox males at least 10 yrs old (n.b.: there's no maximum age!) are invited to come and serve in the altar. Please contact Fr. Seraphim if you're interested. Should there be enough interest, Fr. Seraphim will schedule some training sessions.
*Greek Dance: Anyone wishing to continue Greek Dancing, please contact Terry Bikakis. If there is enough interest, we will continue getting together for some dancing and fellowship.
The Holy Eparchial Synod of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America convened today July 6, 2017, at the Synodal Chamber of the Holy Archdiocese, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America and with all its members in attendance.