Saint Seraphim of Sarov – Feast Day – January 2

Saint Seraphim of Sarov was born on 1759 AD in Russia, Europe. He worked in Russia and died on January 2 1833 in Sarov, Russian Empire. His Feast Day is celebrated on January 2 every year.

Saint Seraphim of Sarov Life History

Saint Seraphim of Sarov was born Prokhor Isidorovich Mosjnin on July 19, 1759, in Kursk, Russia, about 45 miles south of Moscow. Seraphim was the son of the successful carpenter Isidor and his wife Agatha.

At baptism, he was named Prokhor after the Saint Prokhorov of Nicomedia (1st century), one of the seven sacred deacons in Acts 6: 1-7 and the disciple of the evangelist John.

As an 18-year-old Seraphim made a firm decision to become a monk, and his mother blessed him by giving him a large copper crucifix which he later carried his entire life out of the suit.

On November 20, 1778, the nineteen-year-old Seraphim came to Sarov and entered the monastery. The monastery was led by a wise elder named Pakhomios, who accepted Seraphim and placed him under the spiritual guidance of Elder Joseph.

Under his leadership, Seraphim performed many tasks in the monastery, such as being a cell servant for the eldest, taking part in the baking of bread and prosphora, and working at the carpentry workshop. 

Life in The monastery was very strict, with total meat and just a meal every day, and in addition, Seraphim received the superior’s permission for complete fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays.

For many hours daily, they studied the Scriptures and Church Fathers, sang the choir prayer, and ran manual work in the bakery and carpentry workshop. After requesting permission from his elders, Seraphim often began to retreat to the forest for religious contemplation and to pray the Jesus prayer.

In 810 his health had deteriorated to where he could no longer live in the woods and had to return to the Sarov abbey. In 1832 he received a vision from the Virgin Mary had made him give up life as a hermit and give the world and give others the benefit of his wisdom.

He had many followers and students and became known as a healer. He died on January 2, 1833, at the monastery at Sarov, Russia of natural causes. Many of his teachings have been reprinted in the West, and Pope John Paul II referred to him in the book Threshold of Hope.

Saint Seraphim of Sarov Date of birth

He was born in the year 1759 at Kursk, Russia as Prokhor Moshnin.

Place of Birth

St Seraphim of Sarov was born in the year 1759 at Kursk, Russia as Prokhor Moshnin.

Family Background

He was a son of a builder, he had a middle-class upbringing. Monk at Sarov in 1777, taking the name Seraphim. Studious as a boy, he was able to apply himself there as the monks of Sarov spent much of the day studying Scripture and the early Church writings.

Seraphim grew up in a wealthy middle-class family but had little interest in the business. Instead, he liked to read saint biographies, go to church, and retreat to himself to pray. As a boy, Seraphim studied hard and showed great piety early.

As a decade, Prokhor lost his father, who died during the construction of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kursk. According to Orthodox tradition, Seraphim became sick about ten years old and had vision Mother of God in a dream, and she promised to heal him. Throughout his life, he had several visions.

Severely ill and bed-ridden from 1780 to 1783, Seraphim continued his studies, and received repeated apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Ordained in 1793, he celebrated Mass daily, which was unusual at the time.

Profession

In 1794 he became a hermit in the forest near the Sarov monastery. In 1804 he was severely beaten by thieves, and left for dead; he dragged himself to the monastery, spent five months in recovery, and spent the rest of his life stooped and requiring a cane to walk.

He lived for a while atop a pillar, then in a walled up cell. Offered the abbacy of Sarov in 1807, but declined, and lived the next three years without speaking.

In 1810 his health had deteriorated to the point that he could no longer live in the woods. He returned to the Sarov abbey, and lived as a hermit within its walls.

In 1832 he received a vision from the Virgin Mary that told him to return to the world and give others the benefit of his wisdom. He attracted followers and students, became known as a healer, and was called by the honourific starets, Russian for spiritual teacher.

Many of his teachings have been reprinted in the West, and Pope John Paul II referred to him in the book Threshold of Hope.

Saint Seraphim of Sarov Date of Death

St Seraphim of Sarov died on 2 January 1833 at the monsatery at Sarov, Russia of natural causes.

Saint Seraphim of Sarov Place of Death

He died on 2 January 1833 at the monsatery at Sarov, Russia of natural causes.

Saint Seraphim of Sarov Feast Day

St Seraphim of Sarov is among the famous Saints whose feast Day is celebrated on January 2 every year.

Beatification

He was beatified by Pre Congregation and we will update this information soon on how the event took place.

Canonization

St Seraphim of Sarov was canonized in 1903 by the Russian Orthodox Church.

Patron Saint of

There are no data based on his Paron Saints but we are keeping tabs and we will update this information soon.