Sergiy of Radonezh life and exploits. How prayer helps modern people to the Monk Sergius of Radonezh. State Security Monastery

Most of us know who Sergius of Radonezh is. His biography is interesting to many people, even to those who are far from the church. He founded the Trinity Monastery near Moscow (at the present time he did a lot for the Russian Church. The saint dearly loved his Motherland and put a lot of effort into helping his people survive all the disasters. We learned about the life of the monk thanks to the manuscripts of his companions and disciples. The work of Epiphanius the Wise entitled "The Life of Sergius of Radonezh", written by him at the beginning of the 15th century, is a valuable source of information about the life of the saint.

Place and time of birth

It is not known for certain when and where the future saint was born. His disciple Epiphanius the Wise speaks of this in a very intricate way in the life of the monk. Historians are faced with the difficult problem of interpreting this information. As a result of studying church writings of the 19th century and dictionaries, it was established that the birthday of Sergius of Radonezh, most likely, is May 3, 1319. True, some scholars are leaning towards other dates. The exact place of the birth of the youth Bartholomew (that was the name of the saint in the world) is also unknown. Epiphanius the Wise points out that the father of the future monk was named Cyril, and his mother was Mary. Before moving to Radonezh, the family lived in the Rostov principality. It is believed that the Monk Sergius of Radonezh was born in the village of Varnitsa in the Rostov region. When the name was given Bartholomew. His parents named him after the Apostle Bartholomew.

Childhood and first miracles

The family of Bartholomew's parents had three sons. Our hero was the second child. His two brothers, Stephen and Peter, were. They quickly mastered the literacy, learned to write and read. But Bartholomew's studies were not given in any way. No matter how much his parents scolded him, no matter how the teacher tried to reason, the youth could not learn to read, and the holy books were inaccessible to him. And then a miracle happened: suddenly Bartholomew, the future Saint Sergius of Radonezh, learned the letter. His biography is indicative of how faith in the Lord helps to overcome any difficulties in life. Epiphanius the Wise told about the miraculous teaching of the youth to read and write in his "Life". He says that Bartholomew prayed long and hard, asking God to help him learn to write and read in order to know the Holy Scriptures. And once, when father Cyril sent his son to look for grazing horses, Bartholomew saw an old man in a black robe under a tree. With tears in his eyes, the boy told the saint about his inability to learn and asked him to pray for him before the Lord.

The elder told him that from this day on, the lad would understand reading and writing better than his brothers. Bartholomew invited the saint to the house of his parents. Before visiting them, they entered the chapel, where the youth read a psalm without hesitation. Then he hurried with his guest to his parents to please them. Cyril and Mary, having learned about the miracle, began to praise the Lord. When asked the elder about what this amazing phenomenon meant, they learned from the guest that their son Bartholomew had been marked by God in the womb. So, when Mary came to church shortly before giving birth, the child in the mother's womb cried out three times when the saints sang the liturgy. This story of Epiphanius the Wise was reflected in the painting by the artist Nesterov "The Vision to the youth Bartholomew."

First feats

What else is noted in the childhood of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the stories of Epiphanius the Wise? The saint's disciple reports that even before the age of 12, Bartholomew observed strict fasts. On Wednesday and Friday he ate nothing, and on other days he ate only water and bread. At night, the youth often did not sleep, devoting time to prayer. All this was the subject of a dispute between the boy's parents. Mary was embarrassed by these first exploits of her son.

Resettlement to Radonezh

Soon the family of Cyril and Maria became impoverished. They were forced to move to housing in Radonezh. It happened around 1328-1330. The reason for the impoverishment of the family is also known. It was the hardest time in Russia, which was under the rule of the Golden Horde. But not only the Tatars then plundered the people of our long-suffering homeland, imposing an unbearable tribute on them and making regular raids on settlements. The Tatar-Mongol Khans themselves chose which of the Russian princes to rule in this or that principality. And this was no less a difficult test for the entire people than the invasion of the Golden Horde. After all, such "elections" were accompanied by violence against the population. Sergius of Radonezh himself often talked about this. His biography is a vivid example of the lawlessness that was happening at that time in Russia. The principality of Rostov went to the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan Danilovich. The father of the future saint got together and moved with his family from Rostov to Radonezh, wishing to protect himself and his loved ones from robbery and want.

Monastic life

It is not known when the birth of Sergius of Radonezh took place for certain. But exact historical information about his childhood and youth life has come down to us. It is known that, even as a child, he prayed fervently. When he was 12 years old, he decided to accept Cyril and Maria did not mind this. However, they set a condition for their son: he should become a monk only after their death. After all, Bartholomew eventually became the only support and support for the elderly. By that time, brothers Peter and Stephen had already started their own families and lived separately from their elderly parents. The youth did not have to wait long: soon Cyril and Maria died. Before their death, according to the custom of that time in Russia, they first took monastic vows, and then the schema. After the death of his parents, Bartholomew went to There, his brother Stephen, who by that time was already a widow, took monastic vows. The brothers were not here for long. Striving for "the strictest monasticism", they founded deserts on the banks of the Konchura River. There, in the middle of the deaf Radonezh pine forest, in 1335 Bartholomew erected a small wooden church named after the Holy Trinity. Now in its place there is a cathedral church in the name of the Holy Trinity. Brother Stephen soon moved to the Epiphany Monastery, unable to withstand the ascetic and too harsh lifestyle in the forest. In a new place, he will then become abbot.

And Bartholomew, left completely alone, summoned Abbot Mitrofan and took tonsure. Now he was known as the monk Sergius. At that moment in his life he was 23 years old. Soon monks began to flock to Sergius. On the site of the church, a monastery was formed, which today is called the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Father Sergius became the second abbot here (the first was Mitrofan). The abbots showed their disciples an example of great diligence and humility. Monk Sergius of Radonezh himself never took alms from the parishioners and forbade the monks to do this, urging them to live only by the fruits of the labor of their hands. The fame of the monastery and its abbot grew and reached the city of Constantinople. The Ecumenical Patriarch Philotheus, with a special embassy, sent the Monk Sergius a cross, a schema, a paraman and a letter in which he paid tribute to the abbot for his virtuous life and advised him to introduce cynovia in the monastery. Heeding these recommendations, the Radonezh abbot introduced a communal-nurturing charter in his monastery. Later he was received in many monasteries in Russia.

Serving the Fatherland

Sergiy of Radonezh did a lot of useful and good things for his homeland. The 700th anniversary of his birth is celebrated this year. Dmitry A. Medvedev, being the President of the Russian Federation, signed a decree on the celebration of this memorable and significant date for the whole of Russia. Why is the life of the saint given such importance at the state level? The main condition for the invincibility and inviolability of any country is the unity of its people. Father Sergius understood this very well in his time. This is also evident to our politicians today. It is well known about the peacemaking activities of the saint. So, eyewitnesses argued that Sergius, with meek, quiet words, could find a way to the heart of any person, influence the most bitter and coarse hearts, calling people to peace and obedience. Often the saint had to reconcile the warring parties. So, he called on the Russian princes to unite, casting aside all disagreements, and submit to the power of the Moscow prince. This later became the main condition for liberation from Tatar-Mongol yoke... Sergius of Radonezh made a significant contribution to the victory of the Russians. It is impossible to briefly talk about this. Grand Duke Dmitry, who later received the nickname Donskoy, went to the saint before the battle to pray and ask him for advice if the Russian army could oppose the godless. The Horde Khan Mamai gathered an utter army to enslave the people of Russia once and for all.

The people of our Fatherland were seized with great fear. After all, no one has yet managed to beat the enemy army. The Monk Sergius, to the prince's question, replied that defending the Motherland is a godly deed, and blessed him for the great battle. Possessing the gift of foresight, he predicted to Dmitry a victory over the Tatar khan and return home safe and sound with the glory of a liberator. Even when the Grand Duke saw the innumerable enemy army, nothing trembled in him. He was confident in a future victory, for which Saint Sergius himself blessed him.

Saint's monasteries

The Year of Sergius of Radonezh is celebrated in 2014. Especially big celebrations on this occasion should be expected in the temples and monasteries founded by him. In addition to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, the saint erected the following monasteries:

Annunciation in the city of Kirzhach in the Vladimir region;

Vysotsky monastery in the city of Serpukhov;

Staro-Golutvin near the town of Kolomna in the Moscow region;

St. George Monastery on the Klyazma River.

In all these monasteries, the disciples of St. Father Sergius became abbots. In turn, the followers of his teachings founded more than 40 monasteries.

Miracles

The Life of Sergius of Radonezh, written by his disciple Epiphanius the Wise, tells that at one time the rector of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra performed many miracles. Unusual phenomena accompanied the saint throughout his entire life. The first of these was associated with his miraculous birth. This is the story of the wise man about how the child in the womb of Mary, the mother of the saint, shouted three times during the liturgy in the church. And all the people in it heard it. The second miracle is teaching the youth Bartholomew to read and write. It was described in detail above. It is also known about such a diva associated with the life of a saint: the resurrection of a youth through the prayers of Father Sergius. One righteous man lived near the monastery, who had a strong faith in the saint. His only son, a young boy, was terminally ill. The father in his arms brought the child to the holy monastery to Sergius, so that he would pray for his recovery. But the boy died while his parent was presenting his request to the abbot. The inconsolable father went to prepare the coffin in order to put the body of his son in it. And Saint Sergius began to pray fervently. And a miracle happened: the boy suddenly came to life. When the grief-stricken father found his child alive, he fell at the saint's feet, offering praise.

And the abbot ordered him to get up from his knees, explaining that there was no miracle here: the boy was just chilly and weakened when his father carried him to the monastery, and in a warm cell he warmed up and began to move. But the man could not be persuaded. He believed that Saint Sergius showed a miracle. Today there are many skeptics who doubt that the monk worked miracles. Their interpretation depends on the worldview position of the interpreter. It is likely that a person who is far from faith in God will prefer not to focus on such information about the miracles of the saint, finding a different, more logical explanation for it. But for many believers, the story of life and all the events associated with Sergius has a special, spiritual meaning. For example, many parishioners pray that their children learn to read and write and pass the transfer and entrance exams. After all, the youth Bartholomew, the future Saint Sergius, at first also could not master even the basics of study. And only fervent prayer to God led to the fact that a miracle happened when the boy miraculously learned to read and write.

Old age and death of the monk

The life of Sergius of Radonezh is for us an unparalleled feat of service to God and the Fatherland. It is known that he lived to a ripe old age. As he lay on his deathbed, anticipating that he would soon appear at the judgment of God, for the last time he called the brethren for instruction. He called his disciples first of all "to have the fear of God" and to bring people "spiritual purity and unhypocritical love." The abbot died on September 25, 1392. He was buried in the Trinity Cathedral.

Veneration of the reverend

There is no documented evidence of when and under what circumstances people began to perceive Sergius as a righteous man. Some scholars are inclined to believe that the abbot of the Trinity Monastery was canonized in the years 1449-1450. Then, in a letter to Dmitry Shemyaka, the primate of the Russian Church calls Sergius a reverend, reckoning him among miracle workers and saints. But there are other versions of his canonization. Day of St. Sergius of Radonezh is celebrated on July 5 (18). This date is mentioned in the writings of Pachomius Logofet. In them, he narrates that on this day the relics of the great saint were found.

Throughout the history of the Trinity Cathedral, this shrine left its walls only in the event of a serious threat from outside. Thus, two fires that happened in 1709 and 1746 caused the removal of the saint's relics from the monastery. When the Russian troops left the capital during the invasion of the French led by Napoleon, the remains of Sergius were taken to the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery. In 1919, the atheist government of the USSR issued a decree on the autopsy of the saint's relics. After this not a godly deed was committed, the remains were transferred to the Sergievsky History and Art Museum as an exhibit. Currently, the relics of the saint are kept in the Trinity Cathedral. There are also other dates of memory of his abbot. September 25 (October 8) - the day of St. Sergius of Radonezh. This is the date of his passing. Sergius is also commemorated on July 6 (19), when all the holy monks of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra are glorified.

Temples in honor of the monk

Sergius of Radonezh has been considered one of the most revered saints in Russia since ancient times. His biography is replete with facts of selfless service to God. Many temples are dedicated to him. Only in Moscow there are 67 of them. Among them are such as the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Bibirev, the Cathedral of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the Vysokopetrovsky monastery, the temple of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Krapivniki and others. Many of them were built in the 17th-18th centuries. There are many churches and cathedrals in various regions of our Motherland: Vladimir, Tula, Ryazan, Yaroslavl, Smolensk and so on. There are even abroad monasteries and sanctuaries founded in honor of this saint. Among them are the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the city of Johannesburg in South Africa and the monastery of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the city of Rumia, in Montenegro.

Images of the reverend

It is also worth remembering the many icons created in honor of the saint. The oldest image of it is an embroidered cover made in the 15th century. Now he is in the sacristy of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

One of the most famous works by Andrei Rublev is "The Icon of St. Sergius of Radonezh", which also contains 17 hallmarks of the life of the saint. They wrote about the events associated with the abbot of the Trinity Monastery, not only icons, but also paintings. Among the Soviet artists, one can distinguish M.V. Nesterov here. The following works are known: "Works of Sergius of Radonezh", "Youth of Sergius", "Vision to the youth Bartholomew."

Sergius of Radonezh. short biography he will hardly be able to tell about what an extraordinary person he was, how much he did for his Fatherland. Therefore, we dwelled in detail on the biography of the saint, information about which is taken mainly from the works of his disciple Epiphanius the Wise.

It seems to many to be a blessed old man, whose holiness was felt by wild animals that came to "touch" her. However, in fact, Sergius went into the forest as a young man at the age of about twenty.

Defeating demons and taming beasts

The first time of his hermitage, he constantly fought against demonic temptations, conquering them with fervent prayer. The demons tried to drive him out of the forest, threatening to attack by wild animals and painful death. The saint remained adamant, called on God and thus was saved. He also prayed when wild animals appeared, and therefore they never attacked him. With the bear, so often depicted next to Sergius, the saint shared his every meal, and sometimes he gave it to a hungry animal. “Let no one be surprised at this, knowing truly that if God lives in a person and the Holy Spirit rests on him, then all creation is subject to him,” says the life of this saint.

Monks blessing for war

This event is one of the most famous and most unexpected in the history of the Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. Everyone knows that monks and weapons, and even more so war, are "two things incompatible," but like any rule that is too broad, this rule was once refuted by life. Two monks, who were later numbered among the saints, with weapons in their hands went to the Battle of Kulikovo with the blessing of the Monk Sergius. In single combat before the battle, one of them, Alexander Peresvet, defeated the Tatar hero Chelubey, and this determined the victory of the Russian army. Peresvet died at the same time. The second monk, in the tonsure, Andrei (Oslyabya), according to legend, changed into the armor of Prince Dmitry, who was slain in the battle, and so led the army. It is surprising that Sergius of Radonezh himself "sent" Peresvet and Oslyabya to the great battle to help Prince Dmitry, who asked the saint only for spiritual help. Before the battle, he tonsured the monks into the great schema.

Real sacrament

The testimony of how Saint Sergius of Radonezh received communion was hidden from people until his dormition. This secret was kept by Simon, a disciple of the saint, who had a vision during the communion of Sergius of Radonezh at the liturgy. Simon saw fire walking on the holy throne, illuminating the altar and surrounding the Holy Meal on all sides. “When the Monk wanted to receive communion, then the Divine fire fell like a kind of shroud, and entered the holy chalice, and the Monk took communion with it. Seeing all this, Simon was filled with horror and trembling and was silent, marveling at the miracle ... ”The monk understood from the face of his disciple that he was honored with a miraculous vision, and Simon confirmed this. Then Sergius of Radonezh asked him not to tell anyone about what he saw until the Lord took him away.

Resurrection boy

The Life of Saint Sergius tells that the monk once resurrected a man with his prayers. This was a boy whose father, a devout believer, carried his sick son through the cold so that Saint Sergius would heal him. The man's faith was strong, and he walked with the thought: "If only I could bring my son alive to the man of God, and there the child will definitely recover." But from a severe frost and a long journey, the sick child was completely weak and died on the road. Having reached St. Sergius, the inconsolable father said: “Woe is me! Ah, God's man! With my misfortune and tears, I hastened to get to you, believing and hoping to receive comfort, but instead of consolation I acquired only even greater sorrow. It would be better for me if my son died at home. Woe is me, woe! What to do now? What could be worse and worse than this? " Then he left the cell to prepare a coffin for his child. Sergius of Radonezh prayed for a long time on his knees with the deceased, and suddenly, unexpectedly, the child revived and stirred, his soul returned to his body. The saint said to his father who returned to him that the child had not died, but had only become exhausted from the frost, and now, in the warmth, it was warmed up. This miracle became known from the words of a disciple of the saint.

A feat of humility

The Monk Sergius of Radonezh could have become a metropolitan, a bishop, but he refused to become even the abbot of his monastery. He asked the Metropolitan of All Russia Alexy to appoint an abbot to the monastery, and when he heard his name in response, he did not agree, saying: "I am not worthy." Only when the metropolitan reminded the saint of monastic obedience, he replied: “As the Lord wishes, so be it. Blessed is the Lord forever! " Nevertheless, when Alexy was dying and offered Sergius to become his successor, he refused. The saint repeated his refusal even after the death of the Metropolitan, all with the same words: "I am not worthy."

Bread for Moscow

In besieged Moscow, many Orthodox in one day saw a completely gray-haired old man, leading twelve carts of bread. No one could understand how this procession made its way through the impregnable guards and many enemy troops. "Tell me, father, where are you from?" - asked the elder, and he happily answered everyone: “We are warriors from the monastery of the Most Holy and Life-giving Trinity". This old man, whom some saw and others did not, inspired the Muscovites to further struggle and assured them of victory. And in the monastery of the wonderworker they said that the appearance in Moscow of the elders with the loaves was on the day when the Monk appeared in the monastery to the sexton Irinarkh and said: "I sent three of my disciples to Moscow, and their arrival will not go unnoticed in the reigning city."

The thrown king

The Grand Duke of All Russia Ivan Vasilyevich and the Grand Duchess Sophia had three daughters, but did not have an heir. Christ-loving Sophia decided to go on a pilgrimage - on foot to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra from Moscow itself, to pray for the birth of sons. Near the village of Klementyevo, located not far from the monastery, she met a magnificent priest with a baby in her arms. Sophia immediately understood from the appearance of the wanderer that in front of her was the Monk Sergius. Further life tells: “He approached the Grand Duchess - and suddenly threw a baby in her bosom. And immediately he became invisible. " Sophia reached the holy monastery and prayed there for a long time and kissed the relics of the monk. And upon returning home, she conceived in the womb of the God-given heir to the royal throne, Grand Duke Vasily, who was born on the feast of the Annunciation and was baptized in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

Savior of the Fatherland. Spiritual feat of Sergius of Radonezh

* * *

Archbishop Nikon Rozhdestvensky

Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh

If the husband's life is written off, then there is great benefit from this, and consolation together, as a writer, and a storyteller, and a listener.

Epiphanius the Wise

Be a zealot for those who live, and write these lives and deeds in your heart.

St. Basil the Great

“Glory to God for everyone and everyone's sake! Glory to the one who showed us the life of her husband is holy and spiritual - we thank God for His great goodness that has been upon us, as a gift to us from the elder, the lord of the Monk Sergius, in our land of Rustei, in the land of midnight. "

Thus begins his legend about the life and exploits of our Venerable Father Sergius by his close disciple, Blessed Epiphanius. “I am amazed,” he says, “but only a few years have passed, and the life of the holy elder has not been written; and for this he took pity on this, as such a holy old man, wonderful and kind, has passed away for 26 years, and no one is daring to write about him, neither distant, nor neighbor, nor greater, nor lesser. "

We can repeat these words of the Wise Epiphanius with even greater right, with the only difference that from the death of St. Sergius to our time, not 26, but already five hundred years have elapsed, and until now we do not have in modern Russian a complete biography of the great elder. only in the sense of an independent historical study of his life and exploits, and its significance in the history of the Russian Church, Russian asceticism, Russian enlightenment and the moral education of the Russian people in general, but even a simple, complete translation of the life written by Epiphanius. True, there are more than a dozen different lives of St. Sergius, and the best of them, of course, is the one compiled by St. Philaret of Moscow. But this Vita was intended to be read at the Divine Service and was read by the deceased hierarch himself in the Lavra in Bose, at an all-night vigil on July 5, 1822. According to its internal merits, this life is an ingot of gold; but, intended for church reading, it necessarily differs in brevity and omits numerous details that are precious to the reverent admirers of the memory of the great saint of God. Mention should also be made of the two Lives of St. Sergius, found in the works "Russian Saints" by the Most Reverend Philaret, Archbishop of Chernigov, and "Lives of the Saints of the Russian Church" by A. N. Muravyov; Neither one nor the other also has the desired completeness, because the compilers of these lives, describing the lives of all Russian saints, of necessity tried to be brief in presentation. Of the individual editions, only one should be mentioned, which came out after the 2nd edition of our book, on the 500th anniversary of the repose of St. Sergius - "St. Sergius of Radonezh and the Trinity Lavra created by him" by E. Golubinsky; the author offers in this book, as he himself says, "the story of the Monk, on the one hand, is short, and on the other - complete, without omissions reproducing all the particulars of his life, both natural and supernatural." But even this book cannot completely satisfy the reverent reader of the memory of the great saint of God: it is enough to say one thing about it, that for the sake of "brevity" its author does not mean to give an edifying reading in it, but offers only a concise presentation of the facts collected by him from all historical sources and presented in the form of a "biography". Moreover, this "biography" was published inseparably with the "guide to the laurel" and constitutes, as it were, an introduction to this "guide". In other separate editions, such as the work of Mr. Lavrentiev, we do not consider it necessary to stop, since they represent bad alterations from Epiphany or simply borrowings from the aforementioned authors.

Offering pious readers his description of the Life and Deeds of the Monk and God-bearing Father Sergius, the one who worked in its compilation considers it his duty to say that he did not mean to write a scientific study about the life of the saint of God. He set himself a more modest goal - to collect in one book everything that could be found in the historical and preaching literature about St. Sergius, and to combine into one whole not only all the details that have come down to us from his life, but also those moral lessons that were learned from legends about his life are our preachers. For the present, fifth edition, everything that was published in 1891-1903 on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the repose of the saint of God was revised again, if possible, and thus much in the text was supplemented and corrected. The motivation for this work was the same that prompted the Monk Epiphanius in his time to take up the pen - the absence in the available spiritual literature of the complete life of the Monk Sergius. Just think: who was the Monk Sergius for our Russian Church, for the Russian state, for the Russian people? The Holy Church perfectly characterizes it, calling it the pillar of the Church. He not only himself was a strong pillar of the Church of Christ, but, in the words of one of our archpastors, Archbishop Nikanor of Kherson, “he likened and continues to liken his spiritual nature and all people who closely adjoin him. He nourished whole hosts, whole generations of monastics with his strong spirit. Up to 70 monasteries were founded by his disciples and the disciples of his disciples; his spiritual offspring was one of the main spiritual forces that contributed to the spiritual transformation of various semi-pagan tribes, spread across the space of northern and central Russia, into a single Great Russian tribe, united, animated, sealed by the spirit of Orthodoxy. Being himself the supreme bearer of the Christian Orthodox spirit, he helped a lot by example, edification, and prayers and contributes to the nourishment of this spirit of the entire Orthodox Russian people, the spirit that constitutes the guiding principle, strength and glory of Russian national life. That is why many thousands of people flock to the Monk Sergius, as to the inexhaustible spring of the strong Russian spirit, to worship for edification, for prayer, and to this day. Not a single monk traveling nearby does not pass the monastery of St. Sergius. Few of the hierarchs of the Russian Church did not fall to the dust of the earth before the crust of St. Sergius. Every single one of the Crown-bearers of Russia brought their prayers at the shrine of St. Sergius (especially upon accession to the kingdom). Not only members of our Reigning House, but also many members of foreign royal families came there - either to pray or to study Russian life at its very foundations, at that spring, at one of the main springs from which it gushes. "

Yes, our chroniclers had every reason to call Saint Sergius the Abbot of All Russia, and the Holy Church honorably and righteously calls him the forbidden governor of the Russian land!

“If it were possible,” says our well-known historian V.O. Klyuchevsky, “to reproduce by writing everything that was connected with the memory of St. Sergius, which in these five hundred years was silently reconsidered and felt before his grave by millions of minds and hearts, this writing was would be full of deep content with the history of our nationwide political and moral life. Yes, and each of us in our own souls will find the same general feeling, standing at the tomb of the Monk. This feeling no longer has a history, how the movement of time stopped long ago for the one who rests in this tomb. For five centuries this feeling has been similarly kindled in the soul of a person praying at this tomb, as Sunray for thousands of years, it glows equally in a clean drop of water. Ask any of these ordinary people, with a staff and a bundle, who came here from afar, when Saint Sergius lived and what he did for Russia in the XIV century than he was for his time, and a rare of them will give you a satisfactory answer; but to the question what he is for them, the distant descendants of the people of the XIV century, and why they have come to him now, everyone will answer firmly and intelligibly. "

This is how the great spiritual significance of St. Sergius is characterized, on the one hand, one of our famous spiritual twists, and on the other, one of the deepest experts in our native history.

In another of his words, referring to the life of our Venerable Father Sergius, Archbishop Nikanor rightly says that this life “takes us into a new, albeit ancient world, of other people - holy people, other views - holy views, other customs - holy customs, into the world of renunciation of the world and oneself, into the world of holy great deeds, into the world of the free and unswerving carrying of the cross of Christ ... You feel in your soul the difference in the harmony of this world with the disharmony of our inner and outer world, and on the one hand, the heart is peacefully tuned in with emotion, - so I would take the wings, like a dove, and fly there, into the desert, 500 years ago, - and on the other hand, my heart breaks, that involuntarily I have to live the many-year life of this century "... Rightly says the Monk John Climacus:" How wretched, seeing the royal treasures, they know their poverty even more, so the soul, reading the stories about the great virtues of the holy fathers, becomes more humble in their thoughts. "

The glorious miracle worker and the most wonderful intercessor, Saint Sergius of Radonezh
Sergius,
abbot
Radonezh, miracle worker was born 3
May 1314 in the village of Varnitsa, near
Rostov
v
noble
and
a godly family. His parents
Cyril and Maria were noble
boyar family. Born son
they called Bartholomew. Baby
surprised everyone by observing the fast. By
Wednesdays and Fridays he refused
mother's milk, as well as on other days.
When the mother ate meat. V
seven year old
age
Bartholomew
together with brothers Stephen and Peter
have given to learn to read and write. Teaching
was given to Bartholomew with great
labor. Boy pray to God "oh
granting him a bookish understanding ", and
once an angel appeared to him in the form
old monk. Elder, upon request
boy, offered a prayer to the Lord and
blessed the lad, since then
Bartholomew read and understood without difficulty
written.

After the death of their parents Bartholomew and Stephen
retired twelve miles from Radonezh into the forest,
where they put a cell, and then a small church in
The name of the Most Holy Life-Giving Trinity. Stefan not
withstood the hardships of the wilderness and
moved to the Moscow Epiphany Monastery, and
Bartholomew took monastic vows on October 7
1337 with the name Sergius and laid the foundation for a new
desert dwelling for the glory of the Life-Giving
Trinity. With even greater zeal, he gave himself up
feat of fasting and prayer. Soon turned
the cherished desire of the young man is the abbot of one of
nearby monasteries Mitrofan tonsured him in
monasticism. Not a single hour of time, reverend
Sergius of Radonezh did not spend idle time.
Wisely combining prayer and labor, psalm and
reading divine books, he ascended from strength to
strength, every day of my life more and more
approaching Christ. The only desire
St. Sergius of Radonezh was saved
own soul. He wanted to live and die in his
forest seclusion. Soon around the reverend
Sergius, people who wanted to be saved began to settle
under his leadership. By an urgent desire
pupils
Sergius
Radonezh
becomes
priest and abbot founded by him
monastery. Humility, patience, love for God and
neighbors
made
Reverend
great
a prayer book and a sorrowful man for the Russian land
even during his earthly life.
Let's talk about the seven exploits of the wonderworker of exploits,
strengthening faith and inspiring her work.

VICTORIES OVER BASS AND TAMING OF THE BEASTS

Saint Sergius introduces himself
to many a blessed old man, holiness
felt by wild beasts,
who came to "touch" her.
However, in fact, Sergius went into the forest.
a young man about
twenty years old. The first time of his
hermitage, he constantly struggled with
demonic temptations, defeating them
fervent prayer. The demons tried
drive him out of the forest, threatening to attack
wild beasts and painful death.
The saint remained adamant,
called on God and was thus saved.
He also prayed when the wild
animals, and therefore they never attacked
him. With the bear so often depicted
next to Sergius, the saint divided each
his meal, and sometimes yielded to it
hungry animal. »Let no one
surprised by this, knowing truly that if
God lives in a person and the Holy Spirit will rest
on him, then the whole creation is subject to him ",
- says in the life of this saint.

2.MONKS 'BLESSING FOR WAR

This event is one of the most famous and
most unexpected in the history of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra. Everyone knows,
that the monks and weapons, and even more so the war - “two
things are incompatible, "but, like everything, too
a broad rule and this rule one day
denied life. Two monks numbered
later to the face of the saints, with weapons in hand
went
on
Kulikovskaya
battle
on
blessing of the Monk Sergius. V
single combat before the battle is one of them,
Alexander
Peresvet,
struck down
Tatar
hero Chelubey, and this determined the victory
Russian troops. Peresvet died at the same time.
Second monk, tonsured Andrey (Oslyabya), by
legend, changed into the armor of the prince
Dmitry, slain in the battle, and so he led
an army.
It is surprising that Sergius of Radonezh himself
"Sent" Peresvet and Oslyabya to the great
battle
v
help
prince
Dmitry,
who asked the saint only for spiritual
help. Before the battle, he tonsured monks
into the great schema.

3. REAL PARTICIPATION

Testimony of how you received communion
Venerable Sergius of Radonezh,
was hidden from people to his very
Assumptions. Simon kept this secret,
student
saint,
to whom
It was
vision during the sacrament of Sergius
Of Radonezh at the liturgy. Simon
saw the fire walking on the saint
to the throne,
illuminating
altar
and
surrounding the saint on all sides
Meal. “When the Reverend wanted
Communion, then Divine Fire
curled up like a veil, and entered
holy chalice, and the Reverend im
received the Holy Communion. Seeing it all, Simon
filled with horror and awe and
was silent
wondering
a miracle ... "
The monk understood by his face
disciple that he was honored with a wonderful
visions, and Simon confirmed it.
Then Sergius of Radonezh asked
its not to tell anyone about what he saw,
until the Lord takes him.

4 THE BOY'S RESURRECTION

The life of Saint Sergius tells that he
once with his prayers he resurrected a man.
It was a boy whose pious father
a believer, carried a sick son in the cold, so that
Saint Sergius healed him. Faith of that person
was strong, and he walked with the thought: “If only I
to bring the son alive to the man of God, and there
the child will definitely recover. " But from
severe frost and a long journey sick child
completely weak and died on the road. Reaching
St. Sergius, the inconsolable father said: "Woe
to me! Ah, God's man! I am with my misery and
I hurried to get to you with tears, believing and hoping
get comfort, but instead of comfort
acquired only more sorrow. Better be
I was if my son died at home. Woe is me,
grief! What to do now? What could be worse
and worse than that? " Then he left the cell,
to prepare a coffin for your child.
Sergius of Radonezh for a long time on his knees prayed at
deceased, and suddenly, unexpectedly, the child came to life and
stirred, his soul returned to his body.
The saint told the returning father that the child was not
died, but only exhausted from the frost, and now, in
warm, warmed up. This miracle became known from
the words of the saint's disciple.

5 an increase in modesty

Venerable Sergius of Radonezh
could become a metropolitan,
bishop, and refused to become
even the abbot of his monastery.
He asked the Metropolitan of All Russia
Alexy to appoint abbot in
monastery, and hearing in response his
name, disagreed, saying: “I don’t
worthy. " Only when the metropolitan
reminded the saint of monastic
obedience, he replied: “How
God pleases, so let it be.
Blessed is the Lord forever! "
However, when Alexis was dying
and invited Sergius to become his
successor, he refused.
The saint repeated his refusal and after
death of the metropolitan, all with the same
words: "I am not worthy."

6.BREAD FOR MOSCOW

In besieged Moscow, many
Orthodox in one day saw
a completely gray-haired old man leading
behind him are twelve carts of bread.
No one could understand how this
procession
made my way
across
impregnable security and many
enemy troops. "Tell me, father,
where are you from?" - asked the elder, and
he happily answered everyone: “We are
warriors from the monastery of the Most Holy and
Life-giving
Trinity ".
This
the old man whom some have seen, but
others are not, inspired Muscovites to
further struggle and assured
victory. And in the monastery of the wonderworker
said that the appearance in Moscow
there were elders with loaves that day,
when
Reverend
appeared
v
monastery to sexton Irinarkh and
said: “I sent three
their disciples, and their arrival was not
will remain
unnoticed
v
the reigning city ".

7. THE ABANDONED KING

Great
Prince of All Russia Ivan
Vasilievich and the Grand Duchess Sophia
had three daughters, but did not
heir.
Christ-loving
Sophia
decided to go on a pilgrimage -
walk to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra from
Moscow itself to pray for
the birth of sons. Near the village of Klementyevo,
located near the monastery,
her
Meets
splendid
clergymen with a baby in their arms.
Sophia immediately understood by the appearance
wanderer
what
front
her
-
Venerable Sergius. Further life
narrates: “He approached the Great
princess - and suddenly threw in her bosom
baby. And immediately he became invisible. "
Sophia reached the holy monastery and for a long time
prayed there and kissed the relics
reverend. And upon returning home
conceived in the womb of the one given by God
heir to the royal throne, great
Prince Vasily, who was born in
feast of the Annunciation and was baptized in
Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

Most of us know who Sergius of Radonezh is. His biography is interesting to many people, even to those who are far from the church. He founded the Trinity Monastery near Moscow (at present it is the Trinity-Sergius Lavra), did a lot for the Russian Church. The saint dearly loved his Fatherland and put a lot of energy into helping his people survive all the calamities. We learned about the life of the monk thanks to the manuscripts of his companions and disciples. The work of Epiphanius the Wise entitled "The Life of Sergius of Radonezh", written by him at the beginning of the 15th century, is a most valuable source of information about the life of the saint. All other manuscripts that appeared later are, in their bulk, processing of its materials.

Place and time of birth

It is not known for certain when and where the future saint was born. His disciple Epiphanius the Wise speaks of this in a very intricate way in the life of the monk. Historians are faced with the difficult problem of interpreting this information. As a result of studying church writings of the 19th century and dictionaries, it was established that the birthday of Sergius of Radonezh, most likely, is May 3, 1319. True, some scholars are leaning towards other dates. The exact place of the birth of the youth Bartholomew (that was the name of the saint in the world) is also unknown. Epiphanius the Wise points out that the father of the future monk was named Cyril, and his mother was Mary. Before moving to Radonezh, the family lived in the Rostov principality. It is believed that the Monk Sergius of Radonezh was born in the village of Varnitsa in the Rostov region. At baptism, the boy was given the name Bartholomew. His parents named him after the Apostle Bartholomew.

Childhood and first miracles

The family of Bartholomew's parents had three sons. Our hero was the second child. His two brothers, Stephen and Peter, were smart children. They quickly mastered literacy, learned to write and read. But Bartholomew's studies were not given in any way. No matter how much his parents scolded him, no matter how the teacher tried to reason, the youth could not learn to read, and the holy books were inaccessible to him. And then a miracle happened: suddenly Bartholomew, the future Saint Sergius of Radonezh, learned the letter. His biography is indicative of how faith in the Lord helps to overcome any difficulties in life. Epiphanius the Wise told about the miraculous teaching of the youth to read and write in his "Life". He says that Bartholomew prayed long and hard, asking God to help him learn to write and read in order to know the Holy Scriptures. And once, when father Cyril sent his son to look for grazing horses, Bartholomew saw an old man in a black robe under a tree. The boy with tears in his eyes told the saint about his inability to learn and asked him to pray for him before the Lord.

First feats

Resettlement to Radonezh

Monastic life

It is not known when the birth of Sergius of Radonezh took place for certain. But exact historical information about his childhood and youth life has come down to us. It is known that, even as a child, he prayed fervently. When he was 12 years old, he decided to take monastic tonsure. Cyril and Maria did not mind this. However, they set a condition for their son: he should become a monk only after their death. After all, Bartholomew eventually became the only support and support for the elderly. By that time, brothers Peter and Stephen had already started their own families and lived separately from their elderly parents. The youth did not have to wait long: soon Cyril and Maria died. Before their death, according to the custom of that time in Russia, they first took monastic vows, and then the schema. After the death of his parents, Bartholomew went to the Khotkovo-Pokrovsky Monastery. There his brother Stephen took monastic vows, already a widow by that time. The brothers were not here for long. Striving for "the strictest monasticism", they founded deserts on the banks of the Konchura River. There, in the middle of the deaf Radonezh pine forest, in 1335 Bartholomew erected a small wooden church named after the Holy Trinity. Now in its place there is a cathedral church in the name of the Holy Trinity. Brother Stephen soon moved to the Epiphany Monastery, unable to withstand the ascetic and too harsh lifestyle in the forest. In a new place, he will then become abbot.

Serving the Fatherland

Sergiy of Radonezh did a lot of useful and good things for his homeland. The 700th anniversary of his birth is celebrated this year. Dmitry A. Medvedev, being the President of the Russian Federation, signed a decree on the celebration of this memorable and significant date for the whole of Russia. Why is the life of the saint given such importance at the state level? The main condition for the invincibility and inviolability of any country is the unity of its people. Father Sergius understood this very well in his time. This is also evident to our politicians today. It is well known about the peacemaking activities of the saint. So, eyewitnesses argued that Sergius, with meek, quiet words, could find a way to the heart of any person, influence the most bitter and coarse hearts, calling people to peace and obedience. Often the saint had to reconcile the warring parties. So, he called on the Russian princes to unite, casting aside all disagreements, and submit to the power of the Moscow prince. This later became the main condition for liberation from the Tatar-Mongol yoke. Sergius of Radonezh made a significant contribution to the victory of the Russians in the Battle of Kulikovo. It is impossible to briefly talk about this. Grand Duke Dmitry, who later received the nickname Donskoy, went to the saint before the battle to pray and ask him for advice if the Russian army could oppose the godless. The Horde Khan Mamai gathered an utter army to enslave the people of Russia once and for all.

The people of our Fatherland were seized with great fear. After all, no one has yet managed to beat the enemy army. The Monk Sergius, to the prince's question, replied that defending the Motherland is a godly deed, and blessed him for the great battle. Possessing the gift of foresight, the holy father predicted to Dmitry a victory over the Tatar khan and return home safe and sound with the glory of a liberator. Even when the Grand Duke saw the innumerable enemy army, nothing trembled in him. He was confident in a future victory, for which Saint Sergius himself blessed him.

Saint's monasteries

Annunciation in the city of Kirzhach in the Vladimir region;

Vysotsky monastery in the city of Serpukhov;

Staro-Golutvin near the town of Kolomna in the Moscow region;

St. George Monastery on the Klyazma River.

In all these monasteries, the disciples of St. Father Sergius became abbots. In turn, the followers of his teachings founded more than 40 monasteries.

Miracles

Old age and death of the monk

Veneration of the reverend

There is no documented evidence of when and under what circumstances people began to perceive Sergius as a righteous man. Some scholars are inclined to believe that the abbot of the Trinity Monastery was canonized in the years 1449-1450. Then, in the letter of Metropolitan Jonah to Dmitry Shemyaka, the primate of the Russian Church calls Sergius a monk, counting him among the miracle workers and saints. But there are other versions of his canonization. Day of St. Sergius of Radonezh is celebrated on July 5 (18). This date is mentioned in the writings of Pachomius Logofet. In them, he narrates that on this day the relics of the great saint were found.

Temples in honor of the monk

Images of the reverend

One of the most famous works by Andrei Rublev is the "Icon of St. Sergius of Radonezh", which also contains 17 hallmarks of the life of the saint. They wrote about the events associated with the abbot of the Trinity Monastery, not only icons, but also paintings. Among the Soviet artists, one can distinguish M.V. Nesterov here. The following works are known: "Works of Sergius of Radonezh", "Youth of Sergius", "Vision to the youth Bartholomew." Sergius of Radonezh. His short biography is unlikely to be able to tell about what an extraordinary person he was, how much he did for his Fatherland. Therefore, we dwelled in detail on the biography of the saint, information about which is taken mainly from the works of his disciple Epiphanius the Wise.