Venerable Seraphim of Sarov
By St. John Maximovitch
(Delivered in Serbia in 1928)
By St. John Maximovitch
(Delivered in Serbia in 1928)
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!
"In the middle of the Summer they will sing Pascha," they once said in Sarov. Seventy years passed from the death of the man about whom these words were pronounced, and on July 19, 1903, all of Rus' resounded with songs of praise, glorifying God and His Saint. Indeed, all of Rus' rejoiced then as on the day of Holy Pascha, even more.
Terrible days were to come for Russia, but the memory of Saint Seraphim neither died nor weakened. Russian people continue to appeal to him and glorify him, both in the suffering Homeland and throughout the ends of the world where they are scattered. Even other nations are becoming familiar with Saint Seraphim; his biography is being translated into various languages, evoking not only admiration, but also, in many, the striving to apply in their own lives the lessons given to us by his life. Thus, despite the changes that have taken place in the world, the memory of Saint Seraphim not only does not fade, but it remains a lamp that shines ever brighter to humanity.
It was the same during his earthly life. Cities were being destroyed, kingdoms were being established, Napoleon advanced upon Russia with twelve nations and then left in disgrace, Moscow burned and was again raised from the ashes, Decembrists organized revolts and were then sentenced; but these events seemed not to concern Saint Seraphim.
He was wholly occupied with the acquisition of "the one thing needful", worked on his "spiritual growth". He was called an "egoist, introverted", "ignorant, not interested in anything other than what concerned him personally" – that is what many thinkers would say who refused to see even the slightest benefit in the podvig of self-perfection. So finally, the monk Seraphim dies. It would seem that the image of this elder who so stubbornly fled the world should be erased from people's memory. But pilgrimages begin to made to his grave, people who come to him from all ends of Russia receive help, consolation, and edification; and the veneration of him begins to spread even among people of other nations.
In what lies the power of Saint Seraphim? What is his podvig? He strove to realize the commandment of Christ: "Be ye perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). He labored to restore in himself the first-created image of man, corrupted as a consequence of sin.
Saint Seraphim reached his goal: he overcame sin and became a saint; he truly became the likeness of God. We cannot see the invisible God, but the Lord gave us to see Himself in those like unto Him, in His saints. And so, one of these likenesses was Saint Seraphim. In him we see restored human nature, freed from slavery to sin. He is the incarnate personification of the victory of the eternal over the transitory, holiness over sin, good over evil.
Saint Seraphim calls on everyone by his example to follow the path indicated by Christ. He calls you to fight sin and your shortcomings, being a beacon and lamp for all who seek salvation. Saint Seraphim calls to seek the highest good, the spiritual fruits, about which the Apostle Paul said: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts" (Galatians 5:22-24).
The path to the heavenly kingdom is difficult, for sin has taken possession of human nature and corrupted it. Each of us has personal sins. There are also social sins in which the entire people are guilty. So the entire Russian people are sinful in that they abandoned the pious life and customs of their ancestors, began to accept and seek what was alien to them, unorthodox, that they believed the slander spread about the Anointed of God, and they allowed first to have the crown torn off, and then to destroy with the whole family the pious Tsar, who was the first to prostrate before the glorious relics of Saint Seraphim. Saint Seraphim calls everyone to repentance and to correction of life, both personal and social. Although this path is difficult, the Saint of God will help you walk it. Saint Seraphim is a beacon and lamp on this path; he is also our aid.
Through the prayers of Your Venerable Father Seraphim, Lord, grant repentance and victory over sin to us sinners, and lead us into Your heavenly kingdom. Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
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