Saturday, January 2, 2021

10 works, Today, January 2nd, is Saint Seraphim of Sarov's day, his story, illustrated #365

Unknown artist
Saint Seraphim
Oil on canvas
I have no further description, at this time

Saint Seraphim of Sarov (1754– 1833), born Prokhor Moshnin is one of the most renowned Russian saints and venerated both in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. He is generally considered the greatest of the 19th-century startsy, elders. 

Seraphim was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1903. Alongside his veneration in the Catholic calendar, Pope John Paul II also referred to him as a Saint

In 1777, at the age of 19, he joined the Sarov monastery as a novice. He was officially took his monastic vows in 1786 and given the religious name of Seraphim. Shortly afterwards, he was ordained a monastic deacon. In 1793, he was ordained as a monastic priest and became the spiritual leader of the Diveyevo Convent, which has since come to be known as the Seraphim-Diveyevo Convent.

Unknown iconographe
The Virgin Mary tells Saint Seraphim began admitting pilgrims to his hermitage
I have no further description, at this time

Soon after this, Seraphim retreated to a log cabin in the woods outside Sarov monastery and led a solitary lifestyle as a hermit for 25 years. During this time his feet became swollen to the point that he had trouble walking. Sarov's eating and fasting habits became more strict. At first he ate bread obtained from the monastery and vegetables from his garden, then only vegetables. For three years, he ate only grass.

Unknown iconographer
Thieves who beat Saint Seraphim mercilessly
Sarov Monastery
I have no further description, at this time

Unknown iconographer
Seraphim of Sarov had a hunched back for the rest of his life
I have no further description, at this time

One day, while chopping wood, Seraphim was attacked by a gang of thieves who beat him mercilessly with the handle of his own axe. He never resisted, and was left for dead. The robbers never found the money they sought, only an icon of the Theotokos, the Virgin Mary, in his hut. Seraphim had a hunched back for the rest of his life. However, at the thieves' trial he pleaded to the judge for mercy on their behalf.

Unknown iconographer
Seraphim spent 1,000 successive nights on a rock
I have no further description, at this time

Unknown iconographer
Seraphim spent continuous prayer with his arms raised to the sky
I have no further description, at this time

After this incident Seraphim spent 1,000 successive nights on a rock in continuous prayer with his arms raised to the sky, a feat of asceticism deemed miraculous by the Eastern Orthodox Church, especially considering the pain from his injuries.

Unknown Russian artist, Active in the 20th century
Saint Seraphim feeding a bear outside of his hermitage
Oil on canvas
33 cm x 39 cm. 
Private collection

In 1815, in obedience to a reputed spiritual experience that he attributed to the Virgin Mary, Seraphim began admitting pilgrims to his hermitage as a confessor. 

Unknown iconographer
Hundreds of pilgrims per day visited Saint Seraphim
Seraphim-Diveyevo Convent.

He soon became immensely popular due to his reputation for healing powers and gift of prophecy. Hundreds of pilgrims per day visited him, drawn as well by his ability to answer his guests' questions before they could ask.

Unknown iconographer
Saint Seraphim von Sarov prayed to help his spiritual student Nicholai Motovilov to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit 
I have no further description, at this time

As extraordinarily harsh as Seraphim often was to himself, he was kind and gentle toward others — always greeting his guests with a prostration, a kiss, and exclaiming "Christ is risen!", and calling everyone "My joy." 

Unknown iconographer
Saint Seraphim died while kneeling before an Umilenie icon of the Theotokos
I have no further description, at this time

He died while kneeling before an Umilenie icon of the Theotokos which he called "Joy of all Joys". This icon is kept currently in the chapel of the residence of the Patriarch of Moscow.




Please visit my other blogs: Art CollectorMythologyMarine ArtPortrait of a Lady, The OrientalistArt of the Nude and The Canals of VeniceMiddle East Artistsand 365 Saints, also visit my Boards on Pinterest

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