Hand-written icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov 31х24 cm

St. Seraphim of Sarov - one of the most revered saints in the Orthodox Church. He was born in the city of Kursk in 1754 in the family of a wealthy merchant Isidor Moshnina. The boy was named Prokhorov.

At the age of 22 years, he made a pilgrimage to the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, where he was blessed with the venerable Dositheus bayou, which he predicted a further way of life - a monastic. Four years later, a young man entered the Sarov monastery as a novice of the desert. There began his monastic way.

When turned Prokhor 32 years old, he took a small schema with the name Seraphim became ierodyakonom. Yet seven years later he was ordained to the priesthood.

With around this Serafim period begins a special way of asceticism and seclusion. He lives in a single cell, a few kilometers from the monastery, there is only that which will produce its own, stands out at night and prays a lot, as much as possible avoid contact with people.

To this period belongs his hard feat of pillar-dwelling when Saint Seraphim 1000 days praying on a large stone (as depicted on this icon). Later, to these complex tests, he added a vow of silence. This went on for many years, up until 1810. But then, returning to the monastery of his cell, Saint Seraphim of 15 years spent in seclusion. It was only after 1825, he was released a few years before his death from the gate and began to take a lot of visitors, which helped his great spiritual experience, advice and immeasurable love of Christ. As a visitor, it is seen as nothing but words my joy!