Sergius of Radonezh life and deeds to read. Composition “The Feat of St. Sergius of Radonezh. How prayer to St. Sergius of Radonezh helps modern people
Sergius of Radonezh is truly a folk saint, close to everyone Orthodox person. On the day of memory of the great Russian spiritual leader, we recall 7 of his deeds.
Victories over demons and taming of animals
Saint Sergius appears to many as a blessed elder, whose holiness was felt wild animals who came to "touch" her. However, in reality, Sergius went into the forest as a young man around the age of twenty. During the first time of his seclusion, he constantly struggled with demonic temptations, defeating them with fervent prayer. The demons tried to drive him out of the forest, threatening him with an attack by wild animals and a 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 gave it to the 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 submits to him,” says the life of this saint.
Blessing of monks 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 monks and weapons, and even more so war, are “two incompatible things,” but, like any overly broad rule, this rule was once refuted by life. Two monks, later canonized as saints, with weapons in their hands, went to the Battle of Kulikovo with the blessing of St. 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, tonsured Andrei (Oslyabya), according to legend, changed into the armor of Prince Dmitry, who was slain in battle, and thus 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 Communion
The testimony of how St. Sergius of Radonezh took communion was hidden from people until his very death. 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 altar, illuminating the altar and surrounding the Holy Meal on all sides. “When the Saint wanted to take communion, the Divine fire curled up like a kind of veil, and entered the holy chalice, and the Saint 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 granted 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.
Resurrection boy
The life of St. Sergius tells that the monk once resurrected a man with his prayers. It was a boy whose father, a devout believer, carried his sick son through the frost so that St. Sergius would heal him. The faith of that person 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 the severe frost and the long journey, the sick child became completely weak and died on the way. Having reached St. Sergius, the inconsolable father said: “Woe to me! god man! With my misfortune and tears, I hurried to get to you, believing and hoping to receive consolation, but instead of consolation, I got only even greater sorrow. It would be better for me if my son died at home. Woe to me, woe! What to do now? What could be worse and more terrible 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 at the deceased, and suddenly the child suddenly came to life and stirred, his soul returned to the body. To the returning father, the saint said that the child had not died, but was only exhausted from the cold, and now, in warmth, it had warmed up. This miracle became known from the words of the disciple of the saint.
A feat of modesty
St. 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 Rus' Alexy to appoint an abbot to the monastery, and, having heard his name in response, he did not agree, saying: "I am not worthy." Only when the metropolitan reminded the saint of monastic obedience did he answer: "As the Lord pleases, so be it. Blessed be the Lord forever!"
However, 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 one day saw a completely gray-haired old man leading twelve wagons of bread. No one could understand how this procession made its way through impregnable guards and many enemy troops. "Tell me, father, where are you from?" - they asked the elder, and he answered everyone with joy: "We are warriors from the monastery of the Most Holy and Life-Giving Trinity". This elder, whom some saw and others did not, inspired the Muscovites to further struggle and assured them of victory. And in the monastery of the miracle worker they said that the appearance in Moscow of elders with bread was on the day when the Reverend appeared in the monastery to sexton Irinarkh and said : "I sent three of my disciples to Moscow, and their arrival will not go unnoticed in the reigning city."
Tossed king
Grand Duke All Rus' Ivan Vasilyevich and 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 her 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 realized from the appearance of the wanderer that in front of her was St. Sergius. Further, the life tells: "He approached the Grand Duchess - and suddenly threw a baby into her bosom. And immediately 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.
Most of us know who Sergius of Radonezh is. His biography is interesting to many people, even those who are far from the church. He founded the Trinity Monastery near Moscow (at present he did a lot for the Russian Church. The saint passionately loved his Fatherland and put a lot of effort into helping his people survive all the disasters. We became aware of the life of the monk thanks to the manuscripts of his associates and students. The work of Epiphanius the Wise entitled "The Life of Sergius of Radonezh", written by him at the beginning of the 15th century, is the most valuable source of information about the life of the saint.All other manuscripts that appeared later are, for the most part, adaptations of his 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 in the biography of the saint speaks of this in a very intricate form. Historians face the difficult problem of interpreting this information. As a result of studying church writings of the 19th century and dictionaries, it was found that the birthday of Sergius of Radonezh, most likely, is May 3, 1319. True, some scientists tend to other dates. The exact place of birth of the lad Bartholomew (that was the name of the saint in the world) is also unknown. Epiphanius the Wise indicates that the father of the future monk was called Cyril, and his mother was Mary. Before moving to Radonezh, the family lived in the Rostov Principality. It is believed that St. Sergius of Radonezh was born in the village of Varnitsy in the Rostov region. When the name Bartholomew was given. 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, Stefan and Peter, were. They quickly mastered the letter, learned to write and read. But Bartholomew was not given any studies. No matter how much his parents scolded him, nor tried to reason with the teacher, the boy could not learn to read, and the holy books were inaccessible to his understanding. And then a miracle happened: suddenly Bartholomew, the future Saint Sergius of Radonezh, recognized the letter. His biography is indicative of how faith in the Lord helps to overcome any life difficulties. Epiphanius the Wise spoke about the miraculous learning 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 learn Holy Bible. And one day, 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.
The elder told him that from that day on, the lad would understand letters better than his brothers. Bartholomew invited the saint to his parents' house. Before their visit, they went into the chapel, where the youth recited 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 by the elder about what this amazing phenomenon means, they learned from the guest that their son Bartholomew was marked by God in the womb. So, when Mary, shortly before giving birth, came to church, 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 "Vision to the youth Bartholomew."
First exploits
What else is noted in the childhood of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the stories of Epiphanius the Wise? The disciple of the saint reports that even before the age of 12, Bartholomew observed strict posts. On Wednesday and Friday he ate nothing, and on other days he ate only water and bread. At night, the lad 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.
Relocation 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 Rus', which was under the rule of the Golden Horde. But not only the Tatars then robbed the people of our long-suffering homeland, taxing them with unbearable tribute 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 difficult test for the whole people than the invasion of the Golden Horde. After all, such "elections" were accompanied by violence against the population. Sergius of Radonezh himself often spoke about this. His biography is a vivid example of the lawlessness that was happening at that time in Rus'. The Principality of Rostov went to the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan Danilovich. The father of the future saint got ready and moved with his family from Rostov to Radonezh, wanting to protect himself and his loved ones from robbery and want.
monastic life
When Sergius of Radonezh was born for certain, it is not known. But we have reached the exact historical information about his childhood and youth. It is known that, even as a child, he prayed fervently. When he was 12 years old, he decided to take 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, the brothers Peter and Stefan had already started their own families and lived separately from their elderly parents. The boy did not have to wait long: soon Cyril and Maria died. Before their death, according to the custom of that time in Rus', they first took the monastic vows, and then the schema. After the death of his parents, Bartholomew went to where his brother Stefan, who had already been widowed by that time, took monastic vows. The brothers were here for a short time. Striving for "the strictest monasticism", they founded deserts on the banks of the Konchura River. There, in the middle of the remote Radonezh forest, in 1335 Bartholomew erected a small wooden church named after the Holy Trinity. Now in its place stands a cathedral church in the name of the Holy Trinity. Brother Stefan soon moved to 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, called on hegumen Mitrofan and took the tonsure. Now he was known as the monk Sergius. At that point 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 students an example of great diligence and humility. Monk Sergius of Radonezh himself never took alms from parishioners and forbade the monks to do so, urging them to live only by the fruits of their labor. The glory of the monastery and its abbot grew and reached the city of Constantinople. Ecumenical Patriarch Philotheus sent with a special embassy Saint Sergius a cross, schema, paraman and a letter, in which he paid tribute to the abbot for a virtuous life and advised him to introduce cinnamon in the monastery. Heeding these recommendations, the Radonezh abbot introduced a communal charter in his monastery. Later it was adopted in many monasteries of Rus'.
Service to the Fatherland
Sergius of Radonezh did a lot of useful and kind things for his Motherland. The 700th anniversary of his birth is celebrated this year. D. A. Medvedev, being the President of the Russian Federation, signed a decree on the celebration of this memorable and significant date for all of Russia. Why is such importance attached to the life of a saint at the state level? The main condition for the invincibility and indestructibility of any country is the unity of its people. Father Sergius understood this very well in his time. This is also obvious to our politicians today. It is well known about the peacemaking activity of the saint. Thus, eyewitnesses claimed that Sergius, with meek, quiet words, could find a way to the heart of any person, influence the most hardened and rude 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, putting aside all differences, and submit to the power of the prince of Moscow. This subsequently became the main condition for liberation from the Tatar-Mongol yoke. Sergius of Radonezh made a significant contribution to the Russian victory. It is impossible to talk about it briefly. Grand Duke Dmitry, who later received the nickname Donskoy, came to the saint before the battle to pray and ask him for advice whether it was possible for the Russian army to oppose the godless. The Horde Khan Mamai gathered an unbelievable army in order to enslave the people of Rus' 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. Saint Sergius answered the prince's question that defending the Motherland is a charitable deed, and blessed him for a great battle. Possessing the gift of foresight, he predicted Dmitry 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 faltered in him. He was confident in the future victory, for which St. Sergius himself blessed him.
Monasteries of the saint
The Year of Sergius of Radonezh is celebrated in 2014. Especially great celebrations on this occasion should be expected in the churches and monasteries founded by him. In addition to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, the saint erected the following monasteries:
Blagoveshchensky in the city of Kirzhach in the Vladimir region;
Vysotsky monastery in the city of Serpukhov;
Staro-Golutvin near the city of Kolomna in the Moscow region;
St. George's Monastery on the Klyazma River.
In all these monasteries, the disciples of the holy 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 life. The first of these was connected with his miraculous birth. This is the story of a wise man about how a child in the womb of Mary, the mother of a saint, shouted three times during the liturgy in the temple. And it was heard by all the people who were in it. The second miracle is the teaching of the lad Bartholomew to read and write. It was described in detail above. It is also known about such a diva associated with the life of the saint: the resurrection of the youth through the prayers of Father Sergius. Near the monastery lived a righteous man who had strong faith in the saint. His only son, a young boy, was mortally 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 lad died while his parent was presenting his request to the rector. The inconsolable father went to prepare the coffin in order to put the body of his son into 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 feet of the reverend, offering praise.
And the abbot ordered him to get up from his knees, explaining that there was no miracle here: the youth simply became cold and weak when his father carried him to the monastery, and warmed up in a warm cell and began to move. But the man could not be persuaded. He believed that Saint Sergius had shown a miracle. Today there are many skeptics who doubt that the monk worked miracles. Their interpretation depends on the ideological position of the interpreter. It is likely that a person far from faith in God would prefer not to focus on such information about the miracles of the saint, finding them something else, more logical explanation. But for many believers, the story of life and all the events associated with Sergius has a special, spiritual meaning. So, for example, many parishioners pray that their children will learn to read and write, and successfully pass the transfer and entrance exams. After all, the youth Bartholomew, the future Saint Sergius, at first also could not overcome 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 saint
The life of Sergius of Radonezh is for us an unprecedented feat of serving God and the Fatherland. It is known that he lived to a ripe old age. When he lay on his deathbed, foreseeing that he would soon appear at the judgment of God, he called the brethren for the last time for instruction. First of all, he urged his students to “have the fear of God” and bring people “cleanliness of soul and unfeigned 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 scientists are inclined to believe that the rector of the Trinity Monastery was canonized in 1449-1450. Then, in a letter to Dmitry Shemyaka, the primate of the Russian Church calls Sergius a reverend, ranking him among the miracle workers and saints. But there are other versions of his canonization. Sergius of Radonezh Day is celebrated on July 5 (18). This date is mentioned in the writings of Pachomius Logothetes. In them, he tells 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 case of a serious threat from outside. Thus, two fires that occurred in 1709 and 1746 caused the removal of the relics of the saint from the monastery. When the Russian troops left the capital during the French invasion led by Napoleon, the remains of Sergius were taken to the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. In 1919, the atheistic government of the USSR issued a decree on the opening of the relics of the saint. After this unpleasing deed was done, the remains were transferred to the Sergievsky Museum of History and Art as an exhibit. Currently, the relics of the saint are kept in the Trinity Cathedral. There are other dates of memory of his rector. September 25 (October 8) - the day of Sergius of Radonezh. This is the date of his death. Sergius is also commemorated on July 6 (19), when all the holy monks of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra are glorified.
Temples in honor of St.
Sergius of Radonezh has long been considered one of the most revered saints in Rus'. 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 temple of Sergius of Radonezh in Bibirevo, the cathedral of Sergius of Radonezh in the Vysokopetrovsky monastery, the temple of Sergius of Radonezh in Krapivniki and others. Many of them were built in the XVII-XVIII centuries. There are many churches and cathedrals in various regions of our Motherland: Vladimir, Tula, Ryazan, Yaroslavl, Smolensk and so on. There are even monasteries and sanctuaries abroad 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 Sergius of Radonezh in the city of Rumia, in Montenegro.
Reverend images
It is also worth remembering the many icons created in honor of the saint. Its oldest image is an embroidered cover made in the 15th century. Now it is in the sacristy of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
One of the most famous works Andrei Rublev - "The icon of St. Sergius of Radonezh", which also contains 17 hallmarks about the life of the saint. They wrote about the events connected with the abbot of the Trinity Monastery, not only icons, but also paintings. Among Soviet artists, M. V. Nesterov can be distinguished here. His following works are known: "Works of Sergius of Radonezh", "Youth of Sergius", "Vision to the youth Bartholomew".
Sergius of Radonezh. short biography he is unlikely to be able to tell about what an outstanding person he was, how much he did for his Fatherland. Therefore, we dwelled in detail on the biography of the saint, information about which was taken mainly from the works of his disciple Epiphanius the Wise.
SERGIUS OF RADONEZH, ST.(in the world Bartholomew) (1322–1392), reverend, reformer of monasticism in central and northern Rus', the most revered saint of the Russian Middle Ages.
Born near Rostov the Great, in a boyar family. Obednev, his parents Cyril and Maria moved with their three sons, Stefan, Bartholomew and Peter, to Radonezh. When his parents died, having taken monastic vows before his death, Bartholomew went to the Khotkovo-Pokrovsky Monastery, where his elder brother Stefan was already monastic. Having persuaded Stefan, he went to look for a place with him for a more secluded, deserted life. In a dense forest, on Makovets hill (where the Trinity-Sergius Lavra now stands), they built a wooden cell and a church, consecrated in the name of St. Trinity. Stefan soon left for the Moscow Epiphany Monastery, while Bartholomew took (not earlier than 1341) tonsure. More than a year he was alone in the forest, but little by little other monks began to come to him, erecting their cells. Over time, they persuaded him to take over them as abbess, and he was ordained a priest. Forbidding accepting alms, Sergius made it a rule that all monks should live from their labor, himself setting an example for them in this.
The good rumor about the Sergius Monastery attracted more and more pilgrims and new novices to him, and the flow of donations grew. A settlement arose nearby, and a village followed it. In the reign of Dmitry Donskoy, the news of Sergius reached Constantinople, and Patriarch Philotheus sent him a letter on the introduction of kinovia (coenobitic device). Since then, kinovia, which rallied the monks into a close, diverse community in terms of duties, has been accepted in many Russian monasteries.
A number of other monasteries also owe their foundation to Sergius (Andronikov and Simonov in Moscow, Borisoglebsky not far from Rostov, Staro-Golutvinsky near Kolomna, etc.); in all these monasteries he appointed his disciples as abbots. More than 40 monasteries were founded by his disciples: Savva (Savvino-Storozhevsky near Zvenigorod), Ferapont (Ferapontov), Kirill (Kirillo-Belozersky) and others, as well as his spiritual interlocutors, such as Stefan of Perm. The authority of Sergius was enormous even in geographical terms. Nevertheless, when Metropolitan Alexy of Moscow asked him to become his successor, the monk declined this honor.
An ascetic and a mystic (the motives of visions and miracles in his life surpass in their emotional strength all previous Russian hagiography), he nevertheless acted as a wise politician, striving to pacify discord and unite the Russian lands. In 1366, Sergius resolved a princely family dispute over Nizhny Novgorod, in 1387 he left as an ambassador to Oleg Ryazansky, having achieved his reconciliation with Moscow. His deeds and prayers before the Battle of Kulikovo (1380) are covered with special glory. Going to go to Mamaia, Dmitry Donskoy came for a blessing to Sergius. Predicting victory for the prince, he also, according to legend, sent with him to fight two monks of his monastery, Peresvet and Oslyabya, who died in battle.
The monk died on September 25, 1392. His relics were found incorrupt in 1422, and in 1452 Sergius was canonized as a saint. The Church celebrates his memory on the day of his death on September 25 (October 8), as well as on July 5 (18), on the day of finding the relics.
Most famous source information about him, as well as a remarkable monument of ancient Russian literature is the life of Sergius, written in 1417-1418 by his student Epiphanius the Wise, and in the middle of the 15th century. significantly revised and supplemented by Pachomius Logothetes.
According to ancient legend, the estate of the parents of Sergius of Radonezh, the boyars of Rostov, was located in the vicinity of Rostov the Great, on the way to Yaroslavl. Parents, "noble boyars", apparently, lived simply, they were quiet, calm people, with a strong and serious way of life.
St. Venerable Cyril and Maria. Painting of the Ascension Church on Grodka (Pavlov-Posad) Parents of Sergius of Radonezh
Although Kirill accompanied the princes of Rostov to the Horde more than once, as a trusted, close person, he himself did not live well. It is impossible to speak of any luxury, licentiousness of the later landowner. Rather, on the contrary, one might think that domestic life is closer to that of a peasant: as a boy, Sergius (and then Bartholomew) was sent for horses in the field. This means that he knew how to confuse them and turn them around. And leading to some stump, grabbing the bangs, jump up, triumphantly trot home. Perhaps he chased them at night too. And, of course, he was not a barchuk.
Parents can be imagined as respectable and fair people, religious to a high degree. They helped the poor and willingly accepted strangers.
On May 3, a son was born to Mary. The priest gave him the name of Bartholomew, after the day of the celebration of this saint. The special shade that distinguishes him lies on the child from early childhood.
Bartholomew was given seven years to study literacy, to a church school, together with his brother Stefan. Stefan studied well. Science was not given to Bartholomew. Like Sergius later, little Bartholomew is very stubborn and tries, but there is no success. He is distressed. The teacher sometimes punishes him. Comrades laugh and parents admonish. Bartholomew cries alone, but does not move forward.
And now, a village picture, so close and so understandable six hundred years later! The foals wandered somewhere and disappeared. Father sent Bartholomew to look for them, probably the boy had wandered like this more than once, through the fields, in the forest, perhaps by the shore of Lake Rostov and called them, patted them with a whip, dragged halters. With all the love of Bartholomew for loneliness, nature, and for all his daydreaming, he, of course, conscientiously performed every task - this feature marked his whole life.
Sergius of Radonezh. Miracle
Now he - very dejected by failures - found not what he was looking for. Under an oak tree, I met "an elder of the Black Sea, with the rank of presbyter." Obviously, the old man understood him.
What do you want, boy?
Bartholomew, through tears, spoke about his grief and asked to pray that God would help him overcome the letter.
And under the same oak stood the old man for prayer. Next to him is Bartholomew - a halter over his shoulder. Having finished, the stranger took out the ark from his bosom, took a particle of prosphora, blessed Bartholomew with it and ordered him to eat it.
This is given to you as a token of grace and for the understanding of Holy Scripture. From now on, you will master literacy better than brothers and comrades.
What they talked about next, we do not know. But Bartholomew invited the elder home. His parents received him well, as usual wanderers. The elder called the boy to the prayer room and ordered him to read the psalms. The child responded with incompetence. But the visitor himself gave the book, repeating the order.
And the guest was fed, at dinner they told about the signs over his son. The elder again confirmed that now Bartholomew would begin to understand Holy Scripture well and would overcome reading.
[After the death of his parents, Bartholomew himself went to the Khotkovo-Pokrovsky Monastery, where his widowed brother Stefan was already monastic. Striving for "the strictest monasticism", for desert living, he did not stay here for long and, having convinced Stefan, together with him founded the desert on the banks of the Konchura River, on Makovets hill in the middle of the deaf Radonezh forest, where he built (about 1335) a small wooden church in the name of Holy Trinity, on the site of which there is now a cathedral church also in the name of the Holy Trinity.
Unable to withstand a too harsh and ascetic lifestyle, Stefan soon left for the Moscow Epiphany Monastery, where he later became abbot. Bartholomew, left all alone, called for a certain hegumen Mitrofan and received tonsure from him under the name of Sergius, since on that day the memory of the martyrs Sergius and Bacchus was celebrated. He was 23 years old.]
Having performed the rite of tonsure, Mitrofan introduced Sergius of Radonezh to St. Secrets. Sergius spent seven days without going out in his “church”, praying, “tasting” nothing, except for the prosphora that Mitrofan gave. And when the time came for Mitrofan to leave, he asked his blessings for the desert life.
The abbot supported him and reassured him as much as he could. And the young monk was left alone among his gloomy forests.
Images of beasts and vile reptiles arose before him. They rushed at him with a whistle, gnashing of teeth. One night, according to the story of the monk, when in his “church” he “sang Matins,” Satan himself suddenly entered through the wall, with him a whole “regiment of demons.” They chased him away, threatened, attacked. He prayed. (“Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered…”) The demons disappeared.
Will he survive in a formidable forest, in a wretched cell? The autumn and winter blizzards on his Makovice must have been terrible! After all, Stefan could not stand it. But Sergius is not like that. He is stubborn, patient, and he is "loving God."
So he lived, all alone, for some time.
Sergius of Radonezh. hand bear
Sergius once saw a huge bear near the cells, weak from hunger. And regretted it. He brought a loaf of bread from the cell, gave it - from his childhood, after all, he was, like his parents, "strangely acceptable." The furry wanderer ate peacefully. Then I started visiting him. Sergius always served. And the bear became tame.
Youth of St. Sergius (Sergius of Radonezh). Nesterov M.V.
But no matter how lonely the monk was at that time, there were rumors about his hermitage. And now people began to appear, asking to be taken to them, to be saved together. Sergius responded. He pointed to the difficulty of life, the hardships associated with it. Stefan's example was still alive for him. Still, he gave in. And took a few...
Twelve cells were built. They surrounded it with a tyn to protect it from animals. The cells stood under huge pines and firs. The stumps of freshly felled trees stuck out. Between them, the brethren planted their modest garden. They lived quietly and harshly.
Sergius of Radonezh set an example in everything. He himself cut cells, dragged logs, carried water in two water carriers uphill, ground with hand millstones, baked bread, cooked food, cut and sewed clothes. And he must have been a good carpenter by now. In summer and winter he walked in the same clothes, neither frost took him, nor heat. Bodily, despite the meager food, he was very strong, "had strength against two people."
He was the first in the service.
Works of St. Sergius (Sergius of Radonezh). Nesterov M.V.
So the years went by. The community lived unquestionably under Sergius. The monastery grew, became more complex and had to take shape. The brethren wanted Sergius to become abbot. And he refused.
The desire to be abbess, - he said, - is the beginning and root of the love of power.
But the brethren persisted. Several times the elders “approached” him, persuaded him, persuaded him. After all, Sergius himself founded the hermitage, he himself built the church; who should be abbot, celebrate the liturgy.
The insistence turned almost into threats: the brethren declared that if there was no abbot, everyone would disperse. Then Sergius, spending his usual sense of proportion, yielded, but also relatively.
I wish, - said, - it is better to study than to teach; it is better to obey than to rule; but I fear the judgment of God; I do not know what is pleasing to God; the holy will of the Lord be done!
And he decided not to argue - to transfer the matter to the discretion of the church authorities.
Father, they brought a lot of loaves, bless them to accept. Here, according to your holy prayers, they are at the gate.
Sergius blessed, and several wagons loaded with baked bread, fish and various food entered the monastery gates. Sergius rejoiced and said:
Well, you hungry ones, feed our breadwinners, invite them to share a common meal with us.
He ordered to hit the beater, everyone to go to church, serve a thanksgiving service. And only after the prayer he blessed to sit down for a meal. The loaves turned out to be warm, soft, as if they had just come out of the oven.
Trinity-Sergius Lavra (Sergius of Radonezh). Lisner E.
The monastery did not need now, as before. And Sergius was still just as simple - poor, poor and indifferent to the benefits, as he remained until his death. Neither power nor various "differences" occupied him at all. A quiet voice, quiet movements, the face of the deceased, the holy Great Russian carpenter. In it are our rye and cornflowers, birch trees and mirrored waters, swallows and crosses and the incomparable fragrance of Russia. Everything is raised to the utmost lightness, purity.
Many came from afar just to look at the reverend. This is the time when the "old man" is heard throughout Russia, when he approaches Met. Alexy, settles disputes, performs a grandiose mission to spread monasteries.
The monk wanted a stricter order, closer to the early Christian community. All are equal and all are poor equally. Nobody has anything. The monastery lives in a community.
The activity of Sergius was expanded and complicated by innovation. It was necessary to build new buildings - a refectory, a bakery, pantries, barns, housekeeping, etc. Previously, his leadership was only spiritual - the monks went to him as a confessor, for confession, for support and guidance.
All able to work had to work. Private property is strictly prohibited.
In order to manage the more complex community, Sergius chose his assistants and distributed duties among them. The first person after the abbot was considered the cellar. This position was first established in Russian monasteries by Fr. Theodosius of the Caves. Kelar was in charge of the treasury, deanery and economy - not only inside the monastery. When the estates appeared, he was also in charge of their lives. Rules and court cases.
Already under Sergius, apparently, there was own arable farming - around the monastery there are arable fields, partly they are cultivated by monks, partly by hired peasants, partly by those who want to work for the monastery. So the cellar has a lot of worries.
One of the first cells of the Lavra was St. Nikon, later abbot.
The most experienced in spiritual life were appointed as confessors. He is the confessor of the brethren. , the founder of the monastery near Zvenigorod, was one of the first confessors. Later, Epiphanius, the biographer of Sergius, received this position.
The ecclesiarch supervised the order in the church. Lesser positions: paraecclesiarch - kept the church clean, canonarch - led "kliros obedience" and kept liturgical books.
So they lived and worked in the monastery of Sergius, now already glorified, with roads laid to it, where it was possible to stop and stay for a while - whether for ordinary people, or for a prince.
Two metropolitans, both wonderful, fill the age: Peter and Alexy. Hegumen Ratsky Peter, a Volhynian by birth, the first Russian metropolitan, based in the north - first in Vladimir, then in Moscow. Peter the first blessed Moscow. For her, in fact, he laid down his whole life. It is he who travels to the Horde, obtains from Uzbek a protective letter for the clergy, and constantly helps the prince.
Metropolitan Alexy - from the high-ranking, ancient boyars of the city of Chernigov. His fathers and grandfathers shared with the prince the work of managing and defending the state. On the icons they are depicted side by side: Peter, Alexy, in white hoods, faces darkened from time to time, narrow and long, gray beards ... Two tireless creators and workers, two “protectors” and “patrons” of Moscow.
Etc. Sergius under Peter was still a boy, he lived with Alexy for many years in harmony and friendship. But St. Sergius was a hermit and "prayer book", a lover of the forest, silence - his life path different. Is he, from childhood - departed from the malice of this world, to live at court, in Moscow, to rule, sometimes to intrigue, appoint, dismiss, threaten! Metropolitan Alexy often comes to his Lavra - perhaps to rest with a quiet person - from struggle, unrest and politics.
Saint Sergius came into life when the Tatars were already breaking down. The times of Batu, the ruin of Vladimir, Kyiv, the battle of the City - everything is far away. There are two processes going on, the Horde is decomposing, the young Russian state is getting stronger. The horde is crushed, Rus' is united. The Horde has several rivals vying for power. They cut each other, postpone, leave, weakening the strength of the whole. In Russia, on the contrary, it is an ascent.
In the meantime, Mamai advanced in the Horde and became khan. He gathered the entire Volga Horde, hired the Khivans, Yases and Burtases, conspired with the Genoese, the Lithuanian prince Jagello - in the summer he laid his camp at the mouth of the Voronezh River. Jagiello was waiting.
The time is dangerous for Dimitri.
Until now, Sergius has been a quiet hermit, a carpenter, a modest abbot and educator, a saint. Now he faced a difficult task: blessings on the blood. Would Christ bless for a war, even a national one?
St. Sergius of Radonezh blesses D. Donskoy. Kivshenko A.D.
Rus' has gathered
On August 18, Dimitri, with Prince Vladimir of Serpukhov, princes of other regions and governors, arrived at the Lavra. Probably, it was both solemn and deeply serious: Rus' really gathered. Moscow, Vladimir, Suzdal, Serpukhov, Rostov, Nizhny Novgorod, Belozersk, Murom, Pskov with Andrey Olgerdovich - for the first time such forces have been moved. Moved not in vain. Everyone understood this.
The prayer began. During the service, messengers arrived - the war was going on in the Lavra - they reported on the movement of the enemy, warned to hurry. Sergius begged Demetrius to stay for the meal. Here he said to him:
The time has not yet come for you to wear the crown of victory with eternal sleep; but for many, without number, wreaths of martyrdom are woven to your employees.
After the meal, the monk blessed the prince and the whole retinue, sprinkled St. water.
Go, don't be afraid. God will help you.
And, bending down, he whispered in his ear: "You will win."
There is something majestic, with a tragic tinge, in the fact that Sergius gave two hermit monks as assistants to Prince Sergius: Peresvet and Oslyabya. They were warriors in the world and went to the Tatars without helmets, shells - in the form of a schema, with white crosses on monastic clothes. Obviously, this gave the army of Demetrius a sacred crusading appearance.
On the 20th Dimitri was already in Kolomna. On the 26-27th, the Russians crossed the Oka, Ryazan land advanced to the Don. On the 6th of September it was reached. And they hesitated. Whether to wait for the Tatars, whether to cross?
Senior, experienced governors suggested: wait here. Mamai is strong, Lithuania is with him, and Prince Oleg Ryazansky. Demetrius, contrary to the advice, crossed the Don. The way back was cut off, which means everything forward, victory or death.
Sergius these days was also in the highest rise. And in time he sent a letter after the prince: “Go, sir, go ahead, God and the Holy Trinity will help!”
According to legend, Peresvet, long ready for death, jumped out to the call of the Tatar hero, and, having grappled with Chelubey, struck him, he himself fell. A general battle began, on a gigantic front for those times, ten miles away. Sergius correctly said: "Martyr's wreaths are woven for many." A lot of them were woven.
The monk, at these hours, prayed with the brethren in his church. He talked about the course of the battle. He called the fallen and recited prayers for the dead. And in the end he said: "We won."
Rev. Sergius of Radonezh. demise
Sergius of Radonezh came to his Makovitsa as a modest and obscure youth, Bartholomew, and left as a most illustrious elder. Before the monk, there was a forest on Makovitsa, a spring nearby, and bears lived in the wilds in the neighborhood. And when he died, the place stood out sharply from the forests and from Russia. On Makovitsa stood a monastery - the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, one of the four laurels of our country. Forests cleared around, fields appeared, rye, oats, villages. Even under Sergius, a deaf hillock in the forests of Radonezh became a light-attractive for thousands. Sergius of Radonezh founded not only his own monastery and did not act from it alone. There are countless abodes that arose with his blessing, founded by his disciples - and imbued with his spirit.
So, the young man Bartholomew, having retired to the forests on "Makovitsa", turned out to be the founder of a monastery, then monasteries, then monasticism in general in a vast country.
Leaving no scriptures behind him, Sergius allegedly does not teach anything. But he teaches precisely with his whole appearance: to one he is a consolation and refreshment, to another - a mute reproach. Sergius silently teaches the simplest: truth, straightforwardness, masculinity, work, reverence and faith.
Most of us know who Sergius of Radonezh is. His biography is interesting to many people, even those who are far from the church. He founded the Trinity Monastery near Moscow (currently it is the Trinity-Sergius Lavra), did a lot for the Russian Church. The saint passionately loved his Fatherland and put a lot of effort into helping his people survive all the disasters. We became aware of the life of the monk thanks to the manuscripts of his associates 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. All other manuscripts that appeared later are, for the most part, adaptations of his 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 in the biography of the saint speaks of this in a very intricate form. Historians face the difficult problem of interpreting this information. As a result of studying church writings of the 19th century and dictionaries, it was found that the birthday of Sergius of Radonezh, most likely, is May 3, 1319. True, some scientists tend to other dates. The exact place of birth of the lad Bartholomew (that was the name of the saint in the world) is also unknown. Epiphanius the Wise indicates that the father of the future monk was called Cyril, and his mother was Mary. Before moving to Radonezh, the family lived in the Rostov Principality. It is believed that St. Sergius of Radonezh was born in the village of Varnitsy 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, Stefan and Peter, were smart children. They quickly mastered the letter, learned to write and read. But Bartholomew was not given any studies. No matter how much his parents scolded him, nor tried to reason with the teacher, the boy could not learn to read, and the holy books were inaccessible to his understanding. And then a miracle happened: suddenly Bartholomew, the future Saint Sergius of Radonezh, recognized the letter. His biography is indicative of how faith in the Lord helps to overcome any life difficulties. Epiphanius the Wise spoke about the miraculous learning 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 learn the Holy Scriptures. And one day, 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.
The elder told him that from that day on, the lad would understand letters better than his brothers. Bartholomew invited the saint to his parents' house. Before their visit, they went into the chapel, where the youth recited 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 by the elder about what this amazing phenomenon means, they learned from the guest that their son Bartholomew was marked by God in the womb. So, when Mary, shortly before giving birth, came to church, 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 "Vision to the youth Bartholomew."
First exploits
What else is noted in the childhood of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the stories of Epiphanius the Wise? The disciple of the saint 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 lad 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.
Relocation 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 Rus', which was under the rule of the Golden Horde. But not only the Tatars then robbed the people of our long-suffering homeland, taxing them with unbearable tribute 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 difficult test for the whole people than the invasion of the Golden Horde. After all, such "elections" were accompanied by violence against the population. Sergius of Radonezh himself often spoke about this. His biography is a vivid example of the lawlessness that was happening at that time in Rus'. The Principality of Rostov went to the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan Danilovich. The father of the future saint got ready and moved with his family from Rostov to Radonezh, wanting to protect himself and his loved ones from robbery and want.
monastic life
When Sergius of Radonezh was born for certain, it is not known. But we have received accurate historical information about his childhood and youthful life. It is known that, even as a child, he prayed fervently. When he was 12 years old, he decided to take monastic vows. Cyril and Maria did not object to 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, the brothers Peter and Stefan had already started their own families and lived separately from their elderly parents. The boy did not have to wait long: soon Cyril and Maria died. Before their death, according to the custom of that time in Rus', they first took the monastic vows, and then the schema. After the death of his parents, Bartholomew went to the Khotkovo-Pokrovsky Monastery. There, his brother Stefan, who had already been widowed, took monastic vows. The brothers were here for a short time. Striving for "the strictest monasticism", they founded deserts on the banks of the Konchura River. There, in the middle of the remote Radonezh forest, in 1335 Bartholomew erected a small wooden church named after the Holy Trinity. Now in its place stands a cathedral church in the name of the Holy Trinity. Brother Stefan 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, called on hegumen Mitrofan and took the tonsure. Now he was known as the monk Sergius. At that point 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 students an example of great diligence and humility. Monk Sergius of Radonezh himself never took alms from parishioners and forbade the monks to do so, urging them to live only by the fruits of their labor. The glory of the monastery and its abbot grew and reached the city of Constantinople. The Ecumenical Patriarch Philotheus, with a special embassy, sent St. Sergius a cross, a schema, paraman and a letter, in which he paid tribute to the rector for a virtuous life and advised him to introduce cinnamon in the monastery. Heeding these recommendations, the Radonezh abbot introduced a communal charter in his monastery. Later it was adopted in many monasteries of Rus'.
Service to the Fatherland
Sergius of Radonezh did a lot of useful and kind things for his Motherland. The 700th anniversary of his birth is celebrated this year. D. A. Medvedev, being the President of the Russian Federation, signed a decree on the celebration of this memorable and significant date for all of Russia. Why is such importance attached to the life of a saint 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 obvious to our politicians today. It is well known about the peacemaking activity of the saint. Thus, eyewitnesses claimed that Sergius, with meek, quiet words, could find a way to the heart of any person, influence the most hardened and rude 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, putting aside all differences, and submit to the power of the prince of Moscow. This subsequently became the main condition for liberation from the Tatar-Mongol yoke. Sergius of Radonezh made a significant contribution to the Russian victory in the Battle of Kulikovo. It is impossible to talk about it briefly. Grand Duke Dmitry, who later received the nickname Donskoy, came to the saint before the battle to pray and ask him for advice whether it was possible for the Russian army to oppose the godless. The Horde Khan Mamai gathered an unbelievable army in order to enslave the people of Rus' 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 answered the prince’s question that defending the Motherland is a charitable deed, and blessed him for a great battle. Possessing the gift of foresight, the holy father foretold Dmitry 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 faltered in him. He was confident in the future victory, for which St. Sergius himself blessed him.
Monasteries of the saint
The Year of Sergius of Radonezh is celebrated in 2014. Especially great celebrations on this occasion should be expected in the churches and monasteries founded by him. In addition to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, the saint erected the following monasteries:
Blagoveshchensky in the city of Kirzhach in the Vladimir region;
Vysotsky monastery in the city of Serpukhov;
Staro-Golutvin near the city of Kolomna in the Moscow region;
St. George's Monastery on the Klyazma River.
In all these monasteries, the disciples of the holy 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 life. The first of these was connected with his miraculous birth. This is the story of a wise man about how a child in the womb of Mary, the mother of a saint, shouted three times during the liturgy in the temple. And it was heard by all the people who were in it. The second miracle is the teaching of the lad Bartholomew to read and write. It was described in detail above. It is also known about such a diva associated with the life of the saint: the resurrection of the youth through the prayers of Father Sergius. Near the monastery lived a righteous man who had strong faith in the saint. His only son, a young boy, was mortally 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 lad died while his parent was presenting his request to the rector. The inconsolable father went to prepare the coffin in order to put the body of his son into 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 feet of the reverend, offering praise.
And the abbot ordered him to get up from his knees, explaining that there was no miracle here: the youth simply became cold and weak when his father carried him to the monastery, and warmed up in a warm cell and began to move. But the man could not be persuaded. He believed that Saint Sergius had shown a miracle. Today there are many skeptics who doubt that the monk worked miracles. Their interpretation depends on the ideological position of the interpreter. It is likely that a person who is far from believing in God would prefer not to focus on such information about the miracles of the saint, finding a different, more logical explanation for them. But for many believers, the story of life and all the events associated with Sergius has a special, spiritual meaning. So, for example, many parishioners pray that their children will learn to read and write, and successfully pass the transfer and entrance exams. After all, the youth Bartholomew, the future Saint Sergius, at first also could not overcome 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 saint
The life of Sergius of Radonezh is for us an unprecedented feat of serving God and the Fatherland. It is known that he lived to a ripe old age. When he lay on his deathbed, foreseeing that he would soon appear at the judgment of God, he called the brethren for the last time for instruction. First of all, he urged his students to “have the fear of God” and bring people “cleanliness of soul and unfeigned 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 scientists are inclined to believe that the rector of the Trinity Monastery was canonized in 1449-1450. Then, in the letter of Metropolitan Jonah to Dmitry Shemyaka, the primate of the Russian Church calls Sergius a reverend, ranking him among the miracle workers and saints. But there are other versions of his canonization. Sergius of Radonezh Day is celebrated on July 5 (18). This date is mentioned in the writings of Pachomius Logothetes. In them, he tells 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 case of a serious threat from outside. Thus, two fires that occurred in 1709 and 1746 caused the removal of the relics of the saint from the monastery. When the Russian troops left the capital during the French invasion led by Napoleon, the remains of Sergius were taken to the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. In 1919, the atheistic government of the USSR issued a decree on the opening of the relics of the saint. After this unpleasing deed was done, the remains were transferred to the Sergievsky Museum of History and Art as an exhibit. Currently, the relics of the saint are kept in the Trinity Cathedral. There are other dates of memory of his rector. September 25 (October 8) - the day of Sergius of Radonezh. This is the date of his death. Sergius is also commemorated on July 6 (19), when all the holy monks of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra are glorified.
Temples in honor of St.
Sergius of Radonezh has long been considered one of the most revered saints in Rus'. 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 temple of Sergius of Radonezh in Bibirevo, the cathedral of Sergius of Radonezh in the Vysokopetrovsky monastery, the temple of Sergius of Radonezh in Krapivniki and others. Many of them were built in the XVII-XVIII centuries. There are many churches and cathedrals in various regions of our Motherland: Vladimir, Tula, Ryazan, Yaroslavl, Smolensk and so on. There are even monasteries and sanctuaries abroad 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 Sergius of Radonezh in the city of Rumia, in Montenegro.
Reverend images
It is also worth remembering the many icons created in honor of the saint. Its most ancient image is an embroidered cover made in the 15th century. Now it is in the sacristy of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
One of Andrei Rublev's most famous works is the "Icon of St. Sergius of Radonezh", which also contains 17 hallmarks about the life of the saint. They wrote about the events connected with the abbot of the Trinity Monastery, not only icons, but also paintings. Among Soviet artists, M. V. Nesterov can be distinguished here. His following works are known: "Works of Sergius of Radonezh", "Youth of Sergius", "Vision to the youth Bartholomew". Sergius of Radonezh. A brief biography of him is unlikely to be able to tell about what an outstanding person he was, how much he did for his Fatherland. Therefore, we dwelled in detail on the biography of the saint, information about which was taken mainly from the works of his disciple Epiphanius the Wise.
