Church of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov in Rayevo
The Сhurch of St. Seraphim of Sarov in Raev is located at 48, Shokalsky Passage. St. Seraphim of Sarov, in the world of Prokhor, was born on July 19, 1759 in the city of Kursk in a pious merchant family. His whole life is marked by signs of God’s mercy. When, as a child, his mother took him with her to build a temple and he fell from the bell tower, the Lord kept him unharmed. During the boy’s illness, the Mother of God promised his mother in a dream vision to heal him. Soon, the Kursk Korennaya Icon ‘the Sign of the Blessed Virgin’ was carried with a procession near their house. Mother took out the patient, he venerated the icon and after that he quickly recovered. At the age of seventeen, the young man had already firmly decided to leave the world, and his mother blessed him for a monastic feat with her copper cross, which the monk did not part with until the end of his life. The elder of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, Dosifey, blessed Prokhor to go to the Sarov Monastery, on the border of the Nizhny Novgorod and Tambov governorates, known for strict observance of monastic statutes and the ascetic life of the inhabitants. After two years of monastic labors and feats of obedience, Prokhor fell seriously ill and refused the help of doctors for a long time. Three years later, the Mother of God appeared to him with the apostles Peter and John and healed him. On August 18, 1786, the novice took monastic vows with the name Seraphim (“Fiery”) and in December 1787 was ordained a hierodeacon. At that time, the young ascetic was honored at divine services to behold the holy Angels and our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, coming through the air surrounded by Heavenly Forces. In 1793 Saint Seraphim was ordained a hieromonk and initiated the feat of desert-dwelling and solitary prayer in a forest cell on the banks of the Sarovka River. After his recovery, the Monk Seraphim labored for three years in the feat of silence, and in 1810, after a 15-year stay in the desert, he opened his monastery cell. The venerable elder began to receive those who came to him for blessing, advice and spiritual comfort, lovingly calling them all: “My joy, my treasure.” The Monk Seraphim took care of and guided the sisters of the Diveevo convent and, at the direction of the Mother of God, founded a separate Seraphim-Diveevo mill community for the girls. The Queen of Heaven announced his death to the ascetic in advance, and on January 2, 1833, St. Seraphim surrendered his soul to the Lord, during a kneeling prayer before the icon of the Mother of God. Through the prayers of St. Seraphim, numerous signs and healings were performed at his grave. On July 19, 1903, the glorification of the saint of God took place.
Address: Moscow, Shokalsky ave., 48
