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Elder '''Seraphim (Romantsov)''', known in the world as Ivan Romanovich Romantsov, was a Schema-[[Archimandrite]], a Russian elder who lived in the Glinsk [[monastery]] and in Sukhumi (Abkhazia). He was [[glorification|glorified]] by the [[Holy Synod]] of the [[Church of Ukraine]] on [[March 25]], 2009 with other Glinsk elders: Schema-Archimandrite [[Andronik (Lukash) ]] (1880–1974) and Schema-Metropolitan [[Seraphim (Mazhuga) ]] (1896–1985).

Ivan was born on [[June 28]], 1885, in a village of Voronok of the Krupetsk volost of the Kursk province in into family of a peasantpeasants. Little information is known available about his early life, since the elder did not say anything due to his modesty. After the his graduation from the [[parish]] school and the repose of his parents, Ivan entered the Glinsk monastery. In 1914-1916, he took part in the World War I, was wounded and after the recovery he returned to the monastery. In 1919, Ivan was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] with the name Juvenalis. His elder, hieromonk Aristoklis (Veter), taught him a wholehearted daily confession of thoughts and attention to all the movements of the heart. Later, Seraphim believed that the inner doing is very important for the spiritual growth and salvation.

In 19191914-1916, Juvenalis he took part in World War I where he was wounded. Then he was [[ordination|ordained]] [[hierodeacon]] andtaken to the hospital. Archbishop Micah (Kharkharov) of Yaroslavl (1921-2005), who later became a spiritual son of Fr. Seraphim, writes that at the same time there was a hypnotist in 1926the hospital among the injured. He could hypnotize almost all other patients but could not do this with Ivan, when because he moved always recited the Jesus prayer. And no matter how much the hypnotist tried to hypnotize, nothing worked. At that time, as Archbishop Micah writes, Ivan got to Sukhumi after know from personal experience the closure power of the Glinsk monastery, he was ordained a [[hieromonk]] Jesus prayer and tonsured into [[Monastic Ranks|Great Schema]] that hypnosis is not just an experiment with the name hidden powers in man but is the work of Seraphim. In 1931, Seraphim was arrested and sent to the [[w:White_Sea-Baltic_Canal|White Sea Canal]] constructiondemons.

From 1934 Following his recovery Ivan returned to 1946the monastery. In 1919, Fr. Seraphim lived an Ivan was [[asceticism|ascetictonsure]] life in Kirghizia where he was hidden by a pious family. In 1946-1947 he lived in Tashkent as d a confessor at the [[Cathedralmonk]]with the name Juvenalis. In 1948His elder, hieromonk Aristoklis (Veter), after taught him a wholehearted daily confession of thoughts and attention to all the return to movements of the reopened Glinsk monasteryheart. Later, he was made a Juvenalis believed that the inner doing is very important for the spiritual farther by archimandrite Seraphim (Amelin)growth and salvation.

Most of allIn 1919, Juvenalis was [[ordination|ordained]] [[hierodeacon]] and, Fr. Seraphim wanted to bring his spiritual children to humilityin 1926, about which when he wrote: "Everything that you need for salvation is moved to Sukhumi after the true humility, inner conviction that you are worse closure of the sinners Glinsk monastery, he was ordained a [[hieromonk]] and of all, but this is tonsured into the [[Monastic Ranks|Great Schema]] with the greatest gift name of GodSeraphim. In 1931, Seraphim was arrested and it is gained by many works and sweats. Then sent to the man feels in his heart such calmness that is inexplicable in human words. Day and night, look for this precious jewel. Truly humble, if he has any gifts from God [[w:White_Sea- prayer or tears, fasting, all of it he carefully conceals, for the human praise, like a moth, eats everything." In his letters and instructions, Fr. Seraphim constantly warned against conviction of othersBaltic_Canal|White Sea Canal]] construction.

In 1961, after second closure of the Glinsk monasteryFrom 1934 to 1946, Fr. Seraphim moved to Sukhumi (Abkhazia)lived an [[asceticism|ascetic]] life in Kirghizia where he was hidden by a pious family. Never before In 1946-1947 he lived in Tashkent as a confessor at the church at Sukhumi was crowded as when Fr[[Cathedral]].Seraphim was living there. He was confessing people and sending out many lettersIn 1948, responding after his return to the questions from his spiritual children. According to reopened Glinsk monastery, he was appointed a spiritual father by Archimandrite Raphael Seraphim (KarelinAmelin), the true reason why Fr. Seraphim settled in Sukhumi, was the pastoral care of the hermits from the nearby mountains.

Most of all, Fr. Seraphim himself was experienced in the [[Jesus Prayer]]. He considered obedience wanted to be absolutely necessary bring his spiritual children to practice humility, about which he wrote: "Everything that you need for salvation is the Prayer. He said true humility, inner conviction that if a person in hard works achieve you are the skill to worst of sinners; this is the Jesus Prayergreatest gift of God, but without healing of and it is gained by many works and sweats. Then the soul through the obedienceman feels in his heart such calmness that is inexplicable in human words. Day and night, look for this precious jewel. One who is truly humble, if he will not cut out own willhas any gifts from God - prayer or tears, then the prayerfasting, uttered out all of habitthem he carefully conceals, would not be that true inner unceasing prayer of which for the ascetics wrotehuman praise, like a moth, eats everything. The prayer will remain only as words" In his letters and instructions, as a proud mind can not unite with the name of Jesus Christ - this incomprehensible HumilityFr. Seraphim constantly warned against conviction of others.

Fr. Seraphim knew from his own experince what In 1961, after the unceasing prayer second closure of the heart isGlinsk monastery, Fr. A well-known elder John Seraphim moved to Sukhumi (KrestiankinAbkhazia), who . Never before was tonsured a monk by the church at Sukhumi crowded as when Fr. Seraphim in 1966 in Sukhumi, writes in one letter was living there. He ministered to some person about the way the Lord gives His gifts and takes them away: "My spiritual father was a young man when he received the gift needs of unceasing Jesus prayer people, hearing their confessions and sending out many letters, responding to the fullness of joy in itquestions from his spiritual children. According to Archimandrite Raphael (Karelin), and then the Lord took this gift away, and all his life true reason why Fr. Seraphim looked for settled in Sukhumi, was the lost piece pastoral care of silver – he worked humbly and patiently – the gift was returned to him by the Lord a few days before his death - as a witness that the Lord had accepted his tears for hermits from the whole life"nearby mountains.

Fr. Seraphim himself was experienced in the [[Jesus Prayer]]. He considered obedience to be absolutely necessary to practice the Prayer. He said that if a person with hard work achieves the skill to recite the Jesus Prayer, but has not achieved healing of the soul through obedience, if he will not cut out his own will, then the prayer, uttered out of habit, would not be that true inner unceasing prayer of which the ascetics wrote. The prayer will remain only as words, as a proud mind can not unite with the name of Jesus Christ - this incomprehensible Humility. Fr. Seraphim knew from his own experience what the unceasing prayer of the heart is. A well-known elder John (Krestiankin), who was tonsured a monk by Fr. Seraphim in 1966 in Sukhumi, writes in one letter to some person about the way the Lord gives His gifts and takes them away: "My spiritual father was a young man when he received the gift of unceasing Jesus prayer and the fullness of joy in it, and then the Lord took this gift away, and all his life Fr. Seraphim looked for the lost piece of silver – he worked humbly and patiently – the gift was returned to him by the Lord a few days before his death - as a witness that the Lord had accepted his tears his whole life".  On [[December 18]], 1975, during the vigil, Fr. Seraphim felt ill. He went to his bed. All the time the elder read said aloud the [[Jesus Prayer]], and when tired, asked the others to continue to read recite it. During For two weeks, he daily took the partook of Holy [[Communion]]daily. Being fully conscious, the Elder was honored to see many of his brethren in the spirit, who, according to him, were singing the [[sticheron ]] "Eternal council"("Βουλὴν προαιώνιον", sticheron of Annunciation of the Mother of God). And then the elder in a weak voice sang: "O taste and see that the Lord is good. Allelujah." After the vision, he said, "What I have prayed all my life and what I was searching for, it is opened now in my heart, my soul is filled with grace, so that I could not even hold it." And then After this he said, "Now I'm going to die". On [[December 31]] he closed his eyes for the last time and the next day, on [[January 1]], 1976, the elder reposed.