Template:Featured

Our venerable father Seraphim of Sarov was born on July 19, 1754, in Kursk, Russia. At the age of 10, Seraphim became seriously ill. During the course of his illness, he saw the Mother of God in his sleep, who promised to heal him; she did so through a religious procession in Kursk with the locally revered miracle-working icon of the Mother of God.

At the age of 18, Seraphim firmly decided to become a monk. From day one in the monastery in Sarov, Russia, exceptional abstinence from food and slumber were the distinguishing features of his life. He ate once a day, and little. His taking of the monastic vows occurred in 1786, when he was 27 years old. He was given the name Seraphim, which in Hebrew means "fiery," or "burning." He later withdrew as an ascetic hermit and then, near the end of his life, became an elder to all who came to his hermitage.

The Church commemorates St. Seraphim on January 2, and the opening of his relics on July 19. He is considered a wonder-worker.

Quote: "Those who have truly decided to serve the Lord God should practice the remembrance of God and uninterrupted prayer to Jesus Christ, mentally saying" the Jesus Prayer.

Recently featured: The Ladder of Divine Ascent, John of Damascus, Lindisfarne, Edward the Martyr, Victor Pokrovsky, Akathist, Apostles. Newly featured articles are presented every Friday.