Saint's childhood
The place of birth of the monk was the village of Varnitsa, which is located near Rostov. Bartholomew (the name of Sergius at baptism) was born into a family of wealthy people Cyril and Mary.As for the date of birth of Sergius, historians still do not have a consensus on this matter. Initially, it was believed that Bartholomew was born in the spring or summer in 1322. The date of May 4, 1319 was mentioned in the manuscripts of church scholars of the 18th century. Current researchers suggest that the monk was born in 1314, on May 3. The famous historian Averyanov K.A. says that even now there is no agreement among scientists on this issue. Averyanov himself believes that the saint was born on May 1, 1322. Due to the fact that there are a lot of opinions, and they are all different, the popular writer V. Rasputin claims that the year of Sergius's birth was lost.
When Bartholomew was 7 years old, they began to teach him to read and write. He attended church school not alone, his brothers went with him: Peter and Stefan. The brothers were quite good at learning, which cannot be said about Bartholomew himself. He lagged far behind in his studies, which caused grief in his parents and the anger of teachers. Bartholomew tried his best, but he did not succeed.
But one day everything changed. Poverty covered the family from the head, and she had to move. The new place was the city of Radonezh. There an event occurred that changed and predetermined the whole future life of Bartholomew. One day, his father sent Bartholomew to the forest to find horses that were lost. In the process of searching for horses, Bartholomew came across a small field where an old monk was sitting under a tree and praying. He approached the old man and asked him to pray for him, for his studies. The old man prayed, gave the boy a piece of prosphora and assured him that now he would be the smartest among his peers. Bartholomew was very happy and invited the monk to visit. After meeting the boy's family, the old monk said to his parents: He will be great before God».
After that, Bartholomew thought about connecting his life with monasticism. As he got a little older, he finally decided it. The parents were not against the wishes of their son, but asked him to wait for their death before going to the monastery. The fact is that Bartholomew was the only son who lived with them. Peter and Stefan had families of their own and lived far away from their parents. A few years later, Bartholomew buried his father and mother, and set about achieving his goal.
The Beginning of a Monk's Life
Shortly after his parents died, Bartholomew left for the Khotkovo-Pokrovsky Monastery, where his brother Stefan, who became a widower, was located. The brothers did not stay in this place for long, Bartholomew persuaded his brother to organize deserts in the Radonezh forest. Here they were able to build a wooden church in the name of the Holy Trinity. Bartholomew was an adherent of a very difficult ascetic way of life. His brother could not support Bartholomew for a long time because the conditions were too difficult. Stefan went to the Epiphany Monastery, becoming the rector there. Left alone, Bartholomew took the tonsure from the rector of one of the churches, Mitrofan. In addition to the tonsure, he took a new name - Sergius. On the day he took the tonsure was the feast of the martyrs Sergius and Bacchus. At this point in time, he was 23 years old.
Foundation of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. Monk activities
After some time, the monks began to come to the saint, as a result, a small monastery was formed, called the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, where Sergius was the second abbot, after Mitrofan. Sergius was the personification of industriousness and beneficence. He did not allow to accept alms, called on his like-minded people to live from their labor. Sergius was personally an example for them. The fame of Sergius grew rapidly, and soon literally everyone came to him: peasants to princes.Many began to settle near the monastery and donate their property. Within a few years, the small monastery turned into a large monastery. They even talked about Sergius in Constantinople: Patriarch Philotheus himself sent a letter of gratitude for the benefactor of the saint and called for the introduction of a regime of strict communal living. With the blessing of Metropolitan Alexei, Sergius established communal living, which became an example for other monasteries. Alexei loved and respected Sergius very much, wanted to make him his successor, but Radonezhsky refused. 
According to the stories of contemporaries, Sergius could, with simple words, could influence the rudest hearts, more than once he managed to reconcile the warring princes. In addition, Sergius urged everyone to obey the Grand Duke of Moscow. In many ways, it was thanks to him that all the princes were able to gather before the Battle of Kulikovo. They say that one prince, before going to the battlefield, came to Sergius for prayer. Sergius blessed him and predicted a triumph. According to one of their versions, Sergius released two Orthodox monks with him: Peresvet and I weaken, although according to the laws of the church, ministers should not participate in battles.
They say that Prince Dmitry Ivanovich, having approached the Don, doubted for a long time whether he should move across the river or not. Only when a letter of approval arrived from Sergius of Radonezh, which called soon on the enemy, the prince began to act.
Dmitry Ivanovich greatly respected the abbot, and after the Battle of Kulikovo he began to treat him in a special way. In 1389, he called Sergius of Radonezh to seal the spiritual will, which legitimized the new rules of succession to the throne.
Death of Sergius
The monk lived to a ripe old age. At the end of his life, he chose his disciple Nikon as his successor and made him head of the monastery. Before his death, Sergius called like-minded people and said the words of the will. These lines are known: « Take heed to yourself, brethren, I implore everyone: first have the fear of God and purity of soul and love that is not hypocritical; to them and hospitality, and humility with subjugation, fasting and prayer. Food and drink in moderation; do not love honor and glory, but most of all be afraid and remember the hour of death and the Second Coming».
The life of Radonezh ended in 1392, on September 25.
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 Russia, 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 Russia. 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 Russia, 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 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 Russia.
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 Russia 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 returning 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 in his 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: it was just that the lad 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 a different, 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 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 Russia. His biography is replete with facts of selfless service to God. Many temples are dedicated to him. There are 67 of them in Moscow alone. Among them are the Church of Sergius of Radonezh in Bibirevo, the Cathedral of Sergius of Radonezh in the Vysokopetrovsky Monastery, the Church 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.
Name: Sergius of Radonezh (Bartholomew Kirillovich)
Age: 78 years old
Activity: hieromonk of the Russian Church, founder of a number of monasteries
Family status: not married
Sergius of Radonezh: biography
Little is known about the life of Sergius of Radonezh, a hieromonk of the Russian Church, a reformer of monasticism in northern Russia and the founder of the Holy Trinity Monastery. Everything that we know about the “great old man”, canonized as a saint, was written by his disciple, the monk Epiphanius the Wise.
Later, the life of Sergius of Radonezh was edited by Pachomius Serb (Logofet). From it, our contemporaries draw information about the main milestones in the biography of a church leader. In his biography, Epiphany managed to convey to the reader the essence of the teacher's personality, his greatness and charm. The earthly path of Sergius, recreated by him, makes it possible to understand the origins of his glory. His life path is indicative in that it makes it clear how easily any life difficulties are overcome with faith in God.
Childhood
The date of birth of the future ascetic is not exactly known, some sources say 1314, others - 1322, others are inclined to believe that Sergius of Radonezh was born on May 3, 1319. At baptism, the baby received the name Bartholomew. According to ancient legend, Sergius's parents were the boyar Kirill and his wife Maria, who lived in the village of Varnitsy in the vicinity of Rostov.
Their estate was located not far from the city - in the places where the Trinity Varnitsky Monastery was later erected. Bartholomew had two more brothers, he was middle. At the age of seven, the boy was sent to study. Unlike the smart brothers, who quickly grasped the letter, the training of the future saint was difficult. But a miracle happened: miraculously, the lad learned to read and write.
Epiphanius the Wise describes this event in his book. Bartholomew, wanting to learn to read and write, prayed long and hard, asking the Lord to enlighten him. One day, an old man in a black robe appeared before him, to whom the boy told about his trouble and asked him to pray for him and ask God for help. The elder promised that from that moment on, the lad would write and read and would surpass his brothers.
They entered the chapel, where Bartholomew confidently and without hesitation recited the psalm. Then they went back to their parents. The elder said that their son was marked by God even before the birth, when she came to the church for the service. During the singing of the liturgy, the child, being in the womb of his mother, shouted three times. On this plot from the life of the saint, the painter Nesterov painted the painting “Vision to the lad Bartholomew”.
From that moment on, books about the lives of the saints became available to Bartholomew. When studying the Holy Scriptures, the lad developed an interest in the church. From the age of twelve, Bartholomew devotes a lot of time to prayer and observes a strict fast. On Wednesdays and Fridays he fasts, on other days he eats bread and drinks water, and prays at night. Maria is worried about her son's behavior. This becomes the subject of controversy and disagreement between father and mother.
In 1328-1330, the family faced serious financial problems and became impoverished. This was the reason that Cyril and Maria and their children moved to Radonezh, a settlement on the outskirts of the Principality of Moscow. These were difficult, troubled times. In Russia, the Golden Horde ruled, lawlessness was happening. The population was subjected to regular raids and imposed an unbearable tribute. The principalities were ruled by princes appointed by the Tatar-Mongol khans. All this caused the family to move from Rostov.
Monasticism
At the age of 12, Bartholomew decides to take the veil as a monk. His parents did not interfere, but set the condition that he could become a monk only when they were gone. Bartholomew was their only support, since the other brothers lived separately with their children and wives. Soon the parents died, so the wait was not long.
According to the tradition of those times, before their death, they took monastic vows and schema. Bartholomew goes to the Khotkovo-Pokrovsky Monastery, where his brother Stefan is staying. He was a widow and took the tonsure before his brother. The desire for a strict monastic life led the brothers to the banks of the Konchura River in the Makovets tract, where they founded the hermitage.
In a remote forest, the brothers built a wooden cell made of logs and a small church, on the site of which the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity currently stands. The brother cannot stand the hermit life in the forest and moves to the Epiphany Monastery. Bartholomew, who was only 23 years old, takes tonsure, becomes father Sergius and remains to live in the tract all alone.
A little time passed, and monks moved to Makovets, a monastery was formed, which over the years became the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, which still exists today. Its first abbot was a certain Mitrofan, the second abbot was Father Sergius. The abbots of the monastery and the students did not take alms from the believers, living by the fruits of their labor. The community grew, peasants settled around the monastery, fields and meadows were developed, and the former abandoned wilderness turned into a settled territory.
The exploits and glory of the monks became known in Constantinople. From the Patriarch of the Ecumenical Philotheus, St. Sergius was sent a cross, a schema, paraman and a letter. On the advice of the Patriarch, kinovia is introduced in the monastery - a communal charter, subsequently adopted by many monasteries of Russia. This was a bold innovation, since at that time the monasteries lived according to a special charter, according to which the monks arranged their lives in the way that their means allowed.
Cenovia assumed property equality, food from the same boiler in the common refectory, the same clothes and shoes, obedience to the abbot and the "elders". This way of life was the ideal pattern of relationship among believers. The monastery turned into an independent community, whose inhabitants were engaged in prosaic peasant work, praying for the salvation of the soul and the whole world. Having approved the charter of "common life" in Makovets, Sergius began to introduce a life-giving reform in other monasteries.
Monasteries founded by Sergius of Radonezh
- Trinity-Sergius Lavra;
- Staro-Golutvin near Kolomna in the Moscow region;
- Vysotsky monastery in Serpukhov;
- Annunciation Monastery in Kirzhach, Vladimir Region;
- Georgievsky monastery on the river. Klyazma.
Followers of the teachings of the saint founded more than forty monasteries on the territory of Russia. Most of them were built in the wilderness. Over time, villages appeared around them. The “monastic colonization” started by Radonezhsky made it possible to create strongholds for the development of lands and the development of the Russian North and the Volga region.
Battle of Kulikovo
Sergius of Radonezh was a great peacemaker who made an invaluable contribution to the unity of the people. With quiet and meek speeches, he found a way to the hearts of people, calling for obedience and peace. He reconciled the warring parties, calling for submission to the prince of Moscow and the unification of all Russian lands. Subsequently, this created favorable conditions for liberation from the Tatar-Mongols.
The role of Sergius of Radonezh in the battle on the Kulikovo field is great. Before the battle, the Grand Duke came to the saint to pray and ask for advice on whether it was a charitable thing for a Russian person to fight against the atheists. Khan Mamai and his huge army wanted to enslave the freedom-loving, but fearful, Russian people. Saint Sergius gave the prince a blessing for the battle and predicted victory over the Tatar horde.
Sergius of Radonezh blesses Dmitry Donskoy for the Battle of Kulikovo Together with the prince, he sends two monks, thus violating church canons that forbade monks to fight. Sergius was ready to sacrifice the salvation of his soul for the sake of the Fatherland. The Russian army won the Battle of Kulikovo on the day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This became another evidence of the special love and patronage of the Mother of God in the Russian land. The prayer of the Most Pure One accompanied the whole life of the saint, his favorite icon in his cell was “Odegetria the Mother of God” (Guidebook). Not a day passed without the singing of an akathist - a laudatory hymn dedicated to the Mother of God.
Wonders
Ascent along the path of spiritual perfection of the ascetic was accompanied by mystical visions. He saw angels and birds of paradise, heavenly fire and divine radiance. Miracles are associated with the name of the saint, which began even before birth. The first miracle mentioned above took place in the mother's womb. The baby's cry was heard by everyone in the church. The second miracle is associated with unexpectedly revealed abilities for knowledge.
The pinnacle of spiritual contemplation was the appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos, which the holy elder was honored with. Once, after a selfless prayer in front of the icon, a dazzling light illuminated him, in the rays of which he saw the Most Pure Mother of God, accompanied by two apostles - Peter and John. The monk fell to his knees, and the Blessed One touched him and said that she had heard the prayers and would continue to help. After these words, she again became invisible.
The appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos was a good omen for the monastery and all of Russia. A big war with the Tatars was coming, people were in a state of anxious expectation. The vision became a prophecy, good news about a successful outcome and the coming victory over the horde. The theme of the appearance of the Mother of God to the abbot has become one of the most popular in icon painting.
Death
The sunset of Sergius, who lived to a ripe old age, was clear and quiet. He was surrounded by numerous students, he was revered by the great princes and the last beggars. Six months before his death, Sergius transferred the hegumenship to his disciple Nikon and renounced everything worldly, “began to be silent”, preparing for death.
When the illness began to overcome more and more, in anticipation of leaving, he gathers the monastic brethren and turns to them with instruction. He asks “to have the fear of God”, to preserve unanimity, purity of soul and body, love, humility and hospitality, expressed in caring for the poor and homeless. Another old man departed into the world on September 25, 1392.
Memory
After his death, the Trinity monks elevated him to the rank of saints, calling him a reverend, miracle worker and saint. A stone cathedral was built over the tomb of the saint, called Trinity Cathedral. The walls of the cathedral and the iconostasis were painted by an artel under the direction of . The old murals were not preserved; new ones were created in their place in 1635.
According to another version, the canonization of Radonezhsky took place later, on July 5 (18), when the relics of the saint were found. The relics are still in the Trinity Cathedral. They left its walls only under the strongest threat - during fires and the Napoleonic invasion. With the coming to power of the Bolsheviks, the relics were opened, and the remains were kept in the Sergievsky Museum of History and Art.
The modest Radonezh abbot gained immortality in the memory of his followers, all believers and in the history of the state. The Moscow tsars, who visited the pilgrims in the Trinity Monastery, considered the saint to be their intercessor and patron. His image was addressed in difficult times for the Russian people. His name has become a symbol of the spiritual wealth of Russia and the people.
The dates of the memory of the saint are the day of his death on September 25 (October 8) and the day of the glorification of the holy monks of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra on July 6 (19). In the biography of the saint there are many facts of selfless service to God. Many monasteries, temples and monuments were built in his honor. There are 67 temples in the capital alone, many were built in the 17th-18th centuries. There are also abroad. Written many icons and paintings with his image.
The miraculous icon "Sergius of Radonezh" helps parents when they pray for their children to study well. In the house where there is an icon, the children are under his protection. Schoolchildren and students resort to the help of the saint when they experience difficulties in their studies and during exams. Prayer in front of the icon helps in court cases, protects against mistakes and offenders.
Saint Sergius was born in the village of Varnitsy, near Rostov, on May 3, 1314, into the family of the pious and noble boyars Cyril and Mary. The Lord had chosen him from his mother's womb. The Life of St. Sergius tells that during the Divine Liturgy, even before the birth of her son, the righteous Mary and those praying heard the baby’s exclamation three times: before the reading of the Holy Gospel, during the Cherubic Hymn, and when the priest said: “Holy to the Holies.” God gave Saint Cyril and Mary a son, who was named Bartholomew. From the first days of his life, the baby surprised everyone with fasting, on Wednesdays and Fridays he did not take mother's milk, on other days, if Mary ate meat, the baby also refused mother's milk. Noticing this, Mary completely refused meat food. At the age of seven, Bartholomew was sent to study with his two brothers - the elder Stefan and the younger Peter. His brothers studied successfully, but Bartholomew lagged behind in teaching, although the teacher studied with him a lot. The parents scolded the child, the teacher punished, and the comrades mocked his absurdity. Then Bartholomew with tears prayed to the Lord for the gift of book understanding. One day, the father sent Bartholomew for horses in the field. On the way, he met an Angel sent by God in a monastic form: an old man stood under an oak tree in the middle of a field and prayed. Bartholomew approached him and, bowing, began to wait for the end of the prayer of the elder. He blessed the boy, kissed him and asked what he wanted. Bartholomew replied: "With all my heart I want to learn to read and write, Holy Father, pray for me to God that He would help me to learn to read and write." The monk fulfilled the request of Bartholomew, raised his prayer to God and, blessing the lad, said to him: "From now on, God gives you, my child, to understand the letter, you will surpass your brothers and peers." At the same time, the elder took out a vessel and gave Bartholomew a particle of prosphora: “Take, child, and eat,” he said. “This is given to you as a sign of the grace of God and for the understanding of Holy Scripture.” The elder wanted to leave, but Bartholomew asked him to visit his parents' house. Parents greeted the guest with honor and offered refreshments. The elder replied that one should first taste spiritual food, and ordered their son to read the Psalter. Bartholomew began to read harmoniously, and the parents were surprised at the change that had taken place with their son. Saying goodbye, the elder prophetically predicted about St. Sergius: "Great will be your son before God and people. He will become the chosen abode of the Holy Spirit." Since then, the holy lad could easily read and understand the content of the books. With special zeal, he began to delve into prayer, not missing a single Divine Service. Already in childhood, he imposed a strict fast on himself, did not eat anything on Wednesdays and Fridays, and on other days he ate only bread and water.
Around 1328, the parents of St. Sergius moved from Rostov to Radonezh. When their eldest sons got married, Cyril and Maria, shortly before their death, accepted the schema in the Khotkovsky Monastery of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, not far from Radonezh. Subsequently, the widowed older brother Stefan also accepted monasticism in this monastery. Having buried his parents, Bartholomew, together with his brother Stefan, retired to the wilderness to live in the forest (12 versts from Radonezh). First they built a cell, and then a small church, and, with the blessing of Metropolitan Theognost, it was consecrated in the Name of the Most Holy Trinity. But soon, unable to endure the hardships of life in a deserted place, Stefan left his brother and moved to the Moscow Epiphany Monastery (where he became close to monk Alexy, later Metropolitan of Moscow, commemorated February 12).
Bartholomew, on October 7, 1337, received monastic vows from hegumen Mitrofan with the name of the holy martyr Sergius (Comm. 7 October) and laid the foundation for a new life to the glory of the Life-Giving Trinity. Enduring demonic temptations and fears, the Saint ascended from strength to strength. Gradually he became known to other monks who sought his guidance. Saint Sergius received everyone with love, and soon a brotherhood of twelve monks formed in the small monastery. Their experienced spiritual mentor was distinguished by rare industriousness. With his own hands he built several cells, carried water, chopped wood, baked bread, sewed clothes, prepared food for the brethren, and humbly performed other tasks. St. Sergius combined hard work with prayer, vigil and fasting. The brethren were amazed that with such a severe feat, the health of their mentor not only did not worsen, but even more strengthened. Not without difficulty, the monks begged St. Sergius to accept hegumenship over the monastery. In 1354 Bishop Athanasius of Volhynia consecrated the Monk a hieromonk and elevated him to the rank of hegumen. As before, monastic obediences were strictly observed in the monastery. As the monastery grew, so did its needs. Often the monks ate meager food, but through the prayers of St. Sergius, unknown people brought everything they needed.
The glory of the deeds of St. Sergius became known in Constantinople, and Patriarch Philotheos sent the Reverend a cross, a paraman and a schema, as a blessing for new deeds, a Blessed letter, advised the chosen one of God to build a cenobitic monastery. With a patriarchal message, the Monk went to Saint Alexy and received advice from him to introduce a strict communal life. The monks began to grumble at the severity of the charter, and the Monk was forced to leave the monastery. On the Kirzhach River, he founded a monastery in honor of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Theotokos. The order in the former monastery began to quickly decline, and the remaining monks turned to Saint Alexy to return the saint.
Saint Sergius unquestioningly obeyed the saint, leaving his disciple, Saint Roman, as abbot of the Kirzhach monastery.
Even during his lifetime, Saint Sergius was rewarded with the grace-filled gift of miracles. He resurrected the boy when the desperate father considered his only son forever lost. The fame of the miracles performed by St. Sergius began to spread rapidly, and patients began to be brought to him both from the surrounding villages and from distant places. And no one left the Reverend without receiving healings of ailments and edifying advice. Everyone glorified St. Sergius and reverently revered on a par with the ancient holy fathers. But human glory did not seduce the great ascetic, and he still remained a model of monastic humility.
One day Saint Stephen, Bishop of Perm (Comm. 27 April), who deeply revered the Monk, was on his way from his diocese to Moscow. The road ran eight miles from the Sergius Monastery. Assuming to visit the monastery on the way back, the saint stopped and, after reading a prayer, bowed to St. Sergius with the words: "Peace be with you, spiritual brother." At this time, Saint Sergius was sitting with the brethren at a meal. In response to the blessing of the saint, the Monk Sergius stood up, read a prayer, and sent a return blessing to the saint. Some of the disciples, surprised by the extraordinary deed of the Reverend, hurried to the indicated place and, catching up with the saint, were convinced of the truth of the vision.
Gradually, the monks became witnesses of other similar phenomena. Once, during the liturgy, the Angel of the Lord served the Monk, but out of his humility, the Monk Sergius forbade anyone to talk about this until the end of his life on earth.
Close ties of spiritual friendship and brotherly love connected St. Sergius with St. Alexis. The saint, in his declining years, called the Reverend to him and asked him to accept the Russian Metropolis, but blessed Sergius, out of humility, refused the primacy.
The Russian land at that time was suffering from the Tatar yoke. Grand Duke Dimitry Ioannovich Donskoy, having gathered an army, came to the monastery of St. Sergius to ask for blessings for the upcoming battle. To help the Grand Duke, the Monk blessed two monks of his monastery: Schemamonk Andrei (Oslyabya) and Schemamonk Alexander (Peresvet), and predicted victory for Prince Demetrius. The prophecy of St. Sergius was fulfilled: on September 8, 1380, on the day of the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos, Russian soldiers won a complete victory over the Tatar hordes on the Kulikovo field, marking the beginning of the liberation of the Russian land from the Tatar yoke. During the battle, St. Sergius, together with the brethren, stood in prayer and asked God to grant victory to the Russian army.
For the life of an angel, Saint Sergius was rewarded with a heavenly vision from God. One night, Abba Sergius was reading the rule in front of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. Having finished reading the canon of the Mother of God, he sat down to rest, but suddenly told his disciple, the Monk Micah (Comm. 6 May), that a miraculous visit awaited them. In a moment, the Mother of God appeared, accompanied by the holy apostles Peter and John the Theologian. From an unusually bright light, the Monk Sergius fell on his face, but the Most Holy Theotokos touched him with her hands and, blessing, promised to always patronize his holy monastery.
Having reached a ripe old age, the Reverend, having foreseen his death in six months, called the brethren to him and blessed the disciple, the Monk Nikon, who was experienced in spiritual life and obedience, for the position of abbess (Comm. 17 November). In silent solitude, the Monk reposed to God on September 25, 1392. On the eve, the great saint of God called the brethren for the last time and addressed with the words of the testament: "Take heed to yourself, brethren. First, have the fear of God, purity of soul and unfeigned love..."
Years in the village of Varnitsy, near Rostov, in the family of pious and noble boyars Cyril and Mary, received the name Bartholomew in baptism.
From the first days of his life, the baby surprised everyone with fasting, on Wednesdays and Fridays he did not take mother's milk, on other days, if Mary ate meat, the baby also refused mother's milk. Noticing this, Mary completely refused meat food.
At the age of seven, Bartholomew was sent to study with his two brothers - the elder Stefan and the younger Peter. His brothers studied successfully, but Bartholomew lagged behind in teaching, although the teacher studied with him a lot. The parents scolded the child, the teacher punished, and the comrades mocked his absurdity. Then Bartholomew with tears prayed to the Lord for the gift of book understanding. One day, the father sent Bartholomew for horses in the field. On the way, he met an Angel sent by God in a monastic form: an old man stood under an oak tree in the middle of a field and prayed. Bartholomew approached him and, bowing, began to wait for the end of the prayer of the elder. He blessed the boy, kissed him and asked what he wanted. Bartholomew replied: "With all my heart I want to learn to read and write, Holy Father, pray for me to God that He would help me to learn to read and write." The monk fulfilled the request of Bartholomew, raised his prayer to God and, blessing the lad, said to him: "From now on, God gives you, my child, to understand the letter, you will surpass your brothers and peers." At the same time, the elder took out a vessel and gave Bartholomew a particle of prosphora: “Take, child, and eat,” he said. “This is given to you as a sign of the grace of God and for the understanding of Holy Scripture.” The elder wanted to leave, but Bartholomew asked him to visit his parents' house. Parents greeted the guest with honor and offered refreshments. The elder replied that one should first taste spiritual food, and ordered their son to read the Psalter. Bartholomew began to read harmoniously, and the parents were surprised at the change that had taken place with their son. Saying goodbye, the elder prophetically predicted about St. Sergius: "Great will be your son before God and people. He will become the chosen abode of the Holy Spirit." Since then, the holy lad could easily read and understand the content of the books. With special zeal, he began to delve into prayer, not missing a single Divine Service. Already in childhood, he imposed a strict fast on himself, did not eat anything on Wednesdays and Fridays, and on other days he ate only bread and water.
For centuries, the relics of St. Sergius rested in the Trinity Lavra founded by him, being one of the greatest shrines of the Russian Church. Naturally, they were one of the first targets of the anti-church struggle unleashed by the atheists who came to power after the October Revolution in the year. The closure of the Lavra was preceded by the blasphemous opening of the relics of St. Sergius in the year, which was one of the main links in the broad campaign of the authorities to open the holy relics. When the Lavra was closed in a year, the holy relics were placed in a museum. Before that, priest Pavel Florensky and Count Yuri Alexandrovich Olsufiev, with the blessing of Patriarch Tikhon, secretly hid the honest head of the reverend from everyone. Only in a year, after the Lavra, along with the holy relics, was returned to the Church, the honest head was reunited with the body.
Prayers
Troparion to Sergius, hegumen of Radonezh, wonderworker of all Russia, tone 4
Even the ascetic of virtues, / as a true warrior of Christ God, / on the passion of the greats labored thou in temporary life, / in singing, vigilance and veneration, the image was your disciple; / the same and the Holy Spirit dwelled in you, / You are brightly adorned with His action. / But as if having boldness to the Holy Trinity, / remember the flock that you gathered together, wiser, / and do not forget, as you promised, / visiting your children, / St. Sergius, our father.
John troparion, tone 8
From youth you received Christ in your soul, reverend, / and most of all you longed to evade worldly rebellion, / courageously settled in the wilderness, / and children of obedience in it, the fruits of humility, you raised. / That being in the Trinity the settlement, / enlightened all your miracles, who come to you in faith, / and abundant healing to all. / Our Father Sergius, pray to Christ God, may our souls be saved.
Ying troparion, same voice
In the purity of your life, the source of your tears, / confessions of labor sweats, thou hast, / and thou hast drained the spiritual font, holy Sergius, reverend, / you wash the creatures that create your memory with love, / the foulness of the wallpaper of the soul and body. / For the sake of these, your child is, we cry out to you: / pray, Father, to the Holy Trinity for our souls.
John troparion for the uncovering of relics, tone 4
Today, the reigning city of Moscow flaunts brightly, / as if with light-beaming dawns, we shine with lightning of your miracles, / convenes the whole universe / praise you, God-wise Sergius, / your most honorable and glorious monastery, / south in the name of the Holy Trinity, you created many of your labors, father, / have your flocks of your disciples in you, / joy and joy are fulfilled. / But we, celebrating the most glorious finding of your honest relics, in the hidden lands, / like a fragrant flower and a censer fragrant, / kindly kissing me, various healings are acceptable / and with your prayers of forgiveness of sins of forgiveness, / Father Reverend Sergius, / pray to the Holy Trinity to save souls our.
Kontakion, tone 8
Wounded by Christ's love, reverend, / and following this with an irrevocable desire, / you hated all carnal pleasure, / and like the sun of your Fatherland shone forth, / with this Christ enrich you with the gift of miracles. / Remember us, who honor your blessed memory, let us call you: / rejoice, Sergius the Wise.
Ying kontakion, same voice
Like an incorporeal equalizer, / you excelled all the saints with fasting labors and prayerful vigils, wise Sergius, / thus you received from God to heal ailments and drive away demons / and for this we cry out to you: / rejoice, father, reverend Sergius.
In kontakion for the uncovering of relics, tone 8
Today, like the sun is bright, / having risen from the earth, your honest relics have become incorruptible, / like a fragrant color, shining with many miracles, / and exuding various healings to all the faithful, / and your flock merrily chosen, / having gathered wisely and good pastel thou, / for them even now stand before the Trinity, praying, / let us all cry out to you: / rejoice, Sergius the Wise.
Troparion prpp. Sergius and Nikon of Radonezh, tone 8
Like the three bright suns of luminous stars, / You illuminate the hearts of the faithful with Trinity light, / the vessels of the Light of the Most Holy Trinity have appeared, / and by your amazing life, the monk quickly set the law, / and the splendor of the churches, and the faithful, and the saint, and all the people, / all the more demonic filth having driven away / with your pure teachings and deeds, / good save the flock gathered by you, / but even now we pray to you: visit your children, / as if they have boldness in the Holy Trinity, / God-wise, Sergius with his wonderful disciple Nikon, / and pray to Christ May God save our souls.
Kondak prpp. Sergius and Nikon of Radonezh, tone 8
In fasting, having joined Great Anthony / and Euthymius of Jerusalem, jealous of labors, / like angels, appear on earth, / enlightening, reverend, faithful hearts / Divine signs and wonders forever, / for this sake we joyfully honor you and cry out to you with love: / rejoice, reverend Fathers Sergius and Nikone, / fasting fertilizer and all the Russian land is a great affirmation.
Literature
- Life (large)
- Life (large, divided into separate pages-chapters)
Used materials
- Life (according to the "Handbook of the clergyman"):
- Full Troparion, Publishing House "Trinity", 2006, v. 1, p. 71-73, 81, 82.
- Andronik (Trubachev), igum., "The fate of the head of St. Sergius", JMP, 2001, No. 4, p. 33-53.