The Christian Activist

"A Journal of Orthodox Opinion"

St. Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov

Excerpt from St. Seraphim of Sarov: A Spiritual Biography, by Archimandrite Lazarus Moore, New Sarov Press, 1994. This new Spiritual Biography is one of the most wonderful stories ever told about a true Saint. See page 29 for details on how to get this book from The Christian Activist.

Saint Seraphim of Sarov (1759-1833) is among the best known and most beloved Saints of the Orthodox Church.

St. Seraphim lived at the beginning of a spring time in the life of the Church in Russia. In his century monasticism would flower and with it, the faith of the people would flourish. During his lifetime thousands of pilgrims thronged to the Sarov Monastery to see him. They came from all over that vast land. Seventy years after his repose, love for him had so taken root in the Russian people that hundreds of thousands attended his Canonization.

This great Saint radiated the love of God to all who came to him; peasants and nobles, lay men and women, Monks and Nuns. Just to be with him strengthened, cheered and healed them. Several of his spiritual children were blessed to see a further radiance. They relate how his face was so luminous, that it was even impossible to look upon it.

When St. Seraphim was asked how often one should approach the heavenly Sacrament, he answered:

"The oftener, the better."

In particular he gave the Sisters of Diveyev the following rule, as noted by Sister Kapitolina:

"One should not lose an opportunity of using as often as possible the grace granted through the Communion of Christ's Holy Mysteries. While trying as far as possible to concentrate on the humble realization of one's utter sinfulness, one should approach the Holy Sacrament which redeems everything and everyone with hope and firm faith in the unutterable mercy of God, saying with contrition: I have sinned, 0h Lord, with my soul, with my heart, in word, in thought and with all my senses."

Especially remarkable is St. Seraphim's order about this to the Confessor of the Diveyev Convent, Father Basil:

"I command them, Father, to partake of Christ's holy and life-giving Sacrament in all the four fasts and on the twelve festivals; I even order them to do so on the great feast days: the oftener the better." "As their spiritual Father, do not oppose them, I tell you; for the grace given us through Communion is so great that however unworthy and sinful a man may be, as long as he approaches the Lord who redeems us all (in the humble realization of his all-sinfulness), though we be covered from head to foot with the wounds of sins, he will be cleansed, Father, by the grace of Christ, and become more and more enlightened, and will be quite illumined and saved. You, Father, are their spiritual director, and I tell you all this that you may know."

"Besides," writes Father Basil, "he always instructed me as the spiritual Father of the Sisters of the Convent, bidding me to be as indulgent as possible at Confession. In the past many have rebuked and condemned me for that, and have even been angry with me; and even till now they still judge me: but I strictly keep his commandment and have kept it all my life. The servant of God used to say:

`Remember, you are only a witness, Father, but it is God Who is the judge! And how much, how much, and such awful sins as it is impossible even to utter, did not our bountiful Lord and Saviour forgive us. How then are we men to judge a man! We are mere witnesses, mere witnesses, Father. Always remember that: merely witnesses, Father!"

To a layman he gave this commandment: "Communicate four times. Once is also good. As God deems you worthy. He who communicates, will be saved; but he who does not, I think will not. Where the Master is, there shall also the servant be" (Jn. 12:26). On another occasion the Saint proclaimed a deep mystery, namely that the Communion of one is also beneficial for others.

"He who reverently partakes of Holy Communion and that not only once a year, will be saved, prosperous and live long on this earth. I believe," he added, "that according to the great goodness of God, His grace will be manifested in the family of the communicant also. In the Lord's sight one who does His will is more than a legion of transgressors."

What a wonderful, comforting and instructive revelation !

At the same time the Father used to quieten those who were afraid to approach the Sacrament owing to a sense of their unworthiness. We have seen it from his commandment to Father Basil, but it appeared especially forcibly in the case of the Novice John.

Once, on the eve of one of the twelve feasts, when they were to have Holy Communion, John took some food after the Evening Service, which was not in accordance with the rules of the Monastery. To this was added a general consciousness of his unworthiness; and the Novice began to be downcast. And the more he thought the more he despaired: "A legion of terrifying thoughts, one after another, crowded my head. Instead of hope in the merits of Christ the Saviour Who covers all our sins, I imagined that according to God's judgment, on account of my unworthiness, I should be either burnt by fire or swallowed up by the earth alive, as soon as I approached the Holy Chalice."

Wishing to set his conscience at rest, the Novice confessed, but even this brought no peace to his soul; and, standing in the sanctuary, he continued to suffer. St. Seraphim, perceiving this, called him and said these wonderful words: "Had we filled the ocean with our tears, even then we should not have been able to satisfy the Lord for what He gives us free, nourishing us with His most pure Flesh and Blood, which wash, cleanse, vivify and raise us up. And so, draw near without a doubt, and do not be troubled; only believe that this is the true Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which has been given to heal all our sins."

The Novice, now at peace, took the Holy Sacrament with faith and humility.

But another time the Saint uttered an awful word about unworthy communicants. A young widow, Anna Petrovna Eropkina, having lived in marriage only three months, was talking about St. Seraphim, and among other things, noted the following: When her beloved husband suddenly fell ill, she "feared to suggest to him that he should take Christ's Holy Sacrament" being afraid of frightening him; "and though he also was very devout, he feared to grieve his wife by inviting a Priest." And so he died without Communion. His wife was greatly distressed about it.

"Especially to die without the Viaticum seemed to me God's punishment for my sins and those of my husband, I thought that my husband would be for ever alienated from the divine life." "After the burial... at times I was in despair and would have perhaps done away with my life, if I had not been strictly watched."

So the widow remained in anguish for ten months. Then upon the advice of her uncle, she went the five hundred versts (350 miles) to distant Sarov. There she found complete peace with the Saint, and as regards her husband's death, the Father told her this: "Do not distress yourself about it my joy; I do not think that for this alone his soul will perish. God only can judge as to whom He will either reward or punish and in what way."

And further he added: "This is what sometimes happens: here in this world people take Holy Communion; but according to the Lord's judgment, they remain uncommunicated."

How awful this is! How enlightening! And then the Saint continued: