St. Sergius of Radonezh - Saints - History - Catalog of articles - Unconditional love. Saint Sergius, hegumen of Radonezh, wonderworker of all Russia († 1392)

Saint Sergius was born in the village of Varnitsy, near Rostov, on May 3, 1314, into a pious and noble boyar family.

The Lord had chosen him from his mother's womb. In the life of St. Sergius, it is told that for Divine Liturgy even before the birth of his son, his mother 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 saints."

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 his mother 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. Then Bartholomew with tears prayed to the Lord for the gift of book understanding. One day, the father sent Bartholomew to look for the missing horses. 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 that he wanted to learn to read and write, and asked God to pray for him. The monk fulfilled the request of Bartholomew, raised his prayer to God and, blessing the lad, told him that God would let him understand the letter. At the same time, the elder took out a vessel and gave Bartholomew a particle of prosphora 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: “Your son will be great before God and people. It will become the chosen abode of the Holy Spirit.” From that time on, the holy lad read and understood the contents of the books without difficulty, and 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 were getting married, Saints Cyril and Mary, shortly before their death, accepted the schema at the Khotkovo 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. After burying his parents, Bartholomew, together with his brother Stefan, retired to the wilderness in the forest near 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 bear the difficulties 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).

Bartholomew, on October 7, 1337, received monastic vows from hegumen Mitrofan with the name of the holy martyr Sergius and laid the foundation for a new life in glory Life-Giving Trinity. Enduring demonic temptations and fears, the monk ascended from strength to strength. The deeds of St. Sergius could not hide, and the fragrance of his holy life spread far. People began to flow to him and gather under his roof, thirsting to bear the yoke of Christ. 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 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 abbot.

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 fame of the deeds of St. Sergius became known in Constantinople, and Patriarch Philotheos sent the reverend a cross, paraman and schema as a blessing for new exploits, a blessed letter, advised the chosen one of God to build a cenobitic monastery. With a patriarchal message, the monk went to Saint Alexis and received advice from him to introduce a strict communal life. The monks began to grumble at the severity of the Rule, 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, the Monk 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 the sick began to be brought to him both from the surrounding villages and from distant places. And no one left the monk without receiving healings of ailments and edifying advice.

One day Saint Stephen, Bishop of Perm, 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, the Monk 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 monk, 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, an 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.

Close ties of spiritual friendship and brotherly love connected St. Sergius with St. Alexis. The saint, in his declining years, called the monk 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 the victory of 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, the Monk Sergius, together with the brethren, stood in prayer and asked God to grant victory to the Russian army, and also commemorated all those who fell on the battlefield, seeing with spiritual eyes the battle that was taking place.

For the life of an angel, St. 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, that a miraculous visit awaited them. Soon the Mother of God appeared, accompanied by the holy apostles Peter and John the Theologian. Saint Sergius fell on his face before the Most Holy Theotokos. She touched him with her hands and, blessing, promised to always patronize his holy monastery.

The monk reposed in God on September 25, 1392. The day before, the great saint of God called the brethren for the last time and turned to them with the words of the testament: “Take heed to yourselves, brethren. First, have the fear of God, purity of soul and unfeigned love.”

On July 5, 1422, Saint Nikon carried away the incorruptible relics of Saint Sergius and laid them in the monastery's stone Trinity Cathedral, which had been erected especially for this purpose. To this day, the holy relics of St. Sergius are the most precious treasure of the monastery, a source of blessed healing of spiritual and bodily infirmities of all those prayerfully resorting to his intercession.

Special prayers are offered to the monk for the abolition of pride and conceit, for the gift of children's ability to teach science.

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 (at present he 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 students. The work of Epiphanius the Wise entitled "The Life of Sergius of Radonezh", written by him at the beginning of the 15th century, is the most 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 difficult problem interpretation of 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. When the name Bartholomew was given. 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 Holy Bible. 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 Rus', 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 - a prime example lawlessness that was happening at that time in Rus'. 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 reached the exact historical information about his childhood and youth. It is known that, even as a child, he prayed fervently. When he was 12 years old, he decided to take Cyril and Maria did not mind 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 Rus', they first took the monastic vows, and then the schema. After the death of his parents, Bartholomew went to where his brother Stefan, who had already been widowed by that time, 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 rector 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 Rus'.

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 indestructibility 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 exemption from Tatar-Mongol yoke. Sergius of Radonezh made a significant contribution to the Russian victory. 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 Rus' 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. Saint 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, he predicted Dmitry victory over the Tatar Khan and return 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 at one 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: the youth simply 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 who is far from believing in God would prefer not to focus on such information about the miracles of the saint, finding a different, more logical explanation for them. 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 a letter 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 Rus'. His biography is replete with facts of selfless service to God. Many temples are dedicated to him. Only in Moscow there are 67 of them. Among them are such as the temple of Sergius of Radonezh in Bibirevo, the cathedral of Sergius of Radonezh in the Vysokopetrovsky monastery, the temple 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 oldest image is an embroidered cover made in the 15th century. Now it is in the sacristy of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

One of the most famous works Andrei Rublev - "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. short biography he 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.

The greatest Russian ascetic was born, it is believed, in 1322, in the Rostov land, in the family of the Rostov boyar Kirill and his wife Maria. According to the story of the Life, even before birth, he was marked by special grace. Once, when his mother, who was carrying a baby in her womb, came to church on Sunday and stood at the church service, he shouted three times from his mother’s womb, so that all who were in the church at that time were amazed and said: “What kind of child? May the will of the Lord be with him."

At baptism, which followed, according to custom, on the 40th day after birth he was given a name Bartholomew(The memory of the Apostle Bartholomew is celebrated by the Church on June 11). Soon after baptism began to notice something unusual and unprecedented: on Wednesdays and Fridays - on fast days - the baby did not touch the mother's breast at all and did not take mouth cow's milk, and on other days he ate as usual children. And they understood then that a certain sign had appeared on him and that the grace of God was resting on him.

When the boy was seven years old, his parents sent him to learn to read and write. Bartholomew had brothers: the eldest Stephen and junior Peter. It was easy for the brothers to read, Bartholomew but he could not get used to writing and studied slowly and with great difficulty. For this, his parents often scolded him, his teachers punished him more severely, and his comrades reproached him. The lad often secretly prayed to God, asking him to teach and enlighten him. It was so, writes the author Lives, by looking God's- so that this youth would receive book teaching not from people, but from God.

Indeed, everything happened miraculously. One day my father sent Bartholomew for their horses, which have disappeared somewhere. When the lad was already returning home, he met a certain monk, a holy elder: he stood under an oak tree and prayed diligently. The lad humbly bowed to him and waited for him to finish the prayer. And then the elder called the youth to him and asked him: “What are you looking for or what do you want, child?” The lad answered: “Most of all, I would like to learn to read and write. Saint Father, pray for me to God!” Elder he prayed and then handed over to the lad a piece of holy prosphora: “Take and eat this. Through this, a sign of the grace of God is given to you. Do not grieve about literacy: from this day on, the Lord will grant you the knowledge of literacy. And so it happened: from that day on, the lad learned to read and understand the holy books well. Elder same, which Bartholomew called to his house, in parting he said to his parents: “I tell you, this lad will be great, before God and before people for the sake of his virtuous life, and he will become the abode of the Holy Trinity, and will lead many people to God with him.” The parents were perplexed about his words and decided this: behold, an angel was sent to grant their son their knowledge of letters.

As a youth, the saint was forced to leave the Rostov land with his family.. As mentioned above, his father was a very noble man: “one of the glorious and famous boyars"; he owned great wealth, but at the end of his life he went bankrupt. Epiphanius the Wise explains why this happened: “due to frequent walking with the prince in Horde, due to frequent Tatar raids on Rus, because of the frequent Tatar embassies, because of the many heavy tributes and fees of the Horde, because of the frequent lack of bread. But most of all, the fate of Cyril and his family (and many other Rostov families) was affected by the transition of the Rostov principality under the rule of Moscow. Messengers of the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan Danilovich Kalita inflicted great oppression on the inhabitants of Rostov and the Rostov lands, literally extorting tributes and dues from them, which had to be paid to the Horde. Many not only lost their property, but were beaten and maimed. Even the "city eparch" (that is, the chief Rostov boyar) Averky "hung upside down, and laid their hands on him, and so they left the scolded." Unable to withstand such misfortunes, the boyar Kirill left his Rostov possessions and moved to Radonezh, a volost that is part of the Moscow principality itself (later it will go to the youngest son Ivan Kalita Andrey). The Moscow princes granted many benefits to the inhabitants of their principality; this attracted settlers here from devastated and plundered (including by Muscovites themselves) lands. Together with the boyar Kirill in Radonezh Many of his relatives also moved.

The life of the lad Bartholomew continued to flow in frequent prayers, thoughts about the destiny of man. He avoided games, did not argue with anyone, did not swear, rarely laughed, strictly observed the fast and exhausted his body with various feats. Soon his brothers Stefan and Peter got married. Bartholomew did not even think about marriage and thought about leaving the world and taking tonsure in a monastery. When he spoke about this with his parents, says Epiphanius, they answered him: “Child, wait a little and be patient for us: we are old, poor, sick now, and there is no one to look after us. When you bury us, then you will fulfill your desire.” Bartholomew gladly promised it to them.

Some time later, his parents took monastic vows. and soon reposed, blessing their son and leaving him all their property. Taking the parents to last way, Bartholomew returned to his house and began to arrange worldly affairs. He called his little brother Petra and gave him the house and all the parental property, but left nothing for himself. His older brother Stefan had been widowed by this time. After the death of his wife, he took the vows in the monastery Holy Mother of God on Khotkovo (about three versts from Radonezh). Bartholomew came to Stephen and began to beg him to go with him to look for a deserted place where one could lead a secluded pious life. Stephen agreed. At that time Bartholomew was about twenty years old.

The brothers went around many places in the forest and, finally, found a certain deserted place, located in the very heart of the forest., about ten miles from the Khotkov Monastery. There was also water without which desert life would not be possible. The brothers fell in love with this area, and they began to clear the forest. First they built a light hut with their own hands, and then they cut down a cell and a small church from logs. By mutual agreement, they decided to dedicate Church of the Holy Trinity. From Moscow, from Metropolitan Theognost, some priests came and consecrated the newly built temple.

Life in these desert places was hard: need for everything, deprivation for everything, and there was nowhere to get food, drink, or anything else that is necessary for life. Shortly after the consecration of the church Stephen, not enduring the hardships of the desert hagiography, left his brother and went to Moscow where he settled in Epiphany Monastery. At that time in this monastery stayed and future Metropolitan Alexei. Prince Semyon Ivanovich Proud, son of Ivan Kalita, brought Stefan closer to him, ordered him to be appointed abbot of the Epiphany monastery and made him his confessor.

Left alone in the chosen place after the departure of his brother, the saint continued his ascetic life.: he wanted to take the monastic dignity only after he had strengthened himself in labors and exploits and accustomed himself to hardships of monastic life. And so, having tested himself in this way, he called to his abode a certain spiritual old man, hegumen Mitrofan and asked him perform the rite of passage. This happened in 1342, on October 7, in memory of the holy martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, and therefore he was named monastic name Sergius.

« Who can tell about his labors or who is able to tell about his exploits, which he did, remaining alone in the desert, exclaims the author Lives of a saint. - About his constant vigil, unceasing prayers? O constant hunger, thirst, poverty in everything? For everything was missing - whatever you name, it was not! In addition, the monk experienced many temptations from demons: more than once or twice they came to him with noise, urging him to leave that place; the monk, armed with prayer and the cross, cast them out.

These places were uninhabited by people, says the Life, but many wild animals lived nearby. Flocks of hungry wolves often roamed past the monk's cell, and sometimes bears also came to him. Reverend, although he was afraid of them, like every person, he prayed diligently and thereby strengthened himself. One day a bear got into the habit of going to his hut. Reverend, seeing that the bear did not come to him out of malice, but in order to get food for himself, he began to take out a loaf of bread for the beast from the hut and put it on a stump or on a log so that the beast could take food. The bear took the bread and left. It happened that the monk gave him the last, and he himself remained hungry. The bear used to go to him and visited him every day, patiently waiting for the offering. And it went on like that for a long time.

Gradually, a rumor began to spread about the reverend, and many of the surrounding villages and cities came to him for advice and blessings. And for everyone he had a kind word, good advice. started coming to Sergius and some monks, asking permission to settle nearby. At first, the monk refused them, speaking about the difficulties of life in these desert places. But they begged him, and he yielded to their requests. The brethren built separate cells for themselves(moreover, Sergius built three or four cells with his own hands) and began to live together. In total, twelve people gathered, and for a long time the number of monks remained constant: if one left the monastery, then another came to his place. Among others was hegumen Mitrofan- the one that tonsured Sergius to the monastic rank: he became abbot of the monastery, and he also served in the church. However, after some time hegumen Mitrofan died. The brethren began to convince Sergius to accept abbess, but he categorically refused, saying: “I have no idea of ​​becoming an abbot. I want to remain a simple monk until the end of my life and not teach others, but study myself.” And yet, after long and persistent persuasion, reverend was forced to agree. He went on foot to the city of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, to the Volyn Bishop Athanasius who ruled then, in the absence metropolitan Russian Church. (Metropolitan Alexei was in Constantinople at that time.) Athanasius heard from people more than once about the ascetic life Sergius. After talking with him, he ordained him first as a subdeacon, then, on the same day, as a deacon, and the next day as a priest, and appointed abbot the monastery he founded. This happened in 1353.

Having become abbot, the monk did not change the severity of his life. As before, he did not disdain any work: with his own hands he built cells for the brethren, carried water, chopped wood, baked bread, sewed clothes. He was the first to come to church and the last to leave the church, he spent his nights in fervent prayer, only briefly forgetting himself in sleep. Bread and water - and even then only on those days when there is no fast - were his food. Reverend he was distinguished by good health: the hardships of the life he had chosen did not exhaust him, but tempered him even more, gave him strength for new exploits.

Epiphanius in his Life gives several examples of the exceptional patience and humility of St. Sergius. Once in the monastery happened hunger. At that time, the cenobitic charter had not yet been adopted in the monastery; the brethren lived separately and disposed of their property themselves. Sergius, who did not have a piece of bread left, endured for three days and, finally, decided to get hired to work for one monk, who planned to attach a canopy to his cell. He had already prepared everything necessary for work and was waiting only for the peasants from the nearest village. Monk scared that Sergius will ask too much for his work, but reverend answered that only a few pieces of the old moldy bread. Then the monk brought out a sieve with rotten bread and offered it Sergius. “If I don’t do work, I don’t take payment,” answered reverend. With zeal he set to work and finished it by evening. Only at sunset did he take the bread and, having prayed, ate it.

The monk did not like expensive robes and always walked around in simple and coarse clothes.. Once upon a time monastery a certain peasant came from a distant village. He heard a lot about St. Sergius and wished to see him. Reverend then it happened to dig the ground in the monastery kitchen garden. When the peasant was told about this, he hurried to the garden and saw the saint there in thin and shabby clothes, spotted with patches. The peasant turned away blessed and did not even want to look at him, not believing that this was the great saint. “I came from afar to look at the great saint,” he said, “and now I see a simple and poor old man, of which there are many.” “Do not grieve, soon you will see who you want,” Sergius dropped to him. Soon came to monastery prince, dressed in luxurious clothes and accompanied by many servants. The saint, along with others, went out to meet him. Prince from a distance he got off his horse and bowed to the ground, asking for blessings from the saint. Then hegumen and prince sat down side by side and began to talk with each other, while the rest all stood. "What is this monk who is sitting talking to the prince? asked the startled peasant. “Haven’t you heard about Abbot Sergius? This is what he is,” they answered him. Hearing this, the peasant felt shame and remorse. When prince left, he bowed to the ground to the hegumen and began to ask his forgiveness for having offended him in words and thoughts. The saint so encouraged him: “Do not grieve, child. You alone correctly thought of me when you said that I was a simple man. Others are mistaken, considering me great.

Even during his lifetime, Saint Sergius became famous for the gift of miracles. It was said that he brought back to life a certain dead youth, whom his father was already mourning and preparing to bury. At the same time, the saint forbade the parent of the boy healed by him to thank himself: “You made a mistake, O man, and you don’t know what you are saying: when you carried him here, your boy became weak from the cold, and it seemed to you that he died. Now he has warmed himself in a warm cell, and you think that he has risen. It is impossible to resurrect anyone before the general Resurrection. The saint also became famous for the gift of healing the possessed. Through his prayer near the monastery itself, where there was no running water, scored a plentiful source, from which later the monks began to take water for all the monastic needs, and the sick who came to the monastery received healing. But Sergius forbade the brethren to name this source Sergiev: "I did not give this water, but the Lord gave it to us unworthy."

Presumably around 1376, a cenobitic charter was introduced in the monastery., which at that time was practically unknown in Muscovite Rus'. This was an event of paramount importance not only in the life of Troitsky monastery, but also in the spiritual life of all Muscovite Rus'. Monasteries of that time they were divided into singular (Keliot) and cenobitic (kinovia). In the first, the monks lived in special cells and owned their own property; as a rule, such monasteries were ktitor, that is, they were founded by laymen - princes, boyars, bishops or other persons or groups of persons; their abbots were subordinate to ktitors in everything. Monasteries of the second type - cenobitic - were based on the complete renunciation of the monks from their property and on the principles of equal mandatory participation of all monks in monastic services and work. The first cenobitic monastery in Rus' was Kievo-Pechersky, founded by Saints Anthony and Theodosius in the 11th century; however, later the monks Pechersk the cloisters departed from the principles of common life. Muscovite Rus knew almost exclusively Keliot monasteries.

The life of the saint tells about this significant event in the life of the Sergius Monastery in the following way. From Constantinople, from Patriarch Philotheus, envoys arrived in Moscow. They also visited the monastery of St. Sergius, handing him a message from the patriarch. The message said that the patriarch had heard a lot about a virtuous life Abbot Sergius; "but one thing is still missing - you have not arranged a community life." That's why patriarch and gave advice: to introduce a cenobitic charter in the monastery, under which all the property of the brethren became common. In addition to this message, the patriarch sent Sergius a cross with particles of the relics of the Lithuanian martyrs John, Anthony and Eustathius, who had been executed in Lithuania shortly before, as well as a paramand - a small quadrangular board depicting the passion of Christ, and a schema - monastic robe. Sergius went for advice to Moscow, to Metropolitan Alexei. With the consent of the Metropolitan, a cenobitic charter was introduced in the Trinity Monastery. Brethren were distributed according to their duties: one became a cellarer, the other a cook, a baker, etc. Sergius He demanded that the brethren firmly follow the commandment: "Do not own anything to anyone, do not call anything your own, but consider everything common." The monastery began to take more care of the food of the poor and the poor, wanderers and pilgrims. In general, the introduction of a cenobitic charter significantly increased the influence of the monastery on the social life of the country. Subsequently, cohabitation, the introduction of common monastic property allowed the monastery to become the largest owner of land and dependent peasants in Russia. From Trinity the cenobitic charter gradually began to spread to other cloisters spiritually connected with Sergius.

Of course, not all the brethren were ready to accept the changes that had taken place in the monastery. Some left the monastery, others openly expressed dissatisfaction. Life tells, for example, about a quarrel that occurred between Sergius and his brother Stefan who returned to the monastery: Stephen declared that he was higher than the abbot, for he came to this place earlier than others. Sergius did not argue with his brother, but on the same day he left the monastery and went to the Kirzhach River, where he set up a cell for himself, and then, with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexei, began building the church. A new monastery was built here - in the name of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

When the brethren found out where Sergius was, they began to come to him- sometimes two people, sometimes three or even more. The rest, unable to live without their spiritual mentor, went to Metropolitan Alexei and prayed to him to beg the saint to return to his monastery. Alexei sent two archimandrites to Kirzhach - Gerasim and Paul, who conveyed the reverend command metropolitan. Vladyka urged the saint to do this so that the monks of the monastery he founded would not disperse and holy the place is not empty. Sergius unquestioningly carried out the command of the Metropolitan: he returned to the monastery Holy Trinity to the joy of all the brethren. In the Annunciation Monastery founded by him on Kirzhach, he left his disciple Roman as hegumen.

By this time, the name of St. Sergius was already glorified throughout the Russian land. In 1374, at the request of Prince Vladimir Andreevich, cousin Dmitry Donskoy, the monk founded the Vysotsky Monastery near Serpukhov in honor of the Conception of the Most Holy Theotokos. The abbot of this monastery was his disciple Athanasius. In the same year 1374 Sergius participated in Pereyaslavl in the congress of Russian princes and baptized the third son of the great Prince Dmitry Ivanovich Yuri. Returning to the monastery, says the chronicler, he fell seriously ill and lay in illness all spring and summer 1375.

In addition to Kirzhachsky and Serpukhov Vysotsky, known and many other monasteries founded with the blessing of the Trinity hegumen. Around 1360, Metropolitan Alexei founded the Spassky (now Spas-Andronikov) monastery on the banks of the Yauza River, the first abbot of which was a student St. Sergius Andronicus. Later, the Trinity elders became the first inhabitants of another monastery founded by Metropolitan Alexei, the Kremlin Chudov.

In the monastery of Sergius, he was tonsured and his own nephew lived for a long time, his brother's son Stephen Theodore. He wished to found somewhere new monastery, and after his long and urgent requests, the hegumen blessed him for this. Theodore found a suitable place on the banks of the Moscow River; Sergius came to personally look at the place he had chosen and approved of the choice of his nephew. This area was called Simonovo, and so monastery named Simonovsky. (Subsequently Theodore, hegumen Simonovsky, was elevated to the rank of archbishop of Rostov.) Let us also name those who received the blessing of Sergius Golutvinsky monastery in Kolomna in the name of St. reverend Savva, a disciple of Sergius, the future abbot of the Zvenigorod Storozhevsky Monastery), another in the village of Stromyn, 50 miles northeast of Moscow. (All these monasteries were founded by Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich.)

And this is only a small fraction of the monasteries created by the disciples or interlocutors of St. Sergius. There are up to forty such monasteries in total; in turn, the founders of about fifty more monasteries came out of them. All of them, following the example Trinity Sergius Monastery adopted a community charter.

In the forests of the Kostroma Trans-Volga region, the monastery was founded by a disciple of Sergius Avraamiy Chukhlomsky. In the forests of the northern suburbs - Methodius Peshnoshsky. The monk Sylvester, a disciple of Sergius, founded a monastery on the Obnora River in dense forests between Yaroslavl and Vologda; Trinity monks Athanasius and Theodosius became the founders of the Resurrection and Cherepovets monasteries. The famous Russian ascetic Kirill Belozersky was also a student of St. Sergius; he left the Simonovsky Monastery, founded by a disciple of the Trinity hegumen Theodore.

According to the Life of St. Sergius, shortly before his death, Metropolitan Alexei called to himself the Trinity hegumen and persuaded him to take on the rank of Metropolitan of Russia. “I chose you as worthy to fulfill the true covenant: after all, I know well that from the great princes to the last person everyone demands you for this place,” he said to the monk. But Sergius refused, this time bluntly: “Vladyka saint! If you don’t want me, a beggar, to leave and not hear your holiness, don’t continue talking about it with me anymore, and don’t allow anyone else, because no one can convince me.” These words also testified to the true humility of the saint, and, as researchers believe, also to the fact that the Trinity abbot remained faithful to the canonical rules: by that time in Constantinople, a metropolitan had already been appointed to the Russian cathedra, the successor Saint Alexei Bulgarian Cyprian, later also canonized as a saint.

The life tells about the great visions of St. Sergius and about clear signs of his closeness to the higher, Heavenly powers. So, once, when the monk was serving the Liturgy together with two other priests, his disciples saw a fourth celebrating for him - a luminous man in shining robes: that was an angel, always invisibly helping the saint. Another time, a fiery flame came out from the hand of the saint; the flame also illuminated the altar during his service: when the saint wanted to take communion, the flame entered the chalice (a bowl for holy gifts). The students saw it all. St. Sergius, but the monk himself forbade them to tell anyone about what they had seen until his death.

Saint Sergius - the first of the Russian saints - was honored with a visit to the Most Holy Theotokos herself. In the Life of the saint, this is how his great vision is told.

One night the monk, according to his custom, stood at prayer in front of the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. Together with him was his disciple Micah. Having completed the canon, the monk sat down to rest and said to his disciple: “Child! Be ready, for a miraculous manifestation will take place at this hour.” And suddenly a voice was heard: “Behold the Most Pure One is coming!” The saint, having heard, quickly went out of the cell into the vestibule. And then a great light, brighter than the sun, illumined him, and the saint saw Most Pure Mother of God with two apostles, Peter and John, shining with inexpressible light. Unable to endure such a dazzling light, the saint fell on his face. The Most Pure One touched him with her hands and said: “Do not be afraid, my chosen one! I came to visit you. Your prayer for your disciples and for your abode has been heard. Grieve no more: from now on, there will be no shortage of anything in her, and not only during your life, but even after your death, I will not leave this monastery! Having said that Pure became invisible.

The saint was seized with fear and trembling. His disciple Micah lay as if dead from fear. Waking up, he fell at the feet of the saint and asked him: “What was that, father?” The saint rejoiced in his soul, so that his face shone with joy, but he could not answer his disciple, only this: “Be patient, child, for my spirit trembles in me from a wonderful vision.” Having calmed down a little, the saint asked Micah to call his disciples, Isaac and Simon, to him. And when they came, Sergius told them everything in order - about the vision Most Pure Mother of God with the apostles and about the promises that the Blessed One gave him. And indescribable joy seized everyone, and together they sang a prayer service to the Mother of God and glorified God.
Medieval Rus' did not yet know such miracles. The appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos to the Trinity abbot - and this miraculous vision soon became known far beyond the monastery - illuminated with an invisible light not only the Trinity monastery, but the entire Russian land, testified to special patronage Mother of God Rus', and in the most difficult for Moscow State time.

In 1380, a terrible danger hung over the Russian land. The hordes of Mamai moved into the Russian borders, intending to ruin Rus'. Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich gathered a lot of soldiers and set out to meet the enemy - "for the holy churches, and for the Orthodox Christian faith, and for the whole Russian land," as the ancient chronicler wrote. According to legend, on the eve of the speech from Moscow, Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich and other Russian princes came "to the Holy Trinity" - to the Trinity Monastery, to Abbot Sergius, to bow to him and take his blessing for the upcoming feat of arms. Life of a saint and the famous "Legend of the Mamaev Battle" so they talk about it.

When the princes came to the monastery, the monk persuaded them to listen to the holy liturgy, because it was then Sunday and the memory of the holy martyrs Florus and Laurus was read in the church. At the end of the Liturgy, Sergius with all the brethren began to beg the Grand Duke to dine with them. Dmitriy was in confusion, as messengers arrived with the news that the Tatars were already approaching the Russian borders. And he began to ask the monk to let him go. Sergius answered the prince: “This delay of yours will turn out to be doubly hasty for you. For the hour has not yet come for you to try on the crown of death, but it will come only after a few years. For many others, crowns of death are now being weaved.” The Grand Duke dined at the monastery. hegumen same Sergius ordered at that time to consecrate water from the relics of Saints Florus and Laurus. And when the great prince got up from the meal, the monk sprinkled him with sacred water and all his army, and overshadowed the great prince with the cross of Christ. And he said this: “Go, lord, to the filthy with God, and Lord will be your helper and intercessor. And he added quietly: "You, sir, will have victory over adversaries."

The prince asked the hegumen: "Give me, father, two soldiers from your brethren - Alexandra Peresvet and his brother Andrei Oslyabya. The elder ordered both to get ready as soon as possible and go with the Grand Duke. These two monks were well-known warriors before being tonsured and took part in the battle more than once. Both immediately obeyed the monk and fulfilled his command. And gave them abbot Sergius instead of weapons, the cross of Christ, sewn on their schemas, and ordered them to put on themselves instead of gilded helmets. And he handed it over to the Grand Duke, saying: "Here are my soldiers and your chosen ones." I will relight and Oslyab He said: “Peace be with you, my brothers! Fight hard for faith Christ's and for all Orthodox Christianity with the filthy!” And he overshadowed the entire army of the Grand Duke with the sign of the cross.

On the very day of the Battle of Kulikovo, September 8, 1380, when the Russian regiments were already lined up for battle, a messenger appeared to the Grand Duke with letters from Reverend Abbot Sergius. And these are the words with which the great elder addressed the prince and the soldiers: “To the Grand Duke, and to all Russian princes, and to the entire Orthodox army - peace and blessing!” “The great prince,” writes the author of The Tale of the Battle of Mamaev, “having listened to the writing of the venerable elder and kissed the envoy with love, he strengthened himself with that letter, as if with some kind of solid armor.” Also sent Sergius great Prince Dmitry"bread Most Pure Mother of God". The news of the envoys of Sergius quickly spread through the regiments and inspired the soldiers; hoping for the prayers of the saint, they were ready without fear to rush into battle and accept death for the Orthodox faith and for their native land.

It was said that all the time while the battle was going on, St. Sergius, having gathered the brethren, he stood with them in prayer and zealously asked the Lord to grant victory to the Orthodox army. The monk had a great gift of clairvoyance: he clearly foresaw the outcome of the battle and told the brethren about the victory of the Russians.

Modern historians cast doubt on the fact that Dmitry Donskoy visited Trinity hegumen on the eve of the Battle of Kulikovo, sometimes believing that the story of the Life about the arrival of Dmitry to the Monk Sergius refers to events of an earlier time - namely, to 1378, the eve of the battle between the Russians and the Tatars on the Vozha River. It is difficult to judge to what extent hagiographic tradition is based on real facts. But it is indisputable that the Battle of Kulikovo itself was unthinkable without the spiritual upsurge that it experienced in those years. Rus and which is associated with the name of St. Sergius and the names of his disciples and associates. In the minds of the people, it was Sergius who blessed the great national cause of liberation Rus' from the Horde yoke.

The Kulikovo victory played a huge role in the history of Russia. But, alas, it did not lead either to the overthrow of the Horde yoke, or even to the short-term liberation of Rus' from the power of the Tatars. Just two years after the victory, Rus' was attacked by the Horde Khan Tokhtamysh who burned and ruined Moscow. Saint Sergius then retired to Tver. The enemies were already not far from the monastery, but the right hand of God saved the Trinity Monastery: Tokhtamysh soon left the Russian borders.

We do not know too much about the subsequent years in the life of the great elder. But it is known that even at the end of his life the monk did not leave those in power with his cares, he participated in the political life of the Russian state. In 1385 he baptized another son Prince Dmitry Donskoy- Petra. At the end of the same year, the saint, on behalf of the Grand Duke, went to Ryazan, to the Ryazan prince Oleg Ivanovich. At that time, there was a war between Moscow and Ryazan: in 1382, Oleg helped Tokhtamysh, breaking the prisoner's Dmitry contract; in the fall of that year, Dmitry, in revenge, ruined and burned Ryazan; in turn, Oleg spring 1385 captured Kolomna, which caused a new campaign of Dmitry. Sergius managed to reconcile opponents: his meek word turned out to be stronger than military weapons; Oleg agreed to conclude an agreement with Grand Duke of Moscow.

Saint Sergius remained the confessor of Grand Duke Dmitry Ivanovich. In 1389, he was a witness in the preparation of his "spiritual charter", that is, a will. Dmitry Donskoy died on May 19, 1389. Sergius took part in his funeral and, among others, mourned the Grand Duke, who had done so much for his native country. (Already today, in 1988, Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy was canonized by the Church as a saint.)

The great ascetic himself outlived his spiritual son by three years. Anticipating his death six months in advance, he appointed his disciple Nikon as abbot of the Trinity Monastery. From now on great old man surrendered to perfect silence, preparing to depart from life. In September, he fell seriously ill. Feeling the approach of death, the monk called the brethren to him and turned to them for the last time with instruction and instruction: he exhorted the monks to remain in faith and unanimity. In the very last moments, the saint wished to take communion Holy Mysteries. He could no longer get out of bed on his own; the students supported him by the arms when he last ate the body and Blood Christ's. Then, raising his hands to heaven, he fell asleep with a prayer on his lips. His death happened on September 25, 1392.

The body of the saint was buried in the monastery he founded. Thirty years after his death, hegumen Nikon decided to build a temple in the name of the Holy Trinity over the grave of his teacher. At the very beginning of the work, when digging ditches for a stone temple, on July 5, 1422, the acquisition of incorruptible relics Reverend Sergius. The holy relics were placed first in a wooden, and then in a newly built stone church.

Speaking of the greatest of Russian saints, one cannot pass over in silence and miracles committed by him after death. The saint repeatedly appeared in visions to the monks of the Trinity Monastery, more than once brought healing to the afflicted, healed terrible ailments and healed wounds. In difficult times, he came to help military people far beyond the monastery. He was seen, for example, by the defenders of a small Fortress Opochka within the borders of Pskov: the holy elder defended the city from the Lithuanians who approached him, and the enemy was defeated by his prayers. But what happened in the city of Sviyazhsk, set up by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible in 1551 near Kazan (the tsar was then preparing to conquer Kazan). In that city there was icon of St. Sergius, miracles from which were served not only to believers, but also to unbelieving pagans. When the city was built, royal the elders of the mountain Cheremis (Chuvash) appeared to the governors and told the following: “Five years before the construction of the city, we heard the bell ringing many times at this place, as is customary Russian custom. We were in fear and bewilderment and sent our fastest young men to see what was happening there. And they heard voices singing, as during a church service, but those who sing were not visible. They only saw a certain old man: he walked around that place with an icon and a cross, and blessed on all sides, and sprinkled with water, as if measuring the place where to put the city.

And our youths shot arrows at him, but the arrows did not reach him and did not harm him. When those elders were shown the picture St. Sergius they recognized him.

Especially many miracles were performed by the monk during the difficult time of the siege of the Trinity Monastery Poles during the Great Troubles. Not once Sergius appeared to the defenders of the monastery, strengthening their spirit and encouraging them to defend monastery. And the enemy could not do anything with the few defenders of the Trinity, although they outnumbered them several times. Reverend He also appeared to the Cossacks, who besieged the Lavra together with the Poles. One of the Cossacks from the enemy camp came to the monastery and told that many military leaders saw two luminous elders walking along the monastery walls - wonderworkers Sergius and Nikon of Radonezh: one of them was censing monastery while another sprinkled it with holy water. Then they turned to the Cossack regiments, reproaching them for the fact that they, together with the Gentiles, want to destroy the house Holy Trinity. The Poles began to shoot at the elders, but the arrows and bullets bounced off at the shooters themselves and wounded many of them. Some of the Cossacks, terrified by this vision, left the camp of the enemy and went home, promising never to raise arms again. Orthodox. And in the following centuries, the Monk Sergius remained the protector and patron of the Russian land.

The Church celebrates the memory of the Monk Abbot Sergius, Wonderworker of Radonezh, on September 25 (October 8), on the day of his death, and on July 5 (18), on the day of finding the relics.

The life of St. Sergius of Radonezh is full of a large number of righteous and charitable deeds and miracles. The saint is God's messenger, called by the Almighty Lord at critical times for the Church.

Significance of Sergius of Radonezh for the Orthodox

Sergius of Radonezh came to Russian soil when the Tatar tribe flooded almost the entire territory of the fatherland, and the princes were fierce civil strife.

These grandiose problems promised complete destruction for Rus', so the Lord called on St. Sergius to free the people from cruel misfortune. In order to strengthen and raise the moral forces that had been weakened for a long time, the saint set a vivid example of a pious life: an honest and disciplined performance of work, the limitations of the flesh and tongue.

Saint Rev. Sergius of Radonezh

St. Sergius of Radonezh demonstrated unprecedented philanthropy, patience and knowledge of psychological aspects. He knew how to devote all his time to the common cause, propagating the true religiosity in good manners.

The saint did not hesitate to try on the duties of any profession: he was engaged in cooking, baking, carpentry, chopping wood, grinding flour. He was a true servant of the brethren, not sparing himself and never falling into despondency.

Read about Sergius of Radonezh:

Biography of the Reverend

The parents of Bartholomew (the secular name of Sergius) were called Cyril and Maria. They were the Rostov boyars, lived in a village called Radonezh and led a humble household life, caring for horses and cattle.

Parents denied licentiousness and luxury, were considered respectable, religious and fair people. They always gave alms to the poor and warmly welcomed travelers in their own home.

• At the age of seven, Bartholomew went to learn to read and write. The child showed an undeniable desire, but his studies did not work out at all. Bartholomew prayed for a long time to God that He would help open the heart and mind to receive true knowledge.
• When the child was looking for the missing horses in a large field, he saw a monk in a black robe and approached him to tell him about his own grief. The elder, showing mercy, spent a long time in prayer for the enlightenment of Bartholomew. The monk treated the boy to a consecrated prosphora and promised that henceforth the child would be able to delve into the essence of the Scriptures. The lad really felt great grace and began to easily perceive book teaching.
• After a fateful meeting, young Bartholomew grew stronger in faith and desire to selflessly serve the Almighty Lord. He remained in the family, with loving parents, despite the desire for solitude. Those around him noted his modesty, silence, ability to be meek and affectionate, the lad never got angry and did not show disrespect to his elders. His diet included only bread and water, and during the fasts he completely abstained from any food.
• When charitable parents left the mortal world, Bartholomew left an inheritance to his younger brother and settled in a dense forest, a few miles from his native Radonezh. He was accompanied by his elder brother Stefan, together they built a wooden cell and a small chapel. This place was soon consecrated in honor of the Trinity.

Reverend Sergius. Construction of the monastery

On a note! The monastery of the majestic abbot was distinguished by simplicity and begging. The parishioners noted the scarcity of food and furnishings, but learned to unite even in the years difficult conditions. When the brethren did not even have a piece of bread, they did not lose heart, but continued to work and humbly read prayers. In each of the monks, the hidden fire of self-sacrifice and the desire to give everything for the good of religion was felt.

Took monastic vows

After some time, Stefan leaves his younger brother and becomes the abbot of a Moscow monastery. Bartholomew is tonsured a monk and receives the spiritual name Sergius, he spends two years alone, living in a dense forest.

• Thanks to prayer and courageous patience, the young monk managed to overcome the flattering temptations that attacked his consciousness with hostility. Near the cell of Sergius, predatory animals ran, but not one dared to harm the true servant of the Lord.
• The fame of the ascetic deeds of the monk spread beyond the boundaries of his monastery and attracted other humble monks who wished to receive instructions for a righteous life. Soon the disciples persuaded St. Sergius of Radonezh to accept the priesthood.
• Some time after the founding of the fraternal monastery, ordinary peasants began to settle nearby. Thanks to the nearby road to Moscow, the funds of the monastery of the Holy Trinity began to increase, which allowed the monks to distribute alms and take care of the unfortunate sick and wandering pilgrims.
• Patriarch Philotheus of Constantinople learned about the holy life of Sergius of Radonezh, who blessed the deeds of the saint and sent approval of the routine of the desert community created by the reverend. Metropolitan Alexei extremely revered the founder of the Holy Trinity Monastery, treated him with friendly love and entrusted the reconciliation of the Russian princes, and also counted on him as his successor. However, Sergius humbly refused the offer to take a high church post.

Miracles and visions of St.

Prince D. Donskoy greatly revered Sergius of Radonezh and asked for blessings for victory in the fight against the hordes of the Tatar-Mongols. The saint approved the heroic impulse of the Russian army and ordered two ascetics to take part in a grandiose battle.

Saint Sergius blesses D. Donskoy

• The Mother of God repeatedly came to Sergius, accompanied by the first apostles of Christ. The Virgin Mary promised to make sure that the meager monastery would never again need housing and food.
• One day, an indescribable light illuminated him, and hundreds of birds whirled in the sky, announcing the area with harmonious singing. Immediately he received a revelation promising the imminent arrival a large number monks in his monastery.
• When Kazan still belonged to the Tatar horde, many residents of the city saw St. Sergius, who walked along the walls with the sign of the cross, sprinkling them with holy water. The Tatar sages announced that Russian soldiers would soon capture them and the Tatars would lose power over the city.
• When enemies were approaching the Trinity Monastery, Sergius appeared in a dream to a resident of the monastery and warned of an imminent siege. The saint went around the walls and sprinkled them with holy water. The next night, the Tatar hordes, wanting to attack unexpectedly, met a courageous rebuff and left this place.
• One person had severe eye pain, he could not sleep at all. When he fell, exhausted from illness, the venerable elder appeared to him and ordered him to come to the temple and serve a prayer service. He received his sight after he saw the holy abbot riding a white horse. Realizing that the disease was gone by the grace of God, he hastened to thank Him in the Church.
• Once Sergius healed a possessed nobleman who shouted swear words, raged and bit. They brought him by force to the holy elder, who cured him with the help of strong prayer and the cross. The nobleman later said that he saw a terrible flame and escaped from it in the water.
• Three decades after his death, his remains began to stream myrrh. After a while, the icon of the appearance of the Virgin was solemnly placed on the coffin of Sergius. This shrine is extremely revered in the Orthodox world and performs various miracles.
• The venerable elder learned from his own experience the true Christian life, united with God and became a partaker of the religious nature. Everyone who communicated with Sergius gained faith and communed with the Holy Trinity. The venerable monk received from the Almighty the gift of prophecy, miracle-working, heartfelt consolation and dispassion. He had no differences in the vision of the three times, people from other cities came to him, as well as foreigners.

Read about prayers to the saint:

Farewell to the world

The sight of death never frightened the holy monk, since the ascetic life accustomed him to a courageous perception of what was happening. The incessant work exhausted the body, but Sergius never missed a church service and set an example of zeal to his young students.

Vision of St. Sergius about the disciples

Six months before his death, the monk was granted a vision of the exact time of death. He gathered his students around him and transferred management rights to the monk Nikon. In September 1391, the elder fell seriously ill and, having again called the brethren, he began to give the last fatherly teaching. There was infinite love, power and simplicity in his words.

Sergius of Radonezh preached to his disciples the path of benevolence towards all, the preservation of unanimity, the observance of Orthodox principles, and the absence of arrogance.

Before his death, the saint longed for the last communion with the Body and Blood of Christ. With the help of his disciples, he got up from the wretched bed and drank from the cup. Experiencing grace-filled peace, the monk raised his hands to heaven, pronounced a blessing to the Lord, and departed with a pure soul.

As soon as Sergius expired, a divine aroma spread inside the cell, and his face shone with a beautiful light.

Finding relics

All the disciples wept and sighed, walked drooping, poured out to each other their grief of irreparable loss. They often visited the grave of the elder and talked with his image, asking for mercy and salvation. The brethren sincerely believed that the spirit of Sergius was constantly nearby and guided the disciples along the true path.

Once the pious abbot saw the saint at an all-night vigil: he sang laudatory hymns to the Lord along with others. This episode instilled joy in the disciples and was a mystical answer to the sorrows over his grave.

In July 1422, during the creation of a new stone monastery, the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh were found. Opening the coffin, eyewitnesses felt a fragrant fragrance, the body of the monk and his clothes remained completely untouched by decomposition. Four years later, the miraculous remains were transferred to the Trinity Cathedral. The Church gives praise to St. Sergius on July 5, the day of the uncovering of the relics.

Parts of the saint's remains can be found in several churches in Moscow.

1. In the Cathedral of the Life-Giving Trinity - the local courtyard looks like a small monastery, in which the necessary services are performed.
2. The relics of Sergius of Radonezh are also in the church of St. Nicholas, located in Klenniki. During the Time of Troubles, a famous community was created here under the rule of St. Alexis.
3. In the temple, lit in honor of Elijah the Ordinary, Orthodox believers observe the icon of Sergius and particles of his miraculous remains.
4. In the Cathedral of the Vladimir Icon of the Virgin Mary there are relics and one consecrated chapel.

Studying the life of St. Sergius of Radonezh, the believer is imbued with great respect and love for this saint. From an early age, his whole nature showed mercy, meekness and selfless love for the Lord. He became the founder of the Trinity Monastery, where crowds of pilgrims and monks flocked to join the simple way of life of St. Sergius.

Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh

Biography and episodes of life Sergius of Radonezh. When born and died Sergius of Radonezh, memorable places and dates of important events in his life. quotes about the saint, images and videos.

Years of life of Sergius of Radonezh:

born May 3, 1314, died September 25, 1392

Epitaph

“He was a lamp, burning and shining; but you wanted to rejoice for a little while in its light.”

Gospel of John 5:35

Biography

Few saints are so highly revered on Russian soil as St. Sergius of Radonezh (at baptism - Bartholomew): a miracle worker, monk, ascetic and founder of the Trinity Monastery. And this does not detract from the fact that, due to the prescription of the term and in the absence of reliable sources, historians cannot come to a consensus even regarding the year of the saint's birth. Sergius of Radonezh became a symbol of service not only to God, but also to his neighbors, to his Fatherland.

In all likelihood, Sergius of Radonezh was born in the family of a boyar, near Rostov, in the current village of Varnitsa. A well-known legend concerns the inability of the future saint to read and write: the life says that a boy sent to look for horses saw a holy old man praying to God. The boy asked to pray for him to learn to read and write, and the elder fulfilled his request, and then predicted that from now on the lad would know the letter better than all other children - and this prophecy came true. Since then, Sergius of Radonezh has been considered, among other things, the patron of those who are in the teachings.

According to the biographer of Radonezh, Epiphanius the Wise, even before the age of 12, the boy began to fast and devote a lot of time to prayer. Then his family became impoverished and moved to Radonezh. Bartholomew aspired to a monastic life, but heeded the requests of his parents to wait for their death. After this sad event, he went to the Khotkovo-Pokrovsky monastery, to his brother Stefan, with whom he later founded the hermitage in the middle of the Radonezh forest. There, on Makovets Hill, the brothers built the Church of the Holy Trinity, which later became the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Here Bartholomew was tonsured at the age of 23.

Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Sergiev Posad

Sergius of Radonezh founded other monasteries - Annunciation, Vysotsky, Georgievsky. The abbots of each of them were his students, who later founded monasteries themselves. In those days, Russia was torn apart by princely strife, but the Monk Sergius, with humility and meekness, often persuaded his enemies to make peace. Thanks to him, almost all the princes agreed to submit to Moscow, Dmitry Donskoy, and only because of this, the united Russian army won the Battle of Kulikovo.

According to Epiphanius the Wise, Sergius of Radonezh, who lived to a ripe old age, foresaw his death for another six months and transferred the hegumenship to his disciple Nikon. The remains of the monk were found in the monastery he founded. 30 years after the death of the saint, his relics and even his robe were found incorruptible, which was considered the highest manifestation of God's mercy.

"Saint Sergius of Radonezh", painting by V. Nesterov 1891-1899

life line

May 3 (May 16 old style) 1314 Date of birth of Sergius of Radonezh.
1330 Relocation to Radonezh.
1335 Construction of the Church of the Holy Trinity.
1342 Foundation on the site of the church of the monastery, the future Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
1382 Temporary relocation to Tver due to the invasion of Tokhtamysh's troops.
September 25 (October 8, old style) 1392 Date of death of Sergius of Radonezh.
July 5 (July 18, old style) 1422 Finding relics.

Memorable places

1. Trinity-Sergius Varnitsky Monastery, founded in 1427 on the site where the house of the parents of Sergius of Radonezh stood.
2. The village of Radonezh (Moscow region), where the lad Bartholomew lived until the death of his parents and departure from the world.
3. Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra, founded by the saint, where his relics are kept.
4. Temple-monument of Sergius of Radonezh on the Red Hill of the Kulikovo field, built in 1913-1918, now - a monument of federal significance.

Episodes of life

The personality of Sergius of Radonezh in the popular mind has always been associated with miraculous events. It is believed that the saint himself performed many miracles with the help of prayer, and, in addition, many visions were shown to him. The first life of the saint, written by Epiphanius the Wise, a monk of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, is replete with retellings of such events. Subsequently, stories about posthumous miracles were added to it, of which there were much more.

Sergius of Radonezh has never been officially canonized. The venerable elder was so revered by the people that his holiness was accepted by itself. Metropolitan Jonah calls Sergius a reverend in a letter of 1450, and this is the earliest documentary evidence of his recognition as a saint.

In 1919, for propaganda purposes, the Soviet government opened the relics of the saint. Pavel Florensky found out about the upcoming autopsy, and with his help, the head of Sergius of Radonezh was separated from the body, and the head of Prince Trubetskoy was placed in its place. During the Second World War, the relics were taken far to the rear, and only after their return in 1946 was the head of the saint placed in its place.

Cancer with the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra

Covenant

“Take heed to yourself about everything, my brethren, I pray to everyone, have the fear of God, purity of soul, love that is not hypocritical, and hospitableness to them ...”

Documentary film “Sergius of Radonezh. earthly and heavenly.

condolences

“Here, our good and blessed elder left us, went to the Lord, left us orphans ... He went to where a great reward awaits him and retribution for all his labors and deeds, he went in peace to the Lord, whom he loved! ..”
The author of the life of the saint, hegumen Nikon (Rozhdestvensky)

“The Monk Sergius, by his life, by the very possibility of such a life, made the grieving people feel that not everything good had died out and froze in him; by his appearance among his compatriots who were sitting in the darkness and the shadow of death, he opened their eyes to themselves, helped them to look into their own inner darkness and see there still smoldering sparks of the same fire that burned the light that lit them up.
Historian Vladimir Klyuchevsky

“Earlier than all and more than all the saints who appeared in Moscow land, the Monk Sergius, the founder of the famous Trinity-Sergius Lavra, who received in the eyes of the Great Russian people the significance of the patron, intercessor and guardian of the state and church, gained the people's respect for all of Rus'.”
Historian Nikolai Kostomarov

“He was just an outstanding public figure. He understood the turning point in the history of the Russian Land and turned its course in the right direction, taking on great responsibility for the outcome of the battle on the Kulikovo field. He blessed Prince Dmitry and his army on her. It was necessary to feel and understand this decisive turning point and put your spiritual authority on the scales of history. And He did it."
Russian religious philosopher Helena Roerich

“Peering into Russian history, into the very fabric of Russian culture, we will not find a single thread that would not lead to this first knot: the moral idea, statehood, painting, architecture, literature, the Russian school, Russian science - all these lines of Russian culture converge to the Reverend."
Pavel Florensky