Sergius the Wonderworker. The meaning of Sergius of Radonezh for the Orthodox. Prayer before the icon
By your life, in this world,
the image became everything... like the sun, you shone.
(Canon for the Finding of Relics, Song 3)
In terms of the abundance and variety of iconographic subjects, St. Sergius of Radonezh has no equal among the saints glorified in the Russian Church. The earliest images of the saint appeared already at the beginning of the 15th century. Of the images that have survived to our time, the oldest is, obviously, the cover of the holy relics of the monk, dating back to the twenties of the 15th century. (Sergiev Posad State Historical and Art Museum-Reserve). The facial embroidery quite accurately conveys the portrait features of the monk; in any case, iconographic scenes with the monk that are close in time take this portrait resemblance into account to a greater or lesser extent. It should be noted that later (already the mid-15th century) covers from the relics of St. Sergius no longer leave the impression of portrait resemblance.
Soon after the discovery of the relics, St. Sergius began to be depicted quite often in multi-figure compositions among the most revered saints. Literary basis to depict specific events in the life of the monk, his Life, compiled in 1417-1418, became available. his disciple Epiphanius the Wise.
What events from the life of St. Sergius were reflected in iconographic subjects? Epiphanius the Wise, beginning the biography of St. Sergius, says: I hope in the Merciful God and in the prayer of His saint, the Reverend Elder. Apparently, the very first subject adopted in the iconography of the monk was his prayerful appearance to the Holy Life-Giving Trinity:
From a young age, Father Sergius, having loved Christ and following His life-giving footsteps, you escaped the whole world and reached the unstoppable light of reason, where you now boldly Holy Trinity stand, pray for all of us (from the canon for the discovery of the relics of St. Sergius).
In the meeting Tretyakov Gallery a Novgorod icon of the first half of the 15th century is kept. - Our Lady on the throne with a seated
The Infant God surrounded by saints. The top field depicts St. Sergius, but this is apparently a later insertion. Of the accurately dated icons depicting the saint, one should name the icon from the Trinity Cathedral (exploded in 1942) of the Stefano-Makhrishchi Monastery. Nowadays this icon of the first third of the 15th century. in the collection of the State Historical Museum. In composition it is similar to the Novgorod one: the Mother of God sits on a throne with the Infant God; St. Sergius is depicted in prayer before Her. The Divine Infant Christ blessing St. Sergius almost exactly repeats the image on the cell icon of the saint - the Mother of God Hodegetria of the 14th century. (from the collection of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra).
St. Sergius was often depicted among the paleos saints on icons of the Mother of God: together with Most Pure Virgin and other saints of God, he acted as an intercessor before God, as one of the prayers to him says, for all of God-enlightened Russia. St. Sergius was revered by the Novgorodians and was often depicted next to “their” St. Varlaam of Khutyn. There are also known images on saintly icons, the so-called. Novgorod “tablets” from St. Sophia Cathedral.
In the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery there is a tricuspid folding - Our Lady of Yaroslavl with selected saints - originating from the Elias Church of the suburban Kolomna village of Sandyri. On the left wing of the fold, among other saints, St. Sergius and Metropolitan Peter are depicted; on the other door is St. Alexius. This icon is a family shrine of the Sheremetevs, painted, apparently, in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. The icon dates back to 1491. The prayerful presence of the saint of God, strictly speaking, cannot be tied to any specific moment - it was constant. At the same time, quite quickly in the iconography of St. Sergius, subjects appear that are quite definite in chronological terms.
One of the earliest episodes of his life, which became a favorite iconographic subject, is the appearance of the Mother of God to St. Sergius. Epiphanius tells how, during the cell rule, having completed the singing of the akathist to the Mother of God, he suddenly said to his disciple Micah: “Child! Be sober and watchful, for now we will have a wonderful and indescribable visitation.” He was still saying this when a voice was heard: “The Most Pure One is coming,” and the saint hastily left the cell into the vestibule. A bright light shone around him, stronger than the sun, and the blessed one saw the Most Pure One with the two apostles, Peter and John, from whom an indescribable radiance also emanated. The appearance of the Mother of God to St. Sergius is known not only as a hallmark of a hagiographic icon, but also as an independent iconographic plot already from the first half of the 16th century: the Mother of God with a staff, accompanied by the apostles Peter and John, stretches out her hands towards the saint, who bows before Her in prayer; Behind St. Sergius they depict his cell attendant, St. Micah of Radonezh.
Large hagiographic icons of St. Sergius appear in the second half of the 15th century. The literary basis for them was the Life written by Epiphanius the Wise in the middle of the 15th century. thoroughly revised and supplemented by Pachomius Logothetes. Among the most famous are the icon of the early 16th century, the circle of Dionysius, from the Assumption Cathedral in the city of Dmitrov; Now it is in the collection of the Museum. Rev. Andrei Rublev. Let's see how the life of the Trinity Abbot is presented on it.
The first mark (upper left) is the birth of Bartholomew, then follows: “Learning to read and write” (the elder monk blesses the youth Bartholomew); tonsure of the saint as a monk by abbot Mitrofan.
The next mark is the expulsion of demons by the prayers of the monk: one day the Monk Sergius entered the church at night to pray, and when he began to sing, suddenly the wall of the church parted and a multitude of demons visibly entered; They rushed at the blessed one, gnashing their teeth and threatening to kill him. The monk, having trust in God, prayed fervently and with tears against his enemies; soon Divine power suddenly overshadowed him and instantly scattered the evil spirits.
Next are the stories of Sergius’s ordination to the deacon, and then to the priesthood, by Bishop Athanasius of Volyn, who then lived in the city of Pereyaslavl. The inscription on the unfolded scroll, which the bishop holds above the head of the saint: Divine grace, always healing the weak, and filling the insufficient...
The following story is from a source: the monks who had gathered to see the monk grumbled about the lack of water in the desert monastery. Sergius left the monastery, taking with him one of the monks, and went down with him into a forest ravine under the monastery, where there had never been a source of water. The monk made the sign of the cross over the place where the rainwater stood, and suddenly a full-flowing spring began to flow from under the ground, which still flows to this day and from which they take water for all the monastic needs, thanking God and His saint Sergius. From the water from this source, numerous healings of sick people suffering from various ailments occurred, if the sick came to the source with faith, says the Life.
The following marks tell of the resurrection of the baby through the prayer of St. Sergius: the unfortunate father hurried to bring his seriously ill little son to the saint’s cell and ask for prayers for his healing, but did not have time - the son died. The father went for the coffin to bury his son, but the Monk Sergius fervently prayed over the deceased, and the Lord restored life to the baby.
The mark “Serving the Divine Liturgy by St. Sergius with an Angel” is illustrated by the following story from the Life. One day the Monk Sergius served the Liturgy together with his brother Stephen and nephew Bishop Theodore. The monks Isaac the Silent and Macarius, who were praying in the temple, had a vision in the altar of the fourth clergyman - shining with extraordinary light, in shining robes. The monks realized that an Angel of God served Saint Sergius.
This plot is also associated with a miraculous vision that the Venerable Simon’s disciple had: when Saint Sergius served the Liturgy, Simon saw fire spreading across the Holy Altar. When the Reverend took communion, the Divine fire entered the holy chalice.
The next mark is the arrival of ambassadors from Patriarch Philotheus of Constantinople. Greek envoys of the Patriarch arrived at the monastery of St. Sergius from Constantinople; they handed over gifts - a cross, a paraman, a schema - and a message with advice to establish a communal monastery in the monastery.
Next are brands with miraculous healings. A stamp depicting the healing of a Greek bishop who came to Moscow. The bishop heard a lot about the saint (the fame of Sergius reached Constantinople!), but he thought to himself: “Can such a lamp of faith appear in this country, especially in our last times?” Approaching the monastery, he felt strong fear, and upon entering the monastery fence, he became blind. Venerable Sergius healed the bishop, and he received his sight.
On another stamp - the healing of Zakhary Borozdin, a Tver boyar, who during his illness made a vow to visit the Sergius monastery; the monk appeared to him in a dream vision and healed him; Zachariah, who recovered, happily went to the monastery.
Another case of the miraculous help of St. Sergius is the healing of a certain noble man who was cruelly tormented by a demon. The monk served a prayer service for the sufferer, and he began to come to his senses and, after staying in the monastery for several days, he went home completely healthy.
The last case of healing depicted on the Dmitrov icon refers to the posthumous miracles of the monk: this is the return of sight to a blind man brought to the tomb of St. Sergius. The recently blind man who had received his sight remained a laborer in the monastery.
A stamp depicting the burial of St. Sergius: an Angel standing at the tomb holds an open book with the prayer of the sixth hour of St. Basil the Great, “God and Lord of hosts and Creator of all creation...”
On the hagiographic icons of the saint from the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and the Moscow Kremlin, in addition to the listed subjects, the following are also presented:
“The youth Bartholomew brings the old man to his parents” is an addition to the plot “Learning to read and write.”
"The Miracle of a Certain Farmer." A certain peasant farmer came to the monastery to see the monk. The peasant had never seen Sergius before and, having arrived at the monastery, began to look for him and could not believe that the monk himself, in shabby clothes, was working in the garden, and arrogantly turned away from him. At the same time, the prince arrived at the monastery and bowed to the ground to St. Sergius, thereby admonishing the peasant.
Scene depicting many birds. One day, when the saint was performing his prayer rule, a voice suddenly rang out: “Sergius!” The monk opened the window of his cell and saw many beautiful birds flying not only around the monastery. A voice was heard: “Your disciples will be just as numerous, and after you they will not become scarce, if only they want to follow in your footsteps.”
It is necessary to mention here the famous icon of St. Alexy, Metropolitan of Moscow with his life, written at the end of the 15th century. early XVI centuries Dionysius for the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin (now in the Tretyakov Gallery). Two stigmas associated with the relationship between the saint and the monk deserve attention here. On the seventh mark, Saint Alexy asks the Monk Sergius to release his disciple Andronik to be abbess at the Spassky (now Spaso-Andronikov) monastery, which St. Alexy founded in 1361 on the high bank of the Yauza River in Moscow. In front of the seated saint stands the Monk Sergius and two Trinity monks accompanying him; the monk humbly accepts the high priest's blessing (the blessed one did not reject the saint's request and sent Andronicus away with him, says the Life). On the thirteenth hallmark, Metropolitan Alexy, feeling the approach of his death, calls upon St. Sergius to serve as primate. The monk sits in a robe on a wide seat opposite St. Alexis, the Metropolitan sits on the holy throne; between them rises the ciborium... Out of his great humility, the Monk Sergius did not accept the offer, and Metropolitan Alexy, having consoled the monk with spiritual edifications, released him to his monastery. This plot is very accurately reproduced in the miniatures of the Personal Life of St. Sergius in the 16th century. (Russian State Library).
At the beginning of the 16th century. for the cathedral of the Vysotsky Monastery in Serpukhov, a hagiographic icon of the saint with eighteen marks was painted; Now the icon is in the Tretyakov Gallery.
Looking at the scenes depicted on the hagiographic icons of St. Sergius of Radonezh, you pay attention to their edification; Each episode of the life of the great abbot of Holy Rus' is not only historically accurate, but opens the door for the saint praying before the icon to accept him as a good example in his Christian life: with his life, as a hedgehog in this world, St. Sergius shows the image to everyone - including the current generation of Christians .
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 has done a lot for the Russian Church. The saint passionately loved his Fatherland and put a lot of effort into helping his people survive all disasters. We became aware of the life of the saint 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 most valuable source of information about the life of the saint. All other manuscripts that appeared later are, for the most part, processing 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 his 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 works of the 19th century and dictionaries, it was established that the birthday of Sergius of Radonezh, most likely, is May 3, 1319. True, some scientists are inclined to other dates. The exact place of birth of the youth 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 Maria. 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 Varnitsa in the Rostov region. The name Bartholomew was given. His parents named him in honor of the Apostle Bartholomew.
Childhood and first miracles
There were three sons in the family of Bartholomew's parents. Our hero was the second child. His two brothers, Stefan and Peter, were smart children. They quickly mastered literacy, learned to write and read. But Bartholomew’s studies were never easy. No matter how much his parents scolded him or his teacher tried to reason with him, 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, learned to read and write. His biography is indicative of how faith in the Lord helps to overcome any difficulties in life. Epiphanius the Wise spoke about the boy’s miraculous learning 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 know the Holy Scriptures. And one day, when Father Kirill 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 this day on the boy would understand reading and writing better than his brothers. Bartholomew invited the saint to his parents' house. Before their visit, they went into the chapel, where the youth read a psalm without hesitation. Then he hurried with his guest to his parents to please them. Cyril and Maria, having learned about the miracle, began to praise the Lord. When they asked the elder what this amazing phenomenon meant, they learned from the guest that their son Bartholomew was marked by God in his mother’s womb. Thus, when Mary came to church shortly before giving birth, the child in her mother’s womb cried out three times as 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 was noted in the childhood of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the stories of Epiphanius the Wise? The saint’s disciple reports that even before the age of 12, Bartholomew observed strict fasts. On Wednesday and Friday he did not eat anything, and on other days he ate only water and bread. At night, the youth often did not sleep, devoting time to prayer. All this became the subject of a dispute between the boy’s parents. Maria was embarrassed by these first exploits of her son.
Relocation to Radonezh
Soon the family of Kirill and Maria became poor. They were forced to move to housing in Radonezh. This happened around 1328-1330. The reason why the family became impoverished is also known. It was a difficult 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, imposing an unbearable tribute on them and carrying out regular raids on settlements. The Tatar-Mongol khans themselves chose which of the Russian princes would rule in a particular principality. And this was no less a difficult test for the entire 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 - shining example the lawlessness that was happening in Rus' at that time. 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
It is unknown when the birth of Sergius of Radonezh took place for certain. But we have reached the exact historical information about his childhood and youth life. It is known that, while still a child, he prayed fervently. When he turned 12 years old, he decided to accept Kirill 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 old people. By that time, brothers Peter and Stefan had already started their own families and lived separately from their elderly parents. The youth did not have to wait long: soon Kirill and Maria died. Before their death, according to the custom of that time in Rus', they first took monastic vows and then the schema. After the death of his parents, Bartholomew went to his brother Stefan, who by that time was already a widower, and took monastic vows. The brothers were not here for long. Striving for “the strictest monasticism,” they founded a hermitage on the banks of the Konchura River. There, in the middle of the remote Radonezh forest, in 1335 Bartholomew built a small wooden church named in honor of 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 the new place he will then become abbot.
And Bartholomew, left completely alone, called Abbot Mitrofan and took monastic vows. Now he was known as 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 Lavra of St. Sergius. Father Sergius became the second abbot here (the first was Mitrofan). The abbots showed their students an example of great hard work and humility. Monk Sergius of Radonezh himself never took alms from parishioners and forbade monks to do this, calling on them to live only by the fruits of the labor of their hands. The fame of the monastery and its abbot grew and reached the city of Constantinople. Ecumenical Patriarch Philotheus, with a special embassy, sent St. Sergius a cross, a schema, a paraman and a letter, in which he paid tribute to the abbot for his virtuous life and advised him to introduce the monastery in the monastery. Heeding these recommendations, the Radonezh abbot introduced a community-living charter in his monastery. Later it was adopted in many monasteries in Rus'.
Service to the Fatherland
Sergius of Radonezh did a lot of useful and good things for his homeland. 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 the 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. The saint’s peacemaking activities are well known. Thus, eyewitnesses claimed that Sergius, with meek, quiet words, could find his way to the heart of any person, influence the most bitter and rude hearts, calling people to peace and obedience. Often the saint had to reconcile 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 Tatar-Mongol yoke. Sergius of Radonezh made a significant contribution to the Russian victory. It is impossible to talk about this briefly. Grand Duke Dmitry, who later received the nickname Donskoy, before the battle came to the saint to pray and ask him for advice whether the Russian army could march against the godless. The Horde Khan Mamai gathered an incredible army to enslave the people of Rus' once and for all.
The people of our Fatherland were gripped by great fear. After all, no one has ever managed to defeat an enemy army. Rev. Sergius answered the prince’s question that defending the Motherland is a godly task, and blessed him for the great battle. Possessing the gift of foresight, he predicted that Dmitry would defeat the Tatar Khan and return home safe and sound with the glory of a liberator. Even when the Grand Duke saw the countless enemy army, nothing wavered in him. He was confident of a future victory, which St. Sergius himself blessed him with.
Monasteries of the Saint
The Year of Sergius of Radonezh is celebrated in 2014. Particularly large celebrations on this occasion should be expected in the temples 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, disciples of Holy Father Sergius became abbots. In turn, 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 entire existence. The first of them was associated with his miraculous birth. This is the story of the wise one about how the child in the womb of Mary, the mother of the saint, cried out three times during the liturgy in the temple. And all the people in it heard this. The second miracle is the teaching of the youth Bartholomew to read and write. It was described in detail above. We also know about such a miracle associated with the life of a saint: the resurrection of a youth through the prayers of Father Sergius. Near the monastery lived one righteous man who had strong faith in the saint. His only son, a young boy, was mortally ill. The father brought the child in his arms to the holy monastery to Sergius so that he could pray for his recovery. But the boy died while his parent was presenting his request to the abbot. The inconsolable father went to prepare a coffin to put his son’s body in 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 monk, offering praise.
And the abbot ordered him to get up from his knees, explaining that there was no miracle here: the boy was simply cold and weak when his father carried him to the monastery, but in the warm cell he warmed up and began to move. But the man could not be convinced. He believed that Saint Sergius showed a miracle. Nowadays there are many skeptics who doubt that the monk performed miracles. Their interpretation depends on the ideological position of the interpreter. It is likely that a person who is far from believing in God will prefer not to focus on such information about the miracles of the saint, finding another, 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. For example, many parishioners pray that their children will achieve literacy and successfully pass transfer and entrance exams. After all, the youth Bartholomew, the future Saint Sergius, at first also could not master even the basics of study. And only fervent prayer to God led to a miracle happening when the boy miraculously learned to read and write.
Old age and death of the monk
The life of Sergius of Radonezh shows us an unprecedented feat of service to God and the Fatherland. It is known that he lived to a ripe old age. When he was lying on his deathbed, sensing that he would soon appear at the judgment of God, he called the brethren for the last time for instruction. He called on his disciples, first of all, to “have the fear of God” and bring to people “spiritual purity and unfeigned love.” The abbot died on September 25, 1392. He was buried in Trinity Cathedral.
Veneration of the Reverend
There is no documented data about 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 head of the Russian Church calls Sergius a venerable one, classifying him among the wonderworkers and saints. But there are other versions of his canonization. The Day of Sergius of Radonezh is celebrated on July 5 (18). This date is mentioned in the works 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 the event of a serious threat from the outside. Thus, two fires that occurred in 1709 and 1746 caused the removal of the saint’s relics from the monastery. When Russian troops left the capital during the invasion of the French led by Napoleon, the remains of Sergius were taken to the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. In 1919, the atheist-minded government of the USSR issued a decree on the opening of the relics of the saint. After this uncharitable deed was completed, the remains were transferred to the Sergiev Historical and Art Museum as an exhibit. Currently, the relics of the saint are kept in the Trinity Cathedral. There are other dates for the memory of his abbot. September 25 (October 8) is 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 the saint
Since ancient times, Sergius of Radonezh has 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. In Moscow alone there are 67 of them. Among them are such as the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Bibirevo, the Cathedral of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the Vysokopetrovsky Monastery, the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh in Krapivniki and others. Many of them were built in the 17th-18th 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 St. Sergius of Radonezh in the city of Rumia, in Montenegro.
Images of the Reverend
It is also worth remembering the many icons created in honor of the saint. The oldest image of it 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 - “Icon of St. Sergius of Radonezh,” which also contains 17 marks about the life of the saint. Not only icons, but also paintings were written about events related to the abbot of the Trinity Monastery. Among Soviet artists, one can highlight M. V. Nesterov. The following of his works are known: “The Works of Sergius of Radonezh”, “The Youth of Sergius”, “Vision to the Youth Bartholomew”.
Sergius of Radonezh. short biography He is unlikely to be able to tell about what an extraordinary 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.
/i>Venerable Sergius of Radonezh
The personality of St. Sergius of Radonezh, on the one hand, has long been studied and widely known. But, on the other hand, it is connected with whole line questions. For example, what did this saint do if he was already revered during his lifetime, and later generations awarded him the high title of “abbot of all Rus'”? Is the monastic path of Sergius different from the feat of the early monks, and if so, what exactly is its uniqueness? And, finally, what influence did the venerable saint of God have on the culture of Northeast Rus'?
Since childhood, we have known the story of how the youth Bartholomew experienced difficulties in mastering literacy and one day, running away into the field from the ridicule of his brothers and grief, he begged for help. An Angel of the Lord appeared to him in the form of an old monk and gave the boy a piece of prosphora as a consolation. Having tasted it, the boy miraculously began to understand the Holy Scriptures and soon turned out to be the best student. The elder’s prediction to Bartholomew’s parents, the pious Cyril and Mary, also came true: “Your son will be great before God and people.”
The prayer book of the Russian land was born in 1314 in the village of Varnitsa* near Rostov the Great, on the estate of the boyars Cyril and Maria. Bartholomew and his brothers lived in Rostov until he was 14 years old, then the family moved to Radonezh. After the death of their parents, in a deserted place on Mount Makovets not far from Radonezh, the brothers built themselves a cell. Having taken monastic vows at the age of 23 with the name Sergius, the future saint founded the monastery Life-Giving Trinity. This is how the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, now known to the whole world, began, which became the spiritual center of Moscow Rus'. Sergius labored there, first with his brother Stefan, and then alone. Monks began to gather at the monastery, and the Reverend himself endured heavy physical labor and feat of prayer. He built cells, carried water, chopped wood, sewed clothes and prepared food for the brethren. Seeing such humility and hard work, the monks asked St. Sergius to become abbot of the monastery.
While still alive, having been awarded the gift of miracles, the abbot of Radonezh resurrected the youth when the despairing father considered his son dead. 
The rumor about a young ascetic living in the Radonezh forests quickly spread throughout Rus', and patients from the most remote places began to be brought to him.
The Russian land at that time suffered from the Mongol yoke. Grand Duke Dimitri Donskoy, having gathered an army, came to Saint Sergius for a blessing for the battle. 
To help the prince, the Reverend blessed the monks of the monastery: Andrei (Oslyabya) and Alexander (Peresvet), and predicted victory for the prince. On September 21, 1380, on the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Russian soldiers defeated the enemy on the Kulikovo Field. 
One night the saint prayed before the icon of the Most Pure One and suddenly felt that a miraculous visit awaited him. A moment later, the Mother of God appeared, accompanied by the apostles Peter and John the Theologian. 
From bright light The Monk Sergius fell on his face, but the Mother of God touched him with her hand and promised to patronize his holy monastery. Having reached a very old age, having foreseen his death within six months, the Reverend reposed in God on October 8, 1392 and soon began to be revered by the Trinity monks as a saint.
In 1408, when Moscow and its environs were invaded by the Tatar hordes of Edigei, the Trinity Monastery was devastated and burned, the monks, led by Abbot Nikon, took refuge in the forests, preserving icons, sacred vessels, books and other shrines associated with the memory of St. Sergius. In a night vision on the eve of the Tatar raid, the Monk Sergius informed his disciple and successor of the upcoming trials and predicted as a consolation that the temptation would not last long and the holy monastery, rising from the ashes, would prosper and grow even more. Having gone through fiery cleansing, the monastery of the Life-Giving Trinity was resurrected in the length of days, and St. Sergius himself rose to dwell in it forever with his holy relics. Before the start of the construction of a new church in the name of the Life-Giving Trinity on the site of a wooden one, consecrated in September 1412, the Reverend appeared to one pious layman and ordered to inform the abbot and brethren: “Why do you leave me for so long in a tomb, covered with earth, in the water oppressing my body? " And so, during the construction of the cathedral, when they were digging ditches for the foundation, the incorrupt relics of the Saint were opened and worn out, and everyone saw that not only the body, but also the clothes on it were unharmed, although there was indeed water around the coffin. With a large gathering of pilgrims and clergy, in the presence of the son of Dimitri Donskoy, Prince of Zvenigorod Yuri Dimitrievich (d. 1425), the holy relics were carried out of the ground and temporarily placed in the wooden Trinity Church (the Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit is now located on that site). During the consecration of the stone Trinity Cathedral in 1426, they were transferred to it, where they remain to this day. 
Since then, the saint's memory has been celebrated on July 18 and October 8.
For 620 years now, Russian people have been turning to the Radonezh miracle worker in prayer. The lamps of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra are glowing, the covenants of the Saint are being honoured, and many worshipers come to bow to his shrine. In former times, visiting the Trinity (in the city of Sergiev Posad) was considered a sacred duty for everyone.
In 1859, returning from Siberian exile, F. M. Dostoevsky made a detour to look at the Lavra, which he remembered from childhood. During the God-fighting hard times, in 1919, the entire monastery brethren was arrested, and the Trinity Cathedral was sealed, then by decree of the Council of People's Commissars, the “Former Lavra” was turned into a museum. A shooting gallery was set up in the refectory, and a dining room and club in the cells. After the Great Patriotic War The Trinity-Sergius Lavra was revived and for many years remained one of the eighteen monasteries operating in the USSR. The main temple of the Lavra, Trinity, where the relics of the Saint rest, was painted by outstanding icon painters Andrei Rublev and Daniil Cherny. The famous “Trinity”** was painted for the iconostasis of the cathedral. 
In the sacristy of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra there is a silk-embroidered image of St. Sergius (15th century), which cannot be seen without excitement. This is the cover on the saint’s shrine, donated to the Lavra by Grand Duke Vasily, the son of Demetrius Donskoy... This image shows the depth of sorrow for the Russian land, tormented by the Tatars. With what love this fabric was embroidered by a Russian woman, who perhaps knew the Reverend!
Traditionally, the saint is painted to the waist or at full height, in monastic vestments, in the left hand of the Reverend there is a scroll, with his right he blesses us. 
The image of the Abbot of the Russian Land, who during his ascetic life was honored with a visit to the Mother of God, is strict and sublime. “The saint, gray-haired, cross-shaped robe, to the left are monks in hoods and robes, black robe, undersides of a robe, golden heads and roofs, white cross,” says the Saint in the “Facebook” of the 17th century.
“How imperceptible and meek everything is about him!.. Oh, if only I could see him, hear him! I don’t think he would have been struck by anything right away. Not a loud voice, quiet movements, a calm face, a holy Great Russian carpenter. This is how he is even in the icon - an image of the invisible and charming in its sincerity of the Russian landscape, of the Russian soul,” noted the Russian writer B.K. Zaitsev.
The earthly path and posthumous miracles of Sergius of Radonezh, performed at his tomb, about which chronicles and legends tell us, are reflected in icons with hagiographic stamps. For centuries until this day. 
The monk is the patron saint of the Russian state.
In the homeland of the Saint, in the village of Varnitsa, the Trinity-Sergius Monastery was founded back in the 14th century. But in the 30s of the 20th century it was razed to the ground by atheists, and in its place until the 90s of the last century there was a garbage dump.
And a small one miraculous icon The inhabitants of Varnitsa managed to save St. Sergius of Radonezh from the plundered monastery, and it was passed down from generation to generation, preserved either in a cellar, wrapped in a rag, or in a well during searches of local peasants. When in 1995 the monastery was taken under the care of the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius and it began to be restored, this icon, in a form almost beyond restoration, was brought by some person to the memorial cross erected by the brethren of the monastery at the place where the Angel appeared to the youth Bartholomew. 
A prayer service was served at the cross, and from that hour the revival of the monastery, undergoing all sorts of obstacles: a shortage of workers, building materials, food—suddenly things went surprisingly well.
Nowadays the Varnitsky Trinity-Sergius Monastery is one of the most significant in the Rostov region; in 2004, a Orthodox boarding school, where young men from all over Russia study in high school.
Everyone also knows that his relics rest in the monastery he created - the Holy Trinity Lavra of Sergius in Sergiev Posad, near Moscow. Also in several Moscow churches there are particles of the relics of St. Sergius.
Reliquary with the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh in the Trinity Cathedral of the Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra
In the North-Eastern district of Moscow (Trinity Deanery) on Kostromskaya Street (house 7 - Bibirevo district) there is a temple of St. Sergius of Radonezh. The history of its creation is interesting in itself.
In the summer of 1873, a cholera epidemic raged in the village of Bibirevo. Throughout the village, the monks carried the miraculous icon of St. Sergius of Radonezh with prayer. On July 13, the image escaped from his hands and flew through the air. After this, the epidemic subsided. The residents of Bibirevo began to regard July 13 as a holiday; on this day prayers were held for the saint - and soon it was decided to build a temple in memory of the miraculous event. In 1893 new church was consecrated. There is the revered icon of St. Sergius.
Temple of St. Sergius in Bibirevo
Another miracle associated with the name of St. Sergius of Radonezh occurred several years ago in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Arkhangelsk-Tyurikov (Dmitrovskoe highway, 120, building 1, travel: from the Altufyevo metro station). In 1995, a dark board found in the forest was brought to the church. According to the donors, a strange glow emanates from the icon at night, frightening them.
Appearance of the Mother of God to St. Sergius of Radonezh. Miraculous image in the Church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Arkhangelsk-Tyurikov
In the church, the glow from the icon was also sometimes observed, but it was not frightening, but, on the contrary, light and quiet, and in it one could discern the image of the Mother of God. Gradually it became possible to distinguish other figures. A year later it became completely clear: this is an icon with a rare subject: “The Appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos to St. Sergius of Radonezh.”
Monk of the Russian Church, founder of the Trinity Monastery near Moscow, transformer of monasticism in Northern Rus'. (Wikipedia)
July 5 (old)/ July 18 (new style)- acquisition of honest relics (1422);
July 6 (old)/ July 19 (new style)— Cathedral of Radonezh Saints;
September 25 (old) / October 8 (new style)- repose (death) (1392).
Besides, August 24 (September 6) The appearance of the Mother of God to St. Sergius is celebrated.
Date and place of birth: 14 May 1314, p. Varnitsy, (near Rostov the Great)
Date and place of death: September 25, 1392 (age 78), Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius
St. Sergius of Radonezh is one of the most famous Russian saints. Founder of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, teacher and mentor of many dozens of Russian saints. The monk truly became the abbot and intercessor of the entire Russian Land, an example of meekness and humility for monks and laity. They pray to St. Sergius for help in learning, in monastic work, for overcoming passions, for increasing faith, for preserving the Fatherland from the invasion of foreigners.
Brief Life
The Monk Sergius was born in the village of Varnitsa, near Rostov, on May 3, 1314, into the family of pious and noble boyars Kirill and Maria. The Lord chose him from his mother's womb. The Life of St. Sergius tells that during the Divine Liturgy, even before the birth of her son, Righteous Mary and those praying heard the baby exclamation three times: before the reading of the Holy Gospel, during the Cherubic Song, and when the priest said: “Holy to Holies.” God gave the Monk Cyril and Mary a son, who was named Bartholomew.
From the first days of his life, the baby surprised everyone by fasting; on Wednesdays and Fridays he did not accept mother’s milk; on other days, if Maria ate meat, the baby also refused mother’s milk. Noticing this, Maria completely refused to eat meat.
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 his studies, although the teacher worked with him a lot. The parents scolded the child, the teacher punished him, and his comrades mocked him for his stupidity. Then Bartholomew with tears prayed to the Lord to grant him book understanding.
One day his father sent Bartholomew to fetch horses from 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 elder’s prayer. He blessed the boy, kissed him and asked what he wanted. Bartholomew replied: “With all my soul I wish to learn to read and write, Holy Father, pray to God for me, so that He will help me learn to read and write.” The monk fulfilled Bartholomew’s request, raised his prayer to God and, blessing the youth, said to him: “From now on, God gives you, my child, to understand literacy, you will surpass your brothers and peers.” At the same time, the elder took out a vessel and gave Bartholomew a piece of prosphora: “Take it, child, and eat it,” he said. “This is given to you as a sign of God’s grace and for the understanding of Holy Scripture.” The elder wanted to leave, but Bartholomew asked him to visit his parents’ house.
The parents greeted the guest with honor and offered refreshments. The elder replied that first one should 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 in 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 then on, the holy youth easily read and understood the contents of books. With special zeal, he began to delve deeper into prayer, not missing a single service. Already in childhood he imposed on himself strict fast, 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, took the schema at the Khotkovsky Monastery of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, not far from Radonezh. Subsequently, the widowed elder brother Stefan also accepted monasticism in this monastery. Having buried his parents, Bartholomew, together with his brother Stefan, retired to live as a desert in the forest (12 versts from Radonezh). First they erected a cell, and then a small church, and with the blessing of Metropolitan Theognostus, it was consecrated in the Name of the Holy Trinity. But soon, unable to withstand the difficulties of life in a deserted place, Stefan left his brother and moved to the Moscow Epiphany Monastery (where he became close to the monk Alexy, later Metropolitan of Moscow, commemorated February 12).
Bartholomew, on October 7, 1337, took monastic vows from Abbot Mitrofan with the name of the holy martyr Sergius (October 7) and marked the beginning of a new residence for the glory of the Life-Giving Trinity. Enduring temptations and demonic fears, the Reverend rose from strength to strength. Gradually he became known to other monks who sought his guidance.
The Monk Sergius received everyone with love, and soon a brotherhood of twelve monks was formed in the small monastery. Their experienced spiritual mentor was distinguished by his rare diligence. 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 work. St. Sergius combined hard work with prayer, vigil and fasting. The brethren were surprised that with such a severe feat, the health of their mentor not only did not deteriorate, but became even stronger. Not without difficulty, the monks begged St. Sergius to accept the abbess of the monastery. In 1354, Bishop Athanasius of Volyn ordained the Rev. a hieromonk and elevated him to the rank of abbot. Monastic obediences were still 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 exploits of St. Sergius became known in Constantinople, and Patriarch Philotheus sent Reverend cross, paraman and schema, as a blessing for new exploits, the Blessed Letter, advised the chosen one of God to establish a cenobitic monastery. With the patriarchal message, the Reverend went to Saint Alexy and received from him advice to introduce a strict community system. The monks began to grumble about the severity of the rules, and the Reverend was forced to leave the monastery. On the Kirzhach River he founded a monastery in honor of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Order in the former monastery began to quickly decline, and the remaining monks turned to Saint Alexis so that he would return the saint.
The Monk Sergius unquestioningly obeyed the saint, leaving his disciple, the Monk Roman, as abbot of the Kirzhach Monastery.
During his lifetime, St. Sergius was awarded 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 quickly spread, and sick people began to be brought to him both from surrounding villages and from distant places. And no one left the Reverend without receiving healing of ailments and edifying advice. Everyone glorified St. Sergius and reverently revered him 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 (April 27), who deeply revered the Monk, was heading from his diocese to Moscow. The road ran eight miles from the Sergius Monastery. Intending to visit the monastery on the way back, the saint stopped and, having read 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 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 act of the Rev., hastened to the indicated place and, having caught up with the saint, were convinced of the truth of the vision.
Gradually, the monks began to witness other similar phenomena. Once, during the liturgy, an Angel of the Lord concelebrated with the Saint, but in his humility, Saint Sergius forbade anyone to tell 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 Venerable One to him and asked to accept the Russian Metropolis, but Blessed Sergius, out of humility, refused the primacy.
The Russian land at that time suffered from Tatar yoke. Grand Duke Dimitri Ioannovich Donskoy, having gathered an army, came to the monastery of St. Sergius to ask for a blessing for the upcoming battle. To help the Grand Duke, the Reverend blessed two monks of his monastery: schema-monk Andrei (Oslyabya) and schema-monk Alexander (Peresvet), and predicted victory for Prince Demetrius. The prophecy of St. Sergius was fulfilled: on September 8, 1380, on the day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 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 stood with his brethren in prayer and asked God to grant victory to the Russian army.
For his angelic life, St. Sergius was awarded heavenly vision from God. One night, Abba Sergius read 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 (May 6), that a miraculous visit awaited them. A moment later, the Mother of God appeared, accompanied by the holy apostles Peter and John the Theologian. From the unusually bright light, the Monk Sergius fell on his face, but the Most Holy Theotokos touched him with her hands and, blessing him, promised to always patronize his holy monastery.
Having reached a very old age, the monk, having foreseen his death six months later, called the brethren to him and blessed a disciple experienced in spiritual life and obedience, the venerable Nikon (November 17), to become abbess. In silent solitude, the Monk reposed before God on September 25, 1392. The day before, the great saint of God called the brethren for the last time and addressed the words of his testament: “Take heed to yourselves, brethren. First have the fear of God, spiritual purity and unfeigned love...”
Troparion to St. Sergius of Radonezh, tone 8
From your youth you received Christ in your soul, reverend, and most of all you desired to evade worldly rebellion: you courageously moved into the desert and the children of obedience in it, the fruits of humility, you grew. Thus, having given residence to the Trinity, you enlightened with your miracles all those who come to you by faith, and abundantly provided healing to everyone. Our Father Sergius, pray to Christ God to save our souls.
Troparion to St. Sergius of Radonezh, tone 4
(Finding of relics)
Today the reigning city of Moscow shines brightly, as with the radiant dawns and lightning of your miracles, it convenes the whole universe to praise you, God-Wise Sergius; Your most honorable and glorious abode, even in the Name of the Holy Trinity, you have created many of your works, Father, having your flocks within you, your disciples are filled with joy and gladness. We, celebrating the glorious discovery of your honorable relics, in the hidden lands, like a fragrant flower and a fragrant censer, kindly kissing me, accept various healings and are honored by your prayers for the forgiveness of sins, Father Reverend Sergius, pray to the Holy Trinity to save our souls.
Troparion and Kontakion to St. Sergius of Radonezh, Brothers of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra
Prayers to St. Sergius of Radonezh
Other sources
Library of Yakov KROTOV— THE LIFE AND MIRACLES OF THE REVEREND SERGIUS IGUMENE OF RADONEZH, RECORDED BY Reverend Epiphanius the Wise, Hieromonk Pachomius Logothetes and Elder Simon Azaryin. Moscow: Orthodox Encyclopedia, Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra. M, 1997
Missionary and apologetic project “TO THE TRUTH”— The complete life of St. Sergius of Radonezh. Compiler of the Life of Sergius of Radonezh, Archimandrite Nikon of the Nativity, Archbishop of Vologda and Totem (1851 - 1919), prayer, akathist, canon, Hagiographic and scientific-historical literature about St. Sergius of Radonezh.
Publications about Sergius of Radonezh on the Pravmir.ru website: pravmir.ru
Life of Sergius of Radonezh, written on paper at the end of the 16th century, more than 600 facial images: Facial Life of Sergius of Radonezh
Additional materials
Archpriest Andrei Tkachev “Earthly angels, heavenly people.” M.: Danilovsky blagovestnik, 2013.-192s -
Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh, video (Sense and benefit)
Paintings by Sergei Efoshkin, cycle “The Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh”
Sergey Efoshkin is an artist-painter, a member of the Union of Artists of Russia and the International Association of Fine Arts, lives and works in Moscow. Graduated from the Moscow State Art Institute. V.I.Surikov Academy of Arts. And since 1988 he himself became a teacher at Russian Academy painting, sculpture and architecture.
The artist works in the genres of historical painting, portrait, landscape, book design and illustration. Sergei Efoshkin is the author of pictorial historical cycles: “The Life of St. Sergei of Radonezh, XIV century,” “From the history of the Russian State,” “The Life and Miracles of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker,” as well as the author of the design and illustrations of the books: V.P. Stolyarov “The Legend of St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra, the Wonderworker”, O. Kastkina “Reverend Sergius of Radonezh”, publications of the Novospassky Monastery “ABC in Proverbs”.
A separate direction in the artist’s work was the work on murals Orthodox churches Moscow. S. Efoshkin is a repeated winner of various domestic and international competitions and actively participates in exhibition activities. It is impossible not to note the artist’s personal exhibitions that were held with great success in many cities of Russia, as well as in near and far abroad.
Book miniatures “The Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh the Wonderworker”
Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra. 16 postcards. Published in the printing house of the Patriarchal Publishing and Printing Center of the Holy Trinity Sergius Lavra. -2014
Book miniatures by Tatiana Kiseleva, made in an iconographic manner, repeat the plots of the miniatures of the ancient manuscript of the Facial Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh - the oldest known manuscript of the Life of St. Sergius, the basis of which was the first biography of the saint, created by his disciple St. Epiphanius the Wise in the 15th century, a priceless artistic masterpiece, decorated with 652 miniatures.
Sergius of Radonezh (c. 1314-1392) is revered by the Russian Orthodox Church in the ranks of saints as a reverend and is considered the greatest ascetic of the Russian land. He founded the Trinity-Sergius Lavra near Moscow, which was formerly called the Trinity Monastery. Sergius of Radonezh preached the ideas of hesychasm. He understood these ideas in his own way. In particular, he rejected the idea that only monks would enter the kingdom of God. “All good ones will be saved,” Sergius taught. He became, perhaps, the first Russian spiritual thinker who not only imitated Byzantine thought, but also creatively developed it. The memory of Sergius of Radonezh is especially revered in Russia. It was this ascetic monk who blessed Dmitry of Moscow and his cousin Vladimir Serpukhovsky to fight the Tatars. Through his lips, the Russian Church for the first time called for a fight against the Horde.
We know about the life of St. Sergius from Epiphanius the Wise, a master of “weaving words.” “The Life of Sergius of Radonezh” was written by him in his declining years in 1417-1418. in the Trinity-Sergius Monastery. According to his testimony, in 1322, a son, Bartholomew, was born to the Rostov boyar Kirill and his wife Maria. This family was once rich, but then became poor and, fleeing persecution from the servants of Ivan Kalita, around 1328 they were forced to move to Radonezh, a city that belonged to the youngest son of the Grand Duke Andrei Ivanovich. At the age of seven, Bartholomew began to be taught to read and write in a church school; learning was difficult for him. He grew up as a quiet and thoughtful boy, who gradually decided to leave the world and devote his life to God. His parents themselves took monastic vows at the Khotkovsky Monastery. It was there that his elder brother Stefan took the vow of monasticism. Bartholomew, having bequeathed property to his younger brother Peter, went to Khotkovo and began to become a monk under the name of Sergius.
The brothers decided to leave the monastery and set up a cell in the forest, ten miles from it. Together they cut down the church and consecrated it in honor of the Holy Trinity. Around 1335, Stefan could not stand the hardships and went to the Moscow Epiphany Monastery, leaving Sergius alone. A period of difficult trials began for Sergius. His solitude lasted about two years, and then monks began to flock to him. They built twelve cells and surrounded them with a fence. Thus, in 1337, the Trinity-Sergius Monastery was born, and Sergius became its abbot.
He led the monastery, but this leadership had nothing to do with power in the usual, secular sense of the word. As they say in the Life, Sergius was “like a bought slave” for everyone. He cut down cells, carried logs, performed difficult work, fulfilling to the end his vow of monastic poverty and service to his neighbor. One day he ran out of food, and after starving for three days, he went to the monk of his monastery, a certain Daniel. He was going to add a porch to his cell and was waiting for carpenters from the village. And so the abbot invited Daniel to do this work. Daniel was afraid that Sergius would ask a lot from him, but he agreed to work for rotten bread, which was no longer possible to eat. Sergius worked all day, and in the evening Daniel “brought him a sieve of rotten bread.”
Also, according to the Life, he “took every opportunity to establish a monastery where he found it necessary.” According to one contemporary, Sergius “with quiet and meek words” could act on the most hardened and hardened hearts; very often reconciled princes warring among themselves. In 1365 he sent him to Nizhny Novgorod to reconcile the quarreling princes. Along the way, in passing, Sergius found time to create a wasteland in the wilderness of the Gorokhovets district in a swamp near the Klyazma River and erect a temple of the Holy Trinity. He settled there “elders of the desert hermits, and they ate bast trees and mowed hay in the swamp.” In addition to the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, Sergius founded the Annunciation Monastery on Kirzhach, Staro-Golutvin near Kolomna, the Vysotsky Monastery, and the St. George Monastery on Klyazma. He appointed his disciples as abbots in all these monasteries. More than 40 monasteries were founded by his students, for example, Savva (Savvino-Storozhevsky near Zvenigorod), Ferapont (Ferapontov), Kirill (Kirillo-Belozersky), Sylvester (Voskresensky Obnorsky). According to his life, Sergius of Radonezh performed many miracles. People came to him from different cities for healing, and sometimes even just to see him. According to the life, he once resurrected a boy who died in his father’s arms when he was carrying the child to the saint for healing.
Having reached a very old age, Sergius, having foreseen his death within six months, called the brethren to him and blessed a disciple experienced in spiritual life and obedience, the Monk Nikon, to become abbess. Sergius died on September 25, 1392 and was soon canonized. This happened during the lifetime of people who knew him. An incident that was never repeated.
30 years later, on July 5, 1422, his relics were found incorrupt, as evidenced by Pachomius Logofet. Therefore, this day is one of the days of remembrance of the saint. On April 11, 1919, during the campaign to open the relics, the relics of Sergius of Radonezh were opened in the presence of a special commission with the participation of church representatives. The remains of Sergius were found in the form of bones, hair and fragments of the rough monastic robe in which he was buried. Pavel Florensky became aware of the upcoming opening of the relics, and with his participation (in order to protect the relics from the possibility of complete destruction), the head of St. Sergius was secretly separated from the body and replaced with the head of Prince Trubetskoy, who was buried in the Lavra. Until the relics of the Church were returned, the head of St. Sergius was kept separately. In 1920-1946. the relics were in a museum located in the monastery building. On April 20, 1946, the relics of Sergius were returned to the Church. Currently, the relics of St. Sergius are in the Trinity Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
Sergius of Radonezh embodied the idea of a communal monastery in Rus'. Previously, monks, when they entered the monastery, continued to own property. There were poor and rich monks. Naturally, the poor soon became servants of their wealthier brothers. This, according to Sergius, contradicted the very idea of monastic brotherhood, equality, and striving for God. Therefore, in his Trinity Monastery, founded near Moscow near Radonezh, Sergius of Radonezh forbade the monks to have private property. They had to give their wealth to the monastery, which became, as it were, a collective owner. The monasteries needed property, in particular land, only so that the monks who devoted themselves to prayer had something to eat. As we see, Sergius of Radonezh was guided by the highest thoughts and struggled with monastic wealth. Sergius' disciples became the founders of many monasteries of this type. However, later the communal monasteries became the largest land owners, who, by the way, also possessed great movable wealth - money, precious things received as deposits for the funeral of the soul. The Trinity-Sergius Monastery under Vasily II the Dark received an unprecedented privilege: its peasants did not have the right to move on St. George’s Day - thus, on the scale of one monastic estate, serfdom first appeared in Rus'.
