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Vla-di-mir

Vla-di-mir
Russian Federation

Sergius Radonezh

Sergius Radonezh

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February 22, 2010

February 22, 2010

February 22, 2010

Revolution in Russia

Revolution in Russia

February 24, 2010

Tsar Nicholas II and his family

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| 05:48 PM Feb 22 2010

Vla-di-mir

Russian Federation

St. Sergius was born in the village Varnita, near Rostov, May 3, 1314 in a family of pious and noble boyars Cyril and Mary. Lord predyzbral him even from his mother’s womb. In the Life of St. Sergius is narrated that during the Divine Liturgy before the birth of a son of Mary and the righteous worshipers heard triple exclamation baby: before reading the Holy Gospel, during the Cherubic Hymn, and when the priest said: “holy of holies.” God gave Reverend Cyril and Mary’s son, who was named Bartholomew. From the first days of life the baby surprised everyone by fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, he did not take mother’s milk, on the other days, when Maria to eat the meat, the baby also refused to mother’s milk. Noticing this, she withdrew totally from meat. At the age of seven Bartholomew was learning along with his two brothers – senior and junior Stephen Peter. His brothers taught successfully, but Bartholomew behind in teaching, although a teacher and worked long hours with him. Parents of abused child, the teacher punished, and comrades mocked him senseless. Then Bartholomew tearfully implored the Lord to grant him a book of understanding. One day his father sent Bartholomew to the horses in the field. Along the way he met an angel sent by God to the monk way: the old man standing under a tree among the fields and to pray. Bartholomew approached him and he bowed his head, waited to the end of the prayers of the elder. He blessed the boy, kissed him and asked him what he wants. Bartholomew said: “all my heart I want to learn to read and write, Holy Father, pray for me God, that He helped me learn a charter.” Monk was asked Bartholomew, lifted his prayer to God and blessing the boy, told him: “Henceforth, God giveth thee, my child, knowledge of grammar, you prevzoydesh his brothers and peers.” This old man took out a jar and gave Bartholomew a particle of consecrated bread: “Take it, child, and eat it, – he said. – This gives you a sign of God’s grace and for understanding the Holy Scripture.” The old man wanted to leave, but Bartholomew had asked him to visit his parents’ house. Parents are greeted with honor guest and offered refreshments. He answered that first taste of food should be spiritual, and ordered their son to read Psalms. Bartholomew has read harmoniously, and parents were surprised the occurred change in her son. Saying good-bye, old man prophetically foretold of Sergius: “Great to be your son, before God and people. It will be the chosen abode of the Holy Spirit.” Since then, the holy lad easily read and understood the contents of books. With great zeal, he became deeper in prayer, not missing a single Divine. Already in his childhood, he imposed upon himself a strict fast and do not eat 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 married, Cyril and Mary shortly before his death took schema in Hotkovskom monastery of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, near Radonezh. Subsequently, the widowed brother Stephen also received the monk in this monastery. After burying their parents, Bartholomew, along with his brother Stephen went to pustynnozhitelstva in the woods (12 miles from Radonezh). First they put his 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 bear the difficulties of life in the wilderness, Stephen left his brother and moved to Moscow Epiphany Monastery (where approached the monk Alexy, later Metropolitan of Moscow, the memory of February 12).
Bartholomew is October 7, 1337 took vows of a monk named Abbot Mitrophan martyr Sergius (memory of 7 October) and ushered in a new residence for the glory of the Life-Giving Trinity. Undergoing temptation and insurance demons, Reverend ascended from strength to strength. Gradually he became known to other monks, who sought his guidance. St. Sergius of all accepted with love, and soon a small fraternity of the monastery was composed of twelve monks. Their experienced spiritual mentor is a remarkable work ethic. His hands he built a number of cell, carried water, chopped wood, bake bread, sew clothes, preparing food for the monks and humbly carried out other work. Hard work combined with St. Sergius of prayer, vigil and fasting. Brethren was surprised that with such a harsh exploit the health of their mentor not only deteriorated, but even more stronger. Not easily begged the monks of St. Sergius hegumen take over the cloister. In 1354, Bishop Athanasius devoted Volinskiy Reverend hieromonk and elevated to the rank of abbot. Still in the monastery were carried out strictly monastic obedience. With the increase of the monastery grew and its needs. Often the monks ate little food, but the prayers of St. Sergius of unknown people brought everything you need.
The fame of the exploits of St. Sergius became known in Constantinople, and Patriarch Filofei sent Reverend cross paraman and schema, a blessing for new feats, the Blessed One letter, advised the chosen one of God arrange coenobite monastery. In patriarchal message of Reverend went to the holy Alexis and received from him advice to introduce strict hostel. The monks began to complain of the severity of the statute, and Monk had to leave the monastery. On the river Kirzhach he founded a monastery in honor of the Annunciation. Order in the old monastery was quickly dwindle, and the remaining monks appealed to the holy Alexis, he returned to the saint.
St. Sergius obey the saint, leaving the abbot of the monastery Kirzhachsky his disciple, Venerable Roman.
During the life of St. Sergius received a gracious gift of wonderworking. He raised the child as a desperate father thought of her only son forever lost. The fame of the miracles of St. Sergius, has spread rapidly, and it started to give patients both from the surrounding villages and from distant places. And no one left the Reverend, not having received healing ailments and edifying advice. All praise of St. Sergius and reverently worshiped along with the ancient holy fathers. But mortal glory did not relish the great saint, and he remained a model of monastic humility.
One St Stephen, Bishop of Perm (commemorated 27 April), highly esteemed Reverend was heading from his diocese in Moscow. The road runs eight miles from St. Sergius Monastery. Assuming visit the monastery on the way back, the saint stopped and read the prayer, worship Sergius with the words: “Peace be with you, the spiritual brother.” At this time, St. Sergius was sitting with his brother for a meal. In response to the blessing of St. St. Sergius stood up, read a prayer and blessing of the saint sent a reply. Some of the disciples, amazed at the extraordinary act of Reverend, hastened to that place and caught up with the saint, convinced of the truth of the vision.
Gradually, the monks became the Witnesses and other similar phenomena. Once during the liturgy concelebrated the Rev. angel of the Lord, but for his humility, St. Sergius forbade anyone to tell about it until the end of his life on earth.
The close bonds of spiritual friendship and brotherly love tied St. Sergius of Bishop Alex. Prelate in his declining years, summoned the Reverend and requested that Russian metropolitan, but the blessed Sergius of humility, refused pervosvyatitelstva.
Russian land at the time suffered from the Tatar yoke. Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy, gathering an army, came to the monastery of St. Sergius to ask for blessings for the upcoming battle. To help the Grand Duke Reverend blessed the two monks of the monastery: schemamonk Andrew (Oslabya) and schemamonk Alexander (Peresvet), and predicted the victory of Prince Dimitri. Sergius of prophecy was fulfilled: September 8, 1380, the day of the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Russian troops won a complete victory over the Tartar hordes of Kulikovo field, beginning the liberation of the Russian land from the Tatar yoke. During the battle, St. Sergius and his brother stood in prayer and asked God to grant victory of the Russian army.
Over the angelic life of St. Sergius received from God the heavenly vision. One night, Abba Sergius read the rule before the icon of the Blessed Virgin. Finished reading the canon of the Holy Mother, he sat down to rest, but suddenly he said to his disciple, the Rev. Micah (memory of May 6) that they can expect a wonderful visit. A moment later, was the Blessed Virgin, accompanied by the holy apostles Peter and John the Divine. On an unusually bright light of St. Sergius fell down, but the Mother of God touched him with his hands and blessing, promised to always patronize the monastery it.
Reached old age, Reverend, for six months, receive your sight its demise, called for his brethren and blessed to hegumen experienced in the spiritual life and obedience to the disciple of St. Nikon (Comm. 17 November). In the silent solitude Reverend reposed to God September 25, 1392. On the eve of the great saint of God, the last time called upon the brethren, and turned with the words of the will: “Heed me, brother.” First keep the fear of God, purity of soul, and love unfeigned … “

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