Saint Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov

Saint Seraphim was born in Kursk in 1759 to a pious Orthodox family. As a boy, he loved church and prayer and reading Scripture. He was healed from a grave illness by an icon of the Theotokos. He went to Sarov monastery at 19, became a monk at 27, was ordained a deacon and then priest. He began living as a hermit in the forest, devoted to prayer and fasting, going to the monastery on Sundays for Holy Communion. After being beaten by robbers, he was always bent over and needed a staff to walk. He spent a thousand days and nights kneeling on a stone in prayer and then spent 13 years in absolute silence. After a heavenly vision, Seraphim ended his silence and began to speak for the benefit of others. He received thousands of pilgrims from across Russia in his forest cell, greeting all with a prostration and the words: Christ is Risen! Gifted with clairvoyance, he gave consolation and guidance to all. Saint Seraphim reposed in 1833, kneeling before an icon of the Theotokos.