Orthodox Icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov

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January 2nd
Troparion (Tone 4)
From thy youth up thou hast loved Christ, O blessed Saint, and aflame with the desire to work for Him alone thou hast contended in unceasing prayer and laboured in the wilderness: and gaining by compunction of heart the love of Christ, thou hast appeared as the chosen of the Mother of God. Therefore we cry to thee: Save us by thy prayers, O Father Seraphim.

St. Seraphim was a Starets in Russia. A Starets is a wise elder and spiritual guide. He was born in 1759 as Prochoros Moshnin. When he was a boy, he was deathly ill and received a vision of the Theotokos healing him. A thunderstorm caused a procession that was carrying the Kursk icon of the Mother of God to pass in front of his house. He was carried out to kiss it. Immediately, he started to recover. He loved the lives of the saints. At age 18, his mother blessed him and gave him a large copper cross (which he wore for the rest of his life) and he went to the monastery. At age 27, he took monastic vows. He lived with extreme asceticism. He eventually retreated far into the woods, living in a hut, at peace with all of the wild animals. One time, a band of robbers came upon him. He did not defend himself, but dropped the ax he was using to the ground and crossed his arms over his chest as if for burial. They used his ax to bludgeon him until they thought he was dead. The only thing they found in his hut was his icon of the Theotokos. God raised him up, but he was hunched over from his injuries after that. When the bandits were caught, he spoke before the magistrate in their defense. He was used by God to provide for a nearby women's monastery. In his later years, he submitted to being a Starets. Thousands came to him of all walks and classes for advice and for prayer. He greeted all with joy. Many were healed by his prayers. His prayers were especially effective to grant healthy, safe births for women who had problems with infertility or miscarriages. There is so much more that could be said. The reader would do well to read his full biography.

This icon is by the hand of Nick Papas of Greensburg, PA. This icon is also available as a laminated Prayer Card

Order # inp-100