Saint Sergius of Radonezh

On October 8th (September 25th, old style) the Church commemorates the great Russian wonderworker, Saint Sergius of Radonezh.

In 1314 the righteous noble couple, Cyril and Maria, who lived near Rostov the Great, gave birth to a son, Bartholomew. The infant refused his mother’s milk on Wednesdays and Fridays, and also on those days when Maria ate meat. At the age of seven Bartholomew was sent to school together with his brothers Stephen and Peter. Inspite of his diligence, learning came poorly to Bartholomew, and he tearfully prayed for the gift of “understanding book learning.”

One day Bartholomew saw a monk standing under an oak tree and praying. After finishing with his prayers, the elder gently asked the youth: “What do you want, child?” Bartholomew replied: “Pray to God for me and ask Him to open up my mind to book learning.” The elder prayed, then gave the youth a piece of prosfora and said: “Take this, child, and eat. It is given to you as a sign of God’s grace and for the sake of understanding the Holy Scriptures.” The monk then visited Bartholomew’s house, blessed his parents and commanded Bartholomew to read the Psalter. The boy began to fluently read the psalms.

In 1328 Cyril and Maria moved to Radonezh. Bartholomew’s brothers chose married life, while he had the sole desire to leave the world and dedicate himself to God. Shortly before their death, the saint’s parents became monastics. Having become widowed, Stephen also entered the holy orders. After burying their parents, Bartholomew and Stephen went into a deep forest several miles away from Radonezh, where they built a monastic cell and a small church in honor of the Holy Trinity. Soon afterwards, unable to endure the difficulties of solitary dwelling, Stephen departed for Moscow and entered the monastery of Theophany.

On October 7, 1337 Bartholomew was ordained a monk with the name of Sergius. News of the new monk Sergius spread all over the environs and soon 12 brothers gathered around him. Several cells were built around the church and were surrounded by a high fence to protect them against wild animals. This was the beginning of the future Trinity-Sergius Lavra (1337). For a long time there was no abbot, nor priest. Due to his great humility, St. Sergius declined to be ordained a priest. He joined the others in building cells, baked bread, cooked the food, sewed clothes and shoes for the brothers, carried water. In 1354, after persistent pleas from the other monks, he became a priest and was given the rank of abbot. He served the Divine liturgy every day.

The number of brothers increased. Many laymen began settling around the monastery, attracted by rumors of the abbot’s gift of miracle-working. By his prayers a spring of water welled up at the walls of the monastery, a dead youth was resurrected, a nobleman possessed by demons was made well. The Lord also glorified His righteous servant with the gift of clairvoyance.

Once St. Stephen, hierarch of Perm and a close friend of St. Sergius, traveled to Moscow. Passing close by to the monastery, he stopped, said a prayer and bowed down towards the monastery with the following words: “Peace be with you, spiritual brother.” At that time St. Sergius was eating with the brothers. Seeing his friend with his spiritual eyes, he, too, said a prayer, bowed in the direction of St. Stephen and replied: “May you also rejoice, shepherd of Christ’s flock, and may the peace of God be with you!” The brothers were quite amazed, but afterwards the saint explained to them the meaning of his words and named the place where St. Stephen had stopped.

One night, while standing in prayer, the saint heard a voice calling him and saw a wondrous light shining from heaven and a multitude of beautiful birds. The mysterious voice said: “The Lord has accepted your prayer for your spiritual children. Thus will the number of your disciples multiply and will not become scarce even after you pass away; they will be adorned with great virtues if they follow in your steps.” This happened even during the saint’s lifetime. His disciples established numerous monasteries all over Russia.

St. Sergius’ monastery was a haven for wanderers, the poor and the sick, who received lodgings and food there. In the words of the first writer of the life of St. Sergius, “the hand of Sergius was stretched out to the needy like a great river.” His disciples saw an Angel concelebrating the liturgy with their abbot, they saw fire surrounding the altar and St. Sergius, and fire entering the Holy Chalice as the saint took communion.

One night St. Sergius, together with his cell attendant, St. Micah, was honored by a visit from the Holy Mother of God, accompanied by the apostles Peter and John. The Holy Virgin said: “Fear not, My chosen one, I have come to visit you. Your prayer on behalf of your disciples has been heard; do not grieve also for your monastery: from now on it will have abundance in everything, not only during your lifetime, but even after your departure to the Heavenly Realm. I will never abandon this place and will always protect it.”

In 1380, while preparing for his campaign against Mamai, the holy Prince Dimitri Donskoy visited the monastery of the Life-giving Trinity and received St. Sergius’ advice and blessing.The saint said: “Go forth, my lord, fearlessly! The Lord will help you against the godless enemy. You shall conquer your enemies.” To aid the Prince in battle, St. Sergius also gave him two of his schema-monks - Alexander (Peresvet) and Andrei (Oslabya) - former warriors.

On September 8, 1380, on the day of the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God, the Russian army defeated the Tatars on the Kulikovo field, making the first step towards liberating Russia from the Tatar yoke. While the battle was in progress, St. Sergius gathered all his monks in the church and prayed to the Lord for success in battle, and afterwards offered thanks to God for the victory that had been granted.

St. Sergius was a great peacemaker among the warring Russian princes, convincing them with his meek and humble words to accept the sovereignty of the prince of Moscow.

Six months before his death St. Sergius was granted a revelation of it. He gathered his monks around him, handed the administration of the monastery over to his disciple, St. Nikon, and gave himself over to solitude. Before his departure from this world, he once again gathered his monks and instructed them to remain in faith and unity, to preserve spiritual and physical purity, to have great love among themselves, to refrain from evil desires and passions, to keep moderation in food and drink, to espouse hospitality, to be humble and shun earthly glory and vanity. The saint then partook of the Holy Mysteries and quietly said: “Into Thine hands I give up my spirit, o Lord.” Immediately an indescribable fragrance issued from his body, while his face shone with heavenly rapture. This took place on September 25, 1392.

On July 5, 1422 the fragrant relics of the saint were uncovered and found to be incorruptible. They were placed in a new casket and set in the wooden church, from whence they were transferred to the Trinity Cathedral which was later built by St. Nikon, where they remain up to this day, giving comfort and healing to all who venerate them.

Troparion to St. Sergius of Radonezh
4th Tone

As a virtuous ascetic athlete, and true warrior of Christ our God fighting fiercely the good fight against the passions during this earthly life, labouring in song, vigil and fasting thou wast an example to thy disciples. Wherefore, the Holy Spirit made His abode in thee Whose activity adorned thee with radiant beauty: Since thou hast great boldness towards the Holy Trinity remember thy flock wisely gathered by thee and forget not as thou didst promise to visit thy children, O holy Father Sergius

Reproduced from the website of 
Holy Transfiguration Church in Baltimore
www.holy-transfiguration.org