Life of Sergius of Radonezh year of writing. "The Story of the Great Saint

On May 3, 1319, Sergius of Radonezh, saint of the Russian Orthodox Church, founder of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, was born.

Private bussiness

Sergius of Radonezh (1319 - 1392) born near Rostov the Great in the village of Varnitsa. At baptism he received the name Bartholomew. According to legend, his father was a boyar of the Rostov princes Konstantin Borisovich and Vasily Konstantinovich. Bartholomew was the middle of three sons. According to life, young Bartholomew, despite all the efforts and reproaches of his teachers, could not master reading and writing for a long time. One day he saw “a certain monk, a holy elder, amazing and unknown, with the rank of presbyter, handsome and like an angel, standing in a field under an oak tree and diligently praying with tears.” The boy asked the elder to pray that he would learn to read and write. The elder fulfilled the request and gave the boy the blessed prosphora to eat. After this, the boy gained the ability to read. The elder said to Bartholomew’s parents: “Your son will be the abode of the Holy Trinity.” When Bartholomew turned 12 years old, he asked his parents for their blessing to take monastic vows; they did not object, but asked him to wait until they died. Soon the family moved to the city of Radonezh in the Principality of Moscow, where the last years of the life of Bartholomew’s parents passed.

After the death of his parents (around 1337), Bartholomew went to the Intercession Khotkov Monastery, where his elder brother Stefan was already a monk. Bartholomew persuaded his brother to become hermits and settle in the forests. They established a hermitage on the banks of the Konchura River, not far from Radonezh. Later, Stefan went to Moscow, where he became abbot of the Epiphany Monastery, while Bartholomew continued his hermitage and at the age of 23 became a monk, taking the name Sergius.

The fame of the young hermit quickly spread, and pilgrims began to come to Sergius. Some of them settled not far from his forest hut. This is how the monastic monastery gradually arose. It was not without difficulty that the monks persuaded Sergius to become their abbot. In 1354 he was ordained a priest. The monastery was dedicated to the Holy Trinity. From the 1360s, Sergius began to introduce a new monastic charter. Previously, the monks lived alone in their cells, gathering together only for worship. This custom of monastic life is called special. The new way of life in the monastery was called communal; a general routine of life and strict intra-monastic discipline were introduced among the inhabitants of the monastery. The changes introduced by Sergius were not accepted by all monks. After some time, the elder brother Stefan returned to the monastery from Moscow and began to claim leadership in the community, criticizing the innovations of Sergius. In order not to compete with his brother, Sergius decided to leave the monastery. He went to the Kirzhach River, where thanks to him the Annunciation Monastery arose (now in the territory of the city of Kirzhach, Vladimir region). Many monks from the Holy Trinity Monastery moved to their abbot. Four years later, at the request of Moscow Metropolitan Alexy, Sergius returned to his former monastery. He headed the monastic community until his death on September 25, 1392.

What is he famous for?

Sergius of Radonezh

Sergius of Radonezh became one of the most revered Russian saints, and the Trinity Monastery founded by him became the most important center of Orthodoxy. Worship of Sergius began even before his generally accepted canonization, which occurred in the middle of the 15th century. The first image of Sergius on the cover, now kept in the sacristy of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, dates back to 1420. During his lifetime, Sergius’s great authority often helped to end strife among the Russian princes. In many ways, his activities served to strengthen the authority of the Moscow Principality. Moscow Metropolitan Alexy offered Sergius to become his successor, but Sergius refused, saying: “I have not worn gold since my youth, and in old age it is all the more fitting for me to remain in poverty.” It is widely known from the life of St. Sergius of Radonezh that shortly before the Battle of Kulikovo, Prince Dmitry went to the Trinity Monastery and received the blessing of Sergius. According to “The Tale of the Massacre of Mamaev,” Sergius sent two monks Alexander Peresvet and Rodion Oslyabya to battle.

The memory of St. Sergius is celebrated by Orthodox Christians on September 25 (October 8) on the day of the saint’s death, on July 5 (18) on the day of the discovery of his relics, and also on July 6 (19), on the day of the Council of Radonezh Saints.

What you need to know

No works or documents written by Sergius of Radonezh have survived. The main source of information about him is the life compiled by Epiphanius the Wise, a student of Sergius. This work is recognized as one of the outstanding monuments of ancient Russian literature and a valuable historical source. In the middle of the 15th century, this life was revised by Pachomius Logothetes, shortening the text of Epiphanius and supplementing it with descriptions of the posthumous miracles of Sergius. In the 17th century, on behalf of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, a new version of the life was compiled by the church writer and cellarer of the Trinity Monastery Simon Azaryin.

Direct speech

“The monk worked at all monastic obediences: he carried firewood on his shoulders and, having split it and cut it into logs, carried it to the cells. But why do I remember about firewood? The appearance of the monastery at that time was truly amazing: the forest stood not far from it - not like it is now, but above the cells under construction and already installed, trees rustled over them, overshadowing them. Logs and stumps were visible everywhere around the church; various seeds were planted here and garden vegetables were grown. But let us return to the interrupted story about the feat of St. Sergius, about how he diligently served the brethren, like a purchased slave: he chopped wood for everyone, as was said, he crushed and ground grain with millstones, baked bread, cooked food and prepared other food supplies for the brethren , cut and sewed shoes and clothes and, having scooped up water from a nearby spring, carried it in two buckets on his shoulders up the mountain and placed it at each brother’s cell,” from the life written by Epiphanius the Wise.

“Respect for Sergius prompted Grand Duke Dimitri to turn to him several times. In 1365, regarding the dispute between Dimitri Konstantinovich of Suzdal and his brother Boris for Nizhny Novgorod, by order of Dimitri of Moscow and Metropolitan Alexy, Sergius went to Nizhny Novgorod, closed all the churches in it and thereby forced Boris to give in to his brother. In 1385, Sergius, already elderly, arranged eternal peace between previously irreconcilable enemies: Demetrius of Moscow and Oleg of Ryazan,” - Nikolay Kostomarov.

“Reverend Sergius of Radonezh is rightly revered as the father of true monasticism in northern, or Moscow, Rus' during Mongol times, just as the Venerable Anthony and Theodosius of Pechersk were the fathers of the same monasticism in southern, or Kievan, Rus' during pre-Mongol times. A real monastery should be located, if not in a complete desert, then outside worldly human habitations and at a greater or lesser distance from them; in a real monastery, the life of monks should not be singular, but strictly communal. This type, or model, of monasteries, like real monasteries, was established by St. Sergius in Muscovite Rus' for a more or less long time,” - Evgeny Golubinsky.

13 facts about Sergius of Radonezh

The exact date of birth of the saint is unknown. Various researchers give the years 1313, 1314, 1318, 1319 and 1322.
The parents of Sergius of Radonezh, Cyril and Maria, are also venerated among the saints of the Russian Orthodox Church.
The story of the miraculous teaching of the youth Bartholomew to read and write is reflected in the famous painting by artist Mikhail Nesterov.
The future saint chose the name Sergius in honor of the fact that on the day of his monastic tonsure the memory of the holy martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, executed for their adherence to Christianity in the 3rd century, was celebrated.
The Intercession Khotkov Monastery, where Sergius’s parents took monastic vows and died, and where his brother Stefan was a monk, is now a monastery for women, but until the first half of the 16th century it was a mixed male-female monastery.
In the first years of its existence, the monastery founded by Sergius was so poor that the sacred vessels in it were made of wood, instead of candles, torches burned, and the monks wrote on birch bark.
There is a hypothesis that the hagiographic story about Sergius’ blessing of Prince Dmitry actually refers not to the Battle of Kulikovo, but to the battle on the Vozha River, which took place two years earlier.
In addition to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra and the Annunciation Kirzhach Monastery, Sergius founded Staro-Golutvin near Kolomna, the Vysotsky Monastery in Serpukhov, and the St. George Monastery on Klyazma.
The founder of the Moscow Simonov Monastery - Saint Theodore - was the nephew of Sergius of Radonezh.
In 1389, Sergius witnessed the spiritual charter of Prince Dmitry Donskoy, establishing a new order of succession to the princely throne from father to eldest son.
On April 11, 1919, during a campaign of atheistic propaganda, the relics of Sergius of Radonezh were uncovered. After that, they became an exhibit of the museum located in the premises of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. In 1946, after the opening of the Lavra, the relics were transferred to the Orthodox Church and are still kept in the Trinity Cathedral of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.
According to legend, in 1919 Pavel Florensky became aware of the upcoming opening of the relics. To prevent the possible destruction of the relics, Florensky and a group of Orthodox Christians secretly entered the Trinity Cathedral on the eve of the autopsy and separated the head of St. Sergius, replacing it with the head of Prince Trubetskoy, who was buried in the Lavra. In 1946, the head was handed over to Patriarch Aleskiy I and reunited with the body of the saint.
In Russia they are dedicated to Sergius of Radonezh

Sergius of Radonezh is a particularly revered saint in the Russian world. His actions laid the foundation for the very existence of the concept of Russian spirituality. We know about the life of this saint from the manuscript of Sergius’s disciple, Epiphanius the Wise, entitled “The Life of Sergius of Radonezh.” You can learn a summary of this book and the history of its creation from this article.

Birth Facts and First Miracles

Everything we know about Sergius is known from the book “The Life of Sergius of Radonezh,” which was written down by Epiphanius the Wise. This manuscript cannot be called absolutely correct from a historical point of view. Epiphanius does not even list the year of birth of the saint in the Life of Sergius of Radonezh, limiting himself to mentioning the kings ruling at that time, which is why modern researchers are still arguing about establishing one accepted date. In fact, only the date of death of Sergius of Radonezh is known for certain - all other life milestones have not been definitively determined

The year of birth of Sergius of Radonezh assumed by historians is 1314 or 1322. He was born in one of the Rostov villages, the name of which Epiphanius also does not indicate. Most likely, this was the village of Varnitsa - it now houses the Trinity-Sergius Monastery in honor of the saint. After some time, the whole family - parents and three sons - moved to Radonezh, which is how Sergius received his nickname. The parents' names were Kirill and Maria, and the brothers' names were Stefan and Peter. These were noble and pious people - the pride that usually overtook wealthy boyars was unknown to them.

It is believed that Sergius performed his first miracle while still in his mother’s womb. Being pregnant, Sergius' mother Maria attended a service in the church - and at that time her unborn son cried out three times inside her. Frightened, Mary asked the priest what does this mean? He reassured her and declared that it was the Lord himself who marked her unborn child - he would bring a lot of glory to the Russian land.

The newborn son continued to work miracles: on the days when Mary ate meat, the baby refused milk - realizing this, the woman began to fast. And already at an older age, the boy refused to eat on Wednesdays and Fridays, and on other days he ate bread and water.

The future Sergius received the name Bartholomew at baptism. Remember the painting by artist Mikhail Nesterov “Vision to the Youth Bartholomew” - it is dedicated to one of the episodes in the life of Sergius of Radonezh. The painting depicts a young, even very young Sergius Bartholomew and an angel who appeared to him in the form of an old man. This event is listed in the "Life..." as the Miraculous teaching of literacy to the youth Bartholomew.

One day, Bartholomew's father sent him to the field to fetch horses. On the way, the boy met an old man in the robes of a monk praying under a tree. It was to him that he told about his difficulties in overcoming school science. The old man prayed for Bartholomew and gave him a taste of church bread - prosphora, promising that from now on he would know literacy better than his brothers. It should be noted that Bartholomew was lagging behind in literacy, although he tried to study diligently.

Impressed by the conversation, the youth invited the elder to visit his parents. The elder readily agreed and had instructive conversations over dinner, and then asked Bartholomew to read the scriptures. And lo and behold, the boy not only read it well, but actually sang what he had written in a churchlike manner. The parents were surprised and thanked the elder. When the time came for the guest to leave, he stepped through the gate and... disappeared into thin air. At this point the whole family realized that their son and brother had an extraordinary life ahead of them. This incident is considered to be fundamental in the decision of young Bartholomew to devote his life to the church and God.

Becoming a monk

After the death of his parents, Bartholomew joined his older brother Stephen, who was already a monk at the Khotkovsky Monastery. But the brothers did not stay here long: the younger one was eager to go into the desert and lead a hermit’s life. Together they founded a small monastery and church in honor of the Trinity on the Konchura River. This settlement was destined to turn into the Trinity-Sergius Lavra - now the main monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church. And around the monastery, in turn, the city of Sergiev Posad will grow, but all this will happen several centuries later.

Stefan soon left his brother - he was unusual in living in conditions of complete isolation - and went to the Moscow Epiphany Monastery. But Bartholomew did not remain alone for long - a certain abbot Mitrofan joined him. According to the “Life of Sergius of Radonezh,” it was he who took Bartholomew’s monastic vows. After some time, the hermitage ceased to be such - other monks began to settle around the monastery. The community independently developed the territory and managed the economy, and Sergius was revered as the founder and listened to as the wisest of all.

Becoming abbot

Sergius, with his characteristic modesty, at first did not want to accept the obligations of government. However, the community believed differently - who, if not the founder of the monastery, should become abbot? And Sergius received a blessing from Bishop Athanasius of Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. The rules in the monastery were simple: work for the good of the community and do not ask for alms. According to the Life of Sergius of Radonezh, the saint did not disdain hard work and encouraged others to do it. He independently built churches and cells, sewed clothes and managed the household in every possible way.

The monastery grew and Sergius, on the advice of Patriarch Philaret of Constantinople himself, changed the charter, making it even more strict. If before this the things at the disposal of the monks were considered personal, now everything belonged to the monastery. The brethren, having heard such a decree, began to grumble - and Sergius, not wanting to cause confusion, left on his own. The road led him to the Kirzhach River, where he founded a new monastery, which later turned into the Annunciation Monastery. But the native Trinity monastery began to decline without its founder - and the community again turned to Sergius. He left his new abode, leaving his disciple Roman as abbot and returned to the Trinity Monastery.

Blessing for the Battle of Kulikovo

During the years of the deeds of Sergius of Radonezh, Rus' began its liberation from the Tatar-Mongol yoke. Before the Battle of Kulikovo, which changed the course of history, Grand Duke Dmitry Donskoy visited the elder and asked for his blessing. Sergius admonished Dmitry to “go against the godless, because the Lord will help in the fight against them.” These words strengthened faith in victory among the entire army and, as you know, turned out to be prophetic.

Sergius also blessed two monks for the battle for Rus', who were noble warriors in the world - Alexander Peresvet and Andrei Oslyabya. These names have become legendary, and their bearers have become examples of heroes who combine righteous faith and willingness to die for their native land. Peresvet fell in a duel with the Tatar hero Chelubey, going into battle without armor, wearing only monastic vestments. And Oslyabya, according to legend, after Dmitry was wounded during the battle, donned the prince’s armor and led the army forward, thanks to which there was no confusion.

Sergius Miracles

Each “edition” of Sergius’s biography by monks and religious figures was overgrown with new miraculous deeds. Among the main miracles performed by St. Sergius are usually mentioned:

the appearance of a spring in the monastery so that the monks would not have to go far to get water;
healing of a noble layman from demons;
healing a parishioner from insomnia;
the resurrection of the son of one of the parishioners from the dead.

The “Life of Sergius of Radonezh” attaches great importance to the visions of the saint. One day, the Mother of God herself appeared to him, accompanied by the apostles Peter and John, promising that from now on his monastic monastery would be unforgettable for centuries. Another time, Sergius saw a huge flock of birds flying in the sky above the monastery - and immediately a voice from heaven announced that Sergius would have as many students as these birds. And in the same way they will scatter around the world to bring people the light of Christian wisdom.

Last days

Saint Sergius foresaw his death in advance. Six months before his death, Sergius transferred control of the monastery and, accordingly, the rank of abbot to his faithful student and ally Nikon. He spent the next months in complete silence, and only when he sensed the imminent approach of death did he call his followers for a final conversation. These final instructions of the elder are given in all versions of the Life of Sergius of Radonezh. Their brief essence is the following - to have spiritual purity, follow divine commandments and remain in humility before God. Saint Sergius died on September 25, 1392. Now this day is a church holiday.

Legacy of Sergius of Radonezh

St. Sergius is one of the most revered saints of the Russian Orthodox Church - about 800 churches are dedicated to him all over the world.

Sergius did not leave behind any writings - we know all the facts about his life and personality from the “Life of Sergius of Radonezh” by Epiphanius the Wise and subsequent revisions. However, this is the case when actions speak louder than words. Saint Sergius became a symbol of the spiritual unity of Rus': stories about his unquestioning faith in God and meek humility inspired ordinary people in all corners of the state. Sergius's disciples sought to pass on wisdom further and founded more and more monasteries. The spiritual path of Russia was predetermined for many centuries to come.

Appearance of the image of Sergius of Radonezh

As they say in the “Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh,” even after his death he continued to perform miracles, appearing in the guise of a disembodied spirit or coming in a dream:

during the siege of the city of Opochka, he appeared in a dream to one of the residents and pointed out the stones with which the residents were able to repel another attack on the walls;
appeared in Kazan shortly before its conquest by Ivan the Terrible and annexation into Russia;
warned the inhabitants of the Trinity Lavra about a future siege by the Poles, coming in a dream to its inhabitant Irinarch.

The image of Sergius repeatedly appeared before those who fervently prayed to this saint. As a rule, he healed people from illness or warned them of possible danger. A case is also described when Sergius brought a restorer who had fallen asleep in it out of the church, explaining that it was not good to sleep in God’s place. And one of the most significant posthumous phenomena of Sergius is considered to be an appeal to Kozma Minin. The monk appeared to a simple Nizhny Novgorod butcher in a dream and ordered to gather people and prepare to recapture Rus' from the adversaries. Thus began the history of the Second People's Militia of 1611-1612.

The first biography of St. Sergius

The first work on Saint Sergius is considered to be “The Life of Sergius of Radonezh,” the author of which is also canonized Epiphanius the Wise, a book scribe and compiler of several other biographies. His work is considered not only as a biographical manuscript, but also as a document recording the mores of the time, describing in detail life and culture.

According to Epiphanius the Wise himself, “The Life of Sergius of Radonezh” took a long time to write. The author began to keep notes about Elder Sergius during his lifetime, and after his death he did not dare to take up the work for a long time, hoping that there would be someone more worthy for this righteous work. Nevertheless, time passed, and no one wrote about Sergius. Then Epiphanius overcame his doubts and decided to collect all his notes in a book, realizing that if he did not do this, then the world would lose information about such an important and highly spiritual person as Sergius. It is believed that the complete manuscript was completed in the early years of the 15th century.

“Life...” adapted by Pachomius Logothetes

The next person who had a hand in the content of the “Life of Sergius of Radonezh” was Pachomius Logothetes, nicknamed the Serb. This man largely determined the further style of writing the lives of saints and compiling services and canons. At the same time, his texts cannot be called completely historically reliable, because along with a biography of real events, he also gives notes about the miracles performed by Sergius.

The need to rework the original “Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh” arose in connection with his canonization in the middle of the 15th century - the manuscript should have been remade to fit the format of a church service - more praise should be added and details about everyday life, politics, etc. not related to the life of the saint should be removed. And the canonization was preceded by an event that occurred in 1422, which in the church is called the Finding of the Honorable Relics of St. Sergius.

At this time, the Trinity Monastery, built by Sergius himself, was burned during the next Tatar invasion. First, Sergius appeared in a dream to Abbot Nikon and calmed his worries, telling him that the monastery would rise from the ruins even more beautiful than before. And when the danger had passed, the monastic brethren began to build a new stone church. And Saint Sergius again appeared in a dream to one of the laity with the command to take his body out of the tomb and transfer it to the church. The very next day after this dream, the incorrupt relics of Sergius were found where the construction of a new cathedral was underway - on the site of the previous destroyed church. When the new temple was consecrated in 1426, the relics of Sergius were also transferred there. Now this cathedral is one of the most important monuments of Russian architecture, and the shrine still rests inside the temple.

Other versions of “Life...”

Each passing century contributed something of its own to the original version of the Life of Sergius of Radonezh. A brief lull in the 16th century gave way to vigorous interest in the works of the saint in the 17th century. During these years, “Life...” was rewritten, finalized and supplemented by the scribe of the Trinity Monastery German Tulupov, the monk-writer Simon Azaryin, and Bishop Dimitri of Rostov. In the 18th century, Metropolitan Plato and even Catherine II were interested in the life of the saint, and in the 19th century the need arose to significantly adapt the “Life of Sergius of Radonezh” for children and adults into the language of the readers of that time. This was done by Metropolitan Philaret and Archbishop Nikon Rozhdestvensky, whose revision of “The Life..” is still being republished.

The Life of Sergius of Radonezh: a summary retold by Boris Zaitsev

We know the biography of the acts of St. Sergius not only thanks to church leaders. One of the retellings of “The Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh” belongs to the writer Boris Zaitsev. In fact, he is a representative of the Silver Age, but he had to work and create in exile - after the revolution, the writer left Russia and never returned there. In addition to “The Life of Sergius of Radonezh,” Zaitsev also described his trips to Athos and Valaam.

The image of Sergius of Radonezh in culture and art

The personality and image of Sergius are vividly etched in the memory - it is not surprising that artists, sculptors and writers continue to reproduce scenes from the “Life of...” in their works.

The above-mentioned artist Mikhail Nesterov in his works repeatedly returned to the theme of hermitage and hermithood. Episodes from the life of Sergius appeared several times on the artist’s canvases and were included in a whole cycle of fifteen paintings. They depict almost the entire life of Sergius, from his youth to the moment of Dmitry Donskoy’s blessing.

It is also worth noting that the episode with Dmitry Donskoy has become a favorite theme for artists. About ten paintings with a similar plot are known.

Nicholas Roerich also painted a portrait of St. Sergius. In the painting “Reverend Sergius of Radonezh” he depicted an old man in monastic robes with a small temple in his hands. Behind the figure are the outlines of churches, and next to it is an icon with the face of Christ. Under the image is an inscription stating that Sergius has already saved Russia twice - in the time of Dmitry Donskoy and in the time of Minin and Pozharsky - and he will have to save the fatherland for the third time. It is symbolic that this picture was painted shortly before World War II. In addition to her, Roerich also painted several more canvases dedicated to Sergius. The paintings “Sergius the Builder” and “Saint Sergius” play on the legend that during his years of solitude the saint managed to tame a bear - this animal is depicted in the painting next to the working Sergius.

Studying "Life..." in schools

This fundamental work is studied in secondary schools as part of a literature course. Depends on the program - as a rule, familiarization with ancient Russian literature usually occurs in grades 7-8. “The Life of Sergius of Radonezh” represents not only a typical example of the lives of saints as a literary genre, but also cultivates in young souls all the noble qualities of St. Sergius. From time immemorial, we have access to an example of unconditional love for the Motherland, constant humility, daily meek labor for the common good and constant internal development. There is no need to be afraid of the work’s excessive religiosity - in the student’s perception, it is the same historical document as “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign,” which continues to be studied in schools.

October 8 is the day of repose of one of the most revered saints in Rus' - St. Sergius of Radonezh. He is considered the guardian of the Russian land and a great miracle worker. We tell you who Sergius of Radonezh is and why he is so loved in Russia.

Who is Sergius of Radonezh?

Sergius of Radonezh is one of the favorite saints in Rus'. Known as a hermit and miracle worker, the founder of a number of monasteries, including the Trinity-Sergius Lavra near Moscow. He is also called the spiritual collector of the Russian people. Considered the patron saint of students.

When was Sergius of Radonezh born and lived?

The exact date and year of his birth are unknown. The Russian Church traditionally considers his birthday to be May 3, 1314.

The parents of the future saint were called Cyril and Maria. The boy was given the name Bartholomew at birth. Besides him, there were two more children in the family. The eldest is Stefan and the youngest is Peter. The family lived in the village of Varnitsy near Rostov. When Bartholomew was a teenager, his family, fleeing hunger, moved to Radonezh.

How did he become a monk?

As it is said in the life of the saint, while still a child Bartholomew “began to fast strictly and abstained from everything, on Wednesday and Friday he ate nothing, and on other days he ate bread and water; at night he often stayed awake and prayed.” His parents did not like this behavior of their son, and they made him promise that he would become a monk only after their death. And so it happened. At the age of 23, Sergius invited his brother Stefan to live in the desert. But he did not stay with his brother for long: life in the desert turned out to be too difficult, and Stefan left. Bartholomew called a certain abbot Mitrofan and took tonsure from him, calling himself Sergius, since on that day (October 7) the memory of the martyrs Sergius and Bacchus was celebrated.

Soon students began to join him. Sergius forbade them to beg and introduced the rule that they all live by their own labor. During his life, Sergius founded five monasteries. The most famous is the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, as well as the Annunciation Monastery on Kirzhach, Staro-Golutvin near Kolomna, the Vysotsky Monastery, and the St. George Monastery on Klyazma.

Why is Sergius of Radonezh considered the patron saint of students?

Many miracles are associated with the name of this saint. One of the first is amazing literacy learning. Bartholomew was sent to study at the age of seven. His brothers quickly mastered reading, but Bartholomew still could not learn. The parents argued, the teacher punished, but the boy could not learn and “prayed to God with tears.”

One day in the field, Bartholomew saw a praying monk-monk, “an old man... handsome, like an angel,” told him about his misfortune and asked him to pray to God for him. After the prayer, the elder gave the boy a piece of holy prosphora and ordered him to eat it, predicting that now he would know literacy better than all his peers. And so it happened. Sergius was a very educated man. He spoke several languages, read a lot and knew a lot. He passed on his knowledge to his students. And today he is considered the patron saint of students.

Why is Sergius of Radonezh called the guardian of the Russian land?

It is believed that Sergius reconciled the warring princes. The life says that the saint could act on the hardest and most hardened hearts with “quiet and meek words.” And it was thanks to Sergius that by the time of the Battle of Kulikovo, almost all Russian princes had stopped fighting.

Sergius of Radonezh had the gift of foresight. He blessed Prince Dmitry for the battle with the Tatar Khan Mamai on the Kulikovo Field. When Dmitry came to him for advice, Sergius predicted victory for the Russian army. “If the enemies want honor and glory from us, we will give them; if they want gold and silver, we will give that too; but for the name of Christ, for the Orthodox faith, we must lay down our souls and shed blood,” said Radonezhsky and promised to pray for the victory of the Russian soldiers .

To help the prince, he released two monks - Peresvet and Oslyabya, although in those days monks were forbidden to take part in battles. As a result, the Russian army won.

What miracles did Sergius of Radonezh perform?

He performed a lot of miracles. Let's list just a few:

- Source. In one of the monasteries, the monks were forced to bring themselves water from afar, a murmur arose, and then the monk, “having found some rain water in one ditch, made a fervent prayer over it,” after which a source of water opened.

- Resurrection of a child. One local resident brought Sergius his sick son. But the child died. The grief-stricken father went to pick up the coffin. “But while he was walking, the monk prayed over the deceased, and the child came to life,” says the Life.

- Punishment for greed. The rich neighbor took the poor hog from him and “didn’t want to pay money for it.” When Sergius appealed, the rich man promised to “pay for the pig he took from his poor neighbor, and also to correct his whole life.” He did not fulfill his promise, and the pork carcass, despite the fact that it was frozen, was eaten by worms.

How did Sergius of Radonezh die?

Knowing how to predict the future, Sergius learned about his death six months earlier and managed to prepare for it. Then he was already a very old man. He appointed a successor in the monastery and on September 25 (October 8, new style) 1392 he passed away. 30 years after his death, people discovered his incorruptible relics. Many miracles were also associated with them, and in 1452 Sergius of Radonezh was canonized. Now the relics are kept in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra; thousands of people come to this temple in the hope of healing and help.

What should you not do on this day?

On this day, you should free yourself from worldly worries for at least a few hours, go to church and pray. People believe that on this day it is impossible to carry out general cleaning and extensive laundry. Work in the garden is not recommended.

Avoid conflicts and quarrels.

And since Sergius of Radonezh is the patron saint of poultry, today you cannot slaughter chickens or prepare chicken dishes.

This is a real historical figure. True, the name of Sergius is currently the source of heated debate between believers and atheists, lovers of the national spirit and skeptic historians. Not everyone believes that he really blessed Dmitry Donskoy for the Battle of Kulikovo - let’s say, there is an opinion that this military leader was extremely unpleasant to Sergius of Radonezh, and the holy fathers even condemned him to anathema... In our article we will talk about the life of this Russian saint as it is they tell in church. We will try to present the facts briefly, but not to miss anything important.

Every nation needs its heroes. But in addition, its own saints are also incredibly important for any nation - pious ancestors whom one can sincerely respect and whom one can look up to. And especially the miracle workers, who even after their earthly death help pious people who pray to their icons. When the church in Russia returned to its rights and they finally started talking about faith openly, without criticism, it turned out that over many hundreds of years of veneration of Christ, many righteous people and martyrs were born here, and their names are worth being remembered by future generations. The Monk Sergius is considered one of these righteous people. This saint is so popular that a cartoon about his life is currently being prepared for release, so that even children will be familiar with his name, exploits and miracles.

Sergius's family and his childhood

The future saint was born on May 3 into the family of Rostov boyars Kirill and Maria (later they were also canonized). Although his father served the local princes, historians are sure that he lived modestly and not richly. Little Bartholomew (this is the name Sergius received at birth, it was chosen according to the calendar) took care of horses, that is, from childhood he was not a white-handed one.

At the age of seven the boy was sent to school. His older brother understood science well, but Bartholomew was not good at it at all. He tried very hard, but learning remained alien and incomprehensible to him.

First miracle

One day, while looking for lost foals, little Bartholomew came across a godlike old man. The boy was upset, and the old man asked if he could help him. To which Bartholomew said that he would like the Lord to help him with his studies.

The old man prayed, after which he blessed the boy and treated him to prosphora.

The kind boy took the old man to his house, where his parents sat him down at the table (they were hospitable to strangers). After the meal, the guest took the child to the chapel and asked him to read a psalm from the book. Bartholomew refused, explaining that he couldn’t... But then he picked up the book, and everyone gasped: his speech flowed so smoothly.

Foundation of the holy monastery

When the boy's brother Stefan was widowed, he decided to become a monk. Soon the parents of the young men also passed away. Bartholomew decided to go to his brother, to the Khotkovo-Pokrovsky Monastery. But he didn't stay there for long.

In 1335, he and his brother built a small wooden church. Here, on Makovets Hill, on the banks of the Kochura River, in the once remote Radonezh Forest, a sanctuary still exists - however, these days it is already the cathedral church of the Holy Trinity.

Life in the forest turned out to be too ascetic. Stefan eventually realized that such service was not his destiny, so he left the monastery, moving to Moscow, where he soon became abbot of the Epiphany Monastery.

23-year-old Bartholomew did not change his mind about becoming a monk, and, not afraid of the complete deprivation of serving the Lord, he turned to Abbot Mitrofan and took monastic vows. His church name became Sergius.

The young monk was left alone in his church. He prayed a lot and fasted constantly. Demons and even Satan the tempter sometimes appeared in his cell, but Sergius did not deviate from his intended path.

One day, the most formidable forest animal - a bear - came to his cell. But the monk was not afraid, he began to feed the beast from his hands, and soon the bear became tame.

Despite the desire to renounce everything worldly, messages about Sergius of Radonezh scattered throughout the country. People flocked to the forest. Some were simply curious, while others asked to be saved together. So the church began to grow into a community.

Together, the future monks built 12 cells and surrounded the area with a high fence.
The brothers dug up a garden and began to grow vegetables for food.
Sergius was the first both in service and in work. And even though I wore the same clothes in winter and summer, I didn’t get sick at all.
The monastery grew, and the time came to choose an abbot. The brethren wanted Sergius to become him. This decision was also approved in Moscow.
The cells were already built in two rows. The abbot of the monastery turned out to be strict: novices were forbidden to chat and beg for alms. Everyone had to work or pray, and private property was prohibited. He himself was very modest, not pursuing either worldly goods or power.
When the monastery grew into a Lavra, it was necessary to choose a cellarer - a holy father who was in charge of the household and treasury. They also chose a confessor (to whom the brethren confessed) and an ecclesiarch (he kept order in the church).

During his lifetime, Sergius became famous for his miracles. For example, one person came to him for the elder to pray for the health of his son. But while Sergius was able to see the boy, he died. The father went to get the coffin, and the saint began to pray over the body. And the boy stood up!
But this was not the only miracle of healing. Sergius treated blindness and insomnia. It is also known that he cast out demons from one nobleman.
In addition to the Trinity-Sergius, the monk founded more than five churches.

Sergiy and Dmitry Donskoy

Meanwhile, the era of the Horde, devastating the Russian lands, was coming to an end. The division of power began in the Horde - several candidates for the role of khan killed each other, and meanwhile the Russian princes began to unite, gathering strength.

And so on August 18, the Moscow prince, who would soon be called Donskoy, with the Serpukhov prince Vladimir arrived at the Lavra. There Sergius invited the princes to a meal, after which he blessed them for battle.

It is known that two schema monks left the holy monastery with the prince: Oslyabya and Peresvet (the latter, at the very beginning of the battle with the Tatars, met the Tatar hero Chelubey, defeated him, but also fell dead). Were these people really monks, since history (or rather, legends) brings us names that are not monastic at all? Some historians do not even believe in the existence of such heroes - however, the church believes both in their existence and in the fact that the abbot himself sent them.

The battle was terrible, since in addition to the hordes of Khan Mamai, the Lithuanians, as well as the Ryazan prince and his people, came out against Dmitry. But On September 8, 1380 the battle was won.

It is interesting that while praying on this day with the brethren in his Lavra, by God’s inspiration Sergius named the names of Dmitry’s fallen comrades, and at the end he said that he had won the battle.

Death of a Saint

He left no scriptures behind. However, the example of his hardworking, righteous life still inspires many: some to a modest, quiet life pleasing to God, others to monasticism.

However, Sergius had a student - Epiphanius. He was offended that there was almost no memory left of the elder, and 50 years after his death, Epiphanius began to write the life of this bright man.

In which Russian churches can you pray to Sergius of Radonezh?

About 700 churches are dedicated to this saint, not only in our country, but throughout the world. Of course: Sergius of Radonezh was canonized as a saint back in 1452. Moreover, he is revered by both Orthodox and Catholics.

Icons of Sergius can be found in any temple. But the best thing, of course, is to come on a pilgrimage to the Lavra itself. His cell has been preserved here. There is also a spring gushing out from under the ground, which came to life thanks to the prayer of this abbot (he felt sorry for the brothers who went far for water, and asked the Lord to make sure that the water was closer to the church). Believers claim that the water in it is healing: it cleanses both from diseases and sins.

Where are the relics of the saint kept? At the moment, where they should be - in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. Although they have come a long way before this. Sergius' grave was opened for the first time 40 years after his death. Eyewitnesses wrote that the saint's body remained incorrupt. Later, the relics were transported to protect them from fire, as well as to save them from enemy soldiers during the Napoleonic War. Soviet scientists also touched the coffin, placing the relics of Sergius in the museum. And during World War II, Sergius’s body was evacuated, but then returned to the Lavra.

What do they pray to him for?

About helping children study. And besides, students who are afraid of bad grades at the exam also pray to the saint.
It is also not difficult to guess that requests are made to him for the health of children.
People who have a lot of debts also pray to Sergius. It is believed that during his lifetime this man helped poor debtors.
Finally, he is a good helper in reconciliation.
And since Sergius of Radonezh provided considerable support in the formation of the Moscow state, it is to him that high-ranking officials often pray.

But what words are used to address this holy miracle worker? All prayers to Sergius of Radonezh are collected in this video:

According to ancient legend, the estate of the parents of Sergius of Radonezh, the boyars of Rostov, was located in the vicinity of Rostov the Great, on the road to Yaroslavl. The parents, “noble boyars,” apparently lived simply; they were quiet, calm people, with a strong and serious way of life.

St. Kirill and Maria. Painting of the Ascension Church on Grodka (Pavlov Posad) Parents of Sergius of Radonezh

Although Cyril more than once accompanied the princes of Rostov to the Horde, as a trusted, close person, he himself did not live richly. One cannot even talk about any luxury or licentiousness of the later landowner. Rather, on the contrary, one might think that home life is closer to that of a peasant: as a boy, Sergius (and then Bartholomew) was sent to the field to fetch horses. This means that he knew how to confuse them and turn them around. And leading him to some stump, grabbing him by the bangs, jumping up and trotting home in triumph. Perhaps he chased them at night too. And, of course, he was not a barchuk.

One can imagine parents as respectable and fair people, religious to a high degree. They helped the poor and willingly welcomed strangers.

On May 3, Maria had a son. The priest gave him the name Bartholomew, after the feast day of this saint. The special shade that distinguishes it lies on the child from early childhood.

At the age of seven, Bartholomew was sent to study literacy in a church school together with his brother Stefan. Stefan studied well. Bartholomew was not good at science. Like Sergius later, little Bartholomew is very stubborn and tries, but there is no success. He's upset. The teacher sometimes punishes him. Comrades laugh and parents reassure. Bartholomew cries alone, but does not move forward.

And here is a village picture, so close and so understandable six hundred years later! The foals wandered somewhere and disappeared. His father sent Bartholomew to look for them; the boy had probably wandered like this more than once, through the fields, in the forest, perhaps near the shores of Lake Rostov, and called to them, patted them with a whip, and dragged their halters. With all Bartholomew’s love for solitude, nature and with all his dreaminess, he, of course, carried out every task most conscientiously - this trait marked his entire life.

Sergius of Radonezh. Miracle

Now he - very depressed by his failures - found not what he was looking for. Under the oak tree I met “an elder of the monk, with the rank of presbyter.” Obviously, the elder understood him.

What do you want, boy?

Bartholomew, through tears, spoke about his sorrows and asked to pray that God would help him overcome the letter.

And under the same oak tree the old man stood to pray. Next to him is Bartholomew - a halter over his shoulder. Having finished, the stranger took out the reliquary from his bosom, took a piece of prosphora, blessed Bartholomew with it and ordered him to eat it.

This is given to you as a sign of grace and for the understanding of the Holy Scriptures. From now on, you will master reading and writing better than your brothers and comrades.

We don’t know what they talked about next. But Bartholomew invited the elder home. His parents received him well, as they usually do with strangers. The elder called the boy to the prayer room and ordered him to read psalms. The child made the excuse of inability. But the visitor himself gave the book, repeating the order.

And they fed the guest, and at dinner they told him about the signs over his son. The elder again confirmed that Bartholomew would now understand the Holy Scripture well and master reading.

[After the death of his parents, Bartholomew himself went to the Khotkovo-Pokrovsky Monastery, where his widowed brother Stefan had already been monasticized. Striving for “the strictest monasticism”, for living in the wilderness, he did not stay here long and, having convinced Stefan, together with him he founded a hermitage on the banks of the Konchura River, on the Makovets hill in the middle of the remote Radonezh forest, where he built (about 1335) a small wooden church in the name of Holy Trinity, on the site of which now stands a cathedral church also in the name of the Holy Trinity.

Unable to withstand the too harsh and ascetic lifestyle, Stefan soon left for the Moscow Epiphany Monastery, where he later became abbot. Bartholomew, left completely alone, called upon a certain abbot Mitrofan and received tonsure from him under the name Sergius, since on that day the memory of the martyrs Sergius and Bacchus was celebrated. He was 23 years old.]

Having performed the rite of tonsure, Mitrofan introduced Sergius of Radonezh to St. Tyne. Sergius spent seven days without leaving his “church”, prayed, did not “eat” anything except the prosphora that Mitrofan gave. And when the time came for Mitrofan to leave, he asked for his blessing for his desert life.

The abbot supported him and calmed him down as much as he could. And the young monk remained alone among his gloomy forests.

Images of animals and vile reptiles appeared before him. They rushed at him with whistling and gnashing of teeth. One night, according to the story of the monk, when in his “church” he was “singing matins,” Satan himself suddenly entered through the wall, with him a whole “demonic regiment.” They drove him away, threatened him, advanced. He prayed. (“May God rise again, and may His enemies be scattered…”) The demons disappeared.

Will he survive in a formidable forest, in a wretched cell? The autumn and winter snowstorms on his Makovitsa must have been terrible! After all, Stefan couldn’t stand it. But Sergius is not like that. He is persistent, patient, and he is “God-loving.”

He lived like this, completely alone, for some time.

Sergius of Radonezh. Tame bear

Sergius once saw a huge bear, weak from hunger, near his cells. And I regretted it. He brought a piece of bread from his cell and served it - since childhood, like his parents, he had been “strangely accepted.” The furry wanderer ate peacefully. Then he began to visit him. Sergius always served. And the bear became tame.

The youth of St. Sergius (Sergius of Radonezh). Nesterov M.V.

But no matter how lonely the monk was at this time, there were rumors about his desert life. And then people began to appear, asking to be taken in and saved together. Sergius dissuaded. He pointed out the difficulty of life, the hardships associated with it. Stefan's example was still alive for him. Still, he gave in. And I accepted several...

Twelve cells were built. They surrounded it with a fence for protection from animals. The cells stood under huge pine and spruce trees. The stumps of freshly cut down trees stuck out. Between them the brothers planted their modest vegetable garden. They lived quietly and harshly.

Sergius of Radonezh set an example in everything. He himself chopped down cells, carried logs, carried water in two water carriers up the mountain, ground with hand millstones, baked bread, cooked food, cut and sewed clothes. And he was probably an excellent carpenter now. In summer and winter he wore the same clothes, neither the frost nor the heat bothered him. Physically, despite the meager food, he was very strong, “he had the strength against two people.”

He was the first to attend the services.

Works of St. Sergius (Sergius of Radonezh). Nesterov M.V.

So the years passed. The community lived undeniably under the leadership of Sergius. The monastery grew, became more complex and had to take shape. The brethren wanted Sergius to become abbot. But he refused.

The desire for abbess, he said, is the beginning and root of the lust for power.

But the brethren insisted. Several times the elders “attacked” him, persuaded him, convinced him. Sergius himself founded the hermitage, he himself built the church; who should be the abbot and perform the liturgy?

The insistence almost turned into threats: the brethren declared that if there was no abbot, everyone would disperse. Then Sergius, exercising his usual sense of proportion, yielded, but also relatively.

I wish, - he said, - it is better to study than to teach; It is better to obey than to command; but I am afraid of God's judgment; I don’t know what pleases God; the holy will of the Lord be done!

And he decided not to argue - to transfer the matter to the discretion of the church authorities.

Father, they brought a lot of bread, bless you to accept it. Here, according to your holy prayers, they are at the gate.

Sergius blessed, and several carts loaded with baked bread, fish and various foodstuffs entered the monastery gates. Sergius rejoiced and said:

Well, you hungry ones, feed our breadwinners, invite them to share a common meal with us.

He ordered everyone to hit the beater, go to church, and serve a thanksgiving prayer service. And only after the prayer service he blessed us to sit down for a meal. The bread turned out to be warm and soft, as if it had just come out of the oven.

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius (Sergius of Radonezh). Lissner E.

The monastery was no longer needed as before. But Sergius was still just as simple - poor, poor and indifferent to benefits, as he remained until his death. Neither power nor various “differences” interested him at all. A quiet voice, quiet movements, a calm face, that of a holy Great Russian carpenter. It contains our rye and cornflowers, birches and mirror-like waters, swallows and crosses and the incomparable fragrance of Russia. Everything is elevated to the utmost lightness and purity.

Many came from afar just to look at the monk. This is the time when the “old man” is heard throughout Russia, when he becomes close to Metropolitan. Alexy, settles disputes, carries out a grandiose mission to spread monasteries.

The monk wanted a stricter order, closer to the early Christian community. Everyone is equal and everyone is equally poor. Nobody has anything. The monastery lives as a community.

The innovation expanded and complicated the activities of Sergius. It was necessary to build new buildings - a refectory, a bakery, storerooms, barns, housekeeping, etc. Previously, his leadership was only spiritual - the monks went to him as a confessor, for confession, for support and guidance.

Everyone capable of work had to work. Private property is strictly prohibited.

To manage the increasingly complex community, Sergius chose assistants and distributed responsibilities among them. The first person after the abbot was considered the cellarer. This position was first established in Russian monasteries by St. Theodosius of Pechersk. The cellarer was in charge of the treasury, deanery and household management - not only inside the monastery. When the estates appeared, he was in charge of their life. Rules and court cases.

Already under Sergius, apparently, there was its own arable farming - there are arable fields around the monastery, partly they are cultivated by monks, partly by hired peasants, partly by those who want to work for the monastery. So the cellarer has a lot of worries.

One of the first cellarers of the Lavra was St. Nikon, later abbot.

The most experienced in spiritual life was appointed as confessor. He is the confessor of the brethren. , founder of the monastery near Zvenigorod, was one of the first confessors. Later this position was given to Epiphanius, the biographer of Sergius.

The ecclesiarch kept order in the church. Lesser positions: para-ecclesiarch - kept the church clean, canonarch - led “choir obedience” and kept liturgical books.

This is how they lived and worked in the monastery of Sergius, now famous, with roads built to it, where they could stop and stay for a while - whether for ordinary people or for the prince.

Two metropolitans, both remarkable, fill the century: Peter and Alexy. Hegumen of the army Peter, a Volynian by birth, was the first Russian metropolitan to be based in the north - first in Vladimir, then in Moscow. Peter was the first to bless Moscow. In fact, he gave his whole life for her. It is he who goes to the Horde, obtains a letter of protection from Uzbek for the clergy, and constantly helps the prince.

Metropolitan Alexy is from the high-ranking, ancient boyars of the city of Chernigov. His fathers and grandfathers shared with the prince the work of governing and defending the state. On the icons they are depicted side by side: Peter, Alexy, in white hoods, faces darkened by time, narrow and long, gray beards... Two tireless creators and workers, two “intercessors” and “patrons” of Moscow.

Etc. Sergius was still a boy under Peter; he lived with Alexy for many years in harmony and friendship. But St. Sergius was a hermit and a “man of prayer”, a lover of the forest, silence - his life path was different. Should he, since childhood, having moved away from the malice of this world, live at court, in Moscow, rule, sometimes lead intrigues, appoint, dismiss, threaten! Metropolitan Alexy often comes to his Lavra - perhaps to relax with a quiet man - from struggle, unrest and politics.

The Monk Sergius came into life when the Tatar system was already breaking down. The times of Batu, the ruins of Vladimir, Kyiv, the Battle of the City - everything is far away. Two processes are underway, the Horde is disintegrating, and the young Russian state is growing stronger. The Horde is splitting up, Rus' is uniting. The Horde has several rivals vying for power. They cut each other, are deposited, leave, weakening the strength of the whole. In Russia, on the contrary, there is an ascension.

Meanwhile, Mamai rose to prominence in the Horde and became khan. He gathered the entire Volga Horde, hired the Khivans, Yases and Burtases, came to an agreement with the Genoese, the Lithuanian prince Jagiello - in the summer he founded his camp at the mouth of the Voronezh River. Jagiello was waiting.

This is a dangerous time for Dimitri.

Until now, Sergius was a quiet hermit, a carpenter, a modest abbot and educator, a saint. Now he faced a difficult task: blessings on the blood. Would Christ bless a war, even a national one?

St. Sergius of Radonezh blesses D. Donskoy. Kivshenko A.D.

Rus' has gathered

On August 18, Dimitri with Prince Vladimir of Serpukhov, princes of other regions and governors arrived at the Lavra. It was probably both solemn and deeply serious: Rus' really came together. Moscow, Vladimir, Suzdal, Serpukhov, Rostov, Nizhny Novgorod, Belozersk, Murom, Pskov with Andrei Olgerdovich - this is the first time such forces have been deployed. It was not in vain that we set off. Everyone understood this.

The prayer service began. During the service, messengers arrived - the war was going on in the Lavra - they reported on the movement of the enemy, and warned them to hurry up. Sergius begged Dimitri to stay for the meal. Here he told him:

The time has not yet come for you to wear the crown of victory with eternal sleep; but many, countless of your collaborators are woven with martyr’s wreaths.

After the meal, the monk blessed the prince and his entire retinue, sprinkled St. water.

Go, don't be afraid. God will help you.

And, leaning down, he whispered in his ear: “You will win.”

There is something majestic, with a tragic connotation, in the fact that Sergius gave two monks-schema monks as assistants to Prince Sergius: Peresvet and Oslyabya. They were warriors in the world and went against the Tatars without helmets or armor - in the image of a schema, with white crosses on monastic clothes. Obviously, this gave Demetrius’s army a sacred crusader appearance.

On the 20th, Dmitry was already in Kolomna. On the 26th-27th, the Russians crossed the Oka and advanced towards the Don through Ryazan land. It was reached on September 6th. And they hesitated. Should we wait for the Tatars or cross over?

The older, experienced governors suggested: we should wait here. Mamai is strong, and Lithuania and Prince Oleg Ryazansky are with him. Dimitri, contrary to advice, crossed the Don. The way back was cut off, which means everything is forward, victory or death.

Sergius was also in the highest spirit these days. And in time he sent a letter after the prince: “Go, sir, go forward, God and the Holy Trinity will help!”

According to legend, Peresvet, who had long been ready for death, jumped out at the call of the Tatar hero, and, having grappled with Chelubey, struck him, he himself fell. A general battle began, on a gigantic front of ten miles at that time. Sergius correctly said: “Many are woven with martyr’s wreaths.” There were a lot of them intertwined.

During these hours the monk prayed with the brethren in his church. He talked about the progress of the battle. He named the fallen and read funeral prayers. And at the end he said: “We won.”

Venerable Sergius of Radonezh. Demise

Sergius of Radonezh came to his Makovitsa as a modest and unknown young man Bartholomew, and left as a most illustrious old man. Before the monk, there was a forest on Makovitsa, a spring nearby, and bears lived in the wilds next door. And when he died, the place stood out sharply from the forests and from Russia. On Makovitsa there was a monastery - the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, one of the four laurels of our homeland. The forests cleared up around, fields appeared, rye, oats, villages. Even under Sergius, a remote hillock in the forests of Radonezh became a bright attraction for thousands. Sergius of Radonezh founded not only his monastery and did not operate from it alone. Countless are the monasteries that arose with his blessing, founded by his disciples - and imbued with his spirit.

So, the young man Bartholomew, having retired to the forests on “Makovitsa”, turned out to be the creator of a monastery, then monasteries, then monasticism in general in a huge country.

Having left no writings behind him, Sergius seems to teach nothing. But he teaches precisely with his whole appearance: to some he is consolation and refreshment, to others - a silent reproach. Silently, Sergius teaches the simplest things: truth, integrity, masculinity, work, reverence and faith.