The Venerable Seraphim of Sarov reposed in 1833 and
seventy years later he was canonized by the Russian Church. On July 18, 1903
there were between 200,000 and 300,000 pilgrims in the streets of Sarov as the
relics of St. Seraphim were transferred to the Cathedral of the Dormition of
the Theotokos. There from the night of July 18th till the next morning there
was an all-night vigil in all the churches of Holy Russia.
The uncovering of the holy relics of Saint Seraphim of
Sarov on July 19, 1903 was attended by many thousands, among them the foremost
of the clergy and royalty; the holy Tsar Nicholas II (July 4) was one of the
bearers of the relics in procession, and the Grand Duchess Elizabeth (July 5)
wrote an eyewitness account of the many miracles that took place. Not only had
the Saint foretold the coming of the Tsar to his glorification, and that from
joy they would chant "Christ is Risen" in summer, but he had also
left a letter "for the fourth sovereign, who will come to Sarov."
This was Nicholas II, who was given the letter when he came in 1903; the
contents of the letter are not known, but when he had read it, the Tsar and
future Martyr, though not a man to show his emotions, was visibly shaken.
Apolytikion
in the Fourth Tone
Thou
didst love Christ from thy youth, O blessed one, and ardently desiring to work
for Him alone, thou didst struggle in the wilderness with constant prayer and
labour; and having acquired love for Christ with compunction of heart, thou
didst prove to be the beloved favourite of the Mother of God. Wherefore, we cry
to thee: Save us by thy prayers, O Seraphim, our holy Father.
Kontakion
in the Second Tone
Having
left the beauty of the world and what is corrupt therein, O Saint, thou didst
settle in the Monastery of Sarov. And having lived there an angelic life, thou
wast for many the way unto salvation. Wherefore, Christ hath glorified thee, O
Father Seraphim, and hath enriched thee with the gift of healing and miracles.
And so we cry to thee: Rejoice, O Seraphim, our holy Father.
In 1926 the Bolsheviks shut down the Monastery of
Sarov and took the larnax which contained the relic of St. Seraphim. They first
brought it to Arzamas then to Moscow. There they also brought many other holy
relics from all over Russia, where a special committee considered which ones
interested them the most. When they reached the coffin of St. Seraphim and
opened it, the holy relic was miraculously not found.
The holy relic was discovered on January 11, 1991 in
the Church of the Virgin of Kazan in St. Petersburg. That night thunder and
lightning had crossed the skies of St. Petersburg, and all understood something
was happening.
From St. Petersburg the holy relic of St. Seraphim was
transferred to Diveyevo in order to fulfill the prophecy of St. Seraphim, who
before his repose said that he would find rest in Diveyevo.
Source:
http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2013/07/translation-of-holy-relics-of-saint.html
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