Information Service of HIS HOLINESS SERBIAN PATRIARCH PAVLE TRAVELS TO RUSSIA At the invitation of His Holiness Alexy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Pavle is going to travel to Russia on Monday, July 28, 2003. Patriarch Pavle travels to Russia accompanied by His Eminence Amfilohije Metropolitan of Montenegro/Littoral and Protosyncellos Jovan (Puric) Abbot of the Ostrog Monastery with the aim to attend the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the canonisation of the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov. Saint Seraphim of Sarov (1759-1833) is one of the greatest saints of the Russian Church, teacher of spiritual joy, healer of sadness and depression. He was born in the city of Kursk and was named Prohor. When he was 19 he went to the Monastery of Sarov where he took monastic vows in 1786, after various temptations. He spent many years in the desert where he spiritually improved himself and prayed. For 12 times the Most Holy Mother of God and Jesus Christ in the form of the Son of the Lord rendered him worth of seeing them. Saint Seraphim was not a writer, but many of his morals remain recorded, among which the most famous is "Talks with Motovilov". His basic theological-spiritual topic was the attainment of the Holy Sprit, which is the target of a Christian life, while the greatest fruits of the Holy Spirit are joy and peace. "Acquire the spirit of peace, and then the thousands around you will be saved", Saint Seraphim of Sarov used to say. Isichasic tradition of the Church reflected itself in its full glory in the personality of Saint Seraphim of Sarov. |
