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FIREBIRD Videos, Audios & Books Producers of Educational Materials about the Orthodox Faith and Cultures 14 Years of Service: 1992-2006
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LIFE OF ST. SERGIUS OF RADONEZH
St. Sergius of Radonezh is the patron saint of Russia, father of
northern Russian monasticism, and founder of the Holy Trinity Monastery
(see the article, Sergiev
Posad). Few people have had such a profound influence on Russian life
 process of building the stone
church, St. Sergius’ relics were uncovered, and it was discovered that after 30
years, his relics remained incorrupt. His relics were placed in a reliquary in his Holy
Trinity Church (photo to the right), readily accessible for veneration. Ever
since the discovery of his incorrupt relics, untold numbers of healings and other miracles
have occurred. Every day, all day long, pilgrims come and venerate St. Sergius’
relics, and are profoundly touched by being in St. Sergius’ presence.
The icon at the top was painted/written by Fr. Theodore Jurewicz, of Erie, Pennsylvania, and is located in St. Innocent of Irkutsk Orthodox Church in Redford, Michigan.
This article was written by Jane M. deVyver, M.Th., Ph.D., and the
photos are by the author.
To explore the theme of unity, so crucial tot he Orthodox Christian Faith, and proceeding directly from the Church's doctrines/dogmas about the Holy Trinity, and so important to St. Sergius' life, see the FIREBIRD book (Item #45), THE ORTHODOX CHURCH'S VISION OF UNITY.
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as St. Sergius
and his monastery. He was a great mystic and ascetic, whose life spanned much of the 14th
century, at the time that Russia was occupied by the Mongol Tartars. Even as a child the
future saint was devoted to the Holy Trinity and sought the monastic life. After the
repose of his parents, in 1334 the 20-year-old youth went into the deep forest, about 45
miles northeast of Moscow, to seek spiritual solitude as in a desert. He lived a very
austere ascetic life, marked by extreme poverty, hard physical labor, and profound
humility and simplicity. After a few years of solitude in the forest, disciples started to
gather around him, and Russia was
forever changed. Through the labors
of St. Sergius’ disciples, the northern forest wilderness blossomed with numerous
monasteries, which were to play a very significant role in the subsequent life of Russia
(and America). In St. Sergius’ great humility, he rejected all honors: only
reluctantly did he accept ordination as priest and appointment as abbot of his own
monastery; and he flatly refused to accept the office of Metropolitan of Moscow. The many
spiritual gifts granted to him include powerful and effective prayer, clairvoyance,
spiritual direction, and numerous visions. He reposed in 1392.
St. Sergius’
church, monastery and life’s work were dedicated to the Holy Trinity (icon to the
left). The Holy Trinity expresses the unity between the three Persons of the
One God, and hence, also symbolizes the spiritual vision of the restoration of all things
to their original unity, including Russia. St. Sergius recognized that the Russian Church
and the Russian people were united, and that unification of Russia lands was required for
their mutual well-being. Thus, with St. Sergius’ spiritual guidance and blessing, the
Grand Prince of Moscow, St. Dimitri Donskoi, united the fragmented Russian principalities
under Moscow’s leadership, and in 1380, defeated the Mongol Tartars. As a result,
Moscow became the center of Russian life, and St. Sergius and his Holy Trinity Monastery
have been looked to for guidance and support ever since.
St. Sergius’ original wooden Holy Trinity
Church burnt down and was replaced in 1422 by a white stone church (photo to the left),
for which