Why Sergius of Radonezh has always been revered by the Orthodox

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Why Sergius of Radonezh has always been revered by the Orthodox
Why Sergius of Radonezh has always been revered by the Orthodox
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Sergius of Radonezh is a saint who has always been treated with special reverence in Russia. This man not only accomplished a spiritual feat, but became a real example of a wise old man who put love above all else. It is no coincidence that even in the Soviet years, when Orthodoxy was under attack, the personality of St. Sergius was not forgotten and was even periodically mentioned in the literature.

Who the saint really was

The future founder of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra was born in the dark XIV century. At this time, princely strife and Mongol raids tore Russia apart. In such difficult conditions, the people needed a spiritual leader who could rally the population and make them fight the enemy.

From the very birth, the boy named Bartholomew was distinguished by special piety. The Life says that as a child, the monk refused to eat milk on Wednesdays and Fridays, the traditional days of Christian fasting. But with his studies with Sergius, things were going badly, which greatly upset both him and his parents.

According to legend, after another prayer, the boy met a righteous old man in the field. After that, Bartholomew began to study much better and finally decided to devote himself to God. It is no coincidence that before the icon of the monk they pray for the gift of intelligence to children.

From a simple monk to a great miracle worker

Bartholomew took monastic vows at the age of 23. He immediately began to lead a secluded life in a skete, built with his own hands. However, the rumor about the righteous youth quickly spread, so soon like-minded people began to gather around Sergius.

Despite the fact that the young man was always distinguished by special righteousness and began to perform miracles during his lifetime, he always avoided worldly glory. For example, the monk refused the post of metropolitan, which was offered to him and preferred to continue his solitary existence. At the same time, Sergius never refused petitioners. He healed the sick, helped people who had lost their faith.

The most famous deed of the monk is the blessing of Prince Dmitry for the Battle of Kulikovo. Even then, Sergius acted as a person who advocated the unification of the country and the fight against a common enemy.

How does the monk differ from other saints

Already at the end of the 15th century, in spiritual literature, Sergius was mentioned as a saint. This is a great rarity, almost no one received such a status in those days. For the monk, an exception was made, because his whole life was an exploit of love and faith. The holy elder rejected any strife and always came to the aid of his neighbor, renounced worldly temptations and sympathized with all living things on earth.

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