Sergius of Radonezh | |
|---|---|
_2.jpg){kind=icon} Icon of Sergius of Radonezh, 17th century | |
| Abbot of Radonezh,Miracle Worker of all Russia Russian Monastic Reformer, Teacher of the Faith | |
| Born | 14 May 1314 Varnitsa,Rostov Veliky |
| Died | 25 September 1392 (1392-09-26) (aged 78) Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church Roman Catholic Church Russian Greek Catholic Church Anglican Communion[1] Lutheranism[2] |
| Canonized | 1452 or 1448 |
| Majorshrine | Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius |
| Feast | Repose: 25 September / 8 October Uncovering of Relics: 5 July / 18 July |
| Attributes | Dressed as a monk, sometimes withpaterissa (abbot's staff) |
| Patronage | Russia |
St. Sergius of Radonezh (Russian:Сергий Радонежский,romanized: Sergiy Radonezhsky; 14 May 1314 – 25 September 1392) was a Russian spiritual leader andmonastic reformer.
He was the founder of theTrinity Lavra of St. Sergius nearMoscow, what is now the most venerated monastic house in Russia.[3] He exerted the greatest influence of any personage on theRussian Orthodox Church.[3] Together with St.Seraphim of Sarov, he is one of the most highly veneratedsaints in Russia.
HistorianSerge Aleksandrovich Zenkovsky wrote that St. Sergius, along withEpiphanius the Wise,Stephen of Perm, and the painterAndrei Rublev, signified "the Russian spiritual and cultural revival of the late fourteenth and early fifteenth century".[4]
The date of his birth is unclear: it could be 1314, 1319, or 1322. His medieval biography states that he was born to Kiril and Maria, aboyar family, nearRostov Veliky, on the spot whereVarnitsy Monastery [ru] now stands.[5][6]
The narrative of Epiphanius does not specify the exact birthplace of the monk, stating only that before the migration from Rostov principality the monk's family lived "in a village in the area, which is within the Rostov principality, not very close to the city of Rostov". It is considered that it is the village Varnitsa (Russian:Варница) near Rostov Veliky. Sergius received thebaptismal name of Bartholomew (Russian:Варѳоломе́й,romanized: Varfolomei) in honor of theApostle Bartholomew.
Although an intelligent boy, Bartholomew had great difficulty learning to read. His biography states that astarets (spiritual elder) met him one day and gave him a piece ofprosphora (holy bread) to eat, and from that day forward he was able to read.Orthodox Christians interpret the incident as being anangelic visitation.[7]
When the Rostov principality fell into the hands ofIvan I of Moscow, his parents Kirill and Maria became impoverished and moved to the village ofRadonezh together with their three sons, Stefan, Bartholomew and Peter.[7]
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Upon his parents' death, Bartholomew went toKhotkovo nearMoscow, where his older brother Stefan was amonk. He persuaded Stefan to find a more secluded place to live theascetic life. In the deep forest at Makovets Hill they decided to build a smallmonastic cell and a church dedicated in honor of theTrinity.[7] Thus started the history of the greatTrinity-St. Sergius Lavra.
In time, Stefan moved to amonastery in Moscow. Varfolomei (Bartholomew) wastonsured amonk and given the name Sergius, following which he spent more than a year in the forest alone as ahermit. Soon, however, other monks started coming to him and building their own cells. After some time, they persuaded him to become theirhegumen (abbot) and he wasordained to thepriesthood. Following his example, all the monks had to live by their own labor. Over time, more and more monks and donations came to this place. Nearby, there appeared aposad, which grew into the town ofSergiev Posad, and other villages.
When the news of Sergius's accomplishments reachedPatriarch Philotheus of Constantinople, Philotheus sent a monasticcharter to Sergius. During the reign ofDmitri Donskoi, hisdisciples started to spread his teaching across central and northern Russia. They settled intentionally in the most impracticable places and founded numerous monasteries, of whichBorisoglebsky,Ferapontov,Kirillo-Belozersky andVysotsky monasteries could be mentioned. Sergius was also connected with the foundation of two monastic communities in Moscow,Andronikov andSimonov monasteries. All in all, the disciples of Sergius founded about 40 monasteries, thus greatly extending the geographical extent of his influence and authority.MetropolitanAlexius, Metropolitan of Moscow asked Sergius to become his successor but Sergius declined, preferring to remain a simple monk rather than be a bishop.[8]
As an ascetic, Sergius did not take part in the political life of the country. However, he blessedDmitry Donskoy when he went to fight theTatars in theBattle of Kulikovo, but only after he was certain Dmitry had pursued all peaceful means of resolving the conflict. Sergius is said to have bestowed upon Dmitry the victory with the help of the monksAlexander Peresvet andRodion Oslyabya.[3] Some historians interpreted his political stance as aspiring to make peace and unite Russian lands under the leadership of Moscow.
Sergius died on 25 September 1392. Hisincorruptrelics were found in 1422 and placed in the new cathedral ofTroitse-Sergiyeva Lavra which he founded.
The exact year of hiscanonization by the Russian Orthodox Church is uncertain, either 1452[9][10][11] or 1448.[12][13][14]The church commemorates him onSeptember 25, the date of his death, and onJuly 5, the day his relics were uncovered. (See ). Among the many affectionate titles given to him, he has been referred to as the "Abbot of Russia" and "valiantvoivod" of the Russian land.[15]
TheCatholic Church officially recognizes Sergius.[16][17] In 1940, he was included in the liturgical calendar authorized for the Russian Catholics.[18] Moreover, the most recent edition of theRoman Martyrology commemorates Sergius under the date of 25 September.[19]
Sergius is honored in the Calendar of Saints of several churches of theAnglican Communion and isremembered in theChurch of England with acommemoration on25 September.[20]
The ecumenicalFellowship of Saint Alban and Saint Sergius is named in part for him.
In December 1937,Pavel Florensky (1882–1937), a Russian theologian, priest, mathematician, inventor, philosopher and engineer died in the Soviet Gulag and it is thought he was condemned by an extrajudicialNKVD troika underNKVD Order No. 00447 to be executed during the 1930s Bolshevik purges after refusing to disclose the hiding place of Sergius' head which the Bolsheviks wanted destroyed. It is rumored that Florensky and other theologians were involved in a plot to save and hide the relics of St. Sergius. The relics were returned byPavel Golubtsov, later "Archbishop Sergius", to the cathedral ofTroitse-Sergiyeva Lavra in 1946 when it was reopened.[21]
Much information about Sergius and his acts is taken from the writing of his life composed in the 15th century, which has come down to us in many later editions in the 15th to 20th century Russian manuscripts. The memory of Sergius of Radonezh has lived on thanks to the unique manuscript entitled "The Life of St. Sergius of Radonezh" written by famous hagiographerPachomius the Serb, also known as Pachomius Logothetes. The original manuscript is housed in the National Library of Russia.
HistorianSerge Aleksandrovich Zenkovsky wrote that Sergius, along withEpiphanius the Wise,Stephen of Perm, and the painterAndrei Rublev, signified "the Russian spiritual and cultural revival of the late fourteenth and early fifteenth century".[4]
