Sergius of Radonezh: relics, icons, temples. Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius

St. Sergius of Radonezh - hieromonk of the Russian Church, the founder of the monasteries, among which the well - known Trinity-Sergius Lavra. This saint is not in vain called the defender of the Russian land, he made every effort to unite it for a resolute rebuff to the enemy conquerors. His name is associated with the emergence of the spiritual culture of Holy Russia, he became the founder of Russian eldership, with him resumption of monasticism, which began the great ascetics Anthony and Theodosius of the Kiev-Caves. In the XV century, Sergius of Radonezh was listed as a saint. And before answering the question of many, the question of the power of Sergius of Radonezh where we are, we shall plunge first into the history of the life of this great saint.

Life

The Godfather was born on May 3, 1314, in the pious peasant family of Cyril and Mary (who were also canonized) in Rostov. True, his name was then Bartholomew. The Lord Himself chose him to serve people. Pregnant Mary, standing in the service in the temple, suddenly heard three times from her womb the cry of the baby, heard both the people surrounding her, and the priest himself, who immediately realized that a true servant of the Orthodox faith would soon be born.

In his youth, Bartholomew was sent to study in school, but a weak memory did not give him the opportunity to study well. One day, while walking in the grove, he saw an old monk, who looked like an angel, and he blessed him for good schooling. Bartholomew spent much time reading the Holy Scripture, he wanted to devote his life to God and become a monk, but as long as his parents were alive, he gave himself a vow.

Soon all of their family moved from Rostov to Radonezh, where after a while parents left before the Lord. In 1337, Bartholomew gave away all his property and, together with his brother Stefan, who was already a monk of the Intercession Monastery, settled on the uninhabited Makovets hill. Brother soon could not stand the harsh life in the wild wilderness and returned to the brothers back.

Bartholomew was left alone, then he was 23 years old. Once Hieromonk Mitrofan came to him, who blessed him for monasticism with the name of Sergius.

About the pious monk very quickly learned in the district, and other monks were drawn to him. Together they began to build a small chapel in honor of the Holy Trinity. Then a monastery was built with God's help. Smolensk Archimandrite Simon once specially called on them and left the brothers precious gifts for the expansion of the monastery and the construction of a large church.

Holy Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius

Since 1355, with the blessing of the Patriarch of Constantinople Philotheus in the monastery of Father Sergius of Radonezh, a dutiful charter was adopted. Very soon the Holy Trinity Monastery became the center of the Moscow lands supported by the princes. It was here that Sergius of Radonezh blessed Dmitri Donskoi on the Kulikovo battle (September 21, 1380).

The Monk Sergius gave his soul to the Lord on September 25, 1392. He anticipated this and pre-assembled the brethren in order to bless his disciple, the clever and experienced Rev. Nikon, to the hegumenity.

St. Sergius of Radonezh played a huge role in the unification of Russia. He did literally impossible - reconciled two at that time hostile religions. He explained to the Vedic Russes that the faith in Jesus Christ with Western Christianity has nothing to do and that Christ did not teach the Crusades, the destruction of Vedic idols and the burning of heretics at the stake. He explained to everyone that there is absolutely no time for enmity, when such a perverted Christianity comes from the West. These pseudo Christians under the guise of the name of Christ are doing the most heinous crimes. Saint Sergius of Radonezh was a real grinder of the Russian land, he always prayed for Russia, so that the wretched enemy of the cursed will not prevail against him.

The strong walls of the monastery

In the famous Holy Trinity Monastery, the heirs of the throne of the throne, Basil III and John the Terrible, were baptized. Soon this monastery turned into a defensive fortress, which was surrounded by stone walls with 12 towers. Ivan the Terrible personally supervised the construction. All this later came in handy when defending against the forces of False Dmitry II.

In 1608-1609, the Sergiev Posad land repulsed the powerful army of many Poles under the leadership of the governor Sapieha and Lisovsky. Then the Russian voivods were Prince G. B. Roshcha-Dolgoruky and nobleman Alexey Golokhvastov. They constantly prayed and knew that St. Sergius of Radonezh always helps them. He kept his relics like the apple of his eye. At the grave of the holy old man everyone kissed the cross and swore that they would never leave their abode alive.

Icon of Sergius of Radonezh: what helps?

In any temple you can always find the image of St. Sergius the elder. His icon gives us a deep, full of humility and wisdom. May 3 / May 16, 2014 marked a great date - the 700th anniversary of the birth of St. Sergius of Radonezh, who in his lifetime was considered a saint. He was respected by various rulers, princes, boyars and ordinary people.

Many people are interested in the question: "Does the icon of Sergius of Radonezh help?" People with sincere prayer turn to the saint's face to get protection and help in unpleasant life circumstances. And parents ask him for their children so that they will study well, be well-bred and kind, and never fall under someone's bad influence.

Help of the prayer book

No one leaves the inconsolable Reverend Sergius of Radonezh: his relics have that power that can heal. Monks of the monastery described a huge number of cases of miraculous healing.

He makes everyone think about his life and feel, and is he ready to put his life for the Motherland, as our ancient ancestors did with the help of the holy seer?

The real guardian of Russia from her enemies is Reverend Sergius of Radonezh. The relics to which hundreds of thousands of pilgrims come, miraculous and healing.

The Holy Elder peacefully departed to the Lord on September 25 / October 8, 1392. After three decades, the miraculous relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh were majestically found, which were always kept in the monastery, while it was safe.

Many are interested in the question of how to apply correctly to the relics. As usual, all are applied only to the silver ark in which the relics of the holy Father Sergius are stored, where a special leaf is made at the level of the head, which is sometimes opened, then there is the opportunity to apply to the covered head of the saint.

The History of the Relics

The theme "Sergius of Radonezh: relics" is to be supplemented with an amazing story by the grandson of the priest Pavel Florensky. In Lazarev's Saturday before the Easter of 1919 an autopsy of the relics of the saint by the Soviet authorities was to take place. The safe preservation of the relics was in question. This was learned by Father Pavel, who arranged a secret meeting with the governor of Laura, Father Kronid, Count Yu. A. Olsufiev (member of the Commission for the Protection of Monuments), SP Mansurov and MV Shik, who then became priests. They secretly came to the Trinity Cathedral, read the prayer before the shrine with the relics' relics, then with the help of a spear they separated the head of the saint and replaced it with the head of Prince Trubetskoi, once buried in the laurel. The head of St. Sergius was temporarily left to be kept in the sacristy. Count Olsufyev after he placed the head of the monk in an oak ark and began to keep it at home (Sergiev Posad, Valovaya Street). In 1928 he, fearing arrest, buried the ark in his garden.

Successful operation

In 1933, after Pavel's father was arrested, Olsufiev fled to Nizhny Novgorod, where he told this story to Pavel Aleksandrovich Golubtsov (future Bishop Sergius, bishop of Novgorod), who soon managed to take the ark from the Count's garden and move it to Podmoskovny Nikolo-Ugreshsky monastery. There the ark was kept until the end of the Great Patriotic War. Returning from the war Golubtsov, handed over the ark with the shrine of his adopted daughter Olsufiev E. P. Vasilchikova, who secretly in 1946 gave the honest head of St. Sergius Patriarch Alexy I. And he blessed to return it to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra when it was reopened.

Conclusion

Now you can fully answer the question: "The relics of Sergius of Radonezh where are they?" They are still kept in the Holy Trinity Lavra. Almost every day to pray holy relics come thousands of pilgrims. In the laurel near the relics there are real miracles that are not ignored and written down in detail so that everyone has faith and hope for healing.

In honor of the Monk hegumen Sergiy, a huge number of temples and monasteries have been built in Moscow and the Moscow Region, in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, in the Arkhangelsk, Tula, Tyumen and other regions.