A DAY WITH VENERABLE FATHER
SERAPHIM OF SAROV, St. Sergius Of Radonezh Orthodox Church In Pakistan, Modern
Icon-Painting 53, le 11 Juillet 2015
Modern Icon Painting 53
Le Samedi 11 juillet 2015 12h30, Елена Харина <service@versta-k.ru> a écrit :
A DAY WITH VENERABLE FATHER
SERAPHIM OF SAROV
St. Sergius Of Radonezh Orthodox
Church In Pakistan
June 14, 2015 was the hottest day of the month and the temperature was 48c. It seems early in the morning that the sun has descended on the earth. With the blessings of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Mission in Pakistan organized one day program for the Orthodox Faithful in Pakistan about the holy life of St. Seraphim of Sarov.
Despite of the scorching temperature, the people participated in the solemn celebration with real devotion for St. Seraphim of Sarov. Their faces were glowing as the dazzling Light of the Risen Lord has touched their hearts. The name Seraphim means “fiery” or “burning” in Hebrew. It really seems that today our Venerable Father Seraphim was present among us.
The solemn
celebration opened with the procession followed by the festive Divine Liturgy.
A prayer of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, translated into the Pakistani native
language, was read by Fr. Joseph Farooq; other prayers were also said for the
health and many good years of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all
Russia, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian
Orthodox Church Abroad, for the Orthodox clergy and faithful, and for peace,
unity, brotherhood and solidarity throughout the world.
After the
Divine Liturgy, Fr. Joseph Farooq preached comprehensively the life history and
miraculous works of Saint Seraphim of Sarov. Fr. Joseph Farooq told the
faithful that at the age of 18, St. Seraphim resolved to become a monk. His
mother blessed him with a large copper cross, which he wore over his clothes
for the rest of his life. Before he joined the monastic life, the young Seraphim
liked to read the Lives of Saints, to go to church, and to pray in seclusion.
He was accepted as a novice in the Sarov monastery.
Further
he told the faithful that Saint Seraphim of Sarov is one of the greatest
Russian ascetics and wonderworkers, with profound spiritual discernment. He was
distinguished by a great humility. When being praised by the entire world, he
referred to himself as “the poor wretch Seraphim.”
Fr.
Joseph Farooq shared that Saint Seraphim of Sarov was blessed by a vision of angels
participating in sermons and singing. During the Liturgy on Great Thursday he
had a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ incarnate in human flesh as He was
entering the temple together with Angelic Hosts and blessing those in prayer.
Venerable Seraphim was so taken by the vision that he could not speak for a
long time.
In his sermon Fr. Joseph
Farooq instructed the faithful that the ascetic life of Saint Seraphim is the
perfect example for the Orthodox faithful to live with devotion, cheerfulness,
patience, hard work and obedience in all circumstances. Our Venerable Father
Seraphim had a very close association with the Most Holy Mother of God, and
therefore he ceaselessly prayed before the icon of the Mother of God (of Tender
Feeling). This closeness with the Most Holy Theotokos was so strong that she
appeared to him surrounded by indescribable light, accompanied by the Apostles
Peter and John the Theologian.
St. Seraphim is known as a
wonderworker through whom God worked many miracles of all kinds. He still
continues to work miracles in our lives whenever we seek help from him. His
miracles are countless, and I am only mentioning two powerful miracles of St.
Saraphim of Sarov, which reflect the Glory of God. These two persons, Michael
Vasileevich Manturov and Nicholas Alexandrovich Motovilov, were victims of
serious sicknesses, and the doctors were unable to cure their diseases. But
they were healed by St. Seraphim’s prayers.
After the sermon, people
were given time to light their candles that they brought along with them in
front of the icon of the St. Saraphim of Sarov. They were instructed to ask for
the help from St. Seraphim of Sarov for their problems, any family sickness and
for the blessings of their Orthodox faith. They asked for help with complete faith
and enthusiasm that their prayers will be heard through the powerful
intercessions of St. Seraphim. Some of the faithful expressed their feelings
and testimonies of how St. Seraphim brought comfort to their lives. It was a
large gathering consisting of Orthodox faithful and those who wish to embrace
holy Orthodoxy in the future. There were good number of women and children
present. At the end of the solemn celebrations the icons of St. Seraphim of
Sarov were distributed among the faithful. All the faithful were very happy as
they received the icons.
With the blessing of His
Eminence Metropolitan HILARION, Archbishop of Eastern America and New York,
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, dedicated the
year 2015, that God willing we shall be able to buy land and build the first
Holy Russian Orthodox Church in Pakistan and school for Orthodox and
Non-Orthodox Christian Children. I earnestly pray to God that He may provide us
the kind and generous donors for the completion of this sacred project.
Mission : Saint Michael Archangel
Orthodox Mission in Pakistan
Parish: St. Sergius of
Radonezh Orthodox Church Sargodha Pakistan
For queries about the Russian Orthodox Church
outside Russia in Pakistan
Sursa: Modern Icon-Painting 53 ( 11 Juillet 2015 )
http://us9.campaign-archive2.com/?u=b33d1a603eed62d8d39ec01db&id=e9eb9ef95c&e=715afd61f9
Niciun comentariu:
Trimiteți un comentariu