ST SERGIUS OF RADONEZH

Wordlist: a chosen vessel of God избранный сосуд Божий priest священник monk/schemamonkмонах/схимонах hegumen игумен abbot/Father Superior настоятель монастыря bishop епископ Metropolitan митрополит Patriarch патриарх Apostleапостол Protectress Покровительница, Заступница

fasting пост divine grace Божественная благодать holy святой holiness святость obey /obedient слушаться/послушный inheritance наследство dedicated to посвященный confessor духовник; исповедник take the monastic vowsпостричься в монахи

temptation искушение cell келья venerableпреподобный wilderness пустыня; дикая местность ordain to the priesthood рукоположить во священство rules of the Desert Fathers правила отцов пустынников discarded robes обноски cenobitic monasteryобщежительный монастырь spiritual friendship духовная дружба brotherly love братская любовь

true purpose in life истинная цель жизни Mongol-Tatar Yokeмонголо-татарское иго prophecy пророчество the Nativity of the Mother of God Рождество Пресвятой Богородицы angelic manner of life ангельская жизнь foresee предвидеть, предсказывать fell asleep упокоиться fear of God страх Божий purity of soul чистота души sincere love нелицемерная любовь spiritдух spiritual imprint духовный след/отпечаток

St Sergius was born in 1319 in a place called Varnitsa near the city of Rostov. His parents were the pious boyars Cyril and Maria. His holiness was announced before his birth as he was heard crying out of his mothers womb one day in a church. At his baptism he was called Bartholomew and the priest told his parents that their child was destined by God to be a chosen vessel of God and a servant of the Holy Trinity.

Once in the fields, he came across an old monk whom he had never seen before. The monk was praying under an oak tree. The boy came up to him and told him about his difficulties in school. The monk prayed over him and gave him a piece of prosphora, saying, Take and eat, this is given to you as a sign of the divine grace for reading. After this the holy child read without difficulty and understood the contents of books and his desire to serve only God became still stronger. But his love for his parents kept him in the family. C:\Documents and

Юность Преподобного Сергия Михаил Несторов After his parents died, Bartholomew gave up his inheritance to his younger brother Peter and together with his elder brother Stephan, settled to live in a wild forest 10 miles away from Radonezh. The brothers cut wood themselves and built a hut and a little church, which they dedicated to the Holy Trinity.

Сергий стал основателем Троице-Сергиева монастыря (лавры). Слава Сергия дошла даже до Царьграда. Сергий Строитель Николай Рерих

Soon word spread about the holy monk Sergius and several men came to him asking to share his life in the wilderness. Seeing their faith, he agreed to let them join him, although he had desire to live alone. He organized the brothers and together they began to build cells for the other monks.

The Russian Land at this time suffered under the Mongol-Tatar Yoke. St. Sergius gave his blessing to Great-prince Demetrius to fight to protect the nation and even provided two Schemamonks of his monastery Andrei [Oslyaba] and Alexander [Peresvet] to serve as standard-bearers and predicted the victory for prince Demetrius.

Having reached old age, and foreseeing his own end six months beforehand, St Sergius called the brothers and appointed his disciple St Nikon, who was experienced in the spiritual life and obedience, to be hegumen of the monastery. St Sergius fell asleep in the Lord on September 25, On the night before, the great saint of God called the brothers a final time to give them his final instruction: "Brethren, be attentive to yourselves. Have first the fear of God, purity of soul and sincere love...."

Monument to St Sergius of Radonezh in Sergiev Posad St. Sergius was destined by God to become the builder of Russia. He was to mend the spirit of Russian people, which had been crashed by the Mongol invaders. Due to the influence of St Sergius and his disciples, in a little over than 200 years, over 150 monasteries were founded in the wilderness and over 100 in towns.