Sergius of Radonezh is one of the most revered saints in Russia. Born into a family of boyars from Rostov - Cyril and Mary in 1322 (some sources indicate a different date - 1314). At birth, the saint was given a different name - Bartholomew. The founder of the first Trinity Church in Russia, the spiritual patron of the whole country, became a true symbol of monasticism. Sergius of Radonezh, who dreamed of solitude and devoted himself to God, has always been interesting to historians, and attention has not faded away today. Several interesting and little-known facts allow us to learn more about the monk.
1. At birth, the infant did not breastfeed on Wednesday and Friday.
2. Even as a child he avoided noisy society, preferred quiet prayer and fasting.
3. During his lifetime, the parents moved with their son to Radonezh, which still exists.
4. Bartholomew studied with difficulty. Literacy was hard for the child, because he often cried. After one of the prayers, the saint appeared to Bartholomew, and after this event, science began to be given easily.
5. After the death of his parents, Bartholomew sold the estate and distributed all the inheritance to the poor. Together with his brother he went to live in a hut in the forest. However, the brother could not stand such a life for a long time, therefore the future Svyatol remained in seclusion.
6. Already at the age of 23 he became a monk, took monastic vows and was named Sergius. He founded a monastery.
7. Sergius himself took care of the household - he built cells, chopped down trees, sewed clothes and even cooked for the brethren.
8. When a conflict broke out between the brethren over the leadership of the monastery, Sergius left the monastery.
9. During his life, the saint performed various miracles. Once he resurrected a dead youth. The child was carried to the elder by his father, but on the way the patient died. Seeing the suffering of the parent, Sergius resurrected the boy.
10. At one time, Sergius refused to be a metropolitan, preferring simply to serve God.
11. The brethren testified that during the service the angel of the Lord himself co-served Sergius.
12. After the invasion of Mamai in 1380, Sergius of Radonezh blessed Prince Dmitry for the Battle of Kulikovo. Mamai fled, and the prince returned to the monastery and thanked the elder.
13. The monk was honored to see the Mother of God and the apostles.
14. Became the founder of many monasteries and temples.
15. Already during his lifetime, Sergius was revered as a holy man, they turned to him for advice and asked for prayers.
16. Foresaw his death six months before his death. He called on the brethren of the monastery to transfer the abbess to his beloved disciple Nikon.
17. Six months before his death, he was completely silent.
18. He bequeathed to bury himself with ordinary monks - in the monastery cemetery, and not in the church.
19. 55 years out of 78 he devoted to monasticism and prayer.
20. After the death of the brethren, they noted that Sergius's face was not like that of a dead man, but like that of a sleeping man - light and serene.
21. Even after his death the monk was revered as a saint.
22. Thirty years after death, the relics of the saint were found. They exuded a fragrance, the decay did not even touch the clothes.
23. The relics of Sergius healed many people from various diseases, they continue to work miracles to this day.
24. The Monk Sergius of Radonezh is revered for the patron saint of children who find it difficult to learn. The saint is recognized as the patron of the Russian land and monasticism.
25. Already in 1449-1450, religious scholars and historians find the first mention and appeal in prayers as a saint. At that time, there were few of those in Russia.
26. 71 years after the presentation, the first temple was erected in honor of the saint.
27. The relics of the saint left the walls of the Trinity-Sergius monastery only a few times. This happened only after the emergence of a serious danger.
28. In 1919, the Soviet government uncovered the relics of the monk.
29. The saint did not leave a single line behind him.
