Saint Seraphim of Sarov

After the usual beginning, we say:

KONTAKIA and OIKOI:

Kontakion 1

O wonderworker and most wondrous chosen one of Christ, swift helper and intercessor of ours, holy Father Seraphim, glorifying the Lord who has glorified you, we offer a hymn of praise to you. But you, as one having great boldness towards the Lord, free us from all distress, who cry to you: Rejoice, all-venerable Father Seraphim, great wonderworker of Sarov!

Oikos 1

The Creator of the angels chose you from the beginning to glorify through your wondrous life the Name of the Holy Trinity, for you have shown yourself truly an angel on earth and a seraph in the flesh, and like a most luminous ray of the eternal sun of righteousness, your life shone forth. And we, seeing your most praiseworthy struggles, with reverence and joy sing to you these things:

• Rejoice, standard of faith and piety;
• Rejoice, image of meekness and humility;
• Rejoice, most glorious praise of the righteous;
• Rejoice, gentle comfort of the sorrowful;
• Rejoice, beloved boast of monastics;
• Rejoice, most wondrous aid of those living in the world;
• Rejoice, glory and defense of the Russian land;
• Rejoice, holy adornment of the Tambov region;
• Rejoice, all-venerable Father Seraphim, great wonderworker of Sarov!

Kontakion 2

Seeing your fervent love for the monastic life, O Father Seraphim, your venerable mother knew the holy will of the Lord for you, and offering you as a perfect gift to God, she blessed you on the narrow path of monasticism with her holy cross, which you wore on your chest until the end of your life, showing your great love for Him who was crucified for us, Christ our God, to whom let us all sing with compunction: Alleluia!

Oikos 2

Heavenly understanding was granted to you, O saint of God, for from your youth, ever striving for heavenly things, you left your parental home for the Kingdom of God and its righteousness. For this, receive from us these praises:

• Rejoice, chosen child of God, of the city of Kursk;
• Rejoice, most glorious offspring of pious parents;
• Rejoice, you who inherited the virtues of your mother;
• Rejoice, you who learned from her piety and prayer;
• Rejoice, for you were blessed with the cross by your mother for spiritual struggles;
• Rejoice, for you kept this blessing holily until death;
• Rejoice, for out of love for the Lord you left your parental home;
• Rejoice, you who counted the beauties of this world as nothing;
• Rejoice, all-venerable Father Seraphim, great wonderworker of Sarov!

Kontakion 3

From your youth, the power of the Most High truly overshadowed you, O venerable one, for when you fell from the height of the church, the Lord kept you unharmed, and when you suffered grievously from illness, the very Lady of the world appeared, bringing you healing from heaven, for from childhood you served God righteously, ceaselessly singing to Him: Alleluia!

Oikos 3

Having zeal for the work of the angelic monastic life, you went to the holy city of Kiev to venerate the Venerable Ones of the Caves, receiving from the mouth of the Venerable Dositheus the command to direct your path to the Sarov Wilderness, for coming in faith from afar, you kissed that holy place, and dwelling there, you ended your life pleasing to God. And we, marveling at such providence of God for you, sing to you with compunction:

• Rejoice, you who renounced worldly vanity;
• Rejoice, you who ardently desired the heavenly homeland;
• Rejoice, for you loved Christ with all your heart;
• Rejoice, for you took upon yourself the good yoke of Christ;
• Rejoice, you who were a perfect novice;
• Rejoice, true keeper of the divine commandments;
• Rejoice, you who strengthened your mind and heart towards God through prayer;
• Rejoice, unshakeable pillar of Orthodoxy;
• Rejoice, all-venerable Father Seraphim, great wonderworker of Sarov!

Kontakion 4

Calming the storm of evil misfortunes, you traversed the whole narrow and sorrowful path of ascetic struggle, bearing the yoke of the hermitic life, of seclusion, of silence, and of many nights of vigil, and thus, by divine grace, ascending from strength to strength, from deeds to the contemplation of God, you passed to the dwellings on high, where with the angels you sing to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 4

Hearing and seeing your holy life, O venerable Father Seraphim, the whole community marveled at you, and coming, they received teaching from your words and deeds, glorifying the Lord who is wonderful in His saints. And we, with faith and love, praise you, O venerable Father, singing to you thus:

• Rejoice, you who offered yourself wholly as a sacrifice to God;
• Rejoice, you who attained the height of dispassion;
• Rejoice, soldier of Christ, of good victory;
• Rejoice, good and faithful servant of the Heavenly Master;
• Rejoice, fearless intercessor for us before the Lord;
• Rejoice, our unceasing supplicant to the Mother of God;
• Rejoice, wondrous fragrance of the lily of the wilderness;
• Rejoice, blameless vessel of divine grace;
• Rejoice, all-venerable Father Seraphim, great wonderworker of Sarov!

Kontakion 5

Divine light shone in your dwelling, O venerable one, when you were ill and lying on the bed of death, the Most Pure Virgin herself came to you with the holy Apostles Peter and John and said: "This one is of my race!" – and touched your head. Immediately, being made whole, you sang with thanksgiving to God: Alleluia!

Oikos 5

Seeing your pure and holy life, O venerable Father Seraphim, the envier of the human race sought to destroy you, sending against you evil men who beat you mercilessly, leaving you barely alive. But you, O Father Seraphim, like a gentle lamb endured all, praying to the Lord for your persecutors. Therefore, marveling at your guilelessness, we all sing to you:

• Rejoice, for with your meekness and humility you were an imitator of Christ God;
• Rejoice, for with your guilelessness you conquered the spirit of malice;
• Rejoice, diligent guardian of soul and body purity;
• Rejoice, hermit filled with the gifts of the Spirit;
• Rejoice, ascetic glorified by God and seer;
• Rejoice, wonderful guide of monastics, made wise by God;
• Rejoice, praise and joy of the holy Church;
• Rejoice, glory and boast of the Sarov Monastery;
• Rejoice, all-venerable Father Seraphim, great wonderworker of Sarov!

Kontakion 6

The Sarov Wilderness preaches your struggles and labors, O God-bearing one, beloved of Christ, for you filled its thickets and forests with sweet fragrance through your prayer. Following Elijah, the prophet of God, and John the Baptist, you showed yourself a most fruitful branch of the wilderness through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, by whose power you accomplished many and most glorious deeds, urging the faithful to sing to God, the Giver of good things: Alleluia!

Oikos 6

There arose in you, O blessed Seraphim, a new chosen one of God, a seer like Moses, for performing the blameless service at the altar of the Lord, you were deemed worthy to see Christ in the Church, coming with the bodiless powers. And we, marveling at this good will of God, sing to you these things:

• Rejoice, most glorious God-seer;
• Rejoice, you who were illumined by the thrice-radiant Light;
• Rejoice, faithful servant of the Most Holy Trinity;
• Rejoice, adorned dwelling of the Holy Spirit;
• Rejoice, you who saw Christ together with the angels with bodily eyes;
• Rejoice, for while yet in corruptible flesh, you tasted beforehand the sweetness of Paradise;
• Rejoice, you who were satisfied with the bread of life;
• Rejoice, you who were refreshed with the water of immortality;
• Rejoice, all-venerable Father Seraphim, great wonderworker of Sarov!

Kontakion 7

Willing, O venerable one, to show in you His unspeakable mercy towards men, the Lover of mankind, God, you truly appeared a radiant light-bearer of God, for by your deeds and words you bring all to piety and divine love. Thus, being illumined by the brightness of your deeds and nourished by the bread of your teaching, we diligently magnify you and sing to Christ, who has glorified you: Alleluia!

Oikos 7

Seeing you as a new chosen one of God, the faithful in afflictions and sufferings ran to you from distant places, and you did not turn away those oppressed by needs, pouring forth healings, granting comfort, interceding with prayers for them. For this, the news of your wonders spread throughout all the Russian land, and your spiritual children glorified you thus:

• Rejoice, our good shepherd;
• Rejoice, merciful and gentle father;
• Rejoice, our swift helper and grace-filled healer;
• Rejoice, merciful physician of our infirmities;
• Rejoice, swift helper in needs and distresses;
• Rejoice, foreteller of things to come;
• Rejoice, seer and reprover of hidden faults;
• Rejoice, all-venerable Father Seraphim, great wonderworker of Sarov!

Kontakion 8

A strange wonder we see in you, O venerable one, for burdened with years, weak and weary, you spent a thousand days and a thousand nights on a stone in prayer. Who then is worthy to proclaim the sufferings and struggles you endured, O blessed Father, raising your hands to God, conquering the allegorical Amalek and singing to the Lord: Alleluia!

Oikos 8

"Entirely desired, entirely sweet, most sweet Jesus!" – Thus you cried in prayer, O Father, in the complete silence of your wilderness. And we, darkened by vanities and spending our whole life in sins, magnify your love for God and sing to you thus:

• Rejoice, mediator of salvation for those who love and honor you;
• Rejoice, you who bring sinners to correction;
• Rejoice, silent and most wondrous hermit;
• Rejoice, fervent intercessor for us;
• Rejoice, you who showed fervent love for the Lord;
• Rejoice, you who burned the arrows of the enemy with the fire of prayer;
• Rejoice, unquenchable lamp shining in the wilderness through prayer;
• Rejoice, luminary that warms and illumines with spiritual gifts;
• Rejoice, all-venerable Father Seraphim, great wonderworker of Sarov!

Kontakion 9

All the angelic nature marveled at this singular vision, when the Queen of Heaven and Earth appeared to the Elder in seclusion, commanding him to come out of the wilderness and not to hinder faithful people from coming to him, but to teach all to sing to Christ: Alleluia!

Oikos 9

Eloquent orators cannot express the power of your love, O blessed one, for fulfilling the command of the Mother of God, you gave yourself in service to all who came to you, and to the simple you were a good counselor, to the sorrowful a comforter, to the erring a gentle guide, to the sick a healer and physician. For this we sing to you thus:

• Rejoice, for you dwelt from the world in the wilderness to acquire virtues;
• Rejoice, for you returned from the wilderness to the monastery to sow the seed of virtues;
• Rejoice, you who are illumined by the grace of the Holy Spirit;
• Rejoice, you who are filled with meekness and humility;
• Rejoice, loving father of those who run to you;
• Rejoice, you who give them encouragement and strength through words of love;
• Rejoice, for you called those who came to you joy and treasure;
• Rejoice, for through your holy love you were deemed worthy of the joys of the Heavenly Kingdom;
• Rejoice, all-venerable Father Seraphim, great wonderworker of Sarov!

Kontakion 10

Reaching the end of your saving struggles, O venerable one, bending your knees in prayer, you gave your holy soul into the hands of God, which the holy angels lifted up to the Throne of the Almighty, to stand together in unwaning glory, singing a hymn of praise to the Word more holy than the saints: Alleluia!

Oikos 10

Being a wall for all saints and a comfort to monastics, O Most Holy One, the Virgin appeared to you before your end, announcing to you that your departure to the Lord was near. Therefore, we, marveling at such a visitation of the Mother of God, sing to you thus:

• Rejoice, for you saw the Queen of Heaven and Earth face to face;
• Rejoice, for through the appearance of the Mother of God you were filled with joy;
• Rejoice, you who received from her the news of your departure to the heavens;
• Rejoice, for through your blameless voice you showed the holiness of your life;
• Rejoice, for in prayer before the icon of the Mother of God you gave your humble spirit to God;
• Rejoice, for through your painless end you fulfilled your previous prophecy;
• Rejoice, you who were crowned with the crown of immortality by the hand of the Almighty;
• Rejoice, for you inherited the blessedness of Paradise together with all the saints;
• Rejoice, all-venerable Father Seraphim, great wonderworker of Sarov!

Kontakion 11

Offering unceasing song to the Most Holy Trinity, O venerable one, through your whole life you showed yourself a great ascetic of piety: for the erring towards guidance, for the sick in body and soul towards healing, and we, giving thanks to God for the immeasurable multitude of His mercies, unceasingly sing to Him: Alleluia!

Oikos 11

Being a light-giving lamp during your life, O blessed Father of God, even after death you shone like a bright star of the Russian land, for from your venerable relics you pour forth rivers of wonders to those who with faith and love run to you. And we, as to a fervent intercessor for the whole world and a wonderworker, sing to you these things:

• Rejoice, you who are glorified by God through the multitude of your wonders;
• Rejoice, you who illumined the whole world with your love;
• Rejoice, faithful and righteous follower of Christ's love;
• Rejoice, comfort of all who ask your help;
• Rejoice, inexhaustible source of wonders;
• Rejoice, healer of the sick and infirm;
• Rejoice, unfailing fountain of healing water;
• Rejoice, for you encompassed all the ends of our land with your love;
• Rejoice, all-venerable Father Seraphim, great wonderworker of Sarov!

Kontakion 12

Knowing the grace and great boldness you have before God, we fall down before you, O venerable Father, pray fervently to the Lord to protect His holy Church from unbelief and division, from needs and afflictions, that we may sing together with you to the Benefactor, our God: Alleluia!

Oikos 12

Singing of your glorification, we bless you, O venerable Father, as a powerful intercessor for us before the Lord, as a comforter and defender, and with love we sing to you these things:

• Rejoice, praise of the Orthodox Church;
• Rejoice, shield and defense of Christendom;
• Rejoice, guide that directs all to heaven;
• Rejoice, our defender and protector;
• Rejoice, you who performed many wonders by the power of God;
• Rejoice, you who healed many sick people with your garment;
• Rejoice, you who conquered all the wiles of the devil;
• Rejoice, you who subdued wild beasts with your meekness;
• Rejoice, all-venerable Father Seraphim, great wonderworker of Sarov!

Kontakion 13

O most wondrous saint and great wonderworker, all-venerable Father Seraphim, accept this humble prayer of ours, raised in your praise, and standing now before the Throne of the King of kings, our Lord Jesus Christ, pray for us all, that we may obtain His mercy on the Day of Judgment, with joy singing to Him: Alleluia! (This kontakion is said three times)

Then again Oikos 1 is said

The Creator of the angels chose you from the beginning to glorify through your wondrous life the Name of the Holy Trinity, for you have shown yourself truly an angel on earth and a seraph in the flesh, and like a most luminous ray of the eternal sun of righteousness, your life shone forth. And we, seeing your most praiseworthy struggles, with reverence and joy sing to you these things:

• Rejoice, standard of faith and piety;
• Rejoice, image of meekness and humility;
• Rejoice, most glorious praise of the righteous;
• Rejoice, gentle comfort of the sorrowful;
• Rejoice, beloved boast of monastics;
• Rejoice, most wondrous aid of those living in the world;
• Rejoice, glory and defense of the Russian land;
• Rejoice, holy adornment of the Tambov region;
• Rejoice, all-venerable Father Seraphim, great wonderworker of Sarov!

And Kontakion 1

O wonderworker and most wondrous chosen one of Christ, swift helper and intercessor of ours, holy Father Seraphim, glorifying the Lord who has glorified you, we offer a hymn of praise to you. But you, as one having great boldness towards the Lord, free us from all distress, who cry to you:

• Rejoice, all-venerable Father Seraphim, great wonderworker of Sarov!

After this is said this:

FIRST PRAYER TO SAINT SERAPHIM

O most wondrous Seraphim, great wonderworker of Sarov, swift hearer and helper of all who run to you, in the days of your life no one went from you poor, but to all the sight of your face and the voice of the kindly welcome of your words were pleasing. Besides this, the gift of healings, the gift of foresight, and the gift of healing weak souls were abundantly shown in you. And when the Lord called you from earthly labors to heavenly rest, never did your love depart from us, and it is impossible to count your wonders, which have multiplied like the stars of heaven, for behold, in all the ends of the earth you appear to faithful people and grant them healings. For this we also cry to you: O most good and gentle Venerable One of God, intercessor with boldness for us, who never turn away those who call upon you, raise up for us your beneficial prayer to the Lord of Hosts, that He may strengthen our faithful people and grant us what is necessary in this life and all things profitable for the salvation of our souls, that He may keep us from falling into sin and teach us true repentance, that without hindrance we may enter the Kingdom of Heaven where you now shine in unwaning glory, and we may sing with all the saints, praising the Life-giving Trinity, forever! Amen.

SECOND PRAYER TO SAINT SERAPHIM

O most holy Venerable and God-bearing Father Seraphim, look down from your glory on high upon us humble and weak ones, burdened with many sins, who ask from you help and comfort. Draw near to us with your heart full of goodness and help us to keep blamelessly the commandments of the Lord, to hold firmly the Orthodox faith, diligently to offer to God repentance for our sins in Christian piety, to increase well in grace and to be worthy of your help and intercession for us before God. O Saint of God, Seraphim, hear us who with faith and love pray to you and do not disregard us who have need of your protection. Now and at the hour of our end help us and defend us with your prayers from the arrows full of malice of the devil, that his power may not rule over us, but with your help we may be deemed worthy to inherit the blessedness of the dwellings of Paradise. For in you we place our hope this day, O merciful Father, be for us truly a guide to salvation and gather us to the unwaning light of eternal life through your well-pleasing intercession at the Throne of the Holy Trinity, that we may glorify and sing together with all the saints the worshipful Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, unto ages of ages. Amen.

TROPARION OF SAINT SERAPHIM (Tone 4)

From your youth you loved Christ, O blessed one, and to Him alone you ardently desired to serve, through unceasing prayer in the wilderness, struggling with a heart full of compunction, acquiring the love of God and showing yourself chosen of the Mother of God. For this we pray to you: Save us by your prayers, O venerable Seraphim, our Father.

KONTAKION OF SAINT SERAPHIM (Tone 2)

Leaving the beauty of the world and its transitory things, O venerable one, you dwelt in the Sarov Monastery and there, living angelically, you were for many a way to salvation. For this Christ also glorified you, O Father Seraphim, enriching you with the gift of healings and wonders. Therefore we sing to you:

• Rejoice, O venerable Seraphim, our Father.