Igumen Seraphim: Abbot of Sarov
The successor of Father Igumen Isaiah, the eleventh Abbot of the Sarov Monastery, Igumen Seraphim, was from a family of the state peasants[1] from the Perm region. His name in the world was Spiridon Andreev Pestov. He entered the monastery in 1823 at the age of 19, together with his father Andrei (monastic name – Arseny). He was tonsured a monk on June 20th, 1835, ordained a hierodeacon the same year on September 29th by the Most Reverend Arseny, Bishop of Tambov (later Metropolitan of Kiev), and a hieromonk on May 29th, 1844 by the Most Reverend Nikolai, Bishop of Tambov. He was appointed as treasurer in 1848, he held this position until 1858, when he was appointed as the Abbot of the monastery on May 17th, 1858 after the repose of Fr. Igumen Isaiah. He was appointed abbot by the higher spiritual authority with the general approval of the brethren. In November 1872, by the order of the Holy Synod, he was relieved of his duties as the Abbott and retired. He remained among the ill monks of the Monastery as an old, physically weak man until his passing on October 5th, 1878 at the age of 74. He was buried next to Fr. Igumen Isaiah behind the altar on the left side of the Dormition cathedral temple.
In the course of his fourteen-year rule of the Sarov Monastery, Father Igumen Seraphim kept the monastery in order in external matters, as well as its inner spiritual state as it was established at the time of his ever-memorable predecessors. He was a strict follower of the testaments and traditions of the Elders of the monastery. Aside from the solemn conduct in church services, Father Igumen especially watched the moral conduct of the brethren. Often, at any time of the day, one could see him either on the monastery grounds visiting brethren’s cells or outside of the monastery at the passage to where was strictly prohibited for the brethren without the blessing of superiors. In that case any transgression, as the true disciple of Father Igumen Niphont, he imitated him in fixing misdeeds of the brethren with a humble word and a fatherly correction. This kind of rigorous observance of the testaments and the charter of the monastery gained for Father Igumen Seraphim the love and respect of the Hierarchs of the Russian Church and other pious men who communicated regularly with him via letters, which were edifying and filled with brotherly love. Thus, at the very appointment of Father Seraphim to be the Abbot of the Sarov Monastery, the Most Reverend Arseny, later the Metropolitan of Kiev, writes,
Most honorable Fr. Abbott, beloved in Christ brother!
I rejoice from the bottom of my heart and congratulate you on your new appointment and I pray to the Lord that He may give you fortitude and strength to carry this honorable but difficult responsibility well. Your monastery is famous, so the feat of guiding it is even more challenging. However, with the help of God and your labors, which I have been aware of for some time, I hope everything will go well. The Apostle Paul says that “all things work together for good for those who love God” [Rom 8:28], and you do not lack that love.
Both mine, and your, God-loving Fathers Niphont and Isaiah, now seeing you in their place, building up the holy monastery according to their plan and wish, will rejoice, since they loved and prepared you for this position.
I humbly beg you not to forget my unworthiness in your prayers, since a prayer of a pious man assisted by love may do much. I need it so much!
I invoke God’s blessing upon you and all of the brethren.
September 15th, 1858
A humble servant of your great godliness
Arseny, Archbishop of Warsaw
What follows are two of the many letters of the Most Reverend Platon, Archbishop of Kostroma[2]:
Most Reverend Father Abbot, beloved brother in Jesus Christ! Christ is risen!
May the Lord Himself reward you for your endless love towards my unworthiness. May your noblest wishes for me on the occasion of the most joyous feast of the resurrection of Christ the Savior ascend to the throne of the Almighty and bring the Lord’s blessings upon me. Please, accept my sincerest congratulations on the most joyous celebration of celebrations and the feast of feasts. May the Resurrected Savior grant you and your brethren in the Lord that heavenly joy which no one can take away.
Venerable Fathers, following the example of your valiant predecessors, pray for peace and for the Holy Church, that the Lord may keep Her unconquerable against the gates of hell, the hell, which seems to be rebelling in these final days to harm the Bride of Christ. Pray for us bishops that the Lord may grant us to “rightly divide the word of truth” [2 Timothy 2:15] and to fulfill our episcopal duties according to His holy will.
May the mercy of God be and remain with the holy Sarov Monastery forever through the prayers of its ascetics who have passed away and those who are currently laboring there.
April 21, 1864.
Your most most ardent well-wisher and servant,
Platon, Bishop of Kostroma
–
Most reverend Father Igumen,
beloved brother in Jesus Christ!
I am at a loss for words to express my gratitude for your unending love towards me, the unworthy one. Keep me in your holy prayers. May the Lord Himself reward you with goodwill and His mercies.
Nowadays, it is very difficult not only for the monastery ascetics in their struggles but also for us, those who are appointed to positions at the height of church administration. It seems that the time has come when one must save himself through sorrows. I implore you, Venerable Father, not to abandon the Sarov customs; in other words, attend services and common meals following the example of your predecessors. There is a great benefit for the monastery in that, especially in our time. Bear the burden of the duties of the abbacy for the sake of the Lord God, for the benefit of the monastery, and for your own salvation.
May the number of holy and ascetic elders never diminish at the Sarov Monastery through the prayers of your holy predecessors. May Sarov be a haven for those seeking salvation!
Holy fathers, remember me, a sinner amidst your prayerful sighs, and all of the Russian Orthodox hierarchs. Maintain your kindness to me, the unworthy one, dear Father Igumen, and do not forget me in your prayers. Neither the powers of soul or body are capable of the great and laborious service of ours which demands much and becomes increasingly difficult.
May the blessings of the Lord be upon you and the holy monastery entrusted -to you and its brotherhood.
April 5th, 1873.
The most devoted brother and servant
of your great godliness,
Platon, the unworthy Archbishop of Kostroma.
This truly Christ-like attitude, in the spirit of the Orthodox Church, of Her hierarchs contributed over time to the increase in beauty of the Sarov Monastery and in the splendor of its holy temples of God. Thus, during Fr. Igumen Seraphim’s leading of the monastery, with contributions from Christ-loving benefactors, all the holy icons of the iconostasis of the heated cathedral temple of the Life-Giving Spring were decorated with gold-plated silver rizas[3] with fine embossment and precious gems.
However, a very special monument of the tireless care of Fr. Igumen Seraphim for the well-being of the monastery entrusted to him by God will be the proper management of their forest land which will always be remembered with gratitude by the monastic brotherhood. This was instituted during his tenure as abbot. Through its forest lots the needs of supporting the brethren and numerous visitors is supplied. This treasure was inherited from the founder, Hieroschemamonk Ioann, as a truly royal gift from the Tsars of Russia.
[1] A large group of peasants in 18th-19th century Russia who were considered personally free, although, the state had restrictions on their movement across the country.
[2] A city on the Volga river founded in 1152 by Prince Yury Dolgoruky.
[3] A metal covering for the surface of an icon. Nilus
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