Memorial Day of the Hieromartyr Metropolitan Seraphim (11/12)

Hieromartyr Seraphim (in the world Leonid Mikhailovich Chichagov) was born into a military family and belonged to a famous noble family. After the end of the Imperial Corps of Pages, he participated in the Balkan War of 1876-77. Upon returning from the front to St. Petersburg, he met the righteous John of Kronstadt and became his spiritual child.

In 1879, Chichagov was married to N.N. in a pious Christian marriage. Dokhturova. In 1891 he retired from military service and in 1893, with the blessing of John of Kronstadt, he took priestly orders. Served in various churches in Moscow. In 1895, his wife died. At this time, he began working on the «Chronicle of the Seraphim-Diveevsky Monastery» and in 1898 took monastic vows with the name Seraphim.

Soon Seraphim was appointed rector of the Suzdal Spaso-Evfimievsky Monastery. In 1903, according to the idea he compiled, and with the active assistance of Emperor Nicholas II, the Monk Seraphim of Sarov was glorified. At the same time, he composed an akathist for the monk.

In 1905, Seraphim — Bishop of Sukhumi. From 1906 to 1912 he was Archbishop of Oryol, Chisinau and Tver. Participated in the Local Council of 1917-1918, where he headed the department of «Monasteries and Monasticism». In 1917, Bishop Seraphim was expelled from his see by the Renovationists. Patriarch Tikhon appointed him to Warsaw, but he never arrived at the place of service due to the fighting that took place there.

In 1921, already in the rank of Metropolitan, Seraphim was exiled to the Arkhangelsk region. He lived for several years in the Resurrection Fedorovsky Monastery near Shuya. Seven years later he was returned to Church affairs and appointed to the Leningrad See. In 1933 he was retired and lived in recent years near Moscow. In 1937, he was arrested and taken on a stretcher to Taganskaya prison.

On December 11 of the same year, Seraphim was shot at the training ground in Butovo near Moscow. The Bishop painted icons. The wonderful image of the Savior by his work is located in the Moscow Church of Elijah the Prophet.

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