The Day of Remembrance of St. Sergius of Radonezh has special significance for Orthodox Russians: the founder of the Trinity-Sergius Monastery, he is considered the heavenly patron of Russia. In fact, this was the first saint who appeared in Rus' after getting rid of the Tatar-Mongol yoke.
In baptism, St. Sergius received the name Bartholomew. Very early, a great future was predicted for him, the son of the Rostov boyars. According to his life, while still in his mother's womb, when his mother was praying in the temple, the baby made a cry three times. Both the parents and the parish priest understood this extraordinary phenomenon as a sign that the unborn child would celebrate the Holy Trinity with his life. A similar omen took place during Bartholomew's childhood: one day, when he was tending his father's horses, he saw a mysterious wanderer who blessed him and predicted that he would glorify God with his life.
Since childhood, Bartholomew was very pious, diligent in his work and prayer. Subsequently, together with his brother Stefan, he retired to the forest for desert living (12 versts from Radonezh). There they built a cell and a small temple, which in 1335 was consecrated in honor of the Holy Trinity. But Stephen could not withstand the difficulties of hermitage, went to Moscow, and Bartholomew was left alone. In 1337, he took monastic vows with the name Sergius.
Sergius spent more than a year completely alone and in prayer. Rumors about his ascetic life spread throughout the surrounding area. Gradually, a whole settlement of hermits arose here — and this is how the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, the spiritual center of Russian Orthodoxy, was born.
Sergius of Radonezh entered the state history of Russia as the man who helped the scattered Russian princes unite and predicted victory for Dmitry Donskoy on the Kulikovo Field. Having blessed the prince for the battle with Mamai, the monk gave him two of his best monks —, Alexander Peresvet and Andrei Oslyabya, as companions.
The prophecy of St. Sergius was fulfilled: on September 8 (old style) 1380, on the day of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Russian soldiers won a complete victory over the Horde hordes, marking the beginning of the liberation of the Russian land.
Sergius died on September 25 (old style) 1392. 30 years later, in 1422, his relics and clothes were found incorruptible, and in 1452 he was canonized.