Saint Sergius of Radonezh

Life story

Sergius was born around 1314 (some sources say 1319 or 1322) near Rostov to a boyar family and baptised Bartholomew. When Ivan I of Moscow took over the Rostov principality, his family moved to Radonezh. Later he joined his brother Stefan in the forest near Moscow and became a monk, taking the name Sergius.

According to Britannica, the Trinity monastery was founded by him around 1337–1340 (today the Trinity-St Sergius Lavra at Sergiyev Posad). He became its abbot and was ordained priest. He declined an offer from Metropolitan Alexei to succeed him. His disciples founded about forty other monasteries.

Orthodox tradition says Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy visited him in 1380, before the battle with Mamai of the Golden Horde at Kulikovo, to ask his blessing, and that Sergius sent two of his monks, Peresvet and Oslyabya, with the army. The battle took place on 8 September 1380. This account comes from hagiographic tradition, not from neutral historical record.

Sergius died on 25 September 1392. His relics were found in 1422 and moved into the stone Trinity cathedral in 1426. The year of his canonisation is uncertain, given as 1448 or 1452. He is honoured above all by the Orthodox Church.

Works and witness

• Founded the Trinity monastery around 1337–1340
• Declined the office of metropolitan when it was offered
• By tradition, blessed Dmitry Donskoy before the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380
• His disciples founded about forty monasteries

Saints from the same country

Saint Seraphim of Sarov, Blessed Leonid Feodorov, Saint Olga of Kiev, Saints Boris and Gleb

References

• Britannica, Saint Sergius of Radonezh; Trinity-St. Sergius monastery
• Orthodox Church in America, Right-believing Demetrios Donskoy and Uncovering of the relics of Sergius (oca.org)
• Orthodox Church in America, The Orthodox Faith: Fourteenth Century Russia

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.