2 January OS 2016 – Forefeast of Theophany; St. Sylvester, Pope of Rome; St. Seraphim, Wonderworker of Sarov
Today, the second of January, is the day of the repose of a great saint of recent times, Seraphim of Sarov, who passed over into the heavenly kingdom on this day in 1833. You can begin learning about this wonderful saint at http://www.kurskroot.com/st.seraphim_of_sarvo.html, where you will find a short Life followed by many links to sites where you can read more about him.
In recent times, St. Seraphim has played a critical part in converting many non-Orthodox Christians to the Faith, including me. His Conversation with Motovilov is a short summary of the entire spiritual life from the Orthodox point of view. It tells the “converts” and the non-Orthodox, in a few thousand words, without saying so directly, why everyone should leave Roman Catholicism and Protestantism and just become Orthodox. For “ethnic cradle Orthodox” it tells you in a few thousand words, “Yes, that is why I could never be anything but Orthodox, though I never knew why!”
You might call it “CliffsNotes on the Philokalia for Dummies.” You can find it at http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/wonderful.aspx.
So…get out that prayer rope and start using it. That’s a great way to start 2016!
