Russian State Library opens exhibition marking centenary of canonisation of St. Seraphim of Sarov

On Wednesday, the Russian State Library opened an exhibition, "St. Seraphim of Sarov (1759-1833). To the Centenary of the Canonisation of the Great Visionary of Russian Soil." The exhibition includes the starets's sermons, advice and prophecies, the story of his life and death. Two most complete legends about St. Seraphim of Sarov are also on the display. In addition, the exposition features collections, sketches, memoirs and philosophical essays about St Seraphim by Nikolai Motovilov, Sergei Nilus, Vladimir Ilyin and Sergei Bulgakov and the poem Saint Seraphim by Maximilian Voloshin.

The exhibition is illustrated by contemporary pictures of Seraphim of Sarov, photos and paintings of places where the saint lived. The exhibition features a total of 150 books from the collection of the Russian State Library.

St. Seraphim of Sarov was considered a saint for his miraculous healing skills. In 1903, he was canonised. In 1991, after a 70-year oblivion, the saint's remnants were returned to the Russian Orthodox Church.

The celebration of the centenary of the canonisation of St. Seraphim will be held in the town of Sarov, the Nizhny Novgorod region (Volga area), which is situated near the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery, late July-early August.