Venerable Serapion the Wonderworker, Abbot of the St. John the Baptist Monastery (†1747) — August 24 / September 6 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, August 24 according to the Julian Calendar (September 6 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Venerable Serapion the Wonderworker, Abbot of the St. John the Baptist Monastery of the Gareji Wilderness, who reposed in 1747.

Venerable Serapion the Wonderworker was the abbot of the Monastery of St. John the Baptist in the Gareji Wilderness. Mighty in both deed and word, distinguished in ascetic labour, a great faster and man of prayer, the holy father had been granted by God the gift of working miracles.

Once Venerable Serapion travelled with the brethren of the monastery to the city on business. The servants who went ahead, carrying the vessels needed for the divine services, were met by robbers and stripped of everything. They fled back and, in great distress, told the abbot all that had happened. “Great is God; I will not allow the unclean heathen to seize the holy things,” said Saint Serapion, and taking up his staff he set out alone after the thieves. As soon as the robbers caught sight of Serapion, they abandoned the donkey with its load where it stood and hid themselves among the rocks and ravines. Afterwards the robbers were heard to say: “Who was that monk who came after us? For we saw fire coming forth from his staff.”

On another occasion the blessed Serapion was praying in his cell. Suddenly he came outside, troubled, and said to the brethren: “Alas, alas, the servants of the monastery have fallen among robbers.” Having said this, he went straight back into his cell, shut the door, and began to pray fervently. Some two hours later the servants of the monastery arrived in distress and reported that they had met robbers on the road, had abandoned the donkeys with their loads, and had saved themselves by fleeing. A little while later the laden donkeys also returned to the monastery, unaccompanied by anyone. The servants, who had come home unharmed by the grace of God and the holy prayers of Venerable Serapion, glorified God, who had revealed hidden things to Father Serapion for the sake of his humility and goodness.

The abbot, so distinguished in virtue, resigned his office, received the Great Schema, and took up the life of a recluse. From ceaseless prostrations and standing at prayer, the saint’s legs became so diseased that he could no longer stand. Soon he was told of his approaching departure from this world, and he asked the brethren to bury his body at the entrance of the church, in a grave he had prepared for himself beforehand, so that everyone entering and leaving the church would step over him. Saint Serapion reposed in the year 1747 and, in accordance with his will, was buried at the entrance of the church.