An Extraordinary Peace: St. Seraphim Flame of Sarov

This is the definitive biography in English of one of the most famous and best-loved saints of the Orthodox Christian church. Russian by birth, St. Seraphim, (c. 1759-1833) has often been compared with St. Francis of Asissi in the West, both being known largely for their unique relationships to animals and their palpable love of all people. Beyond granting us a rich telling of this man s luminous life, Fr. Lazarus Moore additionally opens the door to the eastern Christian spirituality of the Orthodox church, often still unknown in English-speaking countries. From firsthand accounts of mystical and miraculous experiences, to deep discussions of spiritual practices and theology, the very detailed account of St. Seraphim s life is a must-read for any student of spiritualilty or person of faith. Clearly, this is not a biography in the ordinary sense. Fr. Lazarus interaction with the flame of Sarov is felt on every page. It is as though he were at St. Seraphim s side, learning from his Elder s acts and words. St. Seraphim is not only set before our eyes, but is brought into our very hearts. Fr. Lazarus leads us to an invocation of the Saint himself; we feel his presence and receive a taste of that extraordinary peace, sweetness and joy for which he is known and loved by so many. The body of this book is identical to that published in 1994 by New Sarov Press (now defunct) under the title: St. Seraphim of Sarov: A Spiritual Biography; However, this present edition has an entirely new design and offers a number of new features: a foreword by Bishop Hilarion of the ROCOR diocese; original artwork; added footnotes and editorial notes; a reflection on Fr. Lazarus Moore by his caregiver at the end of his life; a history and technical notes on the manuscript; a collection of St. Seraphim's Prayer Rules given to his spiritual children; and an Akathist Hymn to St. Seraphim translated by Fr. Lazarus.