Saint Seraphim's relics found in Leningrad atheism museum after 63 years
What the video says
Saint Seraphim of Sarov, a monk who lived in solitude in the Russian forest in the early 1800s, became one of Russia's most beloved saints. He greeted all visitors with "My joy, Christ is risen" and died in 1833.
The church canonized him in 1903, but after the communists took power, Soviet authorities opened his coffin in 1920 and displayed his remains publicly. In 1927 they confiscated the relics and their location became unknown for decades.
In 1990, workers at the Museum of Religion and Atheism in Leningrad discovered unidentified remains with a mitt embroidered "Venerable father Seraphim, pray to God for us." The church confirmed the relics and they were returned in 1991.
Key moments
- Seraphim was a monk in the early 1800s who spent years praying alone in a hut in the Russian forest
- He became one of the most beloved saints in Russia, treating everyone with love and greeting them with "My joy, Christ is risen"
- He died in 1833 and was buried at his monastery
- The church officially recognized him as a saint in 1903
- In 1920, Soviet authorities opened his coffin and publicly displayed his remains as part of their campaign against the church
- In 1927, they confiscated his relics and carried them away from the monastery; eventually nobody knew where they had gone
- In 1990, workers at the Museum of Religion and Atheism in Leningrad found unidentified remains with a small mitt embroidered "Venerable father Seraphim, pray to God for us"
- The church compared the remains with historical records, confirmed they were Saint Seraphim's relics, and they were returned to the church in 1991
The post recounts the disappearance and recovery of Saint Seraphim of Sarov's relics. Seraphim, a monk who lived in the Russian forest in the early 1800s, died in 1833 and was canonized in 1903. After the Bolsheviks took power, Soviet authorities opened his coffin in 1920 and displayed his remains publicly as part of their campaign against the church.
In 1927 they confiscated the relics and removed them from the monastery; their location then became unknown for decades. In 1990, workers at the Museum of Religion and Atheism in Leningrad discovered unidentified remains accompanied by a small mitt embroidered with the words "Venerable father Seraphim, pray to God for us." The church compared the remains with historical records, confirmed they were Seraphim's relics, and received them back in 1991.
The video summary notes that Seraphim greeted visitors with "My joy, Christ is risen" and became one of Russia's most beloved saints. The post ends with a prayer to Saint Seraphim and a reference to the Mysteries of Christendom channel for more Orthodox history.
Main points
- Seraphim of Sarov, canonized in 1903, had his relics confiscated by Soviet authorities in 1927
- The relics remained missing for 63 years until 1990
- Workers at the Museum of Religion and Atheism in Leningrad found remains with an embroidered mitt identifying Seraphim
- The church verified the remains against historical records
- The relics were returned to the church in 1991