St. Seraphim Shows Motovilov the Grace of the Holy Spirit

What the video says

Father Seraphim of Sarov answers Nikolai Motovilov's question about how to recognize the grace of the Holy Spirit by granting him a visible experience of that grace in a snowy forest near Sarov Monastery. Seraphim takes Motovilov by the shoulders and, after a silent prayer, Motovilov sees the elder's face shining brighter than the sun and feels an overwhelming light around them.

Seraphim asks Motovilov to describe what he feels, and Motovilov names an indescribable peace, an extraordinary sweetness, an unspeakable joy, and a warmth like a bathhouse despite the winter cold. Seraphim identifies each as a manifestation of the Holy Spirit: the peace Christ gives, the sweetness of God's delight, the joy no one can take away, and the divine warmth that clothed the ascetics.

Seraphim explains that this is only a foretaste of the fullness God has prepared, and that the purpose of the Christian life is not merely to speak of God but to acquire the grace of the Holy Spirit. He tells Motovilov that those who receive God's mercy must share it with others, for God hears the monk and the layman alike when they love Him from the heart.

Key moments

1. 0:00 Motovilov asks Seraphim how a person can know he is in the grace of the Holy Spirit.
2. 0:31 Seraphim says the difficulty is that we do not seek the divine knowledge that leads to God, which is filled with love and builds up for salvation.
3. 1:01 Seraphim takes Motovilov by the shoulders, tells him to look, and Motovilov sees Seraphim's face brighter than the sun, eyes flashing like lightning.
4. 1:33 Seraphim says he prayed for Motovilov to see the descent of the Holy Spirit with bodily eyes, and the Lord answered immediately.
5. 2:35 Seraphim asks how Motovilov feels; Motovilov describes peace, sweetness, joy, and warmth, which Seraphim identifies as gifts of the Holy Spirit.
6. 5:12 Seraphim says this joy is only a small foretaste of what God has prepared for those who love Him.
7. 6:43 Seraphim states the purpose of Christian life is to acquire the grace of the Holy Spirit, and a heart filled with love becomes a dwelling place for God.
8. 9:52 Seraphim tells Motovilov the experience was given so he would remember it and others would know God's mercy; the Christian life is about acquiring the Holy Spirit.