Cell attendant of Metropolitan Serapion Fadeev Kirill Glinsky. Eternal memory to the deceased...

From Tokyo to Chisinau

Nikolai Fadeev was born in 1933 in Moscow into a family of employees; from childhood he considered the church his home and in his youth decided to choose the path of serving God. After school, he went to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra Monastery, where he was a monk for more than 20 years - with a break for military service. After being tonsured as a monk, he received the name Serapion in honor of Saint Serapion, Archbishop of Novgorod. In 1966 he graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy with a Ph.D. dogmatic theology for the work “Orthodox Teaching on the Incarnation of the Son of God” - this theological treatise was published as a separate book by the Tula Theological Seminary on the tenth anniversary of the Metropolitan’s death. In 1969, Father Serapion graduated from graduate school, and two years later he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

Serapion's father's appointment was associated with constant moving, and not only around Russian cities. He served as a cleric of the Patriarchal Metochion in Tokyo, was a vicar of the Moscow diocese, then ordained Bishop of Podolsk and appointed representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' to the Patriarchal Antioch and All East. At the end of the 70s last century he headed the Irkutsk and Chita dioceses and during this period opened several new parishes in Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Bratsk and other cities. In the 80s, he was elevated to the rank of archbishop and sent to the Vladimir and Suzdal diocese. There he achieved the return of the relics of Andrei Bogolyubsky, which would be very difficult in Soviet times and was considered one of the most significant events in church life that time. In 1987 he became Metropolitan of Chisinau and Moldova, and it was thanks to him that monasticism was revived in Moldova. Metropolitan Serapion was an ascetic, he sincerely and selflessly loved God, so every diocese, wherever he served, with his arrival experienced a period of real spiritual renewal.

He was kind and loving

Having headed the Tula and Belev diocese, Bishop Serapion began to do everything to revive the theological school in our city. He opened pastoral courses, then a theological school, which in 2001 received the status of a seminary. Before the arrival of Bishop Serapion, there were 5 operating churches in Tula, and in the diocese as a whole there were 34 churches. Today there are 30 churches in our city, and in total there are 146 in the region. Metropolitan Serapion was a true monk by nature, he loved monasticism very much. And even in Soviet times, when party ideologists interfered in church life, more than a thousand monks were tonsured. People even came to him from other dioceses, because not every bishop decided to perform this rite. Metropolitan Serapion actually restored monasticism in our diocese - now in Tula region There are 5 monasteries. And the fact that the canonization of Euphrosyne of Kolyupanovskaya and John of Tula occurred precisely during the period of his ministry on our land is also not an accident.

Serapion was a well-educated man, he loved to study: he knew 5 languages, English was perfect. He showed extreme respect for his native Russian language and did not tolerate compromises in everything related to the purity and literacy of speech. He remembered New Testament and many Old Testament books by heart.

Vladyka was like the sun: kind, loving, hospitable to everyone who came to his house, recalls the rector of St. Nicholas Church, Father Sergius, the last of those whom the Vladyka ordained as priests. - An amazingly powerful, majestic personality: royal dignity and apostolic simplicity. I was always upset if someone was careless in performing their duties and could severely punish the offender. An excellent theologian: the texts of his sermons have been preserved, his Ph.D. dissertation is an amazingly profound work... And Bishop Serapion was very fond of giving awards. Usually, on the eve of Easter, patriarchal awards arrived in Tula - so he could not wait until the holiday. Maximum two to three days. And then he came and handed out crosses, miters, elevated him to archimandrite - and at the same time he himself was happy...

Everyone who served with Metropolitan Serapion saw and understood that service was the most important thing in his life. Vladyka liked to stand on the left choir on weekdays and sing stichera and read the psalter - as simple singers do.

Favorite temple

Bishop Serapion served in Tula for 10 years. Here in 1999 he died. The funeral service for the Metropolitan, according to his will, was held in his most favorite of the Tula churches - St. Nicholas. IN last years During his life, Serapion was seriously ill and could no longer serve in the All Saints Cathedral: it was difficult to climb the stairs to the second floor, and there was terrible dampness on the first floor. And then the bishop chose Nikola-on-Rzhavets and began to conduct services there: at least two or three days a week. And if he couldn’t come, he always called and asked how the liturgy went, how many parishioners came. He constantly took care of the temple, found funds for its restoration... The funeral service took place on November 20. That day the church could not accommodate everyone, and people stood in the cold - crying and praying...

And the metropolitan was buried, according to his own behest, in the village of Pyatnitsa, Vladimir region. A remote, miserable place: a small wooden church that doesn’t even have electricity. Later it turned out that Serapion felt a special spiritual connection with this small rural parish from the time when, as an archbishop, he headed the Vladimir and Suzdal diocese.

The Metropolitan passed away a month and a half before the advent of the new 21st century. A representative of the old Moscow school of priesthood, who became a monk during the years of Khrushchev’s persecutions, when the head of the USSR publicly promised to show the last priest in the country on television. The Bishop who was a support for the believers during the years of persecution of the church and who did everything to ensure that it was revived when it ended. A man who served God all his life.

Irina Skibinskaya.

Archbishop Kirill of Yaroslavl and Rostov:

- Lord Serapion... A powerful figure, not just in terms of some size. He had one life, and this whole life was the Church. Everything he did, he did for the good of the Church. This was the whole meaning of his whole life. He gave himself completely to the Church. When we talk about the misunderstood Russian soul, we can imagine Lord Serapion. He was a real Russian. Everything was combined in him: breadth and kindness, irrepressible life, its taste, its joy. He loved the monastics very much. In his mind, these people personified the highest service, so he helped them as best he could.

You can meet many smart people in the world, but you rarely meet wise ones. He was a wise man and knew a person very well, he could accurately talk about him and give characteristics. Lord Serapion brought many into life, a lot of people who, having come into contact with him, became successful. I'm glad that today Tula department occupied by his pupil, his child, the person on whom he had great hopes - the current Metropolitan of Tula and Belevsky Alexy.

We can talk about Lord Serapion for a long time, remember, but it is joyful that he is remembered on Tula land. Eternal memory to the ever-memorable Metropolitan Serapion...

November 19, 2018 is the 19th anniversary of the death of the blessedly reposed Metropolitan Serapion (Fadeev), one of the outstanding church hierarchs of the 20th century.

Metropolitan Serapion at the service

Theologian, monk and diplomat

Metropolitan Serapion (in the world Nikolai Sergeevich Fadeev) was born in 1933 in Moscow into a family of employees. Graduated from 7th grade high school. As an eighteen-year-old youth, he entered the Trinity-Sergius Lavra as a novice. In 1952-1955 he served in the ranks of the Soviet Army.

Upon returning from the army, Nicholas continued to carry out obedience in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. On June 27, 1957, the governor of the Lavra, Archimandrite Pimen (Izvekov), tonsured him into monasticism with the name Serapion in honor of Saint Serapion, Archbishop of Novgorod. That same year, on July 18, Archbishop John (Lavrinenko) consecrated novice Nikolai Fadeev to the rank of hierodeacon. In 1962, Father Serapion graduated from the Moscow Theological Seminary, and four years later, already in the rank of hieromonk (ordained on April 7, 1965 by His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Alexy I), and the Moscow Theological Academy with a candidate of theology degree (for the essay “Orthodox Teaching about the Incarnation"), after which he studied in graduate school at the academy.

Brothers of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. February 16, 1963. Hierodeacon Serapion is first on the left in the third row.

Asceticism in everyday life and personal life, severity towards negligent performers of the holy canons, kindness and love for ordinary people, parishioners, distinguished the future church hierarch even in the first years of his monasticism.

Accompanying the abbot of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Archimandrite Platon (Lobankov), on trips to France, Belgium and Holland, Hieromonk Serapion acquired valuable diplomatic experience, which would be useful to him in the future. Since 1969, Hieromonk Serapion (Fadeev) was appointed referent of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate. In the same year, as part of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church he took part in interviews with theologians of the Malabar Church in Kerala (India). In 1970, Father Serapion was included in the pilgrimage group for a trip to Greece and Mount Athos.

On May 15, 1970, Father Serapion was elevated to the rank of abbot, and on February 25, 1971, to the rank of archimandrite. From March to May 1971, he served as a cleric of the Patriarchal Metochion in Tokyo (Japan); from September 15 of the same year, he was appointed assistant to the vicar of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, but soon by the Providence of God he was called to hierarchal service.

Bishop

By a resolution of the Holy Synod of February 2, 1972, Archimandrite Serapion was determined to be Bishop of Podolsk, vicar of the Moscow diocese and representative of the Patriarch of Moscow to the Patriarch of Antioch. Less than a month later, on March 5, his episcopal consecration took place in the Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow, which was performed by His Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' Pimen, Metropolitans of Leningrad and Novgorod Nikodim and Krutitsky and Kolomna Seraphim, Archbishops of Volokolamsk Pitirim, Dmitrov Filaret, Tula and Belev Juvenal th , and Bishop of Novosibirsk and Barnaul Gideon.

In 1973, May 14-18, at the invitation of the Primate of the Coptic Church, Pope Shenouda III, Bishop Serapion took part in the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the death of St. Athanasius the Great. Due to deteriorating health, on August 5, 1974, he was released from the post of representative of the Moscow Patriarchate under the Patriarch of Antioch with time for treatment, and on April 17 next year Bishop was transferred to the Irkutsk department. From October 24 to November 1, 1977, as part of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, the bishop participated in the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke. On September 7, 1979, Bishop Serapion of Irkutsk and Chita was elevated to the rank of archbishop, and a year later he was appointed archbishop of Vladimir and Suzdal. Since May 12, 1984, Bishop was the chairman Economic Administration Moscow Patriarchate, from which he was released on June 18, 1985. From September 29 to October 6, 1984, he accompanied His Holiness Patriarch Pimen of Moscow and All Rus' on a visit to the Serbian Orthodox Church.

On May 12, 1987, Archbishop Serapion was transferred to the See of Chisinau and Moldova with elevation to the rank of metropolitan and the right to wear the second panagia. Two years after his appointment, due to strong confrontation from the nationalist movement, he was forced to apply for a transfer to another diocese. By the determination of the Holy Synod of July 6-7, 1989, he was appointed Metropolitan of Tula and Belevsky.

Good Shepherd

In all the dioceses where Bishop Serapion served, he was the initiator and organizer of the opening of new parishes, the construction of churches, and the revival of monasticism. From the moment of his appointment to the Tula department, its active revival began, which was impossible long years totalitarian Soviet regime. Despite the economic recession in the country, the impoverishment of the population, especially the intelligentsia and pensioners, widespread restoration work in the diocese did not stop. At that difficult time, the need for the restoration of churches and the establishment of church life was difficult to overestimate. The Bishop understood this well and did everything possible to help the emerging parishes function fully. Also, under Metropolitan Serapion, the struggle intensified various types religious cults, with sects. The diocese has created a catechesis department and a branch of the Moscow center for the rehabilitation of victims of totalitarian sects, organized courses for the training of catechists and teachers for Sunday schools, and much, much more. Many more generations of people will remember with gratitude the wise and caring bishop in their prayers.

At 5 o'clock in the morning on November 19, 1999, the heart of Metropolitan Serapion of Tula and Belev stopped beating. He died at the age of 67. For the last year and a half, he has steadfastly endured the illness given to him by the Lord. Nevertheless, despite the pain that became the constant background of the last years of his life, he continued to firmly and wisely govern the diocese entrusted to him.

The third day after his death, when, according to the tradition of the Orthodox Church, the soul meets the Lord for the first time, fell on the great holiday - the Council of the Archangel Michael.

He was a true monk in soul and body. That is why he loved monasticism even in those years when the worldly authorities were in control of the affairs of the Church and many Bishops, fearing reprimand, did not take monastic vows. Bishop Serapion even tonsured people who came and flew in from other dioceses; he tonsured more than a thousand monks - “the whole Lavra”, because he knew that monasticism is the foundation of the Church and monastic prayer supports peace. Both in his labors and in his illnesses, he did not forget about the old nuns of the Conception and Seraphim-Diveevo monasteries, whom he knew from his previous service, and took care of them. Behind him were 20 years of life in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

He began his priestly path as Bishop of Podolsk, vicar of the Moscow diocese, representative of the Patriarch of Moscow to the Patriarch of Antioch. Then there were the Irkutsk and Chita, Vladimir and Suzdal, Kishinev and Moldavian dioceses. And so, as a wise saint, he comes to the Tula See at the hour when “the doors open and the impossible becomes possible.” The spirit of prayer and confession has always been strong in the Tula land. Even her saints chose the greatest and most difficult feat - foolishness for Christ's sake. On this land was born the famous Abel the soothsayer, who spent most life behind the walls of the casemate. Being a prophet from the Lord, he predicted the day and image of the death of many Russian Sovereigns - from Catherine the Great to the martyr Tsar Nicholas. On this land illuminated by the light of spirituality, enemy invasions were choked - here the fate of Russia was decided in the Battle of Kulikovo, and in last war the enemy was stopped near Tula. And that’s why it was so important who would lead the spiritual revival of this land.

With the arrival of Lord Serapion, she received, as it were, a new spiritual birth. Flowering land rose from the ruins. There were only 4 churches in Tula - now there are 18. In the diocese there were 18 churches - now there are more than a hundred. There was not only a renewal of spiritual life, but also the acquisition of new shrines. It was under the Bishop, according to the Thought of God, that the canonization of two saints took place - Blessed Euphrosyne of Kolyupanovskaya and John of Tula. The Bishop blessed many spiritual endeavors - one of his concerns was the restoration of monastic life in the diocese. Today 5 monasteries adorn the Tula land.

The Lord was the image of a true servant of the Lord. Everyone who served with him saw and understood that service was the most important part of his life. On weekdays he loved to stand on the left choir and, like a simple singer, sing stichera and read the Psalter. He knew the New Testament and many Old Testament books by heart. For him, reading was not a simple “serving” of the rule, but food for the spirit. While serving the Divine Liturgy, the Vladyka stood before the Lord in awe and reverence, never receiving communion without tears of grace: Despite its short duration, the Vladyka’s life turned out to be surprisingly full. During the years of Khrushchev’s persecution of the Church, he became a monk, when the leader of the country promised to show the last priest on TV, he was ordained; during the years of turmoil he was a supporter of spiritual children, during the heyday of the Church he was an active heli-grader. He strengthened the Tula diocese, waited for its bicentennial, met Patriarch Alexy on the Tula land, who spoke of him: “The zealous labors of the venerable metropolitan of our Church in the field of archpastoral service and public activities earned him the well-deserved respect and love of many people.”

The funeral service was held for Metropolitan Serapion in Tula, in his beloved little church of St. Nicholas on Rzhavets - one of those restored under him. He loved to serve in this quiet and modest temple. Day and night people went to say goodbye to their archpastor. Many of those who approached his hand for the last kiss were amazed by the fact that this thin, seemingly transparent hand did not become numb, remaining soft, like that of a living person.

Metropolitan of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye KIRILL:

“- Lord Serapion... A mighty figure. Everything he did, he did for the good of the Church. This was the whole meaning of his whole life. He gave himself completely to the Church. When we talk about the misunderstood Russian soul, we can imagine Lord Serapion. He was a real Russian. Everything was combined in him: breadth and kindness, irrepressible life, its taste, its joy. He loved the monastics very much. In his mind, these people personified the highest service, so he helped them as best he could.

You can meet many smart people in the world, but you rarely meet wise ones. He was a wise man and knew a person very well, he could accurately talk about him and give characteristics. Lord Serapion brought many into life, a lot of people who, having come into contact with him, became successful. It is gratifying that today the Tula department is occupied by his pupil, his child, the person on whom he had great hopes - the current Metropolitan of Tula and Belevsky Alexy (Kutepov).”

Many remember the deep reverence of Lord Serapion Mother of God and especially Her image "Unexpected Joy". The Lord always trusted in Her intercession for the human race. We hope that through the intercession of the Intercessor, the Lord will grant Lord Serapion the Kingdom of Heaven.

On August 12, 1904, the only son of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, heir to the throne, was born in Peterhof Russian Empire Tsarevich Alexei.
31.07.2019 Ekaterinburg Diocese At the end of July 2019, with the blessing of Metropolitan Kirill of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye, the fourth annual youth historical festival “Legends of Verkhoturye” took place.
31.07.2019 Ekaterinburg Diocese On August 8, 2019, the Humanitarian Aid Center will host the next packing of “People’s Lunch” - free food packages for the poor,
31.07.2019 Ekaterinburg Diocese

At 5 o'clock in the morning on November 19, 1999, the heart of Metropolitan Serapion of Tula and Belev stopped beating. He died at the age of 67. For the last year and a half, he has steadfastly endured the illness given to him by the Lord. Nevertheless, despite the pain that became the constant background of the last years of his life, he continued to rule the diocese with a firm and authoritative hand, reports the press service of the Tula and Belev diocese.

The third day after his death, when, according to the tradition of the Orthodox Church, the soul arrives for its first bow to the Lord, fell on the great holiday - the Council of the Archangel Michael.

The death of the Lord is deeply significant. Less than a month and a half remained until the advent of the new century, the new millennium. The Bishop could well have lived to see this milestone, but he remained in the past century. He remained in his time. A representative of the old Moscow school of priesthood, who remembered the services of Patriarch Sergius, the last tonsure of Patriarch Pimen when he was vicar of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, subdeacon of Patriarch Alexy I, from whom he learned a reverent attitude towards church services, Metropolitan Serapion was one of the few archpastors raised by remarkable saints . He was a true monk in soul and body. That is why he loved monasticism even in those years when the worldly authorities were in control of the affairs of the Church and many Bishops, fearing reprimand, did not take monastic vows. Bishop Serapion even tonsured people who came and flew in from other dioceses; he tonsured more than a thousand monks - “the whole Lavra”, because he knew that monasticism is the foundation of the Church and monastic prayer supports peace. Both in his labors and in his illnesses, he did not forget about the old nuns of the Conception and Seraphim-Diveevo monasteries, whom he knew from his previous service, and took care of them. Behind him were 20 years of monasticism in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra.

He began his priestly path as Bishop of Podolsk, vicar of the Moscow diocese, representative of the Patriarch of Moscow to the Patriarch of Antioch. Then there were the Irkutsk and Chita, Vladimir and Suzdal, Kishinev and Moldavian dioceses. And so, as a wise saint, he comes to the Tula See at the hour when “the doors open and the impossible becomes possible.” The Lord knows when and who to put in the right place. The spirit of prayer and confession has always been strong in the Tula land. Even her saints chose the greatest and most difficult feat - foolishness for Christ's sake. The famous Abel the soothsayer was born on this land, who spent most of his life behind the walls of the casemate. Being a prophet from the Lord, he predicted the day and image of the death of many Russian Sovereigns - from Catherine the Great to the martyr Tsar Nicholas. On this land illuminated by the light of spirituality, enemy invasions choked - here the fate of Russia was decided in the Battle of Kulikovo, and in the last war the enemy was stopped near Tula. And that’s why it was so important who would lead the spiritual revival of this land.

In the last years of his life, the Lord visited Lord Serapion with a difficult test, but he courageously endured his physical illness, entrusting himself to the mercy of God. Under his leadership, diocesan life on this land is filled with new and diverse content. Much has been done here through the labors and care of the late Vladyka Metropolitan. He left us with a huge spiritual legacy. A truly Russian man, broad-minded, hospitable, he had a wonderful command of words and knew many proverbs and sayings. He knew and loved old Moscow, almost unknown to us, and had an amazing memory. And even at his death, this truly spiritual man taught us a lesson in humility. 5 years before his death, he made all the funeral arrangements and, shortly before his death, repeated them. He predicted the day of his death, which he met in full consciousness, having previously distributed all his property. The day before his death, he asked for forgiveness from Patriarch Alexy and Archbishop Evlogiy of Vladimir and Suzdal for the inconvenience that his funeral would cause in the Vladimir diocese. His death was truly Christian - the day before, Vladyka received unction and received the Holy Mysteries of Christ. Those who knew Vladyka closely remembered that he bequeathed to bury himself in the Pyatnitsky Church on the outskirts of the Vladimir diocese. While still Archbishop of Vladimir, he loved to come there to pray, and to him - only to him - Father Mikhail (Okhlestin), a former monk of the Valaam Monastery, came out of his seclusion. In this temple where the ascetics prayed, the Lord now rests.

Many remember Bishop Serapion’s deep veneration of the Mother of God and especially Her image “Unexpected Joy”. The Lord always trusted in Her intercession for the human race. We hope that through the intercession of the Intercessor, the Lord will grant our Lord the Kingdom of Heaven.

May 27, 2013 marks the 80th anniversary of the birth of the ever-remembered Metropolitan Serapion (Fadeev).

Peredireev R.S. Portrait of Metropolitan Serapion. 2011 canvas

May 27, 1933 in MoscowA boy was born in the Fadeev family, who was named Nikolai. After graduating from school, he went to the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. He was a resident of the monastery of St. Sergius, with a break for military service, for more than 20 years. In monastic tonsure he received the name Serapion in honor of Saint Serapion, Archbishop of Novgorod. In 1966, the future Bishop Serapion graduated from the Moscow Theological Academy. For his work “Orthodox teaching on the Incarnation of the Son of God” he was awarded a candidate’s degree in dogmatic theology. In 1969 he graduated from graduate school, and two years later he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. Lord Serapion knew 5 languages. [Kireev A. Protodeacon. Dioceses and bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1943-2002.-M.: 2002.- 480 pp.-S. 186]

As Metropolitan Alexy (Kutepov) of Tula recalls:

«… Among the brethren of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, I saw a very interesting, very unique person, who later became my spiritual mentor, leader - this was Bishop Metropolitan Serapion (Fadeev). Here, in the Tula diocese, he completed his ministry. And then, in the Lavra, he was a very energetic, sonorous, radiant, luminous young archimandrite.»
[ http://www.eparhia-saratov.ru/pages/56492_bud_veren !]

In his ministry, Vladyka Serapion performed various obediences: he was a cleric of the Patriarchal Metochion in Tokyo, a vicar of the Moscow diocese, a representative of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' at the Patriarchal Antioch and All East. INFrom 1975 to 1979 he headed the Irkutsk and Chita diocese. In 1979, Vladyka was elevated to the rank of archbishop.

From April 24, 1980 to May 11, 1987 there wasArchbishop of Vladimir and Suzdal. Lord Serapion had an excellent command of words and knew many proverbs and sayings. He summed up his stay at the Vladimir department simply: “I was in Vladimir for seven years, seven months and seven days.”

In 1987-1989, Metropolitan of Chisinau and Moldova.From 1989 to 1999 - Metropolitan of Tula and Belevsky.

According to his will, Metropolitan Serapion was buried in the village. Friday of the Vladimir diocese, at the site of the ascetic labors of the holy righteous Peter of Velikodvorsky. He often visited here during his stay at the Vladimir Department. Vladyka came here to pray, and only Father Mikhail (Okhlestin), a former monk of the Valaam Monastery, came out of seclusion to him.

During the presence of Bishop Serapion at the Vladimir See in 1982, with the Blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen, the celebration of the Council of Vladimir Saints was established. On the report of Archbishop Serapion (Fadeev) on the establishment of the celebration of the Council of Vladimir Saints, His Holiness Patriarch Pimen put forward a resolution “To establish the day of celebration on June 23 / July 6, with the blessing to use this Service on the day of the holiday.” July 6, 1982 For the first time, the Vladimir region solemnly honored on the day of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God the saints who shone in the land of Vladimir. At the service there were hymns to the Vladimir Saints, Holy Blessed Princes, Holy Martyrs, Holy Reverend Fathers and Holy Reverend Mothers, blessed and righteous from the Service to the Vladimir Saints, compiled by Archimandrite Alexy (Kutepov), now Metropolitan of Tula. [Minin Sergius priest. Essays on the history of the Vladimir diocese X - XX centuries Vladimir: 2004.- 152 p. pp. 90-91]

March 3, 1987 Archbishop Serapion, after his appeal to the Vladimir-Suzdal Museum-Reserve, was transferred by act of the relics of the holy blessed prince Andrei Bogolyubsky “for the permanent storage of the Diocese and the community of the Assumption Cathedral.”[ Aksenova A.I. The Prince’s Afterlife Odyssey // Living History: Monuments and museums of the Vladimir-Suzdal Historical, Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve.-M.: 2000.-P.175]

In his memoirs, Metropolitan Kirill (Nakonechny) of Yekaterinburg gives an exhaustive description of the scale of the personality of Lord Serapion:

“Lord Serapion... A powerful figure, not just in the sense of some size. He had one life, and this whole life was the Church. Everything he did, he did for the good of the Church. This was the whole meaning of his whole life. He gave himself completely to the Church. When we talk about the misunderstood Russian soul, we can imagine Lord Serapion. He was a real Russian. Everything was combined in him: breadth and kindness, irrepressible life, its taste, its joy. He loved the monastics very much. In his mind, these people personified the highest service, so he helped them as best he could.