Sergius of Radonezh 		September 25
Abbot of Holy Trinity, Moscow
Sergius of Radonezh was born at Rostov in Russia about 1314. At that time Russia was in considerable turmoil after the Mongol invasions of the previous century and the civil war in Russia that led to control of the country by the Tartars. In the turmoil, Sergius’ family was forced to leave Rostov. They took up farming at Radonezh near Moscow. The invasion and warfare had severely disrupted religious life, and many of the early monasteries had been destroyed. A revival of the monastic tradition in eastern Europe began in the early fourteenth century, influenced by the practice of contemplative prayer associated with Gregory Palamas. In Russia this led a number of people to seek quiet in the forests north of Moscow.
As a young man of twenty, Sergius joined his brother Stephen and others in a community of hermit Christians in the forests. Following a simple life-style they lived close to nature. Over the course of time Sergius brought his fellow hermits into an ordered communal life and founded the great monastery of the Holy Trinity near Radonezh, 70 kilometres north of Moscow, in what is now Zagorsk. This was the first religious community to be established in Russia after the Tartar invasion. Through his influence many other monasteries were founded. 
A man of peace, Sergius laboured to keep the peace amongst the quarrelling Russian princes. He did however rally support for Prince Dimitri Donshoi in his attempts to gain independence for the Russian people form the Tartars. The Tartars were finally defeated in 1380. Sergius was also concerned for peace in his monastery. His emphasis on community life rather than the solitary emphasis of some contemplatives was disliked by some of the monks, who would have preferred Stephen as abbot. Sergius withdrew and founded a separate monastery, but was later restored to Holy Trinity by the metropolitan Alexis. His influence was widespread, and by the end of his life he had founded about forty monasteries. The constitution he adopted for Holy Trinity made it a model for all later Russian communities.
Sergius refused to be made bishop of Moscow when the see was offered to him in 1378. Sergius’ appeal was to the common people, from whom he had his own origins. He was honoured as a humble, simple, kind and godly monk. He emphasised the vocation of Christian service to any in need. The people saw true saintliness in his life and revered him for his mystical life of prayer and worship. He is regarded as Russia’s greatest saint. He died in 1392.
For Liturgical Use
Sergius, born about 1314, was a simple man of the people, whose life of devotion and prayer led him to establish monasteries all over Russia and to teach ordinary people the ways of godly living. He and his brother Stephen rebuilt the monastery of the Holy Trinity near Moscow, and Sergius became its abbot. He died in 1392 and is the patron saint of the Russian people.
Sentence
Your steadfast love, O Lord, is better than life itself; therefore my lips will speak your praise.
				Psalm 63:3
Collects
Everloving God,
your servant Sergius
was filled with an intense love for you
that made him a shining light
among your people in Russia;
by the same Spirit that empowered him,
strengthen our faith,
and set our hearts on fire
to live as true disciples
of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Praise and glory to you, eternal God, for Sergius,
monk, reconciler and peacemaker;
help us toward that holiness
which made him Russia’s most beloved saint.
Psalms 	66	67
Readings
Ecclesiasticus 38:34b-39:8	Wisdom and understanding
Hebrews 12:7-13		Be holy
John 17:1-8		Sent by Christ
Post Communion Sentence
In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.		Philippians 4:6