Sergius birth came at a time when Russia was in turmoil. The Mongol invasions and civil war in Russia had led to control of the country by the Tartars. Sergius’ family fled Rostov, and 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 14th century, influenced by the practice of contemplative prayer associated with Gregory Palamas. This led a number of people to seek quiet in the forests north of Moscow.

Although smart, Sergius had difficulty learning to read. A 'starets' (spiritual elder) met him one day and gave him a piece of prosphora (holy bread) to eat, and from that day he was able to read. Many believe the elder may have been an angel. Age 20, he joined his brother Stephen and others in a community of hermit Christians in the forests, following a simple lifestyle, close to nature. Sergius slowly formed his fellow hermits into an ordered communal life starting the great monastery of the Holy Trinity near Radonezh, 70 km north of Moscow. He founded the first religious communities in Russia since the Tartar invasion.

A man of peace, he worked hard to keep the peace among the quarrelling Russian princes. He then gave his support to Prince Dimitri Donshoi in his attempts to gain independence for the Russian people from the Tartars. They were defeated in 1380. Sergius also wanted peace in his monastery. His emphasis on community life verses solitary contemplation 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. By the end of his life he had founded 40 monasteries. Holy Trinity became a model for all the later ones.

Sergius turned down becoming bishop of Moscow in 1378. He had come from the common people and was honoured as a humble, simple, kind and godly monk. He emphasised 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 the Patron Saint of Russia.

BORN: 14 May 1314, Rostov, Russia.

DIED: 25 September 1392, Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius.