Seraphim’s Seraphim: The Life of Pelagia Ivanovna Serebrenikova, Fool for Christ’s Sake of the Seraphim-Diveyevo Convent

Publication Data: Boston, MA: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1979
Format: softcover
Number of Pages: xxii + 162
Dimensions (l × w × h): 19.7 cm × 12.7 cm × 1.3 cm
Additional Information: black-and-white illustrations
ISBN: 0‒913026‒08‒5

   
Translated from the Russian Text by the Holy Transfiguration Monastery

“Many are the luminaries in the spiritual firmament of the Church and all shine bright and far, yet ‘one star differeth from another star in glory,’ as Saint Paul tells us (I Cor. 15:41). One of these bright noetic stars of recent times is our holy mother Pelagia Ivanovna the fool for Christ’s sake, who reposed in the Lord less than a century ago in the Diveyevo Convent. Her life and struggles are narrated by the handmaiden of God, the nun Anna Gerasimovna, who tended to the holy fool, and also by others who knew her.”
—“FOREWORD”

CONTENTS

FOREWORD
I / The Early Years of Pelagia Ivanovna
The Struggle of Foolishness for Christ’s Sake
Birth of Pelagia Ivanovna
Pelagia Ivanovna’s Childhood, According to Her Mother’s Narrations
Pelagia’s Marriage, According to Pelagia Ivanovna Herself
The Trip to Elder Seraphim
The Beginning of a New Way of Life
Trouble From the Family
A Temporary Change In Pelagia Ivanovna’s Conduct
New Tortures
New Griefs from Her Family
A Trip to Voronezh and a Visit With the Venerable Anthony
A Second Visit With Her Mother to the Elder Seraphim
Pelagia Goes to Diveyevo Hermitage
The Beginning of Pelagia Ivanovna’s Sojourn at Diveyevo
II / The Narration of Anna Gerasimovna
Narration on the Life of Pelagia Ivanovna at Diveyevo
Pelagia Ivanovna’s Life With Juliana Grigorievna and Her Respect for Her
Pelagia Ivanovna’s Struggles in Diveyevo for the Mortification of Her Flesh
Pelagia Ivanovna’s Clairvoyance
Pelagia Ivanovna’s Poverty and Non-Possessiveness
The Final Disowning From Mother and Husband
New Acts of Foolishness at Diveyevo for the Sake of Mortifying Her Flesh
The Intention of Driving Pelagia Ivanovna Out of Diveyevo
Zeal for the Truth
Love for Flowers
All-Night Vigilance
The Gift of Tears
Submissiveness
Patience and Humility
Non-Possessiveness
Impartiality
Concern Over the Convent
The Gift of Foreknowledge
Communication Between Fools for Christ
The Latter Times in the Convent
Communication of the Holy Mysteries
Mystical Visitations
The Last Conversation With the Mother Proctor
Prediction of the Benefactions of Mother Proctor and on the Place of Her Own Burial
Her Sickly Condition Not Long Before Her Death
Preparation for Burial
III / The Account of Michael Petrovich Petrov
The Narration of Michael Petrovich Petrov
IV / Correspondence to Michael Petrovich Petrov Concerning the Handmaid of God, Pelagia Ivanovna
Some of the Letters Which Michael Petrovich Collected Concerning the Handmaid of God, Pelagia Ivanovna
Further Accounts From the Letters of a Nun of the Diveyevo Convent
V / Conclusion
The Funeral Oration
Events After the Funeral of Pelagia Ivanovna
Her Spiritual Bond Withe the Elder of God, Seraphim
The Cell of the Blessed Pelagia Ivanovna
Final Words
EPILOGUE