Akathist to St. Seraphim of Platina
Kontakion 1
Chosen vessel of Christ, Blessed Father Seraphim, we offer to thee a song of thanksgiving and praise, as we contemplate thy God-pleasing activity and sacrifice. As you now behold the risen Lord, on His throne of glory, you intercede for our pitiful generation. Wherefore we sinners cry out:
Rejoice, Holy Father Blessed Seraphim, radiant lamp of Christ illuminating the last times!
Ecos 1
During thy earthly sojourn you traded the corruptible riches of a dying world for the inexpressible, infinite riches of the Heavenly King. Renouncing all ties to the earth you sought to acquire the mind and faith of the Holy Fathers of the Orthodox Church, and transmit this grace unto the salvation of many. Honoring thy exploits we praise thee thusly:
Rejoice, seeker of the Truth above all else!
Rejoice, thou who rejected the many temptations of the wide path to perdition!
Rejoice, thou who confessed the Lord Jesus Christ before the world!
Rejoice, thou who exposed the subtle snares of the enemy!
Rejoice, thou who sought the grace and illumination of the Kingdom within!
Rejoice, thou who renounced the created and sought the Uncreated Light!
Rejoice, Holy Father Blessed Seraphim, radiant lamp of Christ illuminating the last times!
Kontakion 2
Seeing the delusion and folly that passes as the wisdom of this world, you chose the way of Christ and became truly wise. And like a modern Blessed Augustine, you then sought to understand the mystery of the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of man. And desiring His Kingdom, we sing with you to him: Alleluia!
Ecos 2
Having avoided the dread abyss of apostasy you raised the cry of salvation unto a thirsty world. Answering to your call we sing to thee:
Rejoice, thou who made clear the path of salvation to darkened modern man!
Rejoice, humble servant who followed Tradition as it was handed down to thee!
Rejoice, philosopher who saw history rest in God's hand!
Rejoice, repentant heart that sought forgiveness of sins!
Rejoice, venerator of Orthodox monarchs!
Rejoice, thou who exposed the error of God-rejecting humanity!
Rejoice, Holy Father Blessed Seraphim, radiant lamp of Christ illuminating the last times!
Kontakion 3
Finding thyself with an incurable illness in thy youth, you entreated the Holy Mother of God for healing to have time to produce fruit for her Holy Son. And because you found that mercy, we sing to the Lord Jesus Christ: Alleluia!
Ecos 3
Having sought ascetic labor as a healing from sin, you have been exalted from on high. You now plead to the Eternal Judge of mankind for your spiritual children and for all who cry to you such things as these:
Rejoice, thou who was purified by sufferings!
Rejoice, thou who sought mercy from the Mother of God to do her Son's work!
Rejoice, thou who sought to walk the narrow path that leads to life!
Rejoice, thou who, unlike the lawyers of old, helped others to walk that path!
Rejoice, thou who shone with the radiance of the Kingdom of Heaven!
Rejoice, thou who humbly accepted your place in the succession of the righteous which was allotted thee by the Holy Trinity!
Rejoice, Holy Father Blessed Seraphim, radiant lamp of Christ illuminating the last times!
Kontakion 4
Having been born in a land separated from the saving truth of Orthodoxy, you labored to present to the west Holy Saints of its own as a lamp out of error. And we, benefiting from thy labors, join the hymn to the Holy Trinity by singing: Alleluia!
Ecos 4
Having witnessed in thy youth the modern wonderworker, St. John Maximovitch of San Francisco, saving souls like a modern St. Martin of Tours, you followed his example by thy love for the saints of the west. Rejoicing in their light we cry:
Rejoice, thou who glorified God's saints such as St. Gregory of Tours!
Rejoice, thou who followed the path such as St. Herman of Alaska!
Rejoice, thou who indicated the way into the Kingdom of Heaven for many such as St. Innocent!
Rejoice, native born holy vessel such as St. Peter the Aleut!
Rejoice, light to new lands such as St. John Maximovitch!
Rejoice, holy guardian of the Sacred such as Father Gerasim of Alaska!
Rejoice, Holy Father Blessed Seraphim, radiant lamp of Christ illuminating the last times!
Kontakion 5
Seeing many around thee fall into the errors of both the left and right, thou resolved to follow the blessed Royal middle path that leads to the Kingdom of Truth. And we, attempting to follow thy steps, praise the Lord with this song: Alleluia!
Ecos 5
Desiring to understand how one can remain faithful to Christ in a time when the love of many has gone cold, you found that only suffering endured with pain of heart for Christ's sake leads to salvation. And we, groaning with sufferings cry out:
Rejoice, pastor who taught in word and deed!
Rejoice, true Christian who took up his cross and followed Christ!
Rejoice, teacher who learned from the Saints!
Rejoice, exponent of spiritual sobriety!
Rejoice, thou who condemned the errors of compromise!
Rejoice, man of understanding who rebuked the modern Pharisees!
Rejoice, Holy Father Blessed Seraphim, radiant lamp of Christ illuminating the last times!
Kontakion 6
Distrusting thine own wisdom, you sought the divine, life saving teachings of the Holy Fathers. As you are now perfected in that wisdom, pray to the Lord Jesus that we may avoid our own understanding, by calling out to Him: Alleluia!
Ecos 6
Recognizing that you belonged to another Son, you let yourself be grafted into the true vine of Orthodoxy. And following those that taught thee, the grace of God touched your life. And we, desperately needing such nourishment, sing such things as these:
Rejoice, adopted son of Holy Russia!
Rejoice, student of the Fathers of the Philokalia!
Rejoice, champion of Orthodox society!
Rejoice, follower of the Ecumenical Councils!
Rejoice, veneration of the martyrs!
Rejoice, first born holy one of a new land!
Rejoice, Holy Father Blessed Seraphim, radiant lamp of Christ illuminating the last times!
Kontakion 7
Loving the paradise of God before this passing earth, you sought the monastic habit to train your soul to seek the higher things. Having sat at the Lord's feet listening to his words, you took the better part. And we, chasing after many things, long to say with thee to the Lord: Alleluia!
Ecos 7
Having sought to save thy soul as a humble monk you are exalted beyond passion's reach. And we, plundered by enemies and passions, beseech your prayers by such praises as these:
Rejoice, thou who sought to provide monastic life to perishing modern man!
Rejoice, thou who led the call for an American Thebaid!
Rejoice, lover of the desert dwellers of Egypt!
Rejoice, creator of a Mount Athos in thy heart!
Rejoice, follower of St. John the Forerunner crying out to the world from the wilderness!
Rejoice, veneration of the New Martyrs, forerunners of the monastics of the end times!
Rejoice, Holy Father Blessed Seraphim, radiant lamp of Christ illuminating the last times!
Kontakion 8
Understanding that the knowledge of this life only leads unto death, you accepted ordination to the priesthood at the hands of the inheritor of the Optina Tradition, the Holy Bishop Nektary Kontzevitch. And, functioning as a presbyter, lawful indeed, you brought many to the correct faith, through the waters of baptism. With them, we chant unto God: Alleluia!
Ecos 8
Seeking to unite the piety of true faith with the understanding of reason, you wrote countless books and articles to provide the Orthodox Word to an age on the decline. As a presbyter, you fed the faithful with Christ's Most Holy Body and Blood. Thus, you satiated your spiritually starving contemporaries, both of mind and soul. And we, attempting to ascend with you, cry:
Rejoice, champion of Orthodoxy!
Rejoice, soldier utilizing the sharp two-edged sword of the Word of God!
Rejoice, exposer of the lie of evolution!
Rejoice, upholder of the greatness of God's creation!
Rejoice, distrust of human reason!
Rejoice, exaltation of the Logos!
Rejoice, Holy Father Blessed Seraphim, radiant lamp of Christ illuminating the last times!
Kontakion 9
Knowing the need to prepare the soul for death, in repentance you sought the teachings of the Holy Fathers on the soul's departure from this place of delusion. And seeking forgiveness from Christ, we praise His mercy and sing: Alleluia!
Ecos 9
Understanding that man must give account of every thought, word and deed, you warned a heedless generation of the Judgment to come. And we, trembling because of our sins praise thee thusly:
Rejoice, teacher of the truth!
Rejoice, encouragement of the weak!
Rejoice, humbler of the proud!
Rejoice, call to repentance!
Rejoice, plea to the Theotokos!
Rejoice, prayers before the Trinity!
Rejoice, Holy Father Blessed Seraphim, radiant lamp of Christ illuminating the last times!
Kontakion 10
Seeing the world plunge further into madness and unbelief, you spoke of the impending Judgment of God on the straying race of man. And we, terrified at our own lack of faith, sing to God: Alleluia!
Ecos 10
Having love for all that is loved of Christ, you venerated His holy Mother and sought Her help in times of trial. And we, marveling at thy faith and long-suffering cry to the Mother of God:
Rejoice, Holy Virgin, quick answer of prayers!
Rejoice, protection of those that are afflicted!
Rejoice, hope of the lost!
Rejoice, balm of the wounded!
Rejoice, Mother of Christians!
Rejoice, helper of Blessed Seraphim!
Rejoice, Holy Father Blessed Seraphim, radiant lamp of Christ illuminating the last times!
Kontakion 11
Being a new son of Holy Russia, and seeing that land plundered by godless enemies, you strove to keep Holy Russia alive in a new land. And God rewarded your effort as your Pascha candle lit candles in suffering Holy Russia. Seeing this, we cry to the King of Heaven: Alleluia!
Ecos 11
Having reverence for the deep, ancient faith of the Russian Orthodox people, you spoke of the resurrection of Holy Russia and from this you became a bright light shining throughout the world. Truly, you were amongst the early fruits of St. Seraphim's great prophecy concerning the revelation of the Orthodox faith to the entire world. Honoring thy faith and far-sightedness we cry:
Rejoice, new fruit of an ancient tree!
Rejoice, seed of a new Spring!
Rejoice, prophet of resurrection!
Rejoice, champion of the New Martyrs!
Rejoice, soldier of Christ's army!
Rejoice, instrument of God's providence!
Rejoice, Holy Father Blessed Seraphim, radiant lamp of Christ illuminating the last times!
Kontakion 12
During your life in the flesh, you ever increasingly sought Christ the Lord. And at the time of your departing this life of delusion, the Lord granted you great bodily sufferings to prepare your soul for eternity, thereby causing many miracles through your sanctification. And now that you are perfected in the heavenly Kingdom, pray for us that we all come to Christ chanting: Alleluia!
Ecos 12
The ways of the Lord are ignored by man, which has taken up arms against its Creator and His Church. Seeing this you warned us to be strong in the trials ahead by saying It's later than you think!
. Seeking your prayers we cry out:
Rejoice, warning against the lukewarm!
Rejoice, encouragement for the weak!
Rejoice, denouncer of confusing heresies!
Rejoice, upholder of Orthodox truth!
Rejoice, light in the darkness!
Rejoice, lantern of Christ!
Rejoice, Holy Father Blessed Seraphim, radiant lamp of Christ illuminating the last times!
Kontakion 13
Oh, Our Holy Father Blessed Seraphim, at your funeral Bishop Nektary instructed us to seek your intercessions. Then, forty days after your repose, he chanted the Glorification to you, thus numbering you among the saints. By most this passed unnoticed until, after sixteen years you were proclaimed "Blessed". Now we know you are singing forever to God: Alleluia! (Chanted Thrice)
Ecos 1
During thy earthly sojourn you traded the corruptible riches of a dying world for the inexpressible, infinite riches of the Heavenly King. Renouncing all ties to the earth you sought to acquire the mind and faith of the Holy Fathers of the Orthodox Church, and transmit this grace unto the salvation of many. Honoring thy exploits we praise thee thusly:
Rejoice, seeker of Truth above all else!
Rejoice, thou who rejected the many temptations of the wide path to perdition!
Rejoice, thou who confessed the Lord Jesus Christ before the world!
Rejoice, thou who exposed the subtle snares of the enemy!
Rejoice, thou who sought the grace and illumination of the Kingdom within!
Rejoice, thou who renounced the created and sought the Uncreated Light!
Rejoice, Holy Father Blessed Seraphim, radiant lamp of Christ illuminating the last times!
Kontakion 1
Chosen vessel of Christ, Blessed Father Seraphim, we offer to thee a song of thanksgiving and praise, as we contemplate thy God-pleasing activity and sacrifice. As you now behold the risen Lord, on His throne of glory, you intercede for our pitiful generation. Wherefore we sinners cry out:
Rejoice, Holy Father Blessed Seraphim, radiant lamp of Christ illuminating the last times!
Prayer to Blessed Father Seraphim of Platina
Oh, Our Holy Father Blessed Seraphim, you lived your life in accordance with the commandment of Christ to die to yourself, pick up your cross and follow Him. Having done so, you produced much fruit for God's harvest. Please pray to the Lord for us, your spiritual children, who live in an age of unbelief and hostility to absolute truth. Pray that Christ our God strengthen us and give us the wisdom and faith to survive the ordeals ahead. Pray for our family and friends, both living and dead. Pray that the inner eyes of our souls be opened to see the divine and true Gospel of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, that we might acquire the Holy Spirit within ourselves. Pray that we all might someday dwell in bliss with you and the other Saints in the Kingdom of Heaven. Pray to the Mother of God to entreat her Son to have mercy on our souls. For glorious and unending is the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.