Prophecies of St. Seraphim of Vyritsky about the future of the world and Russia
We are accustomed to believe that all the saints and righteous almost from infancy dreamed of becoming monks, and as soon as they reached adulthood, they immediately took tonsure. Indeed, many of them did just that.
But today I want to introduce you to an amazing person who came to monasticism already in his mature years, gained the gift of clairvoyance and healing, and after his death was canonized.
From merchant to saint
Vasily Nikolaevich Muravyov was born into a poor peasant family. At the age of ten, after the death of his father, he was forced to leave for St. Petersburg to work. He got a job in a merchant’s shop as an “errand boy”.
The savvy boy clearly had the ability to trade, at the age of sixteen he became a clerk, and ten years later he opened his own business. And he traded not in simple goods, but in precious Siberian furs.
Vasily Nikolaevich sold furs not only in Russia, but also in Europe and the USA. A former peasant, and now a wealthy merchant of the second guild, traveled almost the whole world. He was received in the best houses of Germany, France, Austria.
And at the same time, Vasily was a very believing and pious person. His shops did not work on Sundays and major church holidays. Together with his wife Olga, he often attended church, donated huge sums to churches.
More than once, the couple had thoughts of taking monastic vows; the desire to go to the monastery was especially strong after the death of their youngest daughter. But their spiritual father, Elder Barnabas, did not bless the spouses to leave worldly life, saying that it was too early.
The time has come when the October Revolution died down, the civil war ended and the persecution of believers began. In 1920, Vasily Muravyov was tonsured at the age of 54, and became a monk Barnabas – the name was chosen in honor of his spiritual father. A year later he becomes a priest.
In 1927 he took the schema under the name Seraphim, in honor of Seraphim of Sarov, and in 1930 he moved to Vyritsa, where he lived for the rest of his life.
For ten years, Seraphim prayed, kneeling on a stone – he chose such a prayer feat for himself. The holy elder died in 1949 at the age of 82. In 2000 he was canonized.
The gift of clairvoyance
Almost all the elder’s predictions were collected in Valery Filimonov’s book “The Prophecies of St. Seraphim of Vyritsky.” The elder was very worried about the fate of Russia, so he spoke more than once about its future.
Many of his predictions have already come true. For example, Seraphim was sure that the time would come when the persecution of believers would end, temples and monasteries would be built again, and many young people would attend church. Then no one believed in it, because the youth at that time were brought up as atheists.
For most of his life, the elder lived in St. Petersburg, he loved this city with all his heart. Once a German officer asked him when the victory parade of the Germans in Leningrad would take place. In pure German, the elder replied to the German that this would never happen. Seraphim spoke about the fact that the city would change its name again, already completely. And Leningrad will turn into St. Petersburg. Moreover, the second capital will become one of the spiritual centers of Russia.
About the Church
Yes, the time will come for the spiritual revival of Russia, but it will be short-lived. Not only ordinary people, but also many clergy, including high-ranking ones, will put material values above spiritual ones. And this time will be much worse than the open persecution of believers, because many souls will perish.
Churches and temples will grow like mushrooms after rain, with golden domes and rich decorations, but there will be no God in them. Evil and deceit will take over people. True faith will always be persecuted. It will be terrible to live in these times.
About the world
Jesus Christ was crucified in Jerusalem. There he was resurrected. This city has been and will be the true center of the Earth. And it is there that the Holy Fire descends on Easter. Seraphim Vyritsky once said that Jerusalem should be first the capital of Israel, and later the capital of the whole world.
The Holy Scripture mentions a terrible war that will lead to the unification of mankind. The elder was sure that this would happen. And the salvation of the world very much depends on Russia. When many countries unite into one Empire, a single government will be chosen. And this time will be the threshold of the accession of the son of the devil – the Antichrist.
About Russia
The Lord punished the Russian people for the murder of the royal family. He will have to endure many sorrows, troubles and sufferings. And if people do not repent, then wars will begin again, in which brother will stand against brother.
Russia will lose most of its lands, but will stand. Many states will take up arms against it, but the more attacks there are, the stronger our country will become. Indeed, during the collapse of the Soviet Union, most of the territory was lost. The second part of the prophecy is being fulfilled now – endless sanctions do not give the result that other countries dream of.
The elder predicted for the small village of Vyritsa that one day it would become a place of pilgrimage. A monastery will be opened in it. And indeed, thousands of people come to the elder’s grave, that is, the prediction about the pilgrimage has already come true. But there is no monastery there yet – only two churches and a chapel of St. Seraphim of Vyritsky.
