Fact 1.
Fr. Seraphim’s Repose
Olga Bay.
Interview 06.10.2019.
San Mateo, CA, USA
The first and generally known posthumous sign (evidence) pointing to Fr. Seraphim righteousness, is the fact nearest in time and accompanying his death, in particular:
- «facial appearance»: a posthumous expression of the face, as an absolutely peaceful, serene, with features of unearthly peace and joy, despite of preceding period of severe suffering and torment experienced from a fatal illness preceding his death.
This fact was so extraordinary that people present near the coffin were compelled to open the monastic veil of Fr. Seraphim and peer into his face. This was acted by both adults and children. Some of the children questioned the adults about the reality of Fr. Seraphim death4.
Such facts are known in the Christian tradition, and along with other facts are perceived as a manifestation of the righteousness of the reposed, who thereby reveals not death, but his blessed "dormition" until the universal Resurrection.
At the coffin of Fr. Seraphim there were also noted:
- the fact of softness, warmth (not stiffness) and preservation of his relics until the moment of burial.
- posthumous veneration (immediately): reverence for the remains, lack of fear, the feeling of joy and as a result the extraordinary behavior of people at the time of death: prompt permission by the authorities to the burial in Platina (not in accordance with the norm of the law), joyful presence near his coffin, Easter chants, a tendency to kiss the remains
Let us cite testimonies from the letters of Fr. Alexey Young:
«There was a terrible heat in those days: 46 degrees Celsius. We put the coffin in the church, where the candles and the large crowd made it even hotter. But the body of Fr. Seraphim showed no signs of decay. It remained soft. But the most astonishing was the face of Fr. Seraphim. It looked even better than during his life. In life, Fr. Seraphim's face was of sickly color, and after death it became of completely normal color, cheeks turned slightly pink. And the expression on his face was so calm and joyful that at some point I thought: "He is not dead." It was a real miracle - his face, so the bishop blessed us not to cover it up, as it is usually done…».
According to the traditional church understanding, such posthumous events can be considered a special manifestation of divine grace, figuratively (symbolically) revealing the posthumous fate of the ascetic and creating (even now) the appropriate atmosphere of reverent posthumous veneration by the children of the Church.
4See audio recording:
Аудио записи свидетельства Ольги Бэй