On August 18, 1786, Prohor was tonsured and given the monastic name Seraphim. He doubled down on his feats and lived even more solitery life, diving into an internal spiritual contemplation. Always wearing the same clothes, in the winter he collected branches and kept bees in the summer. With great physical labors, he sang troparions and church songs all day long, and taught himself the sublime works of the mind and heart. He read a lot, especially scripture. He endured the great devil’s temptations and pitfalls. To fight them even harder, he took on a great feat. For a thousand days and nights on a granite stone he uttered the Jesus’ prayer from the bottom of his soul: “God, be merciful to me a sinner!
“I know your troubles, your sufferings, your struggles and the weaknesses of your life. I know your cowardice, your sins, and despite it I say to you, “Give me your heart, love me as you are!” If you wait to become an angel to surrender to love, then you will never love me. in the exercise of your virtues, and if you often fall into those sins that you no longer want to do, I allow you to love me. Love me the way you are.” Sv. Serafim Sarovski, Love me the way you are
They asked Saint Seraphim of Sarov: What is the goal of our lives? “Return to the arms of the Father of Heaven.” He answered.
On January 14 1833, Elder Seraphim ended his life on earth, in his usual white vestments, kneeling on his knees in the daily prayer feats, before the icon of the Mother of God “Grace.” A small cross with a crucifix was hanging around his neck. His arms were crossed over his chest. He is celebrated by the Serbian Orthodox Church as Reverend Seraphim of Sarov on January 15.
In 1970, Eugene Dennis Rose became a monk and called himself Seraphim – in honor of Saint Seraphim of Sarov.