St. Seraphim of Sarov

We're celebrating St. Seraphim's feast day today.  I wanted to share a craft I did with my kids last year on this day.  I read a children's book we have about St. Seraphim to the children.  Since he acquired such a spirit of peace that animals were not afraid of him and he is often depicted feeding a bear from his hand I decided we would do a bear craft.  I printed out this bear template and glued it to poster board (cardstock would work well too).  Then the kids glued dried beans on to it to make a mosaic.  Making a birdseed ornament to hang out for the birds would be a nice craft too or even going out to fill up your bird feeder.

Supplies we used

Book we read, icon of St. Seraphim and book and ornaments we are using for the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Troparion of St. Seraphim, Tone 4

Thou didst love Christ from thy youth, O blessed one, and longing to work for Him alone thou didst struggle in the wilderness with constant prayer and labor.  With penitent heart and great love for Christ thou wast favored by the Mother of God.  Wherefore we cry to thee: Save us by thy prayers, O Seraphim our righteous Father.


Kontakion of St. Seraphim, Tone 2

Having left the beauty of the world and what is corrupt in it, O saint, thou didst settle in Sarov Monastery.  And having lived there an angelic life, thou wast for many the way to salvation.  Wherefore Christ has glorified thee, O Father Seraphim, and has enriched thee with the gift of healing and miracles. And so we cry to thee: Rejoice, O Seraphim, our righteous Father.