You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
Pelagia Ivanovna Serebrennikova was born into a wealthy merchant family in Arzamas in the year 1809. Her father died when she was still a child, and sometime after she fell into a serious illness that kept her bedridden for an extensive period. When she recovered, it was said she was a very different child from what she had been before and often acted bizarrely in public.
This caused those around her to nickname her “Fool” even in childhood. Her stepfather often would punish her severely for such behavior, and it was many years later that her mother finally realized she had been gifted with the grace to become a fool for Christ. When she was nineteen, her mother and stepfather gave her away in marriage to a man named Sergei, but her odd behavior continued.
Her husband and mother both were very concerned about her well-being, and so they decided to take her to see Seraphim of Sarov to ask for his aid. Seraphim took her aside and conversed with her privately for a long while, then brought her back to her mother and husband. Before they left, Seraphim bowed to Pelagia and instructed her mother to take her to Diveyevo so that she could “defend my orphans” there.
He then gave her a prayer rope and bade them farewell. After they left, a young monk as Seraphim who this strange woman was, and Seraphim replied, “Believe God, Father Ivan, this woman whom you see will be a great luminary for the whole world.” After returning home to her husband, Pelagia’s behavior remained unchanged, and she began again walking the streets nearly naked and spending all night in prayer on the church porch.
When Sergei would try to help her by giving her warm clothing or money for her needs, she would immediately turn around and give these things to the poor. This eventually became more than Sergei could bear, and so he turned her out. Pelagia then returned to her mother’s house…
Pelagia’s mother went again to visit Seraphim to see what might be done, and he instructed her to allow Pelagia to continue acting in whatever way she chose, as it was pleasing to God… Because of miracles and healings associated with her prayers, Pelagia’s fame became widely known, and she received visitors from all across Russia and from every walk of life.”
Pelagia of Diveyevo (1809-1884) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 103-106.
Two things stood out to me when I read about this fool for Christ.
The first one relates to Seraphim. When everyone thought Pelagia was crazy for her commitment to prayer, Seraphim believed in her and proclaimed that she would be a luminary for God. It came to pass. That tells me the importance of speaking blessing over people committed to the things of God.
The second one relates to Pelagia. After visiting Seraphim, who gave her a prayer rope. She is known for using that tool to remind her stay focused in her prayers the rest of her life.
I am home now, but reflecting with gratitude to God for the blessing of visiting my “Seraphim of Sarov” also known as John Stanley in Wisconsin a third year in a row. He gave me a prayer rope of sorts, a tener (has a cross and ten beads). That prayer tool has helped me so much I give them away to people when I see them.
I want everyone praying 10 times a day a prayer like the Surrender Novena: “Jesus, I surrender myself to you. Take care of everything.” Who knows? It might help multiply fools for Christ who can become luminaries around the world.