The cover image is a photo of one of Saint Seraphim's miracle-working icons. This icon was presented to the Russian Orthodox Church in the name of Saint Mary of Magdala in The Hague by the last Russian Tzar, Nicolas II, a martyr and a saint; the reason being that this church was originally the domestic chapel of Queen Anna Paulowna, who was a member of the Royal Romanov House, and the wife of King, Willem II of the Netherlands. This icon has another particular characteristic: it is not a strictly formal representation of a saint, but one of the two portraits of Saint Seraphim.
The church also has in her possession part of the relics of Saint Seraphim, and pilgrims from all over Europe and Russia come to venerate them and to pray. Saint Seraphim is one of the most venerated saints of Russia, and has greatly influenced the spiritual life, not only of the entire Russian clergy, but also of the thousands of laymen who were drawn to Christian mysticism. Staretz2 Seraphim has formulated in his teaching in simple words the purpose and the ways of Christian ascetic life, in order to make them understandable to all those seeking God.
In future we will translate and publish more books about Christian Orthodox ascetics and mystics of Russia.
Guram Kochi and Marijcke Tooneman
The Hague, January 2008
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