Little known in Western tradition, St. Seraphim (1759-1833) is one of the most loved saints of Russian Orthodoxy and many are the churches dedicated to his memory. Like St Therese of Lisieux, he is an example of achieving sainthood without "doing lots of things". Sarov, near Moscow, is where he became a monk at the age of 20, just in time to succumb to three years of debilitating illness. He was ordained priest in 1793, and was noted for his practice of celebrating the Eucharist daily (which is not normal Eastern custom). In 1794 he became a hermit, living the simplest and most austere of lives. Ten years later, as he was chopping wood, he was attacked by thieves who seriously injured him with his own axe. In due course he was able to return to his hermitage, but after a long period of total silence he came to see that he was called ta give up the solitary life and help others by spiritual direction. In this, he was joining in the Russian tradition of the "starets", the elder or spiritual adviser. Greatly inspired by his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, he was found dead in his cell in front of her ikon on January 14th 1833 (Julian calendar). His greatest teaching is that we are all capable of being transformed by the fire of the Holy Spirit; the Spirit's light can radiate from our soul and permeate our whole bodies, shining forth from them as flames for the renewal of the world. He was canonised in Russia in 1903.