On September 12/25 we honor the memory of Righteous Simeon of Verkhotourye, Wonderworker of all Siberia: On this day, 315 years ago in 1704, his relics were translated from the village of Merkushino where the righteous one lived and were he was buried after his repose, to the St. Nicholas Monastery in the town of Verkhotourye. There are many miracles bound up with this event—the extraordinary appearance of the righteous one’s relics, and the multitude of healings at the saint’s grave, from his relics, and during the cross procession in which his relics were translated. It is also a miracle that the relics were preserved even during the godless years of communism. Neither does the saint withhold his miraculous aid from us who live in the twenty-first century.
The coffin of St. Simeon with the healing spring.
They say that there are no miracles these days. But that is not true—it’s just that there are very few people who tell us about them and glorify God. In general there are in fact not so many Orthodox Christians who not only consider themselves believers but also live the religious life; and therefore it is no surprise that information about miracles is only spread around within a narrow circles of believers. And for those who do not believe, this sphere of life simply doesn’t exist.
Although we live in the same country, even in the same city or locale, we live by such different interests that it is as if we were living in two different worlds. That is why people say that there are no miracles. Why, not long ago a parishioner of our convent told me about one miraculous incident.
The translation of the relics of Righteous Simeon of Verkhotourye.
In Merkushino, where this pious woman had never been before, she drank some water from the spring of Righteous Simeon. A half an hour later a kidney stone painlessly passed from her kidneys. Some would say that this was a coincidence—but then why didn’t it happen earlier, while she was being treated intensively with mineral waters and various other methods? Why did the healing take place precisely after drinking the water from the grave of St. Simeon?
Brothers and sisters, let us believe Righteous Simeon of Verkhotourye, a man who loved mankind, a wonderworker and protector of our holy places—I would even dare to say, the spiritual guardian of our region. He intercedes for people who come to him in their need. You can of him ask whatever you need, if only you are sure that you really need it. Of course we should first of all pray about your spiritual needs, but we can also ask about bodily needs if we are sure that we really have a need, as St. Seraphim of Sarov teaches. After all, the Lord’s Prayer teaches us to ask for our daily bread; that is about everything truly essential to our existence. Let’s pray before the relics of Righteous Simeon and before his holy icons; let’s make use of the holy oil from the lampadas that burn before his relics and grave, drink the water from his spring, and have recourse to other means of communicating and being alone with this saint—and we will always receive what we ask for.
Autumn in Merkushino.
Yet another miraculous event comes to my mind. A man was in an automobile accident. After several cranial trephinations he was in a coma. His relatives placed a little bag on his head containing earth blessed on St. Simeon’s grave, fervently praying at the same time to the saint. A few days later the patient regained consciousness, and he quickly recovered. But before that his life was hanging by a thread.
There are many testimonies to similar healings, but probably there are even more miraculous events that people don’t talk about, that they keep secret out of modesty or for some other reasons. Nevertheless, it true that the intercessor of Siberia and the Urals, the great wonderworker Simeon abides with us through his relics, miracles, compassion and love, and helps us in all our affairs if we have recourse to him with faith and hope. Therefore let us always pray and remember that besides earthly, human help there is always heavenly help; and especially close to the people of the Urals is the help of the great God-pleaser of our lands, holy Righteous Simeon of Verkhotourye and Wonderworker of All Siberia. Amen.
