St. Seraphim of Sarov was born in 1759 in Kursk. He was a sickly child who was miraculously healed by by a miracle-working icon of the Mother of God. He left the merchant life of his parents to enter the Sarov Monastery. There he lived a life of severe asceticism, seldom eating or sleeping, and spending his life in prayer. He had visions, and could often foresee the future. He would often leave the community to live the life of a hermit, and even animals would seek him out because of his holiness. He eventually became a starets, or spiritual elder. One account of his life includes a description of his transfiguration, where his face shone brighter than the sun with uncreated light.
His feast day is celebrated on January 2
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