Baptismal Name: Leonid
Rank: Metropolitan
Place of Birth: Saint Petersburg
Date of Birth: June 9, 1856
Date of Death: December 11, 1937
Burial Place: NKVD training ground, Butovo locality
Enthronement: September 16, 1908
Retirement: 1914
Affiliation: Russian Orthodox Church
Education: Special school for sons of nobility – “Page Corps”
Biography:
Serafim (Ciciagov Leonid) was Metropolitan of Saint Petersburg.
He was born on June 9, 1856, in Saint Petersburg into a noble family.
In 1875, he graduated from a special school for sons of nobility (“Page Corps”), subsequently becoming an artillery officer in the Imperial Guard.
In 1877–1878, he participated in the Russo-Turkish War, reaching the rank of captain, becoming a hero of Plevna, and a Knight of the Order of St. George.
In 1891, while a colonel, Serafim came under the influence of the renowned Archpriest John Sergiev (of Kronstadt) and, following his advice, renounced his military career and moved from Saint Petersburg to Moscow.
He began studying the works of the Holy Fathers to prepare for the priesthood, and was ordained priest in Moscow in 1893.
In 1898, remaining widowed, Serafim, again following the guidance of Archpriest John of Kronstadt, was tonsured a monk at the “St. Sergius” Lavra near Moscow, and a year later was elevated to archimandrite and appointed abbot (“nastoiatel”) of the “Euthymius” Monastery in Suzdal.
In 1905, Serafim was consecrated bishop, serving almost one year in Sukhum (Caucasus) and two and a half years in the Diocese of Oryol.
From September 16, 1908 – he served as Bishop of Chișinău and Hotin.
On May 16, 1912, he was elevated to the rank of Archbishop.
On March 20, 1914 – appointed Archbishop of Tver.
In 1914, he was awarded a cross with diamonds for his klobuk (monastic hat).
In the autumn of 1917, by the decision of the Clergy Congress, he was removed from the Diocese of Tver for overly strict administration and extremely rigorous treatment of the clergy.
He participated in the Holy Sobor of 1917–1918 in Moscow.
In 1918, he was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan.
From February 1928 – Metropolitan of Leningrad.
From September 1933, he retired and lived near Moscow (Mikhalovka station, Kazan Railway) almost until his death.
On November 30, 1937, Metropolitan Serafim was arrested, and on December 7, by order of the NKVD of the USSR, he was sentenced to death for monarchist counter-revolutionary agitation.
On December 11, 1937, he was executed at the NKVD training ground in Butovo.
On November 10, 1988, he was rehabilitated. Canonized on February 23, 1997.