Micah of Radonezh

Our righteous father Micah of Radonezh was one of the first disciples of St. Sergius of Radonezh. Through his spiritual perfection, St. Micah was privileged to witness the appearance of the Mother of God to his great teacher. His day of commemoration is May 6.

Little is known of St Micah's early life. In mid fourteenth century he arrived at the monastic community near Radonezh in Russia founded by St. Sergius. St. Sergius accepted him as a disciple and had him share the same cell. With a meekness of soul and purity of heart, Micah soon attained a high degree of spiritual perfection.

One morning near the end of his life, and after St. Sergius finished his morning rule of prayer, St. Sergius remarked to Micah, "Be alert, my child, for we shall have a wondrous visitation." Upon hearing these words a voice was heard saying, "The All-Pure One draws near." Suddenly, there shone a light brighter than the sun. Reacting to the sudden light, St. Micah fell to the ground in fear. He laid there as if he were dead. As St. Sergius lifted up his disciple, St. Micah asked, "Tell me, Father, what is the reason for this wondrous vision? My soul has nearly parted from my body from fright." St. Sergius then informed his disciple about the appearance of the Most Holy Theotokos.

St. Micah of Radonezh fell asleep in the Lord in 1385. His relics were laid to rest within the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra. In 1734, in memory of the appearance of the Virgin to Ss. Sergius and Micah, the Church of St. Micah, a small church, was built over St. Micah's grave. This church is near the refectory.

External links

• Micah of Radonezh (May 6)
• The Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra
• Life of St Sergius - Part Seven