Introduction: What Is The Christian Life Really About?
Among all the questions that a believer might ask, one stands above the rest: What is the true purpose of the Christian life?
- Is it moral improvement?
- Is it obedience to rules?
- Is it becoming a better person or living a good life?
According to Orthodox Christianity, the answer goes far deeper. Saint Seraphim of Sarov, one of the greatest saints in the Orthodox Church, gave a clear and unforgettable answer to this question. His words, rooted in the tradition of the Holy Fathers, continue to echo through time.
The purpose of the Christian life is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit.
This teaching summarizes the entire journey of Orthodox faith. It draws together the Scriptures, the lives of the saints, the sacraments, and all prayer. It shows that Christianity is not merely about ethics, but about divine transformation.
Who Was Saint Seraphim Of Sarov?
Saint Seraphim of Sarov was a Russian Orthodox monk and ascetic who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is known for his profound humility, deep love for Christ, miraculous gifts, and gentle speech. He greeted all who came to him with the words:
Christ is Risen, my joy!
Saint Seraphim spent many years in the forest, in prayer and silence. Later in life, thousands of people came to him for counsel and healing.
His life was marked by extreme fasting, inner stillness, and unceasing prayer. Yet his most important legacy is spiritual: his clear teaching on the true goal of the Christian life.
The Conversation With Motovilov
One of the most famous Orthodox texts is the conversation between Saint Seraphim and a Christian man named Nicholas Motovilov. This conversation was recorded in writing and has become a spiritual treasure of the Church.
In that conversation, Saint Seraphim told Motovilov:
The true goal of our Christian life is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God.
Motovilov was surprised and asked whether good deeds and virtuous living were not the goal. Saint Seraphim responded:
Prayer, fasting, vigil, and all other Christian deeds are good in themselves, but they are only means for acquiring the Holy Spirit.
This teaching reshapes everything. The Church’s life of prayer, sacraments, fasting, and charity is not an end in itself. These are means of drawing near to God and receiving His grace—the living presence of the Holy Spirit in the soul.
Why The Holy Spirit Is Central In Orthodox Christianity
The Holy Spirit is not an abstract idea or a vague energy. He is the third Person of the Holy Trinity. He is the Lord, the Giver of life. In the Creed we confess:
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified.
The Holy Spirit is present in every sacrament, especially in baptism, chrismation, and the Holy Eucharist.
He is the One who transforms bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. He is the One who makes the soul alive.
Saint Paul writes:
Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)
It is this indwelling of the Holy Spirit that makes a Christian truly alive. Without the Spirit, Christian life becomes dry and moralistic. With the Spirit, it becomes a path of light and holiness.
What It Means To Acquire The Holy Spirit
To acquire the Holy Spirit means to live in communion with God, to have the peace, love, and grace of God dwelling in the soul.
Saint Seraphim said:
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When the Spirit of God comes to dwell in a man’s soul, he becomes filled with joy, peace, and light, and he radiates this grace to others.
This is not emotional excitement. It is a real transformation of the inner man. The fruits of the Spirit are described by Saint Paul:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22–23)
Saint Seraphim said that when a person truly acquires the Holy Spirit, even their face may shine with light, just as the face of Christ shone on Mount Tabor. This light is not symbolic—it is real, though invisible to most.
The Role Of Prayer And The Sacraments
How does a person acquire the Holy Spirit? Saint Seraphim and the Orthodox tradition teach that the path is through the life of the Church.
- Prayer, especially the Jesus Prayer, brings the soul into silence and attentiveness to God.
- Fasting cleanses the passions and makes the heart humble.
- Participation in the Divine Liturgy and reception of the Holy Mysteries (sacraments) fills the soul with divine grace.
Saint Seraphim taught that frequent Communion, with repentance and reverence, increases the presence of the Holy Spirit in the soul. Confession cleanses the soul and renews the grace lost through sin.
The whole life of the Church is centered on this mystery: union with God through grace.
The Difference Between Virtue And Life In The Spirit
Saint Seraphim emphasized that good deeds are not enough. Many people do good things without being united to God. Even non-believers can be kind, honest, or generous.
But in Orthodoxy, the goal is not mere morality. It is life in the Spirit.
As Saint Seraphim said:
Every good deed done for Christ brings the grace of the Holy Spirit. But good deeds done without Christ may have no eternal value.
This does not mean we reject virtue. Rather, we understand that virtue without Christ is incomplete. Christianity is not just about being good—it is about being filled with God.
Saint Seraphim’s Vision Of Christian Life
Saint Seraphim’s entire life was a living testimony to his teaching. He did not seek miracles or honors. He sought the Holy Spirit.
He became peaceful, gentle, luminous, and filled with divine joy. This was not something he possessed by effort alone. It was a gift received through humility, repentance, and years of prayer.
People who came to him often felt a warmth and light that touched their soul. Some saw his face shine like the sun. Others felt a peace that could not be explained.
This is the fruit of the true Christian life—not just moral success, but holiness.
The Path Of The Holy Spirit Is Open To All
Saint Seraphim taught that acquiring the Holy Spirit is not only for monks or saints. It is the purpose of every Christian life, whether married or single, young or old.
Each person can receive the Holy Spirit if they seek God sincerely, repent of their sins, and participate in the life of the Church with love.
There is no special secret. The Orthodox Church gives us everything: the prayers, the sacraments, the fasting seasons, the guidance of the saints.
As Christ said:
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)
The Spirit is given to those who ask in humility.
Why This Teaching Is More Needed Than Ever
In today’s world, many people think Christianity is about rules or social ideas. Others think faith is only about comfort. But Orthodox Christianity teaches that our purpose is greater: to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to become holy.
Saint Seraphim’s words remind us of the heart of Christianity. If we forget the Spirit, we forget Christ. If we forget the goal, we become tired, dry, and distracted.
But when we remember the true purpose of the Christian life, everything becomes light.
Conclusion: Let Us Seek The Spirit Of God
The life of Saint Seraphim shows that even in our time, holiness is possible. The Holy Spirit is not far from us. He is ready to fill our hearts if we turn to God with faith, prayer, and humility.
Let us not settle for shallow religion or mere ethics. Let us seek the living God. Let us pray with Saint Seraphim:
O Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us.
How To Explain This To Children
Parents can tell their children that being a Christian means learning to love God and asking Him to live in our heart. Saint Seraphim said that the most important thing is to have the Holy Spirit in us.
That means we feel peace, joy, and kindness inside.
We get the Holy Spirit when we pray, go to church, love others, and stay close to Jesus. It’s like having a little light in our soul that shines and makes us more like Christ.