Hieromonk Seraphim (in the world Ivan Romanovich Romanov) was born on June 28, 1885, in the village of Voronok, Kursk province, into a peasant family. He graduated from a church-parish school. In 1910, he entered the Glinsk Monastery, where he initially was a novice. In 1919, he took monastic vows with the name Juvenal, and in 1920, he was ordained as a hierodeacon.
After the closure of the Glinsk Monastery, Father Juvenal sought refuge and moved to Sukhumi. In 1926, he was ordained as a hieromonk and tonsured into the schema with the name Seraphim. In 1928, this monastery was also closed. He spent some time in the mountains living with hermits, and then moved to the vicinity of Alma-Ata, where he worked as a watchman at a bee farm. In 1930, he was arrested and exiled to work on the construction of the White Sea-Baltic Canal.
From 1934 to 1946, he lived in Kyrgyzstan, performing services and spending time in prayer. In 1946-1947, he was in Tashkent, where he served as a spiritual father at the cathedral. On December 30, 1947, he returned to the Glinsk Monastery and was appointed as a spiritual father.
Father Seraphim dedicated himself entirely to the spiritual care of the brotherhood and pilgrims, often taking on administrative functions. He was an experienced spiritual father, possessing the gift of hearing confessions and encouraging people to full openness. People came to him for advice and guidance, and he supported them in difficult times.
Since 1961, the Glinsk Monastery was closed again, and Father Seraphim moved to Georgia, where he continued his spiritual care. He often visited hermits, overcoming difficult routes. In 1975, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.
On December 18, 1975, during the All-Night Vigil, he felt unwell and, while fully conscious, was able to bid farewell to his brethren. On January 1, 1976, he peacefully departed to the Lord. He was buried at the Mikhailovsky Cemetery in Sukhumi. On January 2, 1976, his body was displayed for farewell, and on January 4, the burial was conducted by Metropolitan Ilia.
On August 21, 2010, a service of glorification for three ascetics of the 20th century was held in the Glinsk Monastery, including Hieromonk Seraphim. On November 30, 2017, the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church decided on the church-wide glorification of the Blessed Seraphim, establishing the date of commemoration as September 22.
