St. Seraphima the New Martyr Orthodox Icon
St. Seraphima is one of the Holy New Martyrs who died under the communists. She was martyred shortly after the revolution. In her life she was elevated to the position of abbess of the Therapontov convent. Her martyrdom includes a beautiful story: The abbess (Seraphima) and some of her nuns were marched out into a field accompanied by the Bishop Barsanuphius. As they were lined up to be shot, Vladika Barsanuphius raised his hands to heaven and began to pray. The bullets immediately hit the abbess and her sisters, yet despite the incessant firing of the bolsheviks, they could not strike the holy bishop. Only when Vladika lowered his hands and had completed his prayer where they able to end his life.
Holy New Martyr Seraphima, pray to God for us!