Seraphim Chichagov - Priesthood

Priesthood

Chichagov tendered his resignation from the military on April 15, 1890 or 1891. He moved to Moscow with his family where he commenced his ecclesiastical studies. He was ordained a deacon on February 26, 1893 in the Church of the Twelve Apostles, a minor cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Two days later, he was ordained a priest.

He began his pastoral work in the Church of the Twelve Apostles. He paid 15,000 rubles out of pocket to renovate the dilapidated church. He was awarded the right to wear the nabedrennik and skufia vestments in recognition of his work in restoring the church.

His wife died after a serious illness in 1895. In 1896 he was appointed military chaplain for the artillery troops stationed in the Moscow garrison, for whom he ministered from the church of St. Nicholas. His personal contributions helped renovate the facility, which had been abandoned for 30 years.

As a priest, Fr. Chichagov made several pilgrimages to Serafimo-Diveevsky Monastery and the Sarov monastery in Sarov. During these visits he wrote a history of the Sarov monastery and a biography of the monk Seraphim of Sarov based on interviews with nuns who had known the saint. This work would later contribute to the canonization of St. Seraphim. His extensive history of the Diveevsky monastery was published in 1896. Natalia Chichagov was buried at the Diveevsky monastery, alongside an empty grave intended for Fr. Chichagov.