The Monk, The Banker, and The Pharisee

IN 14th century Russia, a 20 year old nobleman named Sergius went into the wilderness north of Moscow and founded the now famous Troitsky Monastery, the first of 28 such institutions of prayer and asceticism credited to the Slavic saint. His fame grew and powerful men including Dmitry Donskoy, Prince of Moscow, came to ask his advice, prayers and blessing. Helen Iswolsky tells us that Sergius was instrumental in the development of a new religious and national spirit which helped liberate Russia from the 200-year Tartar yoke. National leader though he was, Sergius prostrated himself before each visitor, because in every man he saw the image of God.