The life of the saint says that “he held on to his customary anointing of visitors and the anointed received healing.” One of the best-known stories is healing of the landowner M.V.Manturov in 1815. When he was healed and rushed to kiss father Seraphim’s feet, the elder rebuked him sternly: “Is it Seraphim’s job to handle life or death questions? This is solely upon the Lord! Offer your prayers of thanks to the All-Mighty God and His Ever-Pure Mother.” The life account of Seraphim of Sarov offers other similar examples of healing: a peasant woman from Vladimir Province was cured from arthrosis; the peasant M.B. from Avtodeyevo village in Ardatov County was healed from the consequences of a massive stroke; and Alexander, a future monk of the Sarov Monastery, was cured from otitis.

In 1903, the Holy Synod declared the elder Seraphim a saint and opened his relics with great solemnity. On July 16, celebrations of the glorification of the venerable father’s relics began at Sarov. In describing the procession with the cross from Diveyevo to Sarov by the nuns of Diveyevo monastery on July 17, a participant noted that the miracle-working icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness” was carried there: “When the procession from Diveyevo reached the chapel, two Protopresbyters removed the icon from its case and handed it over to Right Reverend Innocent, who blessed the people fourfold.”