Seraphim of Sarov was an 18th-century Russian monk and priest who became one of the most famous spiritual elders in the Orthodox tradition. Born Prokhor Moshnin in Kursk, he entered the Sarov monastery in 1777 and later served as a spiritual leader at the Diveyevo Convent. He is widely recognized for his intense asceticism, including a period of solitary life in the woods and a ritual of continuous prayer performed on a rock. His teachings focused on the acquisition of the Holy Spirit and the pursuit of inner peace.