St. Seraphim was a wise elder and spiritual guide in Russia. When he was a boy, he was deathly ill and received a vision of the Theotokos healing him. A thunderstorm caused a procession that was carrying the Kursk icon of the Mother of God to pass in front of his house, and he was carried out to kiss it whereupon he immediately started to recover. At age 27, he took monastic vows and lived with extreme asceticism. He eventually retreated far into the woods, living in a hut, at peace with all of the wild animals. Thousands came to him of all walks and classes for advice and for prayer. He greeted them all with joy and many were healed by his prayers. His prayers were especially effective to grant healthy, safe births for women who had problems with infertility or miscarriages.