August 1, 2018 at the Holy Trinity St. Seraphim-Diveevo convent held celebrations, dedicated to the 115th anniversary of the canonization of St. Seraphim of Sarov, reports the Synodal Department for monasteries and monasticism.
Before operating Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Varsonofy made evening worship (small Vespers with the akathist to venerable Seraphim of Sarov and the all-night vigil) at the Trinity Cathedral of the monastery.
In the day of the feast on the Cathedral square of the monastery in front of the Transfiguration Cathedral was held a festive divine Liturgy. The service was led by operating Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and Ladoga Varsonofy. In the square there were seven thousand of pilgrims from different parts of the country.
The head of the St. Petersburg Metropolia was assisted by Metropolitan of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, staying retired Metropolitan Valentine (Mishchuk), Metropolitan Varnava of Cheboksary and Chuvashia, Metropolitan Yoshkar-Ola and Mari John, the Metropolitan of Yekaterinburg and Verkhoturye Kirill, Metropolitan of Ivanovo-Voznesensk and Vichuga Joseph, Metropolitan of Saransk and Mordovia, zenobius, Archbishop of Vitebsk and Orsha Demetrius, Archbishop of Elista and Kalmykia Justinian, vicar of his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, Archbishop Sergius of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate; Bishop of Narva and Prigodskiy Lazarus, vicar of Nizhny Novgorod diocese Bishop of Balakhna Elijah the Ardatovskiy and Atyashevskiy Bishop Benjamin, Bishop of Kanashsky and Yantikovskiy Stephen, Bishop of Gorodets and Vetluga Augustine, Bishop of Pavlovo and Vyksa Barnabas, Bishop of Murom and vyaznikovskiy Neal, Bishop of Dushanbe and Tajikistan Pitirim, Bishop of Melekessky and cherdaklinskiy Diodorus, Bishop of Lyskovsky and lukoyanovskaya Silvanus, Bishop of Syzran Zhigulevsk and Thomas.
Praying at the Liturgy were mother superior of the Diveyevo monastery hegumeness Sergiya (Konkova), sisters, Abbesses of other convents, numerous pilgrims and parishioners.
The solemn Liturgy in Diveyevo was attended by the acting Vice-Governor of Nizhny Novgorod region, Yevgeny Lyulin, Deputy Minister of Finance Andrey Ivanov, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on constitutional legislation and state construction Andrey Klishas, chief Federal inspector in the Nizhny Novgorod region Alexander Murzin, the Deputy Chairman of the regional Legislative Assembly Olga Schetinina, the ex-Governor of Nizhny Novgorod region Valery Shantsev, Director of the Russian Federal nuclear center – all-Russian research Institute of experimental physics (RFNC-VNIIEF) Valentin Kostyukov, honorary scientific Director of RFNC-VNIIEF Radiy Ilkaev, Chairman of the Union of cinematographers of Russia Nikita Mikhalkov, the commander of the Privolzhsky district of National guard troops of the Russian Federation the General-Colonel Alexander Poryadin, the participants of the IX International festival-contest of Orthodox and Patriotic song “domes of Arzamas”, the participants of the first interregional forum of Orthodox youth “my Joy”, cultural figures, representatives of authorities and business, educational institutions, public organizations.
Out after the communion verse the sermon was delivered the first Pro-rector of Nizhny Novgorod theological Seminary Archpriest Alexander Myakinin.
After the service, Metropolitan Varsonofy congratulated sakurasou the brethren, the abbess of the Diveyevo convent with the sisters and pilgrims on the occasion and conveyed the greetings of his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill with the 115th anniversary of the canonization of St. Seraphim of Sarov.
“St. Seraphim was from a merchant family, but his earthly riches did not appeal, as his heart searched for other valuables. He found joy and comfort in communion with God. After many years of prayer continued with the wilderness efforts and labors father was imbued with the joy of the Lord. He came to serve people, to share this joy with everyone coming to him. He taught and counseled how to live the Christian way of life. In simplest words he told the people that the meaning and purpose of Christian life is the acquisition of the grace of the Holy spirit. This spiritual capital, and we must seek through prayer, who are humble, who is mercy, who is patient different Christian virtues. Today, father Seraphim, we again gathered in his abode, that we have confessed our sins, received communion and cleansed their souls, making them vessels for receiving the grace of the Holy spirit,” – said managing the Affairs of the Moscow Patriarchate.
Hegumeness Sergiya on behalf of the whole monastic family thanked the archpastors for the Commission of the Liturgy, and Bishop Varsonofy – for agreeing to lead these celebrations.
“Father Seraphim taught that we acquired the spirit of peace. This is his main commandment. Today, many come to our abode, leaving their care and custody. We wish all the guests of the festival to acquire the Holy relics of father Seraphim joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, goodness, meekness, temperance,” he wished Her the very Reverend.
As a sign of prayerful remembrance on this occasion the abbess of the Diveyevo monastery was presented to the heads of St. Petersburg and the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolia grace-communion bread and an icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov.
Then Archbishop Varsonofy thanked Metropolitan Georgy for the invitation to visit the Diveevo monastery during the celebrations and share the joy of prayer and presented His Eminence in the memory of the worship of the Panagia. The abbess of the monastery Manager of the St Petersburg diocese presented the gospel and the Abbot’s cross as a sign of respect for the work she carries in the monastery.
Metropolitan Georgy expressed to the business Manager of the Moscow Patriarchate thanks for the visit and the service officiated and welcomed all present three times with the Paschal cry of “Christ is risen!” “We are fortunate to have here in the village of Diveevo, the fourth destiny of the Mother of God – the Holy Trinity-Saint Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery, where repose the Holy relics of the great Saint of God, a prayerful intercessor for the Russian land and the monk Seraphim of Sarov. Truly, this land has become a source of living water the grace of the Holy spirit. Many come here and receive consolation, healing, support and understanding. Through prayer works in this Holy place we call God’s blessing on our country, on a quiet and silent life, to live us in godliness and purity,” noted Metropolitan Georgy.
Great help in the organization of the Diveevo celebration came from the volunteers – young parishioners of churches of Nizhny Novgorod and other dioceses.
Worship of Diveevo was broadcast live Nizhny Novgorod state regional TV and radio company “NNTV” and TV channel “Union”. The Internet celebrated the divine Liturgy can be seen on the websites of the broadcasting company “NNTV”, the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolia and in official groups of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese on social networks.
According to the Main Department of the MIA of Russia in Nizhny Novgorod region, two days in the Diveevo celebration was attended by about 10 thousand pilgrims.
According to the website of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolia