Staroe Shamordino, Russia, May 29, 2020
Photo: nikatv.ru
On Wednesday, May 27, the leavetaking of Pascha, the Kazan-St. Ambrose Shamordino Monastery solemnly celebrated the 30th anniversary of its revival after being closed and desecrated by the godless authorities in 1923. The monastery was founded by the great elder St. Ambrose of Optina in 1884.
The Paschal Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence Archbishop Theognost of Kashira, the head of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism, and the clergy of the monastery, reports the monastery website.
Photo: shamordino-m.ru
A festal procession was also held following the Divine Liturgy.
Congratulating the abbess Mother Sergia and the sisterhood of the monastery, Abp. Theognost noted:
Thirty years ago, the life of the monastery, which was founded by the great elder Ambrose of Optina, resumed. There were different times, different attitudes to the Church. But the Church has always lived and will live, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Mt. 16:18). Once it seemed that everything was over, but in reality, it was only the beginning. You and I have witnessed this wonderful, wonderful rebirth. The main thing in life is not to lose faith: faith in the Providence of God, faith in the fact that the Lord rules the world and each individual person.
In the late 1980s, there were few monasteries, but now there are nearly 1,000 thriving monasteries, His Eminence joyfully noted. And the Shamordino Convent especially enjoys the Heavenly protection of the great St. Ambrose of Optina, its founder, Abp. Theogonost said.
Photo: shamordino-m.ru
In turn, Mother Sergia thanked Abp. Theognost for celebrating the service on such a significant day for the monastery, and offered him a Paschal egg with an image of the first-restored Church of the Assuage My Sorrows Icon of the Mother of God.
Following the festive meal, His Eminence met with the sisters who are preparing to take their monastic vows and those preparing to enter the monastery.
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In May 1990, His Holiness Patriarch Pimen signed a decree on the resurrection of the Shamordino Hermitage, and a few days later, the monastery was officially transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church. Mother Nikon (Peretyagina, + 2012) from Holy Trinity Monastery in Riga was appointed the abbess, and Fr. Polycarp (Nichiporuk), a monk of the Optina Hermitage, was appointed as spiritual father.
On May 27, 1990, the restoration of the Church of the Assuage My Sorrows Icon of the Mother of God was solemnly celebrated. During the Divine Liturgy, Matushka was elevated to the rank of igumena and the first inhabitants became novices, thus marking the second birthday of the monastery.
