Fr. Vladimir Chudinov at the Verkhnechusovskie Kazan-St. Tryphon Hermitage. To the right of Fr. Vladimir is Novice Anastasia, now Mother Seraphima
I met Mother Seraphima, then the twenty-three-year-old novice Anastasia, doing obediences at the Kazan-St. Tryphon Hermitage twenty years ago, in 2002. Nastya and I were weeding the monastery garden together and started talking—it was very joyful to talk with her and even just to be silent. She was a pure, bright person, very young, but zealous, having already tasted the sweetness of prayer, having experienced the truths spoken by the Prophet and King David: How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Ps. 118:103), and The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth (Ps. 144:18). People often come to God as adults, after numerous sorrows and trials and severe illnesses. Nastya, dexterously weeding the carrots next to me, came to God as a little girl—by the fervent prayers of her grandmother. Here are her stories:
My first visit to the Kazan-St. Tryphon Hermitage
At first I went to church with my grandmother, and then my father would take my brother and me. We had to go to the services on Sunday morning, but we teenagers just wanted to sleep a little longer! But it was a pity to offend our father, so we went. On the way home, we could feel the grace we’d received and no longer regretted getting up early.
Our city of Lysva is located next to the Chusovskoe District, and many of the people went to the monastery on Miteinaya Hill. I first went to the monastery when I was fourteen, and immediately felt the grace present there. The whole family would go in the summer and, of course, we would go to the spring. I was healed from a sickness there.
After school in Lysva, I went to Nizhny Tagil and entered the pedagogical institute as a shop teacher. I lived in Tagil for five years and I went to church that whole time.
Abbess Ksenia and Mother Seraphima
Fr. Vladimir Chudinov
A very great role in my spiritual development was played by Fr. Vladimir Chudinov (1947–2000), a cleric of the Joy of All Who Sorrow Convent in Nizhny Tagil. I met him in church: I went to Confession, communed, and received spiritual advice.
Fr. Vladimir was an ascetic and was very strict with himself, but with parishioners he was simple and caring, and covered everyone with his love. People would wait till nightfall to confess to him, and he didn’t refuse anyone, but listened to all.
Fr. Vladimir Chudinov
“But you’ll pass with better grades than everyone else!”
I especially remember this story from my conversations with Fr. Vladimir.
I had a test on the structural performance of materials on Monday. But at the request of Fr. Vladimir, I spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the church. I was at the services and helped in the Sunday School. When I asked to be released at least in the evening to prepare for the test, Fr. Vladimir said:
“But you’ll pass with better grades than everyone else!”
And I managed to read the entire textbook in one night and get the highest score among all the girls in my group.
With the blessing of Fr. Vladimir, three other sisters besides me are currently living in our monastery.
An answer to prayer
In those years, the abbess of the Joy of All Who Sorrow Monastery in Nizhny Tagil was Igumena Kirilla (Suvorova; 1950-2011). She prayed for me and always invited me to her monastery. After my classes at the institute, I would labor at obediences there, but in my heart I felt that it wasn’t the place for me.
In speaking with Abbess Kirilla, Fr. Vladimir, and other priests, I gradually came to the idea that I could depart for a monastery. Secular life didn’t attract me, but I couldn’t make a final decision or figure out what God’s providence was for me.
Then I started asking God to arrange my life according to His will. And after fervent prayer, I somehow felt the answer within my soul, that I had to go to a monastery, especially since I always liked it there so much. And I realized it was my calling and my final decision.
Abbess Kirilla (Suvorova)
Joy of All Who Sorrow Monastery in Nizhny Tagil. Photo: D. V. Leizerova
How I entered the monastery
I was offered to go see how they live in Novo-Tikhvin Monastery in Ekaterinburg. But I thought that if I’m going to go to a monastery, then only to Verkhnechusovskie Gorodki, to the Kazan-St. Tryphon Hermitage.
In my third year at the institute, I went there and asked permission from the spiritual father, Igumen Savvaty (Rudakov), to stay there immediately and forever. But Batiushka said I had to do as my parents blessed. They asked me to finish what I was doing, to finish my studies at the institute. I returned to Tagil.
In my fifth year, Abbess Kirilla gave me a book with the letters of Schema-Abbot Savva (Ostapenko; 1898-1980), an elder of the Pskov Caves Monastery. I read it. And when there were only two months left before the defense of my dissertation, I started really missing the monastery on Miteinaya Hill.
I opened the book and suddenly read these lines: “Be patient, there are only two months left. I even know your name—Nastenka.” Such miraculous advice reassured my spirit.
I finished my studies in 2001 and immediately went to the monastery.
Verkhnechusovskie Gorodki with a view of the Kazan-St. Tryphon Hermitage across the river
Spiritual peace, joy, love—isn’t that a miracle?!
Sometimes pilgrims ask the sisters: “Have you experienced any miracles during your time in the monastery?” I think there’s a miracle every day in the monastery, in the depths of the human heart. Spiritual joy, peace, love—isn’t that a miracle?! The revelation of thoughts to a spiritual father is a miracle. A priest is a special conductor of God’s grace as a priceless gift. Even the buildings and the air are saturated with grace.
I thank everyone who has prayed and prays for me and thanks to whom I made the right life choice. I also would like to greet all the readers of Pravoslavie.ru/OrthoChristian.com!
Sisters and priests of the Kazan-St. Tyrphon Hermitage
Sisters on the kliros. Mother Seraphima is in the center
Kazan-St. Tryphon Hermitage in winter
From the author
Dear readers! The Kazan-St. Tryphon Hermitage is quite far from Perm and other cities, and the cities of this poor monastery are accustomed to the difficulties and hardships of village life. They live the old-fashioned way: They carry water from a well, they still wash their clothes by hand, they have to heat their stoves, they have no sewage, and all the amenities are outside.
Now due to the limited number of pilgrims, the sisters of the Kazan-Tryphon Hermitage are having a difficult time, but they don’t despair. They continue to strive in labors and prayers and will also pray fervently for anyone who can help them. Names for prayer can be sent by email to miteinayagora@yandex.ru.
Monastery website: v-chus.cerkov.ru
Details for donations:
Full name: Verkhnechusovskie Kazan Triphonova Hermitage—Convent of the Solikamsk Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate.
Abbess: Igumena Ksenia (Oschepkova, Tatiana Nikolaevna)
Address: Krasnaya Gorka, Chusovskoe District, Perm Krai, 618221
INN (Taxpayer's Identification Number): 5921014327
KPP (Registration Code): 592101001
OGRN (Principle State Registration Number): 1035900009474
Settlement account: 40703810549150100029
Correspondent account: 30101.810.9.00000000603
Bank BIC: 042202603
Bank: Volga-Vyatka Bank Sberbank PJSC
