Sarov, Nizhny Novgorod Province, Russia, December 24, 2024
Photo: nne.ru
The reconstruction of the Holy Dormition-Sarov Hermitage, known especially as the home of the great St. Seraphim of Sarov, continued yesterday with the consecration of a rebuilt church.
His Eminence Metropolitan George of Nizhny Novgorod served the rite of the Great Consecration of the Church of the Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, followed by the Divine Liturgy. His Eminence was concelebrated by the monastery’s abbot Igumen Nikon (Ivashkov), the dean of the Sarov District Archpriest Lev Yushkov, and other clergy of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese, reports the Metropolis of Nizhny Novgorod.
Met. George addressed those present with a hierarchical message:
The consecration of a church is always a special spiritual joy both on earth and in Heaven. Today, more than ever, we feel the connection of times, seeing how the once-desecrated Sarov Monastery has been revived over the course of 20 years. It seemed impossible to restore this ancient holy site. But by God’s mercy and through the efforts of many people, it has again appeared before us in its grandeur. Of course, there is still much to be done, such as beautifying the monastery quarters, but the main thing is that spiritual life should increase here. And even though the brotherhood here is not as numerous now, we remember the words: Fear not, little flock... (Lk. 12:32). I thank all the monastery’s brotherhood for their labors, may the Lord continue to send you spiritual and physical strength to worthily carry out your service for the glory of the Lord. Everything happens according to His will, and today, seeing the restored Sarov Monastery, we rejoice and take comfort in being witnesses and participants in this good work.
All those present were given icons of the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon in memory of the church’s consecration.
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Photo: nne.ru
The church dedicated to the Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon is located in one of the monastery’s buildings next to the bell tower. Before the revolution, this building housed a 20-bed monastery hospital. In 1892, a house church dedicated to the Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon was consecrated within the hospital building. The current Church of St. Panteleimon was established in the building’s premises in 2024.
The restoration of this church is another step in recreating the complex of the Holy Dormition Sarov Hermitage. Notably, the Church of St. Panteleimon is the last on the list of already restored churches within the monastery complex.
The architectural appearance of the Sarov Hermitage developed throughout its existence. Initially, all buildings and churches were wooden. The earliest lithograph, dated to the early 1760s, already shows all churches and the front wall made of stone.
Bishop Theophil (Raev) of Tambov and Penza had a significant influence on the reorganization of the monastery square. During his visit to the monastery in 1789, he drew up a renovation plan, which served as guidance for a string of abbots.
Gradually, the first wooden churches were replaced with stone structures. By 1903, when a church was built and consecrated in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov above the cell where he lived, the monastery took on its final formed appearance, recognizable and uniquely distinctive.
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