Diveyevo, Nizhny Novgorod Province, Russia, January 16, 2026
Photo: nne.ru
More than a dozen hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church gathered yesterday to celebrate the feast of St. Seraphim of Sarov at the Holy Trinity-St. Seraphim Diveyevo Convent, where the relics of the saint are enshrined.
The service was led by His Eminence Metropolitan George of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, who was joined by 14 other hierarchs and other local and visiting clergy, reports the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolia.
Abbesses of monasteries from throughout the Russian Church were present for the feast.
After the Liturgy, Abbess Sergiya of Diveyevo thanked the hierarchs and especially Met. George for the service.
Photo: nne.ru
The head of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolia in turn thanked the abbess and congratulated everyone on the feast day of St. Seraphim. He preached.
Today, on the day of the earthly repose of St. Seraphim of Sarov, we traditionally gather at Diveyevo to pray together. Many unchurched people ask why believers so venerate this saint. Yet thousands of people throughout the world glorify his name and turn to him for help in moments of sorrow.
To understand this, you have to know the Church’s teaching about man: Our soul contains the Divine image, our true life is not here on earth, but there—in the Heavenly world. Fr. Seraphim spent his entire earthly life striving to acquire the image of God in himself, purifying his soul from sin, thereby gaining the possibility of becoming a partaker of eternal life. He taught this to all who came to him. And after the saint’s earthly repose, many people, turning to him and sincerely opening their hearts, received help, consolation, healing from illnesses, and instruction.
Such great people labored on our land, and our hearts are drawn to them, trying to guard ourselves from passions and temptations. We place our hope in the help of the Lord, the Most Holy Theotokos, and great intercessors before the Lord such as Fr. Seraphim.
Photo: nne.ru
Met. George also noted that St. Seraphim was recently chosen as the Heavenly patron of the Main Center for Special Communications of Russia.
Follow OrthoChristian on Facebook, Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, and MeWe!
