On May 18, Metropolitan Georgiy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas and Metropolitan Luke of Zaporozhye and Melitopol presided at the Divine Liturgy and the Akaphist to St. Seraphim of Sarov.

A large group of pilgrims from Zaporozhye Diocese prayed at the

monastery’s Trinity Cathedral. His Grace Luke is in Russia from May 13 as the head of the group of clergy and laity doing a pilgrimage car trip around the Russian holy sites.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Georgiy offered welcome remarks to the faithful: “We commemorate the Mother of God “The Inexhaustible Chalice” today. This is our homeland’s great holy icon. A lot of people flock to this image and receive healing from the grievous illness of alcoholism and other addictions. I am honored to greet you today, dear Your Grace Luke. May the Lord protect you in all the paths of your life and God’s help to you! I wish you the protection cover of the Queen of Heaven and the intercession of Venerable Seraphim!” Metropolitan Georgiy presented His Grace Luke with the Panagia bearing an image of St. Seraphim of Sarov praying before the icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness.”

In response, Metropolitan Luke remarked: “Today we experience great joy from seeing our spiritual unity and interaction. We are one people in Christ. By concelebrating at the services, we testify to the world that we are one, taking Communion from one Cup and living in one faith. And as long as our Church is one, the gates of hell will not overcome it.

We feel the great support and prayers pouring in from Russia. Many ask us how is our life these days. I answer: “We live to be saved”. What is currently happening in Ukraine is a testament to that special love God has for our people. Just as gold is purified by fire, we are now going through the crucible of the tribulations. After all, the most terrible persecution of the Church is the lack of thereof. The Lord tests each of us and offers His measure of what we are capable to undertake.

The Lord said: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35). I heartily thank Hegumenia Sergiya and the sisters for your reception. The sisters treat our pilgrims with so much love and care! I greet all of you, my dear ones, with the words: “Christ is Risen!”