Today is a special day for the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery as it remembers the day when Hegumenia Sergiya was installed to a rank of hegumenia. It took place twenty-eight years ago on November 17, 1991.

On the evening before,  Bishop Elijah of Balakhna, the Vicar of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese served the Vigil service at the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery. His presence imparted a special celebratory mood to the evening service on the eve of the Hegumenia’s remembrance day.

The icons of Christ’s Resurrection and the “Hegumenia of Diveyevo” icon of the Mother of God were placed in the center of the cathedral.

The sisters, wishing to give special honors to the Most Holy Mother of God, the Superior Hegumenia of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery, decorated Her icon of the “Hegumenia of Diveyevo” from the iconostasis’ local saints tier with flowers.

In the morning, Hegumenia Sergiya, followed by the sisters, arrived at the Trinity Cathedral. Bishop Elijah of Balakhna, Presbyter Vladimir (Kargin), the monastery’s senior priest, met her there and greeted with the memorable day.

Everyone present at the cathedral glorified the Mother of God singing the paraklesis before Her miracle-working image of “Tenderness.” On this day, the Birth-Giver of God is especially honored as She promised to always be the Superior Hegumenia of the Diveyevo monastery.

Following the Divine Liturgy, a prayer service of thanksgiving was served and everyone sang “Many Years!” to Matushka Sergiya. Afterwards, litya was served at the gravesites of Hegumenia Maria (Ushakova) and Hegumenia Alexandra (Trakovskaya). After the meal, all of the sisters headed by Matushka Sergiya went around the Holy Kanavka and prayed at the monastery’s holy sights.