The Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery solemnly celebrated the Hegumenia Day today.

Thirty-one years ago, on November 17, 1991, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Alexiy II, Metropolitan Nikolai (Kutepov) of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas elevated nun Sergia (Konkova) to the rank of hegumenia of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery and laid on her a cross that formerly belonged to hegumenia Alexandra (Trakovskaya), the second abbess of the Diveyevo monastery.

During the tenure of hegumenia Sergia as the monastery’s abbess, the monastery has been resurrected from ruins and has seen complete transformation. Pilgrims and guests can nowadays enjoy a view of the harmoniously built architectural ensemble of cathedrals, monastic quarters, auxiliary buildings and pilgrim hotels. The monastery owns the metochions and sketes. All of this places a huge demand for a fervent prayer, unceasing care, attention and heartfelt participation on the part of matushka hegumenia.

According to Diveyevo tradition, on the eve of the festive evening service, the sisters greeted matushka hegumenia at the Hegumenia’s residence and walked with her first to the Trinity Cathedral to complete the monastic prayer rule and later to the Annunciation Cathedral. This memorable day’s service included the reading of the Akathist to the Most Holy Mother of God, the Most Venerable Hegumenia of all monastic communities.

The icon of the Queen of Heaven called “The Hegumenia of Diveyevo” was placed on the analogion in the center of the church painted by the sisters of the monastery styled after the same icon from Mount Athos. This icon symbolizes the authority of the Mother of God as abbess of the Diveyevo monastery, Her Fourth lot in the universe. Venerable Seraphim instructed the sisters of Diveyevo who visited him: “You shouldn’t worry about anything! The Mother of God brought you together and She called Herself your Hegumenia! She will take care, protect, manage, and intercede on your behalf; all things are known and possible for Her!”

The feast day in the Diveyevo monastery was marked with celebration of three Divine Liturgy services, the general Communion of the sisters and the office of Panagia. Following the communal meal, everyone walked in a procession along the Holy Kanavka.