17 May 2020 года

Xenia Mikhailovna Kocheulova prayerfully remembered today

Today is the day of the repose of Xenia Mikhailovna Kocheulova, the third superior nun of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery called a fiery pillar from earth to heaven by Venerable Seraphim of Sarov.

In 2007, the burial plots of an old parish church cemetery were uncovered during the construction of the side chapels at Our Lady of Kazan Church. On May 4, the feast of the Synaxis of the New Martyrs in Butovo, the workers at the site have come upon burial of an unknown elderly woman of short stature. She had a small icon lying on her chest. A few pieces of black fabric similar to that of Venerable Seraphim’s mantle and a few beads from a prayer rope have been discovered, too.

The place of burial was identical to that mentioned in the “Chronicle of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery” as being “not too far from matushka Alexandra’s.”  The features of an elder fit within the description preserved by the “Chronicle:” “petite, skinny, … looks ill.” It certainly matched the remains found there with a height of about 1.55 m (5 ft) or slightly taller. The deceased nun was found to have spine curvature that meant she was a hunchback during her life. The knee joints had well- worn areas from making endless prostrations.

The examination confirmed the “Chronicle’s” account that Xenia Mikhailovna was ill before she died.  She suffered from a right hip fracture complications due to osteomyelitis. The professor conducting an intermediate cross-examination said: “How did this matushka suffer! She had to endure an unbearable pain as she had a hipbone fistula. The discharge must have fountained there. She suffered for a long time, at least, for six or seven months.”  It is true since she suffered a fall around November or December and died in May.

After the liturgy, a memorial litya was served at the Xenia Mikhailovna’s gravesite.