This day marks eighteen years of the repose of Metropolitan Nikolai (Kutepov) (1924–2001) of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas of blessed memory. He is remembered as true Shepherd to his flock who even during the most difficult years of his life served selflessly to his Church and the country.

Archbishop Nikolai (Kutepov) arrived in the Nizhny Novgorod (known then as Gorky) Diocese in 1977. Prior to that, he served as a hierarch of the Vladimir Diocese and knew some of the sisters from Diveyevo monastery who resided in Vladimir and Murom.

His Eminence Nikolai blessed the restoration of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery and participated at the monastery’s property transfer. He used to come here often presiding over the monastery’s services of consecration of churches and at patronal feasts.

After the Divine Liturgy held at the Trinity Cathedral, a funeral service was served in memory of His Eminence Nikolai.

Traditionally, Hegumenia Sergiya, the Abbess of Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery, takes part in the memorial services served at Nizhny Novgorod’s Christ the Savior Cathedral.