On June 10, the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery commemorated the memory of Venerable Elena of Diveyevo. On this day, 189 years ago in 1832, she was vouchsafed of a righteous death. Obeisant to the will of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, the holy God-pleasing maiden agreed to die in place of her grievously ill brother whose help was still greatly needed at the Diveyevo monastery.

The Vigil service, the Divine Liturgy, and prayer service with the akathist were held at the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God, the location of the Venerable Elena of Diveyevo’s relics.

The life of the Diveyevo ascetic was marked by fervent faith and unceasing deeds. She was born near Diveyevo at a family estate in the village of Nucha to a noble Manturov family and was baptized with the name of Elena.

Her life’s account resembles that of the Christian ascetics who led the battle with the spirits of wickedness in high places. Elena Vasilyevna had a vision of a great fiery dragon. Shaken to the core, she called the Mother of God for help and promised to take a vow of celibacy and enter a monastery.

Nun Elena spent her days immersed in prayer, obedience, contemplation, and silence. Gifted with the virtue of kindness from birth, Elena Vasilyevna was known to endlessly perform a great lot of secret acts of mercy.

In the service to the Synaxis of the Saints of Diveyevo, we can read the following about her: “Our venerable mother Elena! In the simplicity of your heart, you became obedient to Venerable Seraphim, your spiritual father as if to Christ, and, while still young, you accepted death in place of your brother as obedience; as no one can possess this love but the one who will put their life for the friends, says the Lord, pray to Him about the salvation of our souls.”

Nun Elena had a revelation about the day of her death and was shown the saints in the heavenly places. She has seen the Lord as ineffable fire, while the Queen of Heaven and angels appeared to her. Nun Elena died in the age of 27, having spent seven years in the Diveyevo monastery.

“Her soul departed and took flight as if a bird! The Cherubims and Seraphims made way! She was vouchsafed to sit in the presence of the Holy Trinity, like a maiden!” – Venerable Seraphim said about the passing of Venerable Elena.