One hundred and forty three years ago on January 14/27,1879, on the day of the Leavetaking of the feast of Theophany, Nikolay Alexandrovich Motovilov, Venerable Seraphim of Sarov’s companion and a witness of the uncreated light, the saint’s first biographer, and benefactor of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery for many years, passed away quietly and peacefully.

The Queen of Heaven held Nikolay Alexandrovich under Her omophorion since youth and never left him without Her care.

Sergey Alexandrovich Nillus writes about the vision her had in his sleep of the Mother of God Motovilov shortly before death. As he explained later, She kindly looked at him and promised to take him into the holy places never seen and meet the holy God-pleasing saints never heard of before.

Nikolay Alexandrovich was sick for nine days, from January 5 till January 14, 1879. On January 11, 1879, he was deemed worthy to have a vision promised to him earlier. “Three days before his death, I found him in the morning in a joyous and jubilant mood,” his wife Elena Ivanovna recalled. ‘I saw,’ he says, ‘our front yard and all of my holy saints and intercessors gathering there. What a joyful sight it was!’ ”  That’s how the knowledge of the holy places and holy God-pleasing saints promised by the Mother of God has been revealed to him.

Nikolay Alexandrovich died in his homestead in Simbirsk after partaking of the Holy Mysteries. A coffin with his body was transferred to Diveyevo for burial and he found eternal rest south from the altar of the Kazan Church not far from Venerable Alexandra’s grave.

On the day of remembrance of Nikolay Alexandrovich Motovilov and following the Divine Liturgy, the sisters gathered beside his grave and a remembrance litya was served there.