The kind, merciful, humble and meek character of the great wonderworker Nicholas, along with his staunch Orthodox belief, is profoundly relatable to the Russian spiritual character and the moral ideal of our nation. From time immemorial, many Russian churches and monasteries were named after this favorite saint. There are six altars dedicated to Saint Nicholas around the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery, including its sketes and metochions.

On May 22, the Liturgy services were held at every monastery’s altar dedicated to Saint Nicholas. Besides, the services were held at the monastery’s Trinity, Annunciation and Transfiguration Cathedrals.

The Diocesan festive service was held at St. Nicholas Monastery in Arzamas. The Divine Liturgy there was celebrated by Metropolitan Georgiy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas.

Hegumenia Sergiya, the Abbess of the Seraphim-Diveyevo Monastery, prayerfully participated at the Divine Liturgy held at St. Nicholas Monastery.

Metropolitan Georgiy addressed the faithful with a sermon: “During the saint’s life, the persecutions against Christians ended and the pious Tsar Constantine the Great ascended the imperial throne. However, the devil took to attacking Christians from another side. During the first centuries of our era, he acted through pagans, provoking them to persecute and kill Christians. Afterwards, in the following centuries, he sought out enemies of our Savior among Christians, seeking those who could distort the faith in the Lord and God Jesus Christ. Arius, the presbyter of the Alexandrian Church, was such a wolf in sheep’s clothing. A man of education, talent, eloquence, and conviction, he preached that Christ is not the true God but the supreme human being, a man albeit special. This false doctrine became so popular throughout the Christian East that it stirred conflict and confrontation among Christians. Emperor Constantine was forced to convene a council of bishops of the Church, later known as the First Ecumenical Council, to discern between lies and truth. At the Council, Saints Nicholas and Spyridon of Tremithus with other Church Fathers defeated Arius and his heresy protecting purity of our faith. Years go by but the devil seeks out new Arians in order to seduce people and tear them away from true Christian faith. We see what is going on in the church of the long-suffering Ukraine these days. Yet we believe that, with God’s help, through the prayerful intercession of Saint Nicholas, the current Aryans will be put to shame and humiliated, because God is not found in power, but in Truth!”