On Tuesday of the fourth week following Pascha, the hierarchical service was celebrated at the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery. Metropolitan Georgiy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas presided at the akathist before the relics of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov and celebrated the late-morning Divine Liturgy in the Trinity Cathedral.

The hymns performed by the monastic choir under the direction of Nun Elena (Tsarakhova), as well as Paschal and patriotic songs sung by the Alexandrinskaya monastery school choir after communion, adorned the service.

Archpriest Fr. Alexander Naumov of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery delivered a sermon during the service. Batiushka spoke about the spiritual significance of the holy monasteries called to increase the glory of God and reveal it to the world. The preacher noted that the monasteries and churches teach us how to reconcile with God and ourselves, to worthily honor the Most Holy Mother of God and holy God-pleasing saints in order to always remain in spirit and truth and attain the Kingdom of Heaven in our souls.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Hegumenia Sergia, the abbess of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery, together with the students of the Alexandrinskaya Orthodox monastery School, congratulated Metropolitan Georgiy with Pascha and presented His Eminence a prosphora and a hand-painted Easter egg, as well as the bouquet of flowers and Paschal cake on behalf of the school. Matushka Sergia thanked Metropolitan Georgiy for the prayers and his care about the monastery wishing that God, through the prayers of the Most Holy Mother of God and holy God-pleasing saints, gives him strength to carry out his archpastoral work.

The Metropolitan of Nizhny Novgorod addressed the faithful with the joyous Paschal greeting “Christ is Risen!” Metropolitan Georgiy thanked Hegumenia Sergia for her kind words and gifts, specifically thanking the students of the monastery school for their singing called by His Eminence as being “full of fragrance.”

“During these holy days of Pascha we, together with St. John Chrysostom, exclaim, “Death, where is thy sting? Hell, where is your victory?” said Metropolitan Georgiy and wished that the Paschal joy about the Risen Lord always lives in our hearts, just as Father Seraphim told us to. “Peace, goodness, and consolation in the Lord Jesus Christ, to Him be the glory and thanksgiving forever. Amen,” said the ruling hierarch in conclusion.