On September 27, Nizhny Novgorod’s Elevation of the Cross monastery celebrated the patronal feast and fifteen years since the restoration of the monastery life there. Metropolitan Georgiy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas presided over the Vigil and Divine Liturgy services there.

The monastery’s abbess, Hegumenia Filareta (Gazhu), was a Diveyevo nun fifteen years ago who was tasked with its restoration. 

Before the vigil service, the faithful celebrated a joyous moment of retrieval and return of an altar reliquary cross that formerly belonged to the Sarov’s Holy Dormition monastery.

In his hierarchical address, Metropolitan Georgiy said: “ The cross is a symbol of Christ’s sacrificial love winning a victory over evil. In our hymn to the Cross of the Lord we sing: “Before Thy Cross, we bow down in worship, O Master, and Thy holy resurrection, we glorify.” That is why we lay a cross over ourselves not once during a day, that is why we wear Christ’s crosses on our necks and confess ourselves as Christians, just as why our temples are topped with the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord.” 

Speaking about the anniversary of the restoration of the Elevation of the Cross monastery, the head of the Metropolitanate reminded about the dilapidated condition of the monastery before its was re-opened following the decision of the Holy Synod. At that time, the Nizhny Novgorod’s parish church of the Elevation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord transitioned to become an Elevation of the Cross monastery for women. 

“Observing the utter state of the desolation of this place and the level of damage caused to it during troubled times, it was almost impossible to imagine that there is even a slight chance to restore the monastery. Yet, today we stand in this grand church that is quite likely looking even better than before the destruction,” added the archpastor. 

He thanked the monastery’s abbess, its sisters, benefactors, and the local faithful for their prayers and efforts at beautification of the monastery and wished to further carry their cross of monastic labors without grumbling and with zeal.