On March 25, Metropolitan Georgiy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas presided at the services held at the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery’s Trinity Cathedral. His Eminence Georgiy served an akathist to Venerable Seraphim of Sarov before his holy relics and the liturgy of Presanctified Gifts.

The church typikon calls the Wednesday following the Sunday of the Cross as Mid-Lent since the first half of Lent is over and there are 24 days left before Pascha.

Beginning from today’s Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts, a special prayer about those preparing for illumination will be read: “Let us the faithful pray to the Lord for our brethren who are preparing for holy illumination and their salvation. That the Lord our God establishes and strengthens them. That He illumines them with the light of knowledge and piety. That He may make them worthy in due time of the baptism of regeneration, the remissions of sins, and the robe of incorruption. That He may regenerate them with water and the Spirit. That He may grant them the perfection of faith. That He may number them among His holy and chosen flock.”

During the post-communion prayers, Presbyter Anthony Chikin of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery addressed the faithful with a homily. He pointed out that we should not become despondent under any circumstances or show despair and faintheartedness but instead rely fully on God. The hope in the Lord frees the soul from despondency and fear building up the spiritual capacities of man.

Metropolitan Georgiy congratulated everyone at the end of the service saying that we reached mid-Lent and wished that “the Lord will strengthen us who are frail and weak so that we could zealously and without fail keep our prayerful vigil during this holy fast.”