On May 12, Hegumenia Sergia, the abbess of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery, took part in the celebrations marking the 350th anniversary of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese.

On this memorable day, the host of archpastors celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Nizhny Novgorod Cathedral to Holy Righteous Prince Alexander Nevsky.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the head of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolia offered a prayer of thanks for all the blessings bestowed by God and congratulated the faithful gathered in the church with the 350th anniversary of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese: “The results we were able to achieve by the grace of God are the fruit of mutual work of the diocese, clergy and monastics, laity and the government representatives. We strive to prove with our deeds that we cherish our country and our faith and love for the Lord is a strong spiritual foundation behind our work. Nizhny Novgorod brought forth a great host of the ascetics of piety. We are the heirs of great Holy Russia.”

The decision to establish a see in Nizhny Novgorod was made on March 24/April 6, 1672, at the Council of the Church in Moscow.

The Nizhny Novgorod Diocese is growing and adds new churches. The beautification work at the Sarov and Diveyevo monasteries continues. A lot of effort is currently undertaken to preserve the church art monuments. Since 2020, the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese, together with the Russian Union of Restorers, has implemented the icon, fresco, and church plate restoration program.

The head of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese pays great attention to the education of the younger generation, in particular, in keeping with the spiritual and moral traditions of the Russian Orthodox Church. Another important area is social work. The family and social centers are busy operating throughout the diocese.

The restored Nizhny Novgorod Theological Seminary celebrated a 300th anniversary in 2021. About five hundred graduates of its daytime and correspondence departments stand before the throne of God serving as priests and deacons, whereas four of them have reached the highest order and became bishops.

The “Pokrov” Center for training of church specialists named after Metropolitan Nikolai (Kutepov) prepares the church choir directors, iconographers and seamstresses, parish missionaries and catechism, youth and social work specialists for the needs of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese.