His Eminence Metropolitan Georgiy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas presided at the Office of the Great Consecration of the Church to Venerable Seraphim of Sarov in the Satis settlement of the Diveyevo District, Nizhny Novgorod Region.

The head of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis presided at the first Divine Liturgy served at the newly consecrated altar. His Eminence Metropolitan Kirill of Stavropol and Nevinnomyssk concelebrated.

Hegumenia Sergiya (Konkova), the abbess of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery, prayerfully joined the faithful at the liturgy.

In his archpastoral homily, the Administrator of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese reminded about the history of the 20^th century when the turmoil of revolutionary upheavals ravaged Rus: “Those who came to power used to say: ‘We will build a new life full of light, joy, and happiness. But there will be no place for God.’ Then the destruction of the old world had begun. Not only the churches but the human souls were demolished. It took 70 years to see the beginning of the spiritual rebirth. We owe it to the intercession of the saints, the heroic deeds of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian lands who suffered persecution and misery but stood firm in their faith. Today is the time to gather stones, erect new churches, and heal the souls. Our medicine is prayer and the receiving of the grace of the Holy Spirit through the Sacraments of the Church. May the church we have consecrated today serve as a guiding star that would help a great many people to find their path to God.”