On November 7, the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery celebrated the day of remembrance of the Venerable Confessor Matrona of Diveyevo. Her relics rest at the monastery’s Our Lady of Kazan Cathedral where the vigil service, the Divine Liturgy and the prayer service were held. 

Matrona Vlasova was born in 1889 into the family of peasants from the village of Puzo of Nizhny Novgorod Province. At the age of six, she was orphaned and placed in the care of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery. The youngster exhibited an early talent in drawing, so art soon turned into obedience for her. Following a life of obedience and prayer, the nun Matrona stayed in the monastery till its dissolution in 1927. 

After the monastery closed, nun Matrona with three other sisters from Diveyevo resided in the village of Kuzyatovo of Ardatov District. The sisters served at church and made embroidery for living. The sisters were arrested in April of 1933 on charges of carrying out anti-Soviet propaganda. 

She spent the rest of her life either at the concentration camps or in exile. She never shared with her family any memories of what had happened to her while she was there. However, many years later, she told Schemanun Margarita (Lakhtionova): “They used to abuse us… We worked hard walking long distances to reach work and returning late to the barracks. Many of us would not return from work, falling while walking and left to die from freezing on the road… I don’t know how we survived… for those places aren’t conducive for survival. I had only one hope and help, from the Lord and our Venerable father.”

Her brother appealed to his sister’s pardon. During the last years of her life, she lived in her native village of Puzo. Locals remember her meek and quiet disposition. The major part of her day was spent in prayer. The local church was closed, so the Diveyevo sisters “served” in their homes, despite bans and persecution.

Nun Matrona died on November 7, 1963. She was buried at the village cemetery to the left of the graves of martyrs Eudoxia, Daria, Daria and Maria. The Venerable Confessor’s relics were uncovered in 2007.