On August 10, Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery traditionally celebrates the feast of the “Tenderness” icon of the Mother of God. The people flock to venerate the miracle-working icon held at the Trinity Cathedral day in and day out.

The Paraklesis prayer service, the water blessing service, and Divine Liturgy were served at the Trinity Cathedral’s side altar to the icon of “Tenderness” at night. This service is reserved strictly for the sisters of the monastery and they gather en masse to pray for their Heavenly Hegumenia.

In the morning, the Divine Liturgy was served at the Trinity and Transfiguration Cathedrals. Metropolitan Georgiy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas presided at the service in the Trinity Cathedral with Bishop Filaret of Dalnekostantinovsk, the Vicary of the Diocese of Nizhny Novgorod concelebrating.

On behalf of all sisters, Hegumenia Sergiya thanked the archpastors for enriching the service with their presence and congratulated the Metropolitan Georgiy with the approaching 55^th birthday anniversary. The icon of the Diveyevo’s Superior Hegumenia with Venerable saints Seraphim and Alexandra was painted by the sisters and presented to the ruling hierarch.

In his hierarchical address at the end of the service, the head of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolitanate said that in the person of the Mother of God we have the heavenly intercessor for all mankind and the protection cover above the Russian land as well as special protection of our monastics and bishops who wear panagias with Her image on their chests. His Eminence Georgiy reminded that whenever the family faced the crisis, and it happened quite often in the first half of the 19^th century, the parents would entrust their children in the care of the Queen of Heaven. As a result, not only did they typically survive but also became successful as adults. “Anytime we are under the omophorion of the Mother of God,” Metropolitan said, “we are immune to the wickedness of the modern times. Whenever a man leading unrighteous life drives God’s grace away, his soul and body are exposed to any act of evil.”

According to the established tradition, the festive procession with the cross went around the Holy Kanavka carrying the antique icon of the Mother of God “Tenderness.”