Christmastide is in full swing. Every Nativity church service invites us to rejoice and glorify the birth of the Christ Child: “Come, let us rejoice in the Lord!”, “The powers of Heaven rejoice, the earth and her people are jubilant”, “Rejoice, Jerusalem, exult, all of you who love Zion”.

During Christmastide, the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery and the sketes hold traditional Christmas concerts. For example, there was one on January 9 at the Melyaevsky skete attended by children of a local Sunday school. Directed by Nun Onisima (Ovsyannikova), young carolers presented a skit “The Savior is Born,” carols, poems and songs.

To share the joy of Christ’s Nativity, local villagers and their children, Sunday school graduates, and even families from nearby villages attended the concert.

Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden arrived to greet the children with a big bag full of gifts. Children wrote letters to him in advance sharing their special wishes and they came true during this celebration. The concert concluded with tea-time.

The Melyaevo Sunday School students performed a Christmas concert at the monastery almshouse. They brought joy to the old nuns singing carols, songs and reciting the poems dedicated to the Child Christ.

Following the performance, the children and their parents venerated the holy relics of the monastery and admired the Nativity decor at the monastery grounds.