7^th International military sports festival “The Orthodox Warrior” convened on August 3. The festival’s youngest participants aged 5 to 13 competed in the tactical triathlon held at the “Kazachy Ostrog” activity center located not far from Diveyevo and the St. Florus skete of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery. The team from the Sarov’s “Kazachy Ostrog” team won first place. 

The festival is a gathering of young men representing various military and patriotic clubs and teams from Russia and abroad involved at various kinds of sports. At the same time, they are united by Orthodox faith and their readiness to defend the Motherland. In 2018, more than 300 participants from various patriotic martial arts groups and military clubs participated at “The Orthodox Warrior” programs. This year, the festival welcomed 186 guests.

The festival’s program includes six disciplines: military tactics competition (age 14 and older), Nizhny Novgorod Metropolitanate’s Cup at hand-to-hand fighting (ARB) (10+), the Cossack dagger open tournament (12+), “The Storm” laser tag competition (12+), saber-rattling contest (by rules of the “Kazard” Sports Federation), and tactical triathlon (ages 8-13 for laser tag meetups and 14+ for airsoft competitions). The teams are invited to take part in more than one competition. 

The opening ceremony and prayer service will take place on August 5 at noon. Bishop Filaret of Dalnekostantinovsk, the Vicary of the Diocese of Nizhny Novgorod will conduct a prayer service. 

Young sportsmen will visit the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery and participate at its services, venerate the holy relics, partake of the Holy Communion and take a dip at the holy springs.