On August 2, Metropolitan Georgiy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas held a meeting at the Holy Trinity Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery aimed to summarize the solemn events of July 31 and August 1 dedicated to the remembrance feast of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov.

Present at the meeting were Bishop Elijah of Balakhna and Bishop Filaret of Dalnekonstantinovsk, the Vicars of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese, as well as Protopresbyter Sergiy Matveev, the Diocesan Secretary, Hegumenia Sergiya (Konkova), the abbess of the Diveyevo monastery, and other members of the organizational committee.

This year, due to the restrictions introduced because of the spread of the coronavirus infection, the festivities commemorating the days of remembrance of Venerable Seraphim are held at the presence of a limited number of monastery guests and pilgrims.

Due to the complicated situation regarding the spread of the coronavirus infection, a decision was made not to set up a tent camp for pilgrims this year. The pilgrims arriving in Diveyevo by any kind of transportation were to be checked upon entry that included providing the medical records with the negative coronavirus test results and booking confirmation from local hotels and guest houses for guests planning to stay longer than one day. While inside the monastery’s territory, the pilgrims were required to use hand disinfectants, maintain social distancing rules, and wear face masks. During the celebratory events, the stations were set up at the monastery gates offering free masks and hand sanitizers to the arriving pilgrims.

On July 31, the eve of the remembrance feast of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, the vigil services were served at the same time at three cathedrals. Metropolitan Varsonophius of St. Petersburg and Ladoga presided at the service in the Trinity Cathedral, the resting place of the saint’s relics. On the same day, Bishop Filaret of Dalnekonstantinovsk served Vigil at the Sarov monastery.

On August 1, the feast of the uncovering of the relics of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov the Wonderworker (1903), Met. Varsonophius celebrated the open-air Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral Square of the Diveyevo monastery in front of the holy relics of the saint.