Rev. Fr. Anthony Chikin of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery celebrated the services in commemoration of the “Surety of Sinners” Icon of the Mother of God, the patron icon of the church at the Sts. Florus and Laurus skete. The wooden church is located at the monastery’s cemetery. The Vigil, paraklesis with blessing of water prayer service, and the Divine Liturgy were held there, followed by the festive procession of the clergy and sisters walking around the church.

Hegumenia Sergiya, the abbess of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery, took part in the services.

“The Surety of Sinners” Icon of the Mother of God owes its name for the sign it bears that says “I am the Surety of Sinners before My Son…” The icon was glorified with first miracles at the St. Nicholas Odrin monastery in Oryol Governorate in the middle of the 19^th century. The ancient copy of this icon crumbled away from age, so it wasn’t duly revered and was kept in storage in an old chapel beside the monastery gates. But in 1843, many local residents received vision in their dreams that this icon possessed the miracle-working powers. The icon was ceremoniously transferred to the church. The faithful flocked there seeking the healing from their sorrows and ailments. The first miracle of healing was bestowed upon a crippled boy whose mother prayed fervently before this icon. The icon became widely known at the time of the cholera epidemics, when the terminally ill appealed to it with faith and were restored to life.

The Holy Church glorifies the Most Holy Mother of God: “All despondency now doth cease and the sin of despair vanisheth away! Sinners find consolation amid the sorrow of their hearts and are splendidly illuminated with heavenly love! Today the Mother of God extendeth to us a saving hand and speaketh from her all-pure image, saying: I am surety for sinners before my Son! He hath given them into my hands and will harken unto me as I continually pray for them! Wherefore, O ye people who are heavy laden with many sins, fall down before her icon, crying out with tears: O helper of the world, Surety of Sinners, by thy maternal supplications, entreat the Deliverer of all, that He cover our sins with the utter forgiveness of God and open unto us the radiant gates of paradise, for thou art the intercession and salvation of the Christian race!”