The major feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God is solemnly celebrated in the churches of the Seraphim-Diveyevo monastery. Three Divine Liturgy services were celebrated today, two early in the morning and one late-morning liturgy. Bishop Anthony (Azizov) of Volgodonsk and Salsk presided at the hierarchical service for monastics celebrated on patronal feast in the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God.

Vladyka said that he was happy to be in the Fourth Lot of the Mother of God on such a day and to serve in the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Diveyevo. In his festive sermon he mentioned that just as the little children are drawing slanted, crooked, and imperfect pictures for moms on their birthdays and other holidays and mothers rejoice receiving these gifts, so we too bring our lives, slanted, crooked, full of sins and passions, to the Most Holy Mother of God, and the Mother of God accepts us and rejoices with us. His Grace wished that we do not get embarrassed by the fact that our life is crooked and slanted, but that we try to put them right and dedicate ourselves to the Queen of Heaven and God.

Two Nativity churches were rebuilt in the Diveyevo monastery according to the command of the Most Holy Mother of God. They were attached to the Kazan Cathedral from its western side. The upper church, consecrated in honor of the Nativity of Christ, was built first. Later on, basement level was dug out and the lower church of the Nativity of the Mother of God was added there. Four pillars had to be added there to support the vault. Having learned about it, Venerable Seraphim said to Mikhail Vasilyevich Manturov, who headed the construction work: “Four pillars – four relics! What a joy for us, batiushka!” Indeed, the lower church of the Nativity of the Mother of God currently has the relics of three Diveyevo ascetics – Venerable Alexandra, Martha and Elena.