In Diveyevo, celebrations were held in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov.

      On August 1, 2026, at 17:05, Society On August 1, 2026, the day of the memory of the Reverend Seraphim of Sarov, festive services were held at the Holy Trinity Seraphimo-Diveevo Monastery in the Nizhny Novgorod region. The Divine Liturgy was led by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.

      The celebrations were attended by the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Russia in the Volga Federal District Igor Komarov, the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin, the Head of the Republic of Mordovia Artem Zdunov, the Speaker of the Nizhny Novgorod Regional Duma Evgeny Lyulin, Metropolitan Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas, representatives of the clergy, parishioners, and guests of the monastery.

      The Liturgy took place outdoors in the square in front of the Transfiguration Cathedral at the reliquary with the relics of the Reverend Seraphim of Sarov. After the service, Patriarch Kirill addressed the participants of the celebrations, noting the importance of spiritual unity and the prayerful feat of the saint. "Reverend Seraphim became a servant of God for our land, for our people in difficult times. Relying on his spiritual strength, our people were able to overcome the temptations and seductions that at another time could have destroyed faith and spiritual life," said the head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

      According to the patriarch, it was in the Diveevo Monastery that a spiritual shield was created, which helped preserve faith and protect the country from trials. Igor Komarov noted the special role of the Seraphimo-Diveevo Monastery, calling it a source of kindness and philanthropy, a bastion of spiritual strength and traditional values.

      As part of the visit to Diveevo, a meeting was held between the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of Russia in the Volga Federal District and Patriarch Kirill, Governor Gleb Nikitin, and Metropolitan Georgy. Igor Komarov emphasized that the visits of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church to the regions of the district are significant events.

      The plenipotentiary also shared his impressions of communicating with scientists working in Sarov. According to him, among the specialists deeply engaged in research, there are no non-believers. Patriarch Kirill supported this idea, noting: "True knowledge brings one closer to God, while distorted knowledge leads one away from God."

      The head of the region, Gleb Nikitin, spoke about the development of the pilgrimage and tourist cluster "Arzamas - Diveevo - Sarov." In Arzamas, the restoration of the Resurrection Cathedral and the Savior-Transfiguration Cathedral has been completed. In Diveevo, a spiritual and educational center named after Seraphim of Sarov has been built. The construction of the Holy Gates, landscaping of the adjacent territory, road construction, and the monastery wall are ongoing. In Sarov, the restoration of the facilities of the Holy Assumption Male Monastery is underway.

      Metropolitan Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas reported on the implementation of a program for the conservation of destroyed churches with subsequent restoration. In addition, the participants of the meeting noted the interaction between the Church and government bodies on issues of demographic policy and strengthening the institution of the family.

      It should be noted that in 2026, two important dates are celebrated for the Seraphimo-Diveevo Monastery: the 123rd anniversary of the discovery of the relics and the glorification of Reverend Seraphim of Sarov among the saints, and the 200th anniversary of the monastery.

      Reverend Seraphim of Sarov is one of the most venerated saints of the Russian Orthodox Church. His spiritual feat is associated with the Sarov Desert and the Holy Trinity Seraphimo-Diveevo Monastery, founded and established by his blessing. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay informed about the main events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+