The closing of the VI Interregional Forum of Orthodox Youth "My Joy" took place in Diveevo.

      Text by Yulia Maximova.

      On August 1, in the village of Diveevo in the Nizhny Novgorod region, where the Holy Trinity Seraphimo-Diveevsky Convent is located, the closing of the VI interregional forum of Orthodox youth "My Joy" took place, which was held from July 28 to August 1. Its conduct was timed to coincide with the commemoration day of St. Seraphim of Sarov, celebrated on August 1.

      Participants were welcomed by the acting head of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs, Hieromonk Philaret (Zubov): "The forum was held soulfully and warmly; there is such grace here not only through the prayers of St. Seraphim but also thanks to the good feelings you, guys, brought with you. Thank you for your active life position and for the assistance provided in conducting the services. Such participation is a great spiritual support and undeniable benefit for the soul."

      Then, Hieromonk Philaret (Zubov) and the head of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese's Youth Affairs Department, Priest Andrei Bandin, presented diplomas and gifts to the participants. Organizers and coordinators of the forum were awarded letters of gratitude from Metropolitan Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas. The moderator of the event was Alexander Vikhariev, deputy head of the Youth Affairs Department.

      The forum was organized by the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth Policy of the Nizhny Novgorod region, with the support of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh) and the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church.

      The goal of the forum is to unite and spiritually enrich the youth, exchange experiences, and develop youth and volunteer organizations in the Nizhny Novgorod region and regions within the Volga Federal District and other federal districts of Russia. This year's overall theme is "Youth in Society and the Cultural Space of the Russian World: Patriotism, Self-Realization, Volunteerism, Creativity, Morality, and Spirituality."

      Within the framework of the forum, ten thematic platforms operated. A rich program was prepared for participants: sports and cultural events, excursions, and meetings with famous people. Volunteers were able to ask their questions to the head of the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis; the acting chairman of the Synodal Department for Youth Affairs of the Russian Orthodox Church, Hieromonk Philaret (Zubov); the Minister of Youth Policy of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Svetlana Anufrieva; the well-known preacher of the Russian Orthodox Church, Archpriest Artemy Vladimirov; the director of the documentary series "Orthodox Zoomers," Elena Likacheva; the honored artist of Russia, Boris Galkin; the general director of the autonomous non-profit organization "Institute of Demographic Development," public figure Maria Dugina; and the head of the department for interaction with medical and social institutions of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese, Priest Andrei Ruzanov. On the closing day of the forum, a meeting of Orthodox youth with the governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Gleb Nikitin, took place.

      Volunteers attended the International Festival-Competition of Orthodox and Patriotic Song "Arzamas Domes," as well as festive services dedicated to the day of commemoration of St. Seraphim of Sarov.

      As part of the "My Joy" forum, the youth grant competition "Rosmolodezh. Grants" was held for the second time. A total of 95 applications were submitted, and 82 projects passed the verification. In the face-to-face round, 71 participants defended their projects. The expert commission, which included specialists from various regions of the country, identified 16 winners. Among the contestants who received financial support for project implementation, 14 are from Nizhny Novgorod. The winners were congratulated by Svetlana Anufrieva. Young people will receive grants ranging from 50,000 to 1.5 million rubles. The total amount of support for their projects amounted to 4 million 735 thousand rubles.

      This year, more than 400 people from 56 dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church located in 44 regions, which are part of six federal districts of Russia: Central, Volga, Northwest, Ural, Siberian, and Southern, attended the forum, giving the event the status of a nationwide church-wide youth event (in 2025, representatives of youth associations from 40 regions of Russia and 46 dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church participated in the forum). The forum became a place of attraction for both church and secular youth interested in the faith of their homeland and striving to know God. Among the participants were more than 10 heads of youth departments of the Russian Orthodox Church dioceses.

      When citing, a link (hyperlink) to the Nizhny Novgorod Metropolis website is mandatory.

      More news about the event:

      Gleb Nikitin: the Orthodox youth forum is an excellent platform to exchange ideas

      The governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region shared his impressions from the meeting with participants of the VI interregional forum of Orthodox youth "My Joy." 22:30 01.08.2026 Time N - Nizhny Novgorod

      The closing of the VI interregional forum of Orthodox youth "My Joy" took place in Diveevo

      Text by Yulia Maximova.

      On August 1, in the village of Diveevo in the Nizhny Novgorod region, where the Holy Trinity Seraphimo-Diveevsky Convent is located, 22:23 01.08.2026 Nizhny Novgorod Diocese - Nizhny Novgorod

      The tent city for pilgrims arriving for the Diveevo celebrations is closing

      Text by Andrei Rukavishnikov and Yulia Maximova. Photo by Dmitry Smirnov

      Since July 28, a tent city has been operating in the village of Diveevo for participants of the "My Joy" forum and pilgrims, 22:20 01.08.2026 Nizhny Novgorod Diocese - Nizhny Novgorod

      Lyulin participated in the celebration of the day of commemoration of Seraphim of Sarov in Diveevo

      Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Evgeny Lyulin, participated in the Orthodox celebrations in Diveevo. 21:38 01.08.2026 vGorodeN.Ru - Nizhny Novgorod

      Gleb Nikitin at the "My Joy" forum: "Learn, believe, doubt!"

      The meeting with the participants of the forum took place in the tent camp near the Holy Trinity Seraphimo-Diveevsky Convent. 20:56 01.08.2026 Time N - Nizhny Novgorod

      On the day of commemoration of St. Seraphim of Sarov, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Seraphimo-Diveevsky Monastery

      On August 1, the feast of the discovery of the relics of St. Seraphim, the Wonderworker of Sarov (1903), His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia visited the Holy Trinity Seraphimo-Diveevsky Convent. 20:42 01.08.2026 Vyksa Diocese - Vyksa

      Gleb Nikitin discussed issues of faith and self-realization with the youth

      Photo: press service of the Nizhny Novgorod region government

      The governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region discussed with the participants of the event issues of faith, spiritual guidelines, and the implementation of youth projects

      August 1, 2026, 20:35 01.08.2026 NIA Nizhny Novgorod - Nizhny Novgorod

      Gleb Nikitin met with participants of the "My Joy" forum

      On August 1, 2026, in the tent camp near the Holy Trinity Seraphimo-Diveevsky Convent, a meeting took place between the governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Gleb Nikitin, and participants of the VI interregional forum of Orthodox youth 20:13 01.08.2026 NTA-Volga - Nizhny Novgorod

      Nizhny Novgorod law enforcement officers are enhancing public safety during religious events in Diveevo

      The head of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Nizhny Novgorod region, Police Lieutenant General Yuri Arsentyev, arrived in the village of Diveevo, 20:05 01.08.2026 Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Nizhny Novgorod region - Nizhny Novgorod

      On the day of commemoration of St. Seraphim of Sarov, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Seraphimo-Diveevsky Monastery

      Today is a great holiday for our entire monastic family—the thirty-fifth anniversary of the second discovery of the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the year of his glorification. 20:04 01.08.2026 Holy Trinity Seraphimo-Diveevsky Convent - Nizhny Novgorod

      Thanksgiving service

      Today, a