Welcome address by the Chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism to the participants of the round table "Practical Implementation of Monastic Vows in Modern Conditions"

      Your Eminences, Your Graces, esteemed abbots and abbesses, dear brothers and sisters!

      By the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Rus, this year the regional round tables are dedicated to the theme "Practical Implementation of Monastic Vows in Modern Conditions."

      I greet all of you gathered today, archpastors, abbots, abbesses, and monastics from the Bashkortostan, Mari El, Mordovia, Tatarstan, Izhevsk, Chuvashia, Kirov, Nizhny Novgorod, Orenburg, Penza, Perm, Samara, Saratov, and Simbirsk dioceses, so that, with the Lord's assistance, we may find support in mutual communication and hear answers to the most pressing questions. How to live monastically today? How can modern monks acquire the mind of Christ? How to embrace the idea that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me?"

      In the 4th century, the "golden age" of patristic theology, Saint John Chrysostom wrote: "The heavenly fire, brought to earth by the God-Man, ignited in the hearts of people, kindled in them a new life, vivified their spirit, suppressed by sensuality, and the freedom of mind awakened by Him felt the need and strength to rise from the lower to the higher."

      And today, the heavenly fire – the Holy Spirit – is the source of every spiritual feat, the One who conquers in us, the monastics, who walk the path of inner struggle for the birth of the "new man."

      Monastic vows – both in the early times of Christianity and in modern life – are tools of victory against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Armed with them, let every monk steadfastly and continuously continue his path to God, "with all sobriety and danger," remembering that "he who is faithful in little will be faithful in much."

      Thanks be to God that today we gather together, pray, discuss life issues, strengthening each other and being filled with new gracious powers, returning to our monasteries to carry out our ministry for the good of the Church of Christ and for the salvation of our souls and those entrusted to us by the Lord, to Him be glory forever!

      I thank His Eminence Metropolitan Georgy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas for his efforts in organizing this conference. The Nizhny Novgorod diocese traditionally organizes church and public gatherings for monastics in the Volga Federal District and inspires all participants with its example of high-level conduct and warm hospitality.

      I wish you all spiritual benefit and heartfelt consolation!

      With brotherly love,

      Chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism, Metropolitan Theognost of Kashira

      More news about the event:

      Bishop Gideon participated in the round table "Practical Implementation of Monastic Vows in Modern Conditions"

      On August 13, a round table "Practical Implementation of Monastic Vows in Modern Conditions" was held at the Center for Slavic Culture in the village of Diveevo, Nizhny Novgorod region. 00:35 14.08.2026 Vyksa Diocese - Vyksa

      The head of the Nizhny Novgorod diocese led the round table "Practical Implementation of Monastic Vows in Modern Conditions" in Diveevo

      Text by Svetlana Medvedeva. Photo by Gleb Pushmenkov

      On August 13, a round table "Practical Implementation of Monastic Vows in Modern Conditions" was held at the Center for Slavic Culture in the village of Diveevo, Nizhny Novgorod region. 20:45 13.08.2026 Nizhny Novgorod Diocese - Nizhny Novgorod

      Monastics of the Volga region discussed how to preserve monastic vows in modern conditions

      Today, a round table on the topic "Practical Implementation of Monastic Vows in Modern Conditions" was held at the Serafimo-Diveevo Monastery. 20:28 13.08.2026 Holy Trinity Serafimo-Diveevo Monastery - Nizhny Novgorod

      A gathering of archpastors held services at the Serafimo-Diveevo Monastery

      On August 13, the day of the pre-festivity of the Exaltation of the Honorable Wood of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, a gathering of archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church held services at the Serafimo-Diveevo Monastery. 19:18 13.08.2026 Holy Trinity Serafimo-Diveevo Monastery - Nizhny Novgorod

      Bishop Gideon was among the archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church who held services at the Holy Trinity Serafimo-Diveevo Monastery

      On August 13, the day of the pre-festivity of the Exaltation of the Honorable Wood of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, a gathering of archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church held services at the Holy Trinity Serafimo-Diveevo Monastery. 17:35 13.08.2026 Vyksa Diocese - Vyksa

      A gathering of archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church held services at the Holy Trinity Serafimo-Diveevo Monastery

      Text by Svetlana Medvedeva. Photo by Gleb Pushmenkov

      On August 13, the day of the pre-festivity of the Exaltation of the Honorable Wood of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, 14:55 13.08.2026 Nizhny Novgorod Diocese - Nizhny Novgorod

      Welcome speech by the chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism to the participants of the round table "Practical Implementation of Monastic Vows in Modern Conditions"

      Your Eminences, Your Graces, esteemed abbots and abbesses, dear brothers and sisters! 13:45 13.08.2026 Nizhny Novgorod Diocese - Nizhny Novgorod

      News from neighboring regions on the topic:

      Representatives of the Kazan Diocese participated in the round table dedicated to monastic ministry

      On August 13, a round table "Practical Implementation of Monastic Vows in Modern Conditions" was held at the Holy Trinity Serafimo-Diveevo Monastery. 22:51 13.08.2026 Kazan Diocese - Kazan

      Diveevo. After the Divine Liturgy

      📷 Diveevo. After the Divine Liturgy, a round table "Practical Implementation of Monastic Vows in Modern Conditions" is taking place. 22:51 13.08.2026 Almetyevsk Diocese - Almetyevsk

      A regional round table for monastics was held at the Novo-Tikhvin Women's Monastery

      The regional round table "Practical Implementation of Monastic Vows in Modern Conditions" for monastics of the Ural monasteries took place today, August 13, 2026. 22:23 13.08.2026 Yekaterinburg Diocese - Yekaterinburg

      On the day of the memory of St. Martyr Veniamin, Metropolitan of Petrograd, Bishop Meliton served at the Divine Liturgy at the Novo-Tikhvin Women's Monastery

      On August 13, on the day of the memory of St. Martyr Veniamin, Metropolitan of Petrograd, a gathering of archpastors served the Divine Liturgy at the Alexander Nevsky Church of the Novo-Tikhvin Women's Monastery in Yekaterinburg. 22:03 13.08.2026 Nizhny Tagil Diocese - Nizhny Tagil

      In Diveevo, a joint service and seminar "Practical Implementation of Monastic Vows in Modern Conditions" took place as part of the work of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism

      On August 13, the day of the pre-festivity of the Exaltation of the Honorable Wood of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, a gathering of archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church held services at the Holy Trinity Serafimo-Diveevo Monastery. 13:51 13.08.2026 Ardatov Diocese - Ardatov

      The brotherhood of the Dimitrievsky Monastery participated in the monastic round table.

      On August 13, 2026, the brotherhood of the Holy Dimitrievsky Men's Monastery participated online in the round table "Practical Implementation of Monastic Vows in Modern Conditions." 18:44 13.08.2026 Khanty-Mansiysk Metropolis - Khanty-Mansiysk

      Metropolitan Longin and the monastics of the Simbirsk Diocese participated in the round table in Diveevo

      On August 13, a round table "Practical Implementation of Monastic Vows in Modern Conditions" was held at the Holy Trinity Serafimo-Diveevo Women's Monastery in the territory of the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese. 15:18 13.08.2026 Simbirsk Diocese - Ulyanovsk