« Bishop Matthew of Sourozh took part in the festivities on the occasion of the celebration of the 180th anniversary of the repose of St. John, Hermit of Sezenovo »

December 27th is a special day in the life of the Sezenovo monastery which is based in the North of Lipetsk District.  This is the feast of its main shrine - relics of Monk John, Hermit of Sezenovo, who rests in the Holy Trinity Church.  In 2019, the 180th anniversary of the repose of the Saint was celebrated.

On this day, the Divine Liturgy was led by His Grace Bishop Maxim of Eletsk and Lebedyansk and His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of Patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada, who were co-served by the clergy of the Yelets diocese.

Abbesses from a number of monasteries have also arrived to share the joy of the feast: Abbess Anthonia from the Eletsk Znamensky Monastery, Abbess Matrona from St. Demetrius Hilarion's Monastery (village Troyekurovo), Abbess Glykeria from the Holy Trinity Monastery (city of Lebedyansk).

The divine service was attended by honored guests, benefactors, volunteers of the Sezenovo monastery, numerous pilgrims and parishioners.

The solemn hierarchical service, tender prayful singing, beautiful decorations made of fresh flowers, - all that tuned the souls of believers to a grateful appeal to God in silence and weeping heart.

Today, all the benefactors of the monastery, who contributed to the improvement and beautification of the Trinity Church for a significant date - the 180th anniversary of the repose of St. John of Sezenovo, - were personally remembered during the Divine  Liturgy.

At the end of the Liturgy, glorification was sung to Monk John, followed by the prayer and magnification to the Saint. A traditional "Many years" was also proclaimed.

With the blessing of Bishop Maxim of Yelets and Lebedyansk and by the petition of the Abbess Feofaniya, hierarchical Distinction Letters were presented to the following people, for their hard work for the glory of the Russian Orthodox Church: Nikolay Aleksandrovich Krasnolutsky, Head Physician of the Lipetsk City Hospital No. 3 “Free Falcon”;  Polyakov Pavel Mikhailovich, individual entrepreneur;  Faustov Dimitry Aleksandrovich, Head of "Lipetsk Gas Distribution" - Lebedyansk Branch of JSC "Gazprom".

After that, the Bishops addressed the worshipers with a sermon, taught all the God-loving parishioners their archpastoral blessing, and presented each other with memorable gifts.  To mark the anniversary, Vladyka Maxim donated an Eucharistic chalice to the monastery.  Vladyka Matthew also presented the monastery with icon of St. German of Alaska and altar cross.

Mother Abbess has warmly greeted the Archpastors, expressing her gratitude for their fatherly participation in the life of the monastery. She presented gifts to Vladykas - paintings of Sezenovo St.John-Kazansky Monastery by artist Evgeny Artemov.

At the end of the service, the guests and pilgrims to the monastery were invited to share a festive meal.

During the visit, Vladyka Matthew is accompanied by his personal secretary N.V. Trubnikov.

Photogallery