In the state of New York opened a monument to the Russian saint

A monument to one of the most revered Russian saints - St. Seraphim of Sarov - was opened on June 3 on the territory of the Novo-Diveevo convent in New York state.

Photo: TASS

The event is timed to the anniversary of the signing of the Act of the canonical communion of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCOR), reports TASS.

The opening ceremony and the consecration of the monument were attended by the head of the ROCOR, Metropolitan Hilarion, the head of the patriarchal parishes in the USA, Bishop John, the head of the Orthodox Church in America, Metropolitan Tikhon, diplomats, representatives of Orthodox communities of the USA, cultural figures and compatriots.

Russian Consul General in New York Sergei Ovsyannikov read a greeting from Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov, which specifically noted that “the restoration of the unity of the Russian Orthodox Church 11 years ago was of enormous historical significance, opening the way to the spiritual consolidation of the entire Russian world.” “The installation of a unique sculpture of the wonderworker Seraphim of Sarov on the territory of Novo-Diveevo, where the largest Orthodox cemetery in the United States is located, is a bright event in the life of the spiritual Russian community,” the Russian Ambassador emphasized.

Strengthen the spirit

As Metropolitan Hilarion noted in a conversation with a TASS correspondent, the Novo-Diveevo monastery, which has existed since the 1950s, “is very popular among the people; many come here every Sunday to pray.” “The consecration of the monument is a special event; it was installed opposite the temple dedicated to the Venerable Seraphim of Sarov himself,” the Metropolitan recalled. — Kind people donated to the monument, depicting the monk sitting and praying. This is the acquisition of a great spirit for the monastery.”

“Once, during his lifetime, Seraphim of Sarov turned to the Orthodox and said that when there is anxiety in your heart, come to my grave after my death and talk with me,” said the head of the ROCOR. “And now people can come here, sit in silence and pray, ask for help, as if before a living person.”

The monument is installed in front of the monastery church of sv. Seraphim of Sarov, which houses the icon of the Vladimir Mother of God from the Optina Hermitage and the cross from the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg. Also in the monastery are stored two images of the Savior, which belonged to Nicholas II and were with the royal family in Tobolsk and Yekaterinburg.

Unity of the Orthodox Church

The monument to St. Seraphim of Sarov is a gift from Russia, from the “Dialogue of Cultures - United World” foundation, which was transported and installed on the initiative and by the efforts of the Russian Center in New York and the Northern Cross society. As the head of the society, Yuri Sandulov, told a TASS correspondent, “the initiative is aimed at strengthening spiritual ties between the ROCOR and the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as cultural ties between Russia and the USA.” The author of the monument was sculptor Alexey Leonov from the Kaluga region.

St. Seraphim of Sarov was born in Kursk in 1754, he is the founder and patron of the Diveevo convent, a devotee of the Russian Church and one of the most revered monks in its history. In the face of the saints, he was glorified in 1903 by the initiative of Emperor Nicholas II.

The name of the elder was reverently pronounced in the royal family, court circles, among the clergy and common people. During the last century, he is considered one of the greatest ascetics of the Church.

The Novo-Diveevo nunnery in New York was founded at the beginning of the 1950s, and in one of its churches is stored the icon of Seraphim of Sarov, taken out from Seraphim-Diveevo monastery, written during his lifetime. Before this icon in 1903, the royal family prayed.

The cemetery of the Novo-Diveevsky Monastery in New York State is the largest Russian Orthodox cemetery abroad, with about 8 thousand graves. Many famous Russian emigrants are buried here, including the Romanovs - nephews of Nicholas II, Princess Vera Konstantinovna and Prince Georgy Konstantinovich. Among the buried are the Golitsyns, Volkonskys, Trubetskoys, Gagarins, Sheremetyevs, the daughter of the writer Leo Tolstoy - Alexandra Lvovna, the wife and family of Baron Wrangel, many poets, writers, scientists and artists, numerous participants in the White movement.

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