On September 22, 2026, the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Stavropol Monastery hosted events dedicated to the Day of Remembrance of employees of the Penitentiary system of the Russian Federation who died in the Line of Duty.
For more than 20 years, the Ugresh Monastery has been inextricably linked with the penal enforcement system. It is here, on the territory of the monastery, that the only church in Russia is located, erected in honor of St. Pimen Ugreshsky, at the expense of the UIS staff in memory of their fallen colleagues. Prayers are constantly offered in the memorial temple for the untimely departed heroes, whose names are engraved in gold letters on the marble slabs decorating the temple walls.
On this Memorial Day, the exploits of the heroes are remembered especially, hundreds of people come to Ugresha to remember their fallen colleagues and to pray for the repose of their souls.
The commemorative events were traditionally attended by representatives of the clergy, the leadership and staff of the Ministry of Justice of Russia, the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia, the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in Moscow, the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in the Moscow region, veterans of the Penitentiary Service, cadets of educational institutions of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia, honorary guests, benefactors, as well as relatives and friends of the deceased employees of the Penitentiary Service. This year, relatives of the prison staff who died in the area of the special military operation arrived to participate in the commemorative events. Everyone was able to join the live broadcast from the venue.
Memorable celebrations opened in the church of St. Pimen of Ugreshsky with a litia performed by Bishop Methodius of Yegoryevsk, vicar of the Nikolo-Ugreshsky monastery, co-served by Priest Kirill Markovsky, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Prison Ministry, Hieromonk Luke (Pronskikh), acting rector of the Nikolo-Ugreshsky Theological Seminary, and Priest Florenty, assistant to the head of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in Moscow for organizing work with believers. Alexandrov, Assistant to the head of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the Moscow Region for organizing work with believers, Priest Mikhail Kuzemka.
The liturgical hymns were performed by the choir of students of the Nikolo-Ugresh Theological Seminary.
After the liturgy, a rally was held on the square near the church of St. Pimen, which was opened by the Director of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia, General of the Internal Service Arkady Gostev. He cordially thanked the monastery's clergy and patrons for their assistance in improving the temple and the surrounding area, as well as for their cooperation in preserving the memory of the prison staff who died in the line of duty.
"We cherish the memory of each of our colleagues who gave their lives for a just cause, perpetuating the memory of their names and exploits in the names of streets, schools, in books, and most importantly, leaving them in our hearts," said the head of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia. — Here in the temple, the names of 250 employees who honorably fulfilled their tasks are marked in gold letters. Every year, a large number of sports and creative events dedicated to Memorial Day are held throughout the country by active staff and veterans of the service. All this is our sacred duty and immeasurable responsibility to our deceased colleagues, and we will continue this work."
Vladyka Methodius addressed the audience. He said that the monastery was built according to a vow by Holy Prince Dimitry Donskoy after the victory on Kulikovo Field, and those who laid down their souls for their friends were always remembered here.
"Orthodox Russian people have always remembered that man is alive in God, man is called to immortality, and this living prayer, connecting the living and the departed, is a bond that transcends any boundaries," said the bishop. — Therefore, I urge all relatives, when praying, not to grieve to death, but to be prayerfully comforted by the fact that the Lord in the Holy Spirit unites us, comforts us and gives us hope that we will not only survive the most grievous loss that exists on earth, the loss of loved ones, but also meet together in Life. Forever. This is not an abstraction, not a fairy tale, we have many testimonies about life beyond the grave, about the appearance of saints and not only saints. The presence of departed relatives in our lives will continue, and prayer confirms this. We are alive on earth, they are alive with God in Heaven, and the spiritual connections are so real that those who pray feel it both in their hearts and minds, and the experience of the Church and the Tradition of the Church have been witnessing this since time immemorial."
The dead heroes were honored with a minute of silence. The event ended with a solemn march of the honor guard company.