The Nizhny Novgorod Diocese is hosting the forum "The Legacy of St. Seraphim of Sarov as the basis of Sacrificial Service" on June 30, 2026. The forum is the final event of the contest "Volunteer of St. Seraphim of Sarov — 2026", which was held for the fifth time.
361 participants have registered in the information system of the contest. This is a 10% increase compared to the number of applicants last year. The Commission accepted 222 applications for consideration. Applications accepted for participation in the competition were received from 50 subjects of the Russian Federation located in seven federal districts, as well as from the Republic of Belarus (Minsk, Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Minsk and Mogilev regions).
Over the years of the contest, over one and a half thousand people from 58 regions of Russia and the Republic of Belarus took part in it.
Having gathered in Nizhny Novgorod, the forum participants went to Arzamas, where the grand opening of the forum took place on the basis of the Arzamas Orthodox Gymnasium named after the Holy Martyrs Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov and their mother Sofia.
Priest Alexy Solovyov addressed the participants of the forum with a welcoming speech.:
"It is gratifying to come to the forum and see that the Nizhny Novgorod Diocese pays great attention to social initiatives that are being implemented not only on its territory, but also far beyond its borders. The Volunteer of St. Seraphim of Sarov has already become an international competition. There are not many such contests. We are all united by the Nizhny Novgorod land, the monastery of St. Seraphim. The hearts of people, even those far from the Church, are opened here. We have been given the opportunity to share our experiences and pray together. Each of you is engaged in some kind of ministry or volunteerism at home. It is very important. And it's great that the competition helps more people to learn about your projects, to see what potential there is in the regions — in parishes, in dioceses. We will learn from your experience and be inspired."
A film prepared by the Obraz television company was shown, telling about the contests and initiatives that are included in the program "With the name of St. Seraphim of Sarov." Another film was dedicated to the holders of the title "Serafimov Volunteer - 2026".
At the end of the official part, theoretical and practical classes on the use of lean technologies were held for the forum participants. The teachers of the Orthodox gymnasium told how to organize the space and work processes in accordance with the principles of thrift. The participants learned about the theoretical aspects of the application of lean technologies from the teachers of the Arzamas branch of Nizhny Novgorod Lobachevsky State University.
Then there was a tour of Cathedral Square, acquaintance with the Nikolaevsky Convent, the Resurrection Cathedral. In the evening, at the Holy Trinity Serafimo-Diveevsky Monastery, the forum participants venerated the relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov.
On July 1, the second day of the forum, breakout sessions were held at the Alexandrinsky Monastery Orthodox School in the village of Diveeva, where participants presented volunteer projects that they are implementing in their regions.
On the same day, a memorial service for the first abbess of this monastery, Maria (Ushakova), was held at the Holy Trinity Serafimo-Diveevsky Convent in the cemetery behind the Trinity Cathedral. 
After the memorial service, a tour of the Diveevskaya monastery was held for volunteers who came from different regions of Russia and the Republic of Belarus. They got acquainted with the temples and iconic places on the territory of the monastery, its charter and traditions, as well as the lives of saints whose names are associated with Diveevo land.
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The future Diveevskaya abbess, named Elizabeth in holy baptism, was born in 1819 in the Ushakov family estate, in the village of Kamenka, Tula province.
Elisaveta Alekseevna was of a cheerful disposition and loved music. An unexpected change in her was made by reading the works of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk. She lost her taste for the world and began to strive more and more for a spiritual life. After hearing stories about the wonderful life and sanctity of St. Seraphim of Sarov and being kindled by love for him, Elisaveta Alekseevna chose the little-known Diveevo community as the place of her feat. At the age of 25, on December 27, 1844, she arrived in Diveevo.
On March 27, 1862, in Tambov, Elizabeth Alekseevna Ushakova was ordained abbess by His Grace Theophan. Abbess Maria managed the Serafimo-Diveevsky Monastery for 42 years. The years of her abbacy (1862-1904) were the heyday of both the external and internal structure of the monastery. Abbess Maria arranged life in the monastery according to the commandments of the Mother of God and St. Seraphim of Sarov. The monastery adopted a rule of life and a prayer rule, announced by the Queen of Heaven to St. Seraphim. The number of sisters reached a thousand, and the Trinity Cathedral, bell tower, abbot's building, refectory church in the name of St. Alexander Nevsky, and about 30 business and residential buildings were built.
Photo: Dmitry Smirnov