Translated material
A monastic life will be revived in the city of nuclear holders
In anticipation of the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Holy Assumption Sarov desert, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II announced the upcoming revival of monastic life in the closed city of nuclear workers.
"The monastery will spiritually strengthen the inhabitants of the city. And this is its undoubted benefit," said Alexy II, accepting today in his working residence in Moscow of the Presidential President in the Volga Federal District, Alexander Konovalov, the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, the leadership of the Rosenergoatom and the Monk Sarovsky Foundation, RIA Novosti reports.
The Patriarch emphasized that the revival of monastic life in Sarov does not mean that Arzamas-16 (another name Sarova) will open for mass pilgrimage, such as the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. “The regime conditions cannot and should not be violated,” the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church emphasized.
“But in the Sarov itself there are enough believers who will spiritually mourn with monastic prayer. Only a small number of monks will be able to obedience here,” Alexy II explained.
The meeting participants agreed with the Patriarch. In particular, Konovalov noted that for the revival of monastic life in Sarov, a compromise will be found between the regime status of the city and the needs of the monastery and believers.
The meeting also discussed the program for the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Sarov desert. “In the history of the Russian Orthodox Church and in the life of the whole people, the Sarov desert played a significant role,” the Patriarch emphasized. The fate of the monastery is inextricably linked with the life of one of the most revered Orthodox saints in the world - the Monk Seraphim of Sarov.
The main anniversary celebrations will be held in Sarov and the Diveyevsky Convent (Nizhny Novgorod Region) July 29 - August 1. The archbishop of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas George, who was present at the meeting, invited the Patriarch to lead the celebration.