Seraphim-Sarov Monastery in the Voronezh region

Monastery in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the village of Novomakarovo,
Boris and Gleb diocese

• Address: Russia, 397225, Voronezh region, Gribanovsky district, village. Novomakarovo, st. Serafimovskaya, 1.
• Tel.: +7 (47348)35225, (accounting)
• Official site:
• Travel by car:
• along the Voronezh-Saratov highway to the border of Anninsky and Gribanovsky districts. There is a chapel, a worship cross and a sign along the route.
• By bus to Borisoglebsk from the central bus station of Voronezh. To the village of Novomakarovo.

The creation of the monastery began in 1995 with the transfer of a plot of land by the administration of the Gribanovsky district at the request of Metropolitan Methodius (Nemtsov) of Voronezh and Lipetsk.
An ancient noble estate, a garden with centuries-old trees and a quiet overgrown pond belonged to General Solovtsov, a hero of the Caucasian War. In 1995, the first inhabitants of the monastery settled in a trailer in the middle of the forest. In the autumn of the same year, the site and the first foundation stone of the temple were consecrated. In August 1998, there was a great consecration of the temple in the name of St. Seraphim of Sarov. In 2003-2005, the temple was reconstructed, the altar was rebuilt, and the refectory was added. The minor consecration of the temple took place on January 15, 2005.

In August 2001, the site and the foundation stone for the summer monastery church in honor of the royal martyrs were consecrated. On September 19, 2004, the completed church was consecrated by Metropolitan of Voronezh and Borisoglebsk Sergius (Fomin).

On the territory of the monastery there is a holy spring, which has been known since time immemorial and was popularly considered healing.
The source was cleared, landscaped and consecrated in honor of St. Seraphim. A spring was also excavated and a font was built in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Inexhaustible Chalice”, which were consecrated on July 17, 2005.

In 2014, construction began on a new church in honor of the Appearance of the Mother of God to St. Sergius of Radonezh. On September 19, 2021, Metropolitan Sergius of Voronezh and Liskinsky performed the great consecration of the temple.

There are two courtyards of the monastery: in the Church of the Intercession of the Mother of God (village of Malaya Gribanovka, Gribanovsky district) and in the Church of the Entry into the Temple of the Mother of God (village of Bratki, Ternovsky district).

History of the foundation of the monastery

Monastery of St. Seraphim of Sarov in the Voronezh region was built on the site where the estate of General Solovtsov was once located. Nothing remains of the estate itself, however, a luxurious park with old linden trees and a large pond have been preserved.

Seraphim-Sarov Monastery in Gribanovka, Voronezh region

In 1995, this plot of land was transferred to the Voronezh diocese and from that time the construction of the monastery began.

1. Initially, the inhabitants lived in trailers and built a temple.
2. In 1998, the church was consecrated in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov.
3. In 2004, the temple was consecrated in honor of the Royal Passion-Bearers.

Interesting fact! The icon of the passion-bearer Tsar Nicholas flowed myrrh and smelled fragrant more than once. In memory of these glorious miracles, the Church of the Passion-Bearers was built.

In the Seraphim-Sarov Monastery in the Voronezh region the saint is revered. Several years ago, a hut was built here, an exact copy of the one in which the saint lived. Seraphim of Sarov in the desert. She, like that one, is located in a pine forest. Inside this cell is part of the stone on which the saint prayed for 1000 days and nights.

Inside the cell of Seraphim of Sarov

In the similarity of the Diveyevo monastery, the Seraphim-Sarov monastery is surrounded by a ditch, in commemoration of the protection of the monastery by the Mother of God.

There are also three springs here, bathing in them benefits both spiritual and physical health.

What time to visit the monastery

People rush to the shrines at the call of their hearts exactly when they should be here. The timing of the trip is also chosen based on priority desires. The nature of the monastery reflects the natural beauty of all seasons. Therefore, you can opt to visit the monastery during your favorite season.

From May to September the opportunity to swim in healing springs is added. The mildest months for this are May and September. In May, mosquitoes appear near the water, people stock up on protective equipment. If it is more important to take part in special events or memorable ones, get acquainted with the Orthodox calendar in advance.

The monastery is crowded on weekends and church holidays. Therefore, it is better for those who like less crowds to visit the days when multi-day fasts take place. During such periods, fewer festive events are held, and the influx of pilgrims decreases accordingly.

There is less influx of people, slightly lower prices, discounts and promotions are organized more often in the winter months. The exception is during the New Year holidays.

Shrines

Despite the fact that the Seraphim-Sarov Monastery in the Voronezh region is still quite young, it contains many shrines:

• ark with particles of the relics of saints: St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, martyr. Mary, Martyr John the Warrior, Great Martyr Panteleimon, Blessed. Pavel of Taganrog, St. martyrs nun Varvara and Prince. Elizabeth Feodorovna, Venerable Anthony the Great, St. Seraphim of Sarov,
• piece of the Holy Sepulcher,
• piece of the Holy Cross,
• The icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear” is especially revered in the monastery.

The monastery also has such relics as part of the mantle and epitrachelion of St. Seraphim of Sarov, part of the vestments of St. Seraphim of Vyritsky, congratulations on Easter written by the hand of the last Empress of All Russia Alexandra Feodorovna and her royal children.

Iconostasis of the Temple of Seraphim of Sarov

The monastery houses the mantle of the hieromonk from Optina Hermitage Vasily (Roslyakov), who was killed on Easter night 1993 along with two monks. It was this robe that he was wearing at the time of the murder; traces of his blood remained on it.

“Acquire a peaceful spirit and thousands around you will be saved” - these words of St. Seraphim of Sarov define the main calling of a person - to become a child of God by grace, to acquire the Divine spirit and concentrate it in oneself. For this purpose, people come to the monastery in order to submit to the will of Christ through renunciation of their own will. A monastery was founded on Voronezh land, which, like other monasteries, does not have a centuries-old history, but has a great patron and prayer book.

The great Wonderworker and prayer book of the Russian land, St. Seraphim of Sarov, was born in the 18th century and showed the image of Christ’s love for all people, healing their wounds of body and soul.

“This Victory” - these words are inscribed on the worship Cross, which greets pilgrims at the entrance to the monastery of Seraphim of Sarov. The monastery is located 150 kilometers from Voronezh, on the border of Anninsky and Gribanovsky districts, not far from the village of Novomakarovo.

The creation of the monastery began in 1995 with the transfer of a plot of land by the administration of the Gribanovsky district, at the request of the ruling bishop. The famous Solovtsov Garden with centuries-old trees and a quiet overgrown pond, an old noble estate, belonged to the hero of the Caucasian War, General Solovtsov. By the highest order of the All-Russian Emperor Nicholas II, he was granted this estate in the Tambov province (now the Voronezh region).

By the providence of God this place was predestined for the construction of a monastery, as evidenced by the ditch around the estate, like a fossil, as in Diveevo, by the will of the Mother of God and protecting the boundaries of the new monastery with her Veil.

The centuries-old forest resembles the dense Sarov forest, where the saint of God, Father Seraphim, lived. Under the thick canopy of linden trees is a small house, its appearance reminiscent of a desert, where the monk prayed and received numerous visitors.

The reverend elder greeted everyone who came with the words “My joy, Christ is Risen!” These words of Father Seraphim still resonate to this day for everyone who comes to the monastery, gathering many people seeking the salvation of their souls.

The first inhabitants appeared here in 1996. They lived in a trailer in the middle of the forest. In the autumn of the same year, the site and the first foundation stone of the monastery’s temple, bearing the name of the Universal Lamp, were consecrated. In August 1998 there was a great consecration of the temple. The temple was consecrated by Metropolitan Methodius of Voronezh and Lipetsk. From that moment the spiritual formation of the newly consecrated monastery began. The grace of God visibly manifested its presence in this holy place. Interesting fact: photographs taken from a bird's eye view show that the centuries-old linden alleys are shaped like a cross.

Three times in the monastery there was a myrrh-streaming miraculous image of the passion-bearer Tsar Nicholas. The first time he was in the monastery was in May 2001 and on the evening of May 8 he smelled fragrant and flowed myrrh. Myrrh also flowed from the relics located in the monastery and the icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear.” In April 2002, the icon of the martyr king, after a prayer service, abundantly poured myrrh and along with it the temple image of Christ the Savior “King of Glory”.

Abundant myrrh flow was also observed on Lazarus Saturday, when a prayer service was held for Tsar Nicholas. In memory of all these events and to commemorate the arrival of the miraculous image of Tsar Martyr Nicholas, a summer church was founded and created in honor of the holy royal martyrs. In September 2004, the icon consecrated the land of the monastery with its presence for the third time and on September 19, the new church was consecrated by His Eminence Sergius Metropolitan of Voronezh and Borisoglebsk.

The names of the last Russian Emperor and St. Seraphim of Sarov, from the time of glorification, have a deep spiritual connection, and here in the monastery two great prayer books united before the Throne of God for the Russian people and the revival of Russia.

Official website of the Seraphim-Sarov Monastery

Activities of the monastery and schedule of services

The monastery receives pilgrims, provides them with food and accommodation, and, if necessary, provides first aid. Also, workers are welcome at the monastery, that is, those who want to work for the glory of God and for the benefit of the monastery; there is always a lot of work in the monastery economy.

The schedule of services on weekdays is as follows:

• 17.00 evening service,
• 7.30 liturgy.

Church of the Royal Passion-Bearers in the Seraphim-Sarov Monastery

On Sundays and holidays, the liturgy begins at 8.40. In addition, during the week at 15.00 an akathist is read:

• on Wednesday at the icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear”,
• on Friday in front of the ark with particles of St. relics of St. Seraphim of Sarov,
• on Saturday at the icon of the Mother of God “Inexhaustible Chalice”.

Interesting fact! Traditionally, the Orthodox monastery is surrounded by a fence. There is no such thing in the Seraphim-Sarov Monastery; it is simply surrounded on all sides by tall trees.

Diveyevo Monastery today

Diveevo amazes with its beauty, inspires with its history, and with the presence of the grace of the Holy Spirit. The abbess of today's monastery, Abbess Sergius, notes that at present everything here has been restored spiritually as in the old days.

Churches were restored, monastery buildings were repaired, the Holy Kanavka was dug up. The plan of the monastery, drawn by the hand of Father Seraphim, miraculously coincides with today’s layout of churches. This is clearly visible from a bird's eye view. Kazan Cathedral, Bell Tower, Trinity, Transfiguration, Annunciation Cathedrals are built in one line.

20 hermitages and farmsteads appeared. Here the relics of the blessed ones found peace - Praskovya, Pelageya and Mary, the nun Matrona. Through the efforts of the nuns of the icon-painting workshop, the walls of the Kazan, Transfiguration, and Trinity cathedrals were painted. New buildings were built: church shops, religious kiosks, refectories, buildings for pilgrims.

Seraphim revered earthworks. Hectares of the monastery land are decorated with flower beds. Numerous fruit trees and berry bushes grow and bear fruit. Vegetables are grown in the gardens. More than 500 sisters work in the monastery. Their life is spent in worship and obedience.

Useful tips for pilgrims and tourists

When planning to visit the Diveyevo Monastery, take with you:

• containers for collecting water from 6 healing springs;
• bags for folding wet clothes after swimming;
• towel;
• packaging for soil from the groove, crackers;
• bottle for oil.

Car parking is available in the free parking lot to the right of the main entrance to the monastery. They also park on the side of the road directly along the road along which they go to the monastery.

The rules of behavior on the territory of the Seraphim of Sarov Monastery are presented on a poster that greets you at the entrance.

Silence is maintained here. Gadgets are put on silent mode or turned off. Maintain cleanliness and routine, do not smoke or drink alcohol. Children visit the monastery only with adults.

Women visit the shrine wearing a skirt or dress. Length – below the knees, sleeves covering the elbows. The head must be covered. Bright makeup and jewelry are not allowed. Men are allowed to visit in trousers and shirts. Baptized people must wear a cross.

When performing services, they do not go to churches. They stand and, if desired, quietly sing along with the choir. The sick and weak sit on benches.

They take photographs and film for free on phones and tablets. Filming with video cameras and cameras is carried out by purchasing a coupon at the pilgrimage center. Journalists and film crews must purchase permission for professional work from the press service of the Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas diocese.

People approach shrines with prayer. They cross themselves at the holy relics, bow twice, venerate, then bow again. People do not linger long at the shrines to which people stand in line.