Нижегородская область
History
The village of Diveevo is the regional centre of Nizhegorodsky area, situated 175km away from Nizhny Novgorod. It has bun known since the 14th century. The legend says that in 1558 Ivan the Terrible gave these lands to Divey, Butachov’s son as a present. The village is called after his name.
Nowadays it’s impossible to find a member of the Orthodox Church who doesn’t know Svyato – Troitsky, Seraphimo – Diveevsky female monastery or wouldn’t like to visit this saint land, to pray, to go along God’s Mother’s ditch or to bathe in the saint springs. 2006 was especially significant for the monastery: 15 years ago the rebirth of Seraphimo – Diveesky monastery began; Diveeskaya Melnichnaya Community was 180 years old, and Saov Desert -300 years old.
Father Seraphim’s prophecy has come true: Diveevsky monastery is reviving, which is one of the largest monasteries in our country. We make sure of it every day. The stream of people never ceases; that’s why new houses and comfortable hotels were needed. Thus a wonderful hotel “Diveeskaya Sloboda” for 126 guests has been opened. The people who arrive at the hotel can have a good rest; visit the monastery and its services, and the saint springs. There are some tourist and orthodox trips to Sanakarsky male monastery,to the town of Temnikov, to the village of Viezdnoye, to Arzamas, to Murom, etc.
300 years ago in the impenetrable forests of Sarov there appeared a monastery known in the Russian history as the most significant and strict monastery. It was famous for its old traditions and its sole ascetics. It was Sarov Desert that gave great ascetic to the world- father Seraphim. Father Seraphim had started to communicate with a lot of people 7 years before his death. He was well-known all over Russia. When he lived in Sarov, he took great care of the sisters of Diveevo Community, which was founded at the end of the 18th century by A.Melgunova (mother Alexandra).
The history of the monastery began with the building of Kazan God’s Mother church (1767-1775). Together with four sisters Melgunova organized a church, ruling the community under the guidance of the old men of Sarov monastery (in 1940 the church was closed and turned into the Teacher’s College, then it was used as a warehouse and restored only in 1992). Mother Alexandra saw in young a future continuer of her work Seraphim. After A.Melgunova’s death (1789) the community continued living according to its strict and severe rules. Melgunova was canonized in 2001. Diveevo is thought to be the fourth in the world and the only place of God’s Mother. Especially God’s Mother’s Ditch is revered. People walk along the Ditch and pray. In 1830 the church of God's mother's Christmas was built near Kazanskaya church, where the relics of Saint nun Alexandra and the first Diveevo ascetics are kept.
Seraphim foretold the special meaning of the monastery which was planned to be the first female lavra in history. Seraphim were sure that he would stay there many years later after his death. It’s a well-known fact that Seraphim Sarovsky’s relics, lost in 1920-s were found out and carried to Diveevo.
История обители началась с постройки церкови Казанской Божией Матери (1767-1775) с приделами Святителя Николая и Святого Архидиакона Стефана. Вместе с четырьмя послушницами Мельгунова организовала здесь обитель, управляя общиной под руководством старцев Саровского монастыря (в 1940 г. храм был закрыт и переоборудован под педагогическое училище, затем использовался как складское помещение, возобновленной обители передан в 1992 г.). В молодом иноке Серафиме матушка Александра увидела будущего подвижника и продолжателя начатого ею дела.
После смерти А.С. Мельгуновой (1789) община продолжала жить по строгому уставу Саровского монастыря. Основательница монастыря была канонизирована в 2001 году.
Дивеево считается четвёртым и единственным в России уделом Богородицы. Особенно почитается «Канавка Богородицы», вдоль которой проходят все, приезжающие в Дивеево, и по завещанию Серафима Саровского читают молитву Богорице. В 1830 г. к паперти Казанской церкви построена церковь Рождества Богородицы (здесь хранятся мощи преподобной схимонахини Александры и первых дивеевских подвижниц).
In 1861 the community was transformed into Seraphimo- Diveevsky monastery. Its tutor was Elizaveta Ushakova (mother Maria). She headed the monastery for forty years. In 1875 the largest Troitsky cathedral was constructed (when it was closed in 1927 its building was used as a warehouse and returned to the believers only in 1989). Here there are Seraphim’s relics. At the beginning of the 20th century the monastery has more than 1000 sisters, and the building of the other, big cathedral began, which was not blessed before the Revolution. The monastery represented the richest architectural complex at that time. It contained a lot of cells a dining-room, a hospital, a college and outside the monastery –two hotels, a will and a pump-house.
In 1927 the monastery was closed, its sisters were exiled 10 years later. Only in 1989 Troitsky cathedral was again blessed, and a year later Seraphimo- Diveevsky monastery was revived.
Besides the monastery the pilgrims visit the saint spring of Mother Alexandra. It’s situated on the opposite side of Octyabskaya str., behind the pharmacy. The spring in the name of Iverskaya icon of God's mother is situated a bit lower along the river Vichkinza. The third spring Kazansky and next to it - Panteleimon the Healer's spring are situated in the northen part of the village. Close to the springs there is a wooden Kazanskaya church - the first cathedral which appeared in the village after the monastery had been closed down. Besides, a lot of tourist firms take tourists to Serafim Sarovsky's spring (15 km away from Diveevo on the way to Sarov and a kilometre more at the sign DPS). It wells out at the foot of the hill with tall pine-trees. There is a small and secluded monastery near by.
Bus Station. Octyabrskaya str. Tel. (83 143) 4 22 37
