On the memorial day of St. Manefa of Gomel, August 11, 2026, the Patriarchal Exarch of All Belarus, Metropolitan Veniamin of Minsk and Zaslavl, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Peter and Paul Cathedral in Gomel, where the relics of the saint rest.
During the divine service, special prayer requests were made for the restoration of peace.
Abbess of the Tikhvin Convent in Gomel, Abbess Vera (Afonkina), Abbess of the Assumption Convent in the village of Kazimirovo, Abbess Ioanna (Yarets), Abbess of the John-Kormyansky convent in the agricultural town of Korma, Abbess Archelaya (Novikova), with the sisters of the monasteries, as well as residents and guests of the city prayed during the Liturgy.
At the end of the Liturgy, archpastors, clergy, monastics and believers marched in a procession around the cathedral. Then the Venerable Manefa of Gomel was glorified.
Archbishop Stefan of Gomel thanked the archpastors, clergy and faithful for their joint prayer. He recalled that St. Manefa lived in recent times and her memory is preserved among people who knew Mother personally, and noted her deep faith, simplicity and love for every person who came for advice and comfort. Bishop Stephen presented the Patriarchal Exarch with an icon of St. John of Kormyansk and St. Manefa of Gomel.
Metropolitan Veniamin congratulated the archpastors, clergy and laity on the day of the memory of St. Manefa and addressed the faithful with a word of edification. The Patriarchal exarch noted that a serious illness had become a serious ordeal for the ascetic, but through patience, prayer and trust in God, humility and love for people had strengthened in her soul, and he urged her to overcome life's difficulties with faith, maintaining an inner connection with God.
In prayerful memory, the Patriarchal Exarch presented Archbishop Stefan with a facsimile edition of the Lavrishevsky Gospel, thanking him for his efforts to beautify the cathedral and churches of the Gomel diocese.
In conclusion, the bishops laid flowers at the monument to the Holy Martyr Mitrofan (Krasnopolsky), the first bishop of Gomel.
***
Reverend Manefa of Gomel was born on April 1, 1918 in the village of Sevruki near Gomel in the family of Vladimir and Glikeria Skopichev. She was christened Mary in honor of the Venerable Mary of Egypt. Since birth, Maria suffered from cerebral palsy and throughout her life suffered from severe physical infirmity.
Since childhood, she has been distinguished by her prayerfulness, patience, and commitment to church life. Maria often asked to be taken to divine services or to the Chenkivsky Tikhvin Convent. The abbess of the monastery, Polixenia, repeatedly invited her to enter the monastery. After much thought and prayer, Mary took monastic vows in the minor schema on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Later, she was tonsured into the great schema by one of the last Optina elders, Schiigumen Macarius, who became her spiritual father. Before his death, he entrusted Schema-monk Manef to the spiritual care of Hieroschemonk Artemy (Potocki).
During the Great Patriotic War, Schema-nun Manefa lived for some time in the village of Vishnevka, and then returned to her parents' home in Sevruki. After the cessation of the activity of the Chenkovsky monastery, she continued monastic life in the world. Mother Manefa was visited by numerous believers and clergymen who turned to her for spiritual advice and prayerful help.
Schema-nun Manefa called on people who came to her to repent and pray, advised them to read the akathists of the Mother of God, order a church commemoration, give alms and show mercy to their neighbors. Veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary occupied a special place in her spiritual life. Mother strengthened those who were discouraged and experiencing difficulties in life by reminding them of the heroic deeds of those who suffered for their faith, and urged them to accept the circumstances of life with gratitude.
The holy ascetic departed to the Lord on February 25, 1984. On August 11, 2007, the Peter and Paul Cathedral in Gomel celebrated the glorification of the ascetic as a local saint.
St. Manefa of Gomel Memorial Day is August 11. She is also venerated in the Cathedral of Belarusian Saints, which is celebrated in the 3rd Week after Pentecost.