On November 30, 2025, the Zachatievsky Stavropol Convent in Moscow hosted an evening dedicated to St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, whose 100th anniversary of his death was celebrated this year, as well as to the feat of the clergy and nuns of the Zachatievskaya monastery who suffered during the years of persecution.
The memorial evening began with the exhibition "Patriarch Tikhon", located in the lobby of the New refectory building of the monastery. A documentary film about the finding of the relics of the saint was also presented to the audience.
Opening the evening, Abbess Juliania (Kaleda), abbess of the monastery, suggested once again remembering and honoring the confessional feat of the Holy Patriarch Tikhon and the clergy and nuns of the Zachatievsky Monastery, whom the Lord had judged to meet and survive the severe trials of the persecution of the Church in the 20th century. Some of those present were personally acquainted with the last inhabitants of the monastery, which was destroyed by the Soviet government in the early 1920s, some knew them from the memories of their loved ones, while others cherished the confessing nuns as part of the history of the Church, Matushka said, anticipating the speeches of the meeting participants.
The history of the monastery preserves the memory of the monastery's spiritual connection with Patriarch Tikhon, which is dear to the hearts of the sisters. From 1918 to 1925, the Patriarch performed divine services at the monastery more than once, visited Abbess Hegumenia Maria (Box), and served in the Church of the Resurrection of the Living on Ostozhenka. The saint spent the last days of his earthly life in a private clinic on Ostozhenka Street, located next to the monastery. On January 13, 1925, Patriarch Tikhon was hospitalized here because other hospitals refused to accept the disgraced Primate of the Russian Churchhistory of the monastery preserves the memory of the monastery's spiritual connection with Patriarch Tikhon, which is dear to the hearts of the sisters. From 1918 to 1925, the Patriarch performed divine services at the monastery more than once, visited Abbess Hegumenia Maria (Box), and served in the Church of the Resurrection of the Living on Ostozhenka. Thet spent the last days of his earthly life in a private clinic on Ostozhenka Street, located next to the monastery. On January 13, 1925, Patriarch Tikhon was hospitalized here because other hospitals refused to accept the disgraced Primate of the Russian Church. The window of the room where the saint was placed overlooked the Zachatievsky Monastery. Abbess JThe window of the room where the saint was placed overlooked the Zachatievsky Monastery. Abbess Juliania reported another important fact in her speech: there were no icons in the room where the Patriarch was staying, and at the request of His Holiness, the sisters gave him the image of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Over the past three months, the saint has been looking out of the window of his cell at the domes of the monastery churches, and he has been praying in front of the icon of the Annunciation. "We believe," said Mother Juliania, "that in his prayers there were also petitions for the preservation and salvation of the nuns of the monastery, who loved the Primate, like all Christians of that time." As confirmation of what was said, the abbess cited the words of nun Rufina (Alferova), who expressed her indignation at the persecution of believers: "Take the torments that God's protege Patriarch Tikhon, beloved of all nations, endured and died..." These words were preserved in the documents of the nun's interrogations.
Archpriest Kirill Kaleda, rector of the Church of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in Butovo, told the guests of the evening about the significant events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the death of Patriarch Tikhon, whArchpriest Kirill Kaleda, rector of the Church of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in Butovo, told the guests of the evening about the significant events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the death of Patriarch Tikhon, which took place last year. Describing the feat of the saint's ministry, Father Kirill recalled the facts of the Patriarch's biography, which testify to the Primate of the Russian Church as a man whose holiness was revealed already during his earthly life. Wherever the saint served, he left an indelible impression of himself. His kindness, humility and selfless love for people were forever imprinted in human hearts and warmed even in those harsh years of the last century, when the Russian Orthodox Church was subjected to the most severe persecution by the God-fearing authorities.
All the performances of the evening, without exception, were filled with sincere love for those whose heroic deeds and prayer the Russian Orthodox Church and the Zachatievsky Monastery live today. The sisters of the monastery cherish the memory of the new martyrs and confessors oAll the performances of the evening, without exception, were filled with sincere love for those whose heroic deeds and prayer the Russian Orthodox Church and the Zachatievsky Monastery live today. The sisters of the monastery cherish the memory of the new martyrs and confessors of the Russian Church and the ascetics of piety. They carefully study and collect preserved documents and oral testimonies about everyone who was associated with the monastery. Speeches by nun Sergiya (Gazaryan), a resident of the monastery, M.D. Smirnova, E.E. Starostenkova-Chic was dedicated to stories about the holy Martyrs Vladimir (Ambartsumov) and Archpriest Pavel Andreev, Archpriest Mikhail Ivanovsky and the last abbess of the Zachatievsky monastery, Abbess Maria, as well as the nuns who survived the years of persecution and passed on the spiritual tradition to Orthodox Christians of our days.
In his closing remarks, Bishop Alexy of Solnechnogorsk, vicaIn his closing remarks, Bishop Alexy of Solnechnogorsk, vicar of the Danilov Stavropol Monastery in Moscow, who was present at the evening, said that when he visited the Zachatievskaya monastery, he always felt the spirit of the sisters who sincerely serve the Church, glorifying the name of Christ. Vladyka Alexy wished all those gathered to preserve the joy of Communion with God and share it with others.
In conclusion, Mother Juliania thanked Bishop Alexy and all the guests of the evening for their warm communication and invited them to pray together at the Don