Father Sergiy Baranov

August at the hermitage. Our Ruling Bishop, Iriney, Bishop of Orsk and Gay, often visits us—he comes to serve the Liturgy, rest, talk, fish, and enjoy some pilaf. Not many know, but officially our hermitage is named an Episcopal Metochion. During his last visit, Vladyka gave us a promised fishing rod for our angler, Sister Tamara, as well as an outdoor grill. Before this, we cooked on the outdoor grill for guests and sisters right over coals on bricks. You can watch a video about this Sunday here. There are many pilgrims in July and August—everyone has finally escaped the cities to breathe the steppe air and pray together at the night services, and we are glad to welcome our guests. After the service in the starry church, you step out under an incredible starry canopy of heaven, and it feels like nothing else is needed except this sky, the steppe wind, and the night services. As usual, our 'beacons'—young people from the 'Mayak' Supported Living Home, graduates of the Gay Boarding School for Children with Disabilities—are also visiting us. We are currently recording our hermitage Liturgy, while the Orthodox gymnasium supported by the hermitage is already hard at work preparing for the school year. While the heat persists, there is no hint of autumn yet, though it always arrives imperceptibly and unexpectedly. Donate to the hermitage / Submit a prayer request / Order books and gifts from the hermitage For pilgrimage inquiries, please call: +79102025579

Do not leave Christ ​Remember what Father Seraphim of Sarov told us, "Satan hates us so much that if God only allowed him, he would tear us into small pieces and scatter us across the entire universe. God does not allow him." He hates us with a fierce hatred, and that is why we must constantly cling to God. With God, there is no fear; just as a little child stays close to their parents and remains safe... We must not step away from our parents, and we must not leave Christ, or else it will be terrifying. ​Father Seraphim said, "Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, Christ is the same". And the grace of God is the very same. Even now, if anyone wishes to live like St. Seraphim of Sarov, everything is possible. To tell you the truth, people are living like that even today, and there are saints among us right now. If the Church stops bearing saints, it will lose its purpose, it will no longer be needed, and the end of the world will come. Therefore, there will be saints until the very end. ​Photos from the night service in the cave church of Venerable Seraphim of Sarov on the patronal feast day of the skete.