During her life, our patron saint Elisabeth Romanov founded the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent and its lay sisterhood. Its sisters went to some of the poorest quarters of 19th century Moscow, where pain and anguish reigned and darkness and desperation prevailed. They reached out to the people who felt pre-destined living as outcasts and had lost faith in their ability to change it. Yet this did not discourage our patron saint or the sisters. They knew that the image of God that lives in every man is indestructible, and can be restored in its original beauty.
The good works of the sisters of the Marfo-Mariinsky Convent continue to inspire us today. They remind us that God loves every man and woman and never loses hope for our salvation. Tirelessly, we bring into the world the light of His love.
The sisters serve among the sick and the suffering, the needy, the elderly and the lonely. They go out into the streets of Minsk and stand at our monastic stalls. Troubled souls often come to share their sorrows and misgivings with our sisters, and the effect can be wondrous. As says sister Raisa Shulga, «When you look someone in the eye and speak in plain and simple words, your souls become connected in unseen ways. The warmth and intimacy of such moments is something that is lacking in human communication nowadays."
Our sisters are of different ages and from various backgrounds. They are teachers, architects, musicians and health workers. Coming to the sisterhood was a life-changing moment for all of them. Every sister has a story to tell. They tell us how we can make sense of our sorrows and learn to cope with them by being there for someone in need and easing their pain. They show us how being a servant of another strengthens our faith and trust in our Lord. We hope that their stories will give you inspiration and strength of the spirit.
On the 9th of September, we wish a happy name day to Nun Anfisa (Ostapchuk), a sister of our Convent. Mother Anfisa shares her experiences in the hospital ministry, religious life, faith in God, and the joy of serving others for 27 years.
After visiting the orphanage in Novinki, Nina immersed herself in a new world. She saw unconditional love and mercy in sick children and found God's love in the midst of their suffering. Her family had described her as having a heart of metal,…
Sister Galina spends most of her working day talking to people who are grieving the loss of their loved ones. She talks about her obedience, life-changing encounters and growth in the faith as a sister of Saint Elisabeth Convent.
Sister of Mercy Tatyana Schastnaya has worked behind the church stalls of Saint Elisabeth Convent for almost fifteen years. We talk to Sister Tatyana about overcoming difficulties and dealing with sorrows.
Natalya Orlovskaya, a sister of mercy, has the talent of comforting the desperate and grieving. According to Natalya, this talent is a gift from God. We talked to Sister Natalya about discovering God and how it can bring happiness to our lives.
At Saint Elisabeth Convent, Elena Dubovik is a sister of mercy. We asked sister Elena to tell us more about her obediences in the mental and tuberculosis clinic. We asked her how her service gives inspiration and hope to the patients and helps…
Sister Raisa Shulga: “It is a great blessing that God had called me here and brought me to faith without sending me the sorrows I could not bear. The sisterhood and the convent are my way, my life and my meaning to it.”
Xenia Verbitskaya, a sister of mercy, together with Father Andrey Lemeshonok saw patients of the cancer ward at Minsk's city clinic No. 2. We interviewed her about the experience of her ministry and its purpose and meaning.
He visited Saint Elisabeth Convent ten years ago, and he already knew then that it was his home. We Asked Brother Dmitry Akhremkin to talk about his obediences at the Convent and tell us why he thinks it is the best place in the world for him.
The Sisterhood, in honour of the Holy Martyr Grand Duchess Elisabeth, was established in 1994. We began with only a small group of lay sisters visiting the patients of the National Psychiatric Hospital.
