God's power is manifest in weakness

Our hardships are a part of our spiritual struggle. They are given to us to learn that our future is not made by our hands, but by God's love

Reflections at the font, or once again on the Baptism of the Lord

At our feast of Epiphany people could see carved out of ice figures: the temple, figures of angels and animals symbolizing the evangelists. Everything here puts you in a prayerful mood.

Top five musical pieces in the life of Irina Kolesnikova

Sister Irina Kolesnikova, the conductor of the monastic choir "Anima", names five musical pieces that influenced her musical career and personal growth.

Finding faith in the miracle of the Nativity

The birth of the living God returned to humanity the sense of His closeness. God acted through the people who had kept within themselves the ability to live by their faith. People like the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

Rise above the world, come to the Lord’s banquet

Today, we still have an open invitation from the Lord to His banquet, but we continue to make the same excuses: I am too busy at the moment. Sorry, I have too little time. No one wants to be distracted.

Changing from within to live in the Lord

We bend under the burden of the news. One bad tiding succeeds another, and all are equally intimidating. This weight of bad news already threatens to turn our lives into a meaningless existence.

Sister Natalya: "The Sisterhood Gave Me the Strength of Spirit"

Natalya Silantyeva, a sister of charity, discusses her coming to the sisterhood, her role in our ministries and her ascent in the faith and learning to find out and follow the will of God.

The word of FR Andrey (Lemeshonok), confessor of St Elisabeth Convent

Let us ask that St. Nicholas does not abandon his heavenly intercessions and that he corrects what we are doing wrong. Let us ask him to instruct us to do every good deed, so that by his prayers we dare to do the works of God

Serve God, Love Your Neighbour: Insights from Sister Natalya

How do people like you and me with many weaknesses and vulnerabilities become soldiers of God's army who enlighten the lives of others? Sister Natalya Kurgasova shares her insights.

Of our spiritual growth and inner transformation in Christ

At some point, we will all face up to eternity. But to have eternal life, we must already learn to live a full life in love and faith. Christ is in our midst, and He will never abandon us.

Seeing Crises as a Touch of God's Grace - Advice from Sister Tatyana

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.

Finding beauty and a meaning to life in monasticism

We bring in the limelight our monastic sisters in black. What brought them to monasticism? What circumstances of their lives influenced their decision? Nun Nadezhda (Korzhina) shares her story.

Christmas Symbols in Creations of Our Master Craftsmen

Each of our monastery’s workshops has prepared its own wonderful gift this Christmas Season. Our artists have been painting on glass and ceramics, embroidering serviettes, carving small wooden Nativity scenes, making toys and painting Christmas…

May God and our guardian angel always be with us

Last Sunday, we celebrated the feast of Archangel Michael and his army of angels. It is composed of his loyal warriors, and our guardian angels are among them. They accompany all our lives from baptism, interceding for us before our Lord.

Sister Natalya Orlovskaya: Finding Joy in Our Lord

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.

Finding Joy and Keeping Strong - Advice from Sister Elena

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…

"Simon, son of John, do you love me?"

Monastics are people who fend for themselves. They go it alone and ascetise out of everybody's view.

Finding God and returning to life: Brother Alexander’s story

Brother Alexander is the man in charge of the monastic horse stable. We interviewed him about his coming to the farmstead. What difference did it make in his life? And how does he see his tomorrow?

The healing power of our faith in Christ

Would we not say that our present world has many similarities with the land of Gerasenes? Is it not a world that believes only in the unlimited power of modern medicine but cares too little about spiritual health and salvation in the faith?

The protection of our Mother in Heaven brings us hope in our sorrows

Today, we commemorate the Icon of the Holy Theotokos "Joy of All Who Sorrow". It sends us a powerful message: joys and sorrows are two sides of the same coin.