Novi Stjenik Welcomes Russian Pilgrims

 On the 26^th July/8^th of August, the Dormition of Righteous Anna, the mother of the Theotokos, Novi Stjenik Monastery welcomed a group of Russian pilgrims lead by His Eminence Archbishop Sophrony of St Petersburg and Northern Russia. The group had previously been on pilgrimage to Rome, Bari and other holy places in Italy.  We were honored that they took the time to include us on their already very demanding schedule and bring us some grace from all of the holy places and relics where they had venerated. 

After attending Holy Liturgy in honor of the Righteous Anna, the pilgrims enjoyed the rest of the day in fellowship, exchanging toasts and reminiscences of their trip, which was followed by a tour of the monastery and a short lecture on its history. Our sisterhood and the pilgrims were so happy to meet each other; Bp Sophrony is much loved here, as well as the organizers of the trip, Mark and Svetlana Kotliaroff, who are dear friends of our sisterhood.

After attending Holy Liturgy in honor of the Righteous Anna, the pilgrims enjoyed the rest of the day in fellowship, exchanging toasts and reminiscences of their trip, which was followed by a tour of the monastery and a short lecture on its history. Our sisterhood and the pilgrims were so happy to meet each other; Bp Sophrony is much loved here, as well as the organizers of the trip, Mark and Svetlana Kotliaroff, who are dear friends of our sisterhood. It was wonderful to meet the other new visitors and to hear of their stories and spiritual journeys, while we shared something about the monastic life which is so rarely accessible for most people in the world. Our patron saint John the Baptist and St Anna whose memory we celebrated that day blessed us with beautiful weather, and much joy was felt by all, both with old reunions and new acquaintances, which for all of us is a source of spiritual strength. It was with great regret that we parted. Promises of prayers and further meetings were exchanged until the last moment that the jeeps which had brought the pilgrims were loaded up and disappeared into the dust, which could not cloud the happy air which bloomed that day among us.