God’s help is most easily seen in difficult times. The Grand Princess found consolation and strength by the holy relic of Moscow wonderworker St. Alexii. It was he who put into her painful heart the idea to establish a convent of mercy.

That was how the wonderful nunnery came to existence in Moscow. Like everything Princess Elisabeth touched, it was exquisite even at sight.

The main aim of the convent was to revive the way of active Christian love and ministry. The main idea was for everyone to make their hearts a tabernacle for this love, to open it up for Merciful Christ. Sisters were called to unite the better lot of Mary listening to the words of eternal life, and Martha’s lot – serving the Lord by helping neighbors. Enlightened with God’s Word like Mary, they served people who needed prayers and consolation and served Christ through their hospitality and helping the sick.

The convent helped the poor. Grand Princess Elisabeth walked bunkhouses and gathered homeless children. The princess was not afraid of dirty words, dirt and the sight of people who lost their human selves. “God’s semblance can sometimes be distorted, but it can never be completely lost”, she said. The merciful Princess did not think that she was doing anything special, the basis for the spiritual charity of the convent was gratitude to the Lord for the opportunity to serve Him through neighbors.

A convent is called Paradise on earth. The way of obedience is great. The convent of St. Martha and Mary lived according to coenobian charter. Life according to a charter teaches people to be humble, patient, obedient. They stop philosophizing and unite into one big family. The Great Prioress comforted and strengthened sisters in their work to change themselves, showed her own example. Her vigor was striking. When she worked in the hospital, she uptook the most responsible work. She was said to have some healing power.

Spiritual father of the convent Archpriest Mitrofan Serebryanskii, a wonderful priest, was in charge of the inner lives of the sisters. The sisters were taught that it is not only medical help that is necessary, but also spiritual guidance of the scum, lost and despaired people. If a person felt the fragrance of Heaven, even for a moment, this would console them in their earthly life, and would give them hope when death would come. “We must celebrate one saved soul, one cup of cold water given in the Name of the Lord, together with the Angels in Heaven”.

There were a hospital, a pharmacy, an orphanage for girls, a Sunday school, a library, a free refectory for the poor, two churches (Pokrovskaya and in the honor of St. Martha and Mary). The Grand Princess hoped that the convent would flourish and become a fruitful tree, her dream was to have such convents in other cities as well.