It is not good for man to be alone…
Gen. 2:18

The first wedding took place in the church in honour of the “Inexhaustible Chalice” icon of the Mother of God at the metochion of the convent on May 29. The Lord blessed and sanctified the union of Vitaly and Marina who have long become inseparable from the metochion. The confessor of the convent Archpriest Andrew Lemeshonok celebrated the Sacrament of Matrimony.

Surprisingly, it was on the Bald Mountain that Marina and Vitaly met one another.

Marina came to the metochion in 2002. Females are forbidden to stay on the Bald Mountain, according to the rules established by the convent, but Marina was an exception and she started working here. Marina is a teacher so she began teaching children abandoned by their parents.

Vitaly graduated from a Teachers College where he majored in teaching the Russian language and literature. Later, he became a successful businessman. However, his addiction to alcohol ruined everything. The way Vitaly lived caused pain not only for him, but also for his relatives. Hopelessness and despair, together with strong desire to change his life were the reason why he came to the metochion of the convent.

When a person does anything for God, God will always pay him back one hundred times more. It is by God’s Providence that Marina and Vitaly worked on land and in greenhouses together. Whereas the Lord at the same time cultivated, weeded and fertilized their hearts. Vitaly participated in the construction of a church on the Bald Mountain, so the Lord helped him build his own home church, i.e. family.

All brothers of the metochion, all monastic sisters and guests were praying for the well-being of the matrimonial union of Marina and Vitaly on this bright and joyous day.

Sermon of Father Andrew on the day of the wedding:

“Each person has his own path of life. Now you are on the verge of a new life. God knows what will be there in this new life. We ask God to strengthen you so that your life would be a happy and a Christian life.”

A festive meal was held after the wedding. Many warm and kind words were said there.

Greetings of Sr Tamara:

“The basis of the family life is unselfish love. Each one ought to forget about his “self” and devote his life to another person. When anything goes wrong, you ought to blame yourself. Patience is also essential. Impatience can ruin everything. Both parties ought to wish to make their marriage a happy one and overcome everything that hinders that. This is what one of the brightest women, Holy Martyr Empress Alexandra Romanova thought. A kind, compassionate and tender mother, she knew a secret of happy family. I wish the newly-weds use the secrets of this noble woman. Then Angels will enlighten your family life and the path of your life.”

Mother Rufina shared her impressions about the wedding at the meeting of the sisterhood:

“When we were going to the wedding, I really wanted the newly-weds to have to hold the crowns on their heads themselves, instead of having them held over their heads (which is the traditional way it is done), so that they could feel their weight. This was exactly what happened: Father simply put the crowns onto the bride’s and the bridegroom’s heads. Therefore, if Vitaly and Marina carry those crowns of thorns until the end of their lives – the Lord will award them with Martyr’s crowns.”

May the Lord help you, Vitaly and Marina! May there be peace, good, and well-being in your family!