The Feast Day of Lesna Convent in France

Lesna Convent - On September 22 OS/ October 5 NS the historical Lesna Convent of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia celebrated its patronal feast day, the commemoration of the Lesna Icon of the Theotokos. The Lesna icon is revered as a great Russian holy relic and a major shrine of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. After the revolution in Russia, the Lesna nuns took it to Serbia with them, where it was kept at Hopovo Monastery for 30 years. It was then transferred to France with the sisters, where it is kept to this day. It is located in the French village of Provemont in Normandy, in the Lesna Church of Our Lady, where it is kept in a shrine on the north side of the iconostasis. This year's celebration marks exactly 140 years since the founding of the Lesna Convent, the 100th anniversary of the righteous repose of the Venerable Catherine of Lesna and Hopovo, and 75 years of Lesna Convent’s presence in France.

A Short History of Lesna, a Convent of the Russian Church Abroad

As of this year, 2025 AD,  Lesna Convent was founded 140 years ago by Venerable Ekaterina Efimovska with the help and blessing of St. John of Kronstadt and Venerable Ambrose of Optina, with the patronage of the Russian Emperor Holy Tsar-Martyr Nicholas II.  Lesna Convent became renowned for the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Lesna, which is preserved in the monastery to this day.

Проповедь епископа Акакия на торжестве в честь 140 - летия основания Леснинского монастыря

Во имя Отца и Сына и Святого Духа!

Днес благодать Святого Духа собрала всех нас здесь, в этом святом месте, вокруг чудотворной иконы Пресвятой Богородицы Леснинской, здесь, на крайнем западе Европы, в Нормандии, в этом уголке бывшей Святой Руси – Леснинском монастыре Пресвятой Богородицы.

В течение 140 лет Леснинский монастырь непрестанно хранит священные заветы свидетельства Православия и евангелской жизни, через деятельную любовь к Богу и ближним, завещанными Леснинскому монастырю еще при его основании его духовными наставниками и покровителями – святым праведным Иоанном Кронштадтским, преподобным Амвросием Оптинским и святым царем-мучеником Николайем, да пребудут их молитвы всегда с нами!