Holy Dormition Convent (Nanuet, New York)

Holy Dormition Convent
Jurisdiction	ROCOR
Type	Female Monastery
Founded	1949
Superior	Abbess Irina‎
Approx. size	4 monastics
Location	Nanuet, New York
Liturgical language(s)	Slavonic
Music used	Russian Chant
Calendar	Julian
Feastdays celebrated	Dormition
Official website	Official Website

Holy Dormition Stavropegial Convent, also known as "Novo-Diveevo", is a female monastic community in the jurisdiction of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, located in Nanuet, New York. It is home to the largest cemetery in the Russian Diaspora, and also operates the ROC Old Peoples Home (OPH).

History

The founder of the convent was Archbishop Andrei of Rockland, then Protopresbyter Adrian Rimarenko (starets Nektarii of Optina died under his epitrachelion). In 1949, with the arrival in America of a multitude of refugees, ROCOR’s First Hierarch Metropolitan Anastasy entrusted Fr. Adrian to build a spiritual center. A former Roman Catholic monastery was purchased and a Russian convent was founded. There are two churches on the property; the “small church” as it is known is named in honor of the Dormition. The main church was built in honor of St. Seraphim of Sarov. The convent is home to the largest Russian Orthodox cemetery in the Diaspora. An Old Age Home is also operated by the convent. The convent has many sacred items including: a full-length portrait of St. Seraphim of Sarov painted during his lifetime, a cross from the Ipatiev House, and the “Vladimir” icon of the Holy Theotokos that belonged to St. Amvrosii of Optina.