93-year-old nun: Under the USSR, they called us “American spies”

Mother Alevtina. Photo: Press Service of the Rivne Eparchy

On July 28, the feast day of the Holy Martyr Alevtina, the oldest abbess of a monastery in Ukraine – Mother Alevtina Siruk – celebrated her birth and name day. She turned 93 years old. Mother Alevtina received congratulations and warm wishes from many guests, including Bishop Pimen and representatives of the administration of the Rivne Eparchy of the UOC.

In an interview with the eparchy’s press service, Mother Alevtina recalled the difficult years of her youth, when she was sent to a women’s labor camp in Karaganda for her faith.

“They called us American spies there,” the elderly nun recounted about the attitude toward believers.

According to her, she was initially to be assigned to the 10th brigade, which involved hard labor – hauling stones. However, the Most Holy Theotokos interceded for her: an elderly neighbor of Mother Alevtina managed to have her transferred to the group assigned to work with the disabled. “We worked in the garden, planted things, swept – it was easier,” she recalled.

Despite the harsh conditions, Mother Alevtina remained faithful to God: “On Sundays we didn’t work – we prayed. If you didn’t show up – you were put in solitary. The warden would ask why I didn’t go, and I’d just stay silent and laugh...”

Representatives of the eparchy note that the life of Mother Alevtina is a quiet yet powerful sermon on faithfulness, endurance, and love for God.

Archbishop Pimen conveyed his congratulations through the staff of the Rivne Eparchy. The story of Mother Alevtina is a living testimony to how faith helped Christians survive during the years of Soviet persecution of the Church.

As a reminder, Metropolitan Alexiy of Voznesensk and Pervomaisk recently stated that attempts to destroy the Church – similar to those carried out by the Soviet authorities – continue today, but will not succeed.

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