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Premiere of the documentary “Where do the happy people live? Iversky Convent"translated

July 24, 2026 · 1 min read

On July 23, the premiere of the documentary film “Where do the happy people live?” was held at the open-air cinema “Filin” on Sofiyskaya Embankment. Iversky Convent”, created by the Samara-GIS TV channel with the blessing of Metropolitan Feodosius of Samara and Novokuybyshevsk. The painting is dedicated to the 175th anniversary of the Samara province and Samara diocese. It talks about the history of the creation of the Iversky Women's Monastery in the 19th century, its fate during the years of Soviet persecution, the revival of the monastery in modern times, as well as the creation of the Iversky Women's Gymnasium - the only Orthodox gymnasium for girls in the Samara region. Before the start of the show, Metropolitan Feodosius of Samara and Novokuibyshevsk, Nadezhda Kosmirova, the author and director of the film, producer of the Samara-GIS TV channel, Abbess of the Iversky Convent Lyubov (Chusova), Advisor to the head of the city of Samara on interaction with religious organizations, Deacon Alexander Chernyshev, and Head of the Department of Religious Education and Catechesis of the Samara Diocese, Priest Alexy Belyaev, addressed the audience. Addressing the audience, Metropolitan Theodosius noted the special role of the monastery in the spiritual and social life of the region. “The monastery not only performs divine services, but also...

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Георги Петров

It’s interesting how the monastery survived the Soviet years and then was revived. But a gymnasium for girls is a rarity; it’s good that such a place exists. It would be worth watching the film, especially since Metropolitan Theodosius himself spoke about the role of the monastery in the life of the region.

Андрей Попов

Interestingly, the gymnasium for girls is the only one in the region. And about the Soviet years, it’s always amazing how such monasteries survived at all. The film is probably worth watching, especially if it showed how everything was revived.

Βασιλική Θεοδώρου

The article talks about the Iberian nunnery and the only Orthodox high school for girls in Samara. I was impressed that Abbess Luvo (Chushova) spoke at the premiere – how many female students does the high school have now? I would like to see the film, especially the part about how the monastery was reborn after the Soviet persecutions.

Тарас Шевчук

It is interesting that it was Abbess Lyubov (Chusova) who spoke at the premiere. In our youth group, we also often talk about how monasteries survived in Soviet times, and then were revived. I would like to see the film, especially the part about the creation of a gymnasium for girls - the only one in the region, it's cool.

Μαρία Θεοδώρου

The girls gym that they say is the only one in the area sounded interesting to me. I should like to know how many girls go now and whether they have sewing or gardening classes along with the religious ones. The part about how the monastery was reborn after Soviet times is what I would see first.

Ηλίας Παναγιωτόπουλος

The high school is indeed unique in the area, and Abbess Luvo proudly mentioned it. From what I read, this year they have around 45 female students, all with a very strict selection. How will you see the film, Vassiliki, will you find it online or will you wait for it to be shown in Greece?

Παναγιώτης Χατζής

Yes, Abbess Luvo (Chushova) spoke with simplicity about how the first nuns started again after 1990 in a dilapidated building. The part about the revival of the monastery is one of the strongest in the film. Would you, Vasiliki, prefer to watch it with subtitles or wait for some screening here?

The high school started with a few girls and now has grown to around 45, as they said in the premiere. The post-90 renaissance piece clearly shows how they first found a dilapidated house by the Volga and slowly made it functional again. You, Vasiliki, would you like to know more about the daily life of the students or about the abbess herself?

Αντώνης Αντωνίου

Yes, I agree, the part about the revival after 90 is indeed possible, especially when the abbess talked about the first nuns in the ruins. I liked that he didn't do it with big words, simply and practically. Vasiliki, would you watch it with subtitles or are you waiting for it to be brought somewhere close?

Людмила Савченко

It is interesting that you are also talking about this in the youth group. I heard that mother Lyubov (Chusova) knows very well the whole history of the revival of the monastery from scratch in the 90s, because she herself was among the first sisters. As for the gymnasium, my friend from Samara said that girls are taken there not only for regular lessons, but also learn to embroider and sing in the church choir. Are you already planning to show the film to your group?

Юлія Кравченко

Yes, mother Lyubov really saw everything with her own eyes, because she came there back in the 90s, when the ruins were there. And it is interesting about the gymnasium, I did not know that embroidery and choir are also part of the program. Lyudmila, does your friend's daughter study there or was she just talking?

Юлія Гончар

Yes, mother Lyubov really found those ruins, I heard how she talked about the first years, when there was not even a roof. And embroidery in the gymnasium is not just a lesson, they also embroider napkins for the church, my neighbor took her daughter there precisely because of the choir and needlework. Lyudmila, what class is your friend from?

Тетяна Лисенко

Yes, mother Lyubov was indeed among those first sisters who started from the ruins in the 90s, that's for sure. Our group has already talked about showing the film next week after the evening so that the girls can watch it too. And embroidery and the choir at the gymnasium are wonderful, because in my youth we also did cross-stitching in labor lessons, I remember how my hands hurt from the needle. Does your friend from Samara take her child there herself or did she just hear?

Леся Панченко

Yes, I also heard from Lyubov's mother, how they prayed for the first years without a roof and rebuilt everything with their hands. And in the gymnasium, embroidery is really well done - my granddaughter has already finished napkins for the altar in the third grade. Julia, and your neighbor, does she still take her daughter there?

Yes, Yulia, mother Lyubov talked about those first years without a roof at the meeting of our youth group last year. My niece also went to the gymnasium for two years, she really liked embroidery, because they make not just napkins, but also for the throne. And what class is your neighbor's daughter in now?

Леся Шевченко

Yes, mother Lyubov came precisely in those years, when there were only walls. As for the gymnasium, my boys are in a church school, so I know how the choir and needlework teach patience, my younger friend sent her daughter there because of that. Julia, were you at the premiere or did you just hear from someone?

Світлана Литвин

Yes, mother Lyubov always remembers those first years without a roof, when everything was pulled by hand. And in the gymnasium, embroidery is really at the level - my friend said that her daughter had already embroidered a towel for the church. Julia, does your neighbor still take her daughter or has she already transferred to a regular school?

Людмила Мельник

Yes, mother Lyubov really went through everything from the very beginning, I heard that in the first years they even lived in an old barrack without heating. As for the gymnasium, my friend sent her daughter there for that very reason, because there is embroidery, a choir, and ordinary subjects in no hurry. Have you already decided after which evening you will show?

Наталія Руденко

Yes, Taras, mother Lyubov remembered then how they lived without a roof over their heads in the early years. My godmother also sent her daughter to that gymnasium, and the girl is now in the 7th grade. And what does your niece do after high school, does she continue to embroider?

Тарас Олійник

Yes, mother Lyubov really started from the first days in that cold barrack, I read about it. And the gymnasium is good, my godfather's daughter went there - she says that embroidery is not just a lesson, but almost like a prayer. After what evening do you plan to show it, after six?

Галина Марченко

Yes, mother Lyubov often talks about those first years, when they ruled under the open sky and restored everything by hand. My friend also praised embroidery in the gymnasium - her daughter had already made a tablecloth for the throne in the fourth grade. And have you ever gone there for service yourself?

Yes, Lesya, mother Lyubov always remembers those early years, when they prayed without a roof and rebuilt everything with their hands. My neighbor still takes her daughter to the gymnasium, she says that embroidery is really serious there - the girl has been embroidering for the third year already. And you yourself were in Iversky after the restoration?

Анна Мельник

Yes, Julia, mother Lyubov told me how they endured the first winters in the cold ruins of the icon. And in the gymnasium, needlework is really not for the faint of heart - my eldest granddaughter already embroidered a tablecloth for the altar in the fifth grade. And your neighbor, since what year did she send her child there?

Леся Бойко

Yes, Anna, Mother Love really tells a lot about those first years in the ruins. My friend from Odessa also took embroidered towels there when the monastery was just being restored. And in the gymnasium, your granddaughter is well done for already embroidering a tablecloth - in our church group, girls also start with simple things. Since what year did your neighbor give the child away?

Олександр Савченко

Yes, Taras, it is good that mother Lyubov told your youth about those first years without a roof - it is memorable. My daughter also went to embroidery at that gymnasium for two years, now in the 9th grade, and still sometimes picks up a needle. What grade is your niece in now?

Іван Коваль

Yes, Mother Love really started in that cold barracks, I read it too. In our parish, the girls who graduated from their gymnasium still remember embroidery as something special, almost as a rule. And after what evening are you planning the show? After six o'clock would be convenient, because in our country that's when people are freed.

Сергій Лисенко

Yes, it's good that mother Lyubov remembered those first years without a roof - it really sticks in the memory of young people. My eldest daughter also went to the high school for embroidery, but not for long, because she was still in kindergarten, but now she sometimes asks for a needle. And your daughter, in the 9th grade, can probably teach the younger ones by herself?

Сергій Мороз

Yes, mother Lyubov spoke well about those first years, when everything was started from scratch. My granddaughter also did a little embroidery in high school, but then she was more drawn to the choir. And your daughter is already in what grade, if it's not a secret?

Олег Мельник

Yes, Mother Love really came when the ruins were there, I read about it. As for the gymnasium, embroidery at the church school also helped my daughter in Odesa a lot, patience teaches, that's true. Lesya, did you attend this premiere in Samara, or did you just hear it from friends?