Not long before his death, Fr Sergei told her “Return to your Motherland Julia and take up your Cross. and listen, Julia, carry it with joy !” (recorded by S. Yu. Zavadovskaya). Her return was preceded by a visit to her sister in Prague and years of waiting. She also worked in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia: icons, church murals, copies from reproductions of works by Russian artists. “I was overburdened with work....By the way, I painted successfully from nature because I particularly liked the countryside.” remembered Yu. N. Living in Tashkent where she was directed to stay in 1955 “I made my living painting silk scarves.” After she started to live on a pension, she was able to stay in Moscow more often and for longer. She came back to icon painting through a friend from Paris, E. Yu. Vedernikova (Braslavskaya). Yu. N wrote: 'Little by little I am beginning to breathe a forgotten air. the Vedernikovs , books, meetings with wonderful new young people. I return to my Father's House (the Church) , make my Confession and take Communion with Fr. Andrei Sergeenko which I have not done for ages and for 15-20 years I am working on icons more than I have ever done in my life.

Eventually my meeting with Fr. Alexander Men' was somehow sent to me by Fr. Sergei. That is my whole biography, nothing remarkable except my remarkable mentors. (Father A. Sergeenko 1903-1973) was the incumbent at the church in Meudon, returned to Russia in 1947. Yu. N. could have met Fr A. Men (1935-1990) in the 1960's, but their spiritual meeting took place around 1974. A return to icon painting in the anti-religious 60's and 70's was also an achievement. She painted icons free, sent them by post from Tashkent (often in boxes hidden by sweets) addressed 'by request' and 'as presents'. According to oral reports, her last icon was 'Walking on the Water' (1983, displayed in the exhibition).

She died in the severest Russian nun's habit (the 'skhima) - deaf and blind, praying ceaselessly, remembering her nearest and dearest.