By tradition, in the churches of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, Matins and Divine Liturgy are served at midnight.
After the service and a short rest, the brothers and sisters of the Mission went by bus to Bethlehem to venerate the manger of Christ. In the cave where Christ was born, a Christmas prayer service was held, led by the Head of the Mission, Fr. Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky). The clergy and abbesses of the monasteries with the sisters sang the troparion, kontakion and irmos of the feast. Fr. Roman read the Gospel story from Matthew about the miraculous event that took place there.
After venerating the holy place, the brothers and sisters, like the shepherds of that ancient Bethlehem night, left with Christmas joy in their hearts.
After the service and a short rest, the brothers and sisters of the Mission went by bus to Bethlehem to venerate the manger of Christ. In the cave where Christ was born, a Christmas prayer service was held, led by the Head of the Mission, Fr. Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky). The clergy and abbesses of the monasteries with the sisters sang the troparion, kontakion and irmos of the feast. Fr. Roman read the Gospel story from Matthew about the miraculous event that took place there.
After venerating the holy place, the brothers and sisters, like the shepherds of that ancient Bethlehem night, left with Christmas joy in their hearts.
