Meeting of the Representatives of the Russian Ecclesiastical Missions with the Mayor of the Kanna of Galilee

In the biblical city of Саna (modern name Kfer Kanna), a business meeting took place between the head of the REM of the Russian Church Abroad, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), and the secretary of the REM of the Moscow Patriarchate, Hegumen Nikon (Golovko), with the Mayor of the city of Kanna, Iz-Addin Amar, and representatives of the municipality. On behalf of the REM, the meeting was also attended by Archpriest Peter Holodny, representative of ROCOR to the Moscow Patriarchate, Mark Selawry and George Williams, representatives of the Fund for Assistance to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

The issue of developing the REM land plot in Kanna, which is located in the center of the city, on the site of an ancient spring, the same one from which stone vessels were filled with water before Christ miraculously transformed water from the spring into wine during the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee, was discussed.

This plot was acquired in 1913 by the Head of the REM, Archimandrite Leonid (Sentsov), and was registered in 1922 in the name of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, through the efforts of Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky), who in those years was the bishop supervising the affairs of the REM in Jerusalem. Throughout the 20th century, olives were grown on Russian property in Kanna and provided the opportunity for local residents to use water from the source. Recently, the city of Kanna has been actively developing a pilgrimage and tourism structure. In this regard, the future of the Russian section was discussed at a meeting with the mayor. The meeting was held in a positive spirit and mutual understanding.