The Paschal days were marked for our parishioners by joyful and inspiring events. On Bright Saturday, April 26, in the Convent of St. Mary Magdalene in Gethsemane, on the altar, which stands on the ancient steps of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated with the participation of children. Young parishioners sang in the choir, read and acted as altar boys, helping priest Roman Gultyaev at the service. This prayerful work became a living experience of liturgical life for the children, and for the adults - a joyful testimony of the spiritual growth of the younger generation.
At the end of the Liturgy, the head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky) blessed everyone and wished them joyful Easter days. After the liturgy, there was an puppet show for children, which was attended by the abbess of the convent - Mother Elisabeth (Smelic), the Head of the Mission, the sisters of the monastery and the parents of the children with friends. This event became a warm continuation of the holiday, giving joy and a bright Paschal atmosphere to all participants.
Beforehand, on Holy Saturday, the youth of the Sunday school happily devoted their efforts to good deeds, distributing tea and Easter cakes to numerous pilgrims who came to worship the shrines and bless their Easter cakes. The children gratefully donated the funds collected on this day to the needs of the monastery and to help the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission. This work became an important lesson for the youth in active love and service to the Church and neighbors.
During the Paschal season, the youth group of the Sunday school of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission went on a pilgrimage to the picturesque Og gorge - a place associated with the ascetic feat of holy hermits. This journey was not only a physical, but also a spiritual strengthening the the faith of our young pilgrims.