Metropolitan Mark’s Pilgrimage Ends

On the day of the feast of the Procession of the Honorable and Life-Giving Cross, popularly called the “honey feast of the Lord”, the pilgrimage led by Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany was completed. From August 1 to August 14, pilgrims were present daily at the Divine Liturgy and prayerfully visited the holy places of Palestine. The bishop of London and Western Europe Irenaeus together with Vl. Mark accompanied the pilgrims for the first week of the visit but had to return to the diocese early.
On Saturday evening, August 13, at the end of the All-Night Vigil, Metropolitan Mark performed the rite of Carrying out the Cross.

On Sunday morning, the head of the Mission – Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), the clergy of the Mission – Archimandrite Innokenty (Sereda), abbot Jonah (Galishnikov), Hierodeacon Gerasim (Kotovsky) with pilgrims in holy orders met the locum tenens of the First Hierarch at the entrance to the temple. After vesting and reading the hours, Metropolitan Mark led the Divine Liturgy, at which the abbess of the Convent of the Holy Ascension, Matushka Barbara (Novikova), with the sisterhood and all the pilgrims, took communion.

Inhisы parting words to Vl. Mark, Archimandrite Roman suggested that the Metropolitan’s prayer during this pilgrimage was especially directed to the Lord concerning the upcoming Bishops’ Council on September 13, at which a new First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia would be elected. The chief assured Vladyka of the prayers of the brothers and sisters of the Mission so that the Lord would appoint a worthy Primate to lead the Church Abroad in these turbulent and uncertain times.