Lazarus Saturday at the Bethany Community of the Resurrection of Christ

The festive celebrations at the Community of the Resurrection of Christ in the city of Bethany (al-Azaria) on the day of the patronal feast of the Resurrection of Lazarus were solemnly held.

The services were held in the open air next to the chapel on the site where Martha met the Savior and heard the great comforting words of Christ: "I am the resurrection and the life!"

Before the service, the cleric of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission - Hieromonk Theodore (Kirike) served the rite of the small blessing of water. Then, after the reading of the hours, the Chief of the Mission, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky) led the Divine Liturgy in concelebration with the clergy of the Mission and pilgrims in holy orders. During the service it was drizzling heavily, but the worshipers bravely stood through the service under umbrellas.

The abbess of the monastery, Mother Elisabeth (Smelic), arrived before the service on a specially hired bus with the sisters of the Gethsemane Convent of St. Mary Magdalene.

After the liturgy, a moleben was served to the holy righteous Lazarus, Martha, and Mary with a procession. After the dismissal, Fr. Roman congratulated Mother Elisabeth and the sisters with the patronal feast and especially congratulated the senior sister of the community, nun Maria (Wall), who was celebrating her name day.

Having kissed the Cross and be sprinkled with holy water, the sisters and worshipers went to the school hall for a festive meal.