April 3/16, the feastday of the Resurrection of Righteous Lazarus of the Four Days was solemnly celebrated at the Community of the Resurrection of Christ in Bethany (al-Azaria). On the territory of the monastery there is a chapel at the meeting place of our Savior with Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus.

On Friday evening, the sisters и of the и community gathered with the sisters of the Gethsemane Convent of St. Mary Magdalene, (a dependancy to which the community is) for worship. The Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), led the all-night vigil with the clergy of the Mission, Archimandrite Innokenty (Sereda) and Hierodeacon Amphilokhy (Mazur). After the service, the sisters, and pilgrims with the children of the boarding school went to the tomb of St. Lazarus for worship.

In the morning after Midnight Office, water was consecrated as is traditional on the day of the patronal feast. The Divine Liturgy was served in a specially arranged altar next to the chapel. For Liturgy Priest Roman Gultiaev joined the above-named clergy.

After the service, there was a procession through the territory of the monastery during which holy water was sprinkled. The Head of the Mission congratulated the abbess of the monastery – mother Elisabeth (Smelic) with the patronal feast and the elder sister of the community, Mother Maria (Wall), who was celebrating her name day.

 

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