In the evening of Great Thursday, matins were served with the reading of the twelve gospels in the church of St. Mary Magdalene which stands on the site where the saving passions of our Lord Jesus Christ began – the Garden of Gethsemane. The touching and solemn service was held with a large gathering of people. Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), Chief of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission, led the divine service with six priests (monastic clergy and pilgrims with holy orders).

After the service, the sisters with the clergy went in procession to the cave in the lower part of the territory of the monastery, where the story from the Gospel of St. Mark was read about the coming of the Savior to Gethsemane and His suffering prayer in this holy place. (Traditionaly the procession went along the Way of the Cross to the old city, but unfortunately due to the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, the police did not allow enterance.)

 

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