The Consul General of Spain in Jerusalem, Ignacio Garcia-Valdecasas, honored the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission with a visit to the Holy Ascension Monastery on the Mount of Olives. The head of the REM, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), greeted the distinguished guest at the entrance to the church with Abbess Barbara (Novikova).

Since the ambassador had been part of the Spanish mission in Moscow for several years, he spoke fluently in both Russian and English. Fr. Roman briefly explained about the Russian presence in the Holy Land and showed the main church, the bell tower, the chapel of St. John the Baptist and the territory of the monastery.

Afterwards they went together to Gethsemane where the ambassador visited the church of St. Mary Magdalene and showed reverence for the relics of the holy martyrs Sts. Elisabeth and Barbara.

 

 

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