On Palm Sunday, the Holy Church calls all of us to the triumph of the Entry of our Lord into Jerusalem with the words: “The Grace of the Holy Spirit today has assembled us. Taking up your cross we sing: blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!” (stichera of the feast).

The feastday was solemnly celebrated at the Convent of the Ascension. During the all-night vigil, after the blessing of the five loaves, the bells of the “Russian Candle” began ringing on the occasion of the solemn procession from Bethphage to the city of Jerusalem. A procession of the cross is held annually to commemorate the Savior’s entry into Jerusalem. The monastery bells greet the procession when passing the monastery.

During the polyeleos, the Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), consecrated the fronds, i.e. palm branches, for distribution to people in memory of the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem.

At the Divine Liturgy, Archimandrite Vasily (Druzhinets), Archimandrite Innokenty (Sereda), Abbot Jonah (Galishnikov) and Deacon Vyacheslav (Batalsky) concelebrated with the Head of the Mission. The abbess of the monastery, Mother Varvara (Novikova) prayed in the church with the sisters of the convent.

 

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