On April 18/May 1 of this year, the fiftieth anniversary of the ordination of Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany was prayerfully celebrated at the Munich Cathedral of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia.
In 1975, Bishop Pavel Pavlov of Stuttgart (+1995) (the future Archbishop of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand) ordained the future Bishop Mark to the diaconate and priesthood.
Two days before the celebrations, the miraculous icon of the Mother of God "Kursk Root" arrived in Germany, accompanied by the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, Metropolitan Nicholas of New York and Eastern America. With the chant "Christ is risen" and the troparion of the icon, Bishop Job of Stuttgart and the brethren of the monastery greeted the icon in the monastery of St. Job of Pochaev. Then, later in the afternoon, the icon was taken to the convent of the Holy Martyr Elisabeth Feodorovna, where Metropolitan Mark, the abbess of the convent, Abbess Maria (Sidoropoulou), and the sisters greeted the icon and the Metropolitan with the ringing of bells.
In the evening before the celebrations, Vespers and Matins were served at the convent. Afterwards, the sisters offered dinner to the numerous clergy and pilgrims who had come for the holiday.
In the morning, the First Hierarch was greeted in the cathedral with the singing of "The Angel Cried Out". Bishop Nicholas was assisted by: Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany; Metropolitan Ioannikii of Montenegro and the Littoral (Serbian Orthodox Church); Metropolitan Seraphim of Germany, Central and Northern Europe (Romanian Orthodox Church); Metropolitan Gregory of Düsseldorf and All Germany (Serbian Orthodox Church); Archbishop Tikhon of Ruza (administrator of the Berlin and German Diocese of the Moscow Patriarchate); Bishop Ireneus of London and Western Europe; Bishop Job of Stuttgart, Bishop Alexander formerly of Vevey (retired). The Archpastors were co-served by 50 priests, among whom were Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, and 13 deacons.
Praying in the church that day were Abbess Elisabeth (Smelic), Abbess of the Gethsemane Monastery of St. Mary Magdalene; Abbess Maria, the abbess of the convent in Buchendorf, and nun Maria (Wall), senior sister of the community of the Resurrection of Christ in Bethany.
At the end of the service, Metropolitan Nikolai handed Metropolitan Mark a commendation (gramota) from the Synod of Bishops, which was read out by the cathedral protodeacon Bartholomew Bazanov. The bishops conveyed words of congratulations and presented memorable gifts to His Eminence Vladyka Mark. Many years were proclaimed to all the clergy.
After the liturgy, the gathering of the archpastors, clergy and pilgrims continued over a meal, during which the Head of the REM in Jerusalem, Archimandrite Roman, gave a speech of thanks, emphasizing the more than 40-year service of Bishop Mark in Jerusalem as the Synodal Overseer for the Mission, during which the Bishop more than once defended the Mission as part of the ROCOR from attacks and attempts to seize the mission's property.
With gratitude to the Lord Almighty, the brothers and sisters of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem wish Metropolitan Mark: health, salvation and good success in all things.
Eispolla eti despota!
In 1975, Bishop Pavel Pavlov of Stuttgart (+1995) (the future Archbishop of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand) ordained the future Bishop Mark to the diaconate and priesthood.
Two days before the celebrations, the miraculous icon of the Mother of God "Kursk Root" arrived in Germany, accompanied by the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, Metropolitan Nicholas of New York and Eastern America. With the chant "Christ is risen" and the troparion of the icon, Bishop Job of Stuttgart and the brethren of the monastery greeted the icon in the monastery of St. Job of Pochaev. Then, later in the afternoon, the icon was taken to the convent of the Holy Martyr Elisabeth Feodorovna, where Metropolitan Mark, the abbess of the convent, Abbess Maria (Sidoropoulou), and the sisters greeted the icon and the Metropolitan with the ringing of bells.
In the evening before the celebrations, Vespers and Matins were served at the convent. Afterwards, the sisters offered dinner to the numerous clergy and pilgrims who had come for the holiday.
In the morning, the First Hierarch was greeted in the cathedral with the singing of "The Angel Cried Out". Bishop Nicholas was assisted by: Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany; Metropolitan Ioannikii of Montenegro and the Littoral (Serbian Orthodox Church); Metropolitan Seraphim of Germany, Central and Northern Europe (Romanian Orthodox Church); Metropolitan Gregory of Düsseldorf and All Germany (Serbian Orthodox Church); Archbishop Tikhon of Ruza (administrator of the Berlin and German Diocese of the Moscow Patriarchate); Bishop Ireneus of London and Western Europe; Bishop Job of Stuttgart, Bishop Alexander formerly of Vevey (retired). The Archpastors were co-served by 50 priests, among whom were Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, and 13 deacons.
Praying in the church that day were Abbess Elisabeth (Smelic), Abbess of the Gethsemane Monastery of St. Mary Magdalene; Abbess Maria, the abbess of the convent in Buchendorf, and nun Maria (Wall), senior sister of the community of the Resurrection of Christ in Bethany.
At the end of the service, Metropolitan Nikolai handed Metropolitan Mark a commendation (gramota) from the Synod of Bishops, which was read out by the cathedral protodeacon Bartholomew Bazanov. The bishops conveyed words of congratulations and presented memorable gifts to His Eminence Vladyka Mark. Many years were proclaimed to all the clergy.
After the liturgy, the gathering of the archpastors, clergy and pilgrims continued over a meal, during which the Head of the REM in Jerusalem, Archimandrite Roman, gave a speech of thanks, emphasizing the more than 40-year service of Bishop Mark in Jerusalem as the Synodal Overseer for the Mission, during which the Bishop more than once defended the Mission as part of the ROCOR from attacks and attempts to seize the mission's property.
With gratitude to the Lord Almighty, the brothers and sisters of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem wish Metropolitan Mark: health, salvation and good success in all things.
Eispolla eti despota!
