Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission within the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, participated in the celebration of the centennial of the consecration of the Church of the Holy Forefathers in Hebron at the invitation of Archimandrite Vassian (Zmiev), head of the Ecclesiastical Mission under the Moscow Patriarcate.
The church was consecrated on May 18/31, 1925 — the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council — by His Beatitude Damian, Patriarch of Jerusalem, with the future First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Archbishop Anastassy (Gribanovsky), co-serving. During those years, Vladyka Anastassy served as the overseeing bishop for the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, at the request of the ROCOR Synod.
On October 22, 2025, the feast day of the righteous forefather Abraham and his nephew Lot, His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Holy Forefathers in Hebron, co-served by the hierarchs and clergy of the Jerusalem Church.
Representing the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, His Beatitude was co-served by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations; Bishop Alexey of Galich and Makaryev; the head and clergy of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem; and representatives and staff of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Department for External Church Relations.
Among those worshipping in the church were the abbesses and sisters of three Russian convents in Jerusalem: Abbess Ekaterina (Chernysheva) of the Gorny Monastery in Ein Karem; Gethsemane Monastery – Abbess Elizabeth (Smelic); Holy Ascension Monastery on the Mount of Olives – Abbess Judith (Zastavaskaya); and the senior sister of the Bethany Community of the Resurrection of Christ, Nun Maria (Wall).
The service was attended by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Israel, A.D. Viktorov, and his wife, representatives of the Palestinian National Authority, and numerous pilgrims.
The chants of the Divine Liturgy were performed by the choir of the Gorny Convent sisters, under the direction of Nun Sergiya. The service was conducted in Church Slavonic, Greek, and Arabic.
After the Liturgy, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos, accompanied by hierarchs, clergy, and pilgrims, led a procession to the Oak of Mamre, where a thanksgiving service was celebrated.
Following the service, the guests were invited to a festive meal.
The church was consecrated on May 18/31, 1925 — the Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council — by His Beatitude Damian, Patriarch of Jerusalem, with the future First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Archbishop Anastassy (Gribanovsky), co-serving. During those years, Vladyka Anastassy served as the overseeing bishop for the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, at the request of the ROCOR Synod.
On October 22, 2025, the feast day of the righteous forefather Abraham and his nephew Lot, His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Holy Forefathers in Hebron, co-served by the hierarchs and clergy of the Jerusalem Church.
Representing the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, His Beatitude was co-served by Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations; Bishop Alexey of Galich and Makaryev; the head and clergy of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem; and representatives and staff of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Department for External Church Relations.
Among those worshipping in the church were the abbesses and sisters of three Russian convents in Jerusalem: Abbess Ekaterina (Chernysheva) of the Gorny Monastery in Ein Karem; Gethsemane Monastery – Abbess Elizabeth (Smelic); Holy Ascension Monastery on the Mount of Olives – Abbess Judith (Zastavaskaya); and the senior sister of the Bethany Community of the Resurrection of Christ, Nun Maria (Wall).
The service was attended by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Israel, A.D. Viktorov, and his wife, representatives of the Palestinian National Authority, and numerous pilgrims.
The chants of the Divine Liturgy were performed by the choir of the Gorny Convent sisters, under the direction of Nun Sergiya. The service was conducted in Church Slavonic, Greek, and Arabic.
After the Liturgy, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos, accompanied by hierarchs, clergy, and pilgrims, led a procession to the Oak of Mamre, where a thanksgiving service was celebrated.
Following the service, the guests were invited to a festive meal.
