On January 4, 2024, with the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, the Divine Liturgy at the place of the Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem was led by Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeyev), Head of the Russian Theological Mission in Jerusalem.
He was accompanied by the Secretary of the Mission, Hegumen Nikon (Golovko), and the clergy of the suburbs of the Mission: in honor of the Prophet Elijah in Haifa - Archpriest Miroslav Vitiv, in honor of the Righteous Tavifa in Jaffa - Archpriest Nicholas Zhdanov, of the Holy Forefathers in Hebron - Hieromonk Ambrosius (Ignatov), clergy of the Gorno Nunnery in Ein Karem - Hieromonk Innocent (Bespalov) and Priest Victor Klinshov, Deacon Macarius Petukhov, clergyman of the Mission, and Archpriest Spyridon Samur, clergyman of the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Bethlehem, reports the RDM press service.
The service was prayed for by Metropolitan Venedict of Diocesarea (Jerusalem Patriarchate), the Patriarchal Locum Tenens in Bethlehem, Archimandrite Polycarp, the sacristan of the Church of the Nativity of Christ, the Mother Superior of the Gornensky Nunnery in Ein Karem, Hegumeness Ekaterina (Chernysheva) with the sisters of the monastery, workers and laborers of the suburbs of the Mission in the Holy Land and Russian-speaking worshipers.
Among those gathered for the service were Mr. A.V. Sakharov, Economic Counselor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Israel, and a representative of the Russian Spiritual Society. of the mission to the Palestinian National Authority Y.A. Romashuk.
The liturgy in the Cave of Bethlehem was celebrated in Church Slavonic, Greek and Arabic. The liturgical hymns were sung by the choir of the sisters of the Gorno Monastery.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Archimandrite Vassian, the clergy of the Russian Theological Mission and the sisters of the Gorno Monastery congratulated Metropolitan Venedict on Christmas and presented him with a festive gift.
The clergy and sisters of the Mission also visited the Lavra of St. Sava the Sanctified and the Greek monastery in the Field of the Shepherds, where on Christmas night the angels sang: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men" (Luke 2:14).
OVCS Communication Service/Patriarchy.ru
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