On May 19, 2024, on the feast day of the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women, a Throne Feast was held at the Russian Theological Mission in Magdala. With the blessing of Blessed Patriarch Theophilos of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine, the divine service on the feast day was led by Metropolitan Kiriak of Nazareth, Exarch of all Galilee.
Metropolitan Kiriak of Nazareth, Exarch of all Galilee.
His Eminence was accompanied by the head of the Russian Theological Mission in Jerusalem archimandrite Vassian (Zmeyev), the deputy head of the RDM, Hegumen Nikon (Golovko), the mission's clergyman Deacon Makary Petukhov, as well as Russian- and Arabic-speaking clergy of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
First Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Israel F.V. Georgi, Vice-Consul of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Haifa N.S. Barsukov, sisters of the Gornensky Nunnery in Ein Karem and Russian-speaking believers of the biblical Galilee prayed at the service.
The service in the Russian church, located on the shore of Lake Galilee, was conducted in Church Slavonic, Greek and Arabic, reports сайт Русской духовной миссии. The hymns of the festive Divine Liturgy were sung by the choir of the sisters of the Gorno Nunnery in Ein Karem under the direction of Nun Sergia (Subbotina).
After the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, a procession took place, during which at the spring of Mary Magdalene the head of the mission read the Gospel riddle of the feast and sprinkled with consecrated water.
Afterwards, Archimandrite Vassian and Metropolitan Kiriak exchanged welcoming speeches, after which the guests of the churchyard were offered a festive meal, which was later joined by Archbishop Aristovul of Madaba, who feeds the Russian-speaking flock of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Vladyka Aristovul cordially greeted the guests of the temple in Russian and expressed his deepest gratitude for the wide Russian hospitality on the festive day.
At the meal, the First Secretary of the Russian Embassy, F.V. Gheorghi, addressed the gathering and emphasized the steady and consistent line of the Russian state, aimed at supporting the efforts of Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem to strengthen the position of Orthodox Christians both in the Russian Orthodox Church and in Jerusalem. Jerusalem, and the Middle East region as a whole, and also assured of his constant support for the interests of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem.
OVCS Communication Service/Patriarchy.ru
