On July 7, 2024, on the feast day of the Nativity of the glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John and the Week of All Saints of the Church of Russia, according to the tradition established about a century and a half ago by the most honored head of the Russian Spiritual Mission, the remarkable theologian, scholar and liturgist Archimandrite Antonin (Kapustin), the icon of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which had been in the High Country for three months in the image of the Virgin's journey, returned to Jerusalem.
With the blessing of Blessed Patriarch Theophilos of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine, the Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of All Russian Saints of the Gorno Nunnery was led by Metropolitan Isikhios of Capitolias, who was accompanied by the staff and clergy of Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem headed by its head archimandrite Vassian (Zmeyev).
Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem.
After the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, Archimandrite Vassian addressed Vladyka Isikhiy with words of congratulations and gratitude for praying together with him in the cathedral church of the Russian Gorno Monastery. In his response, the hierarch of the Jerusalem church He thanked Archimandrite Vassian for his warm welcome and conveyed the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos.
Afterwards, Archimandrite Vassian, the clergy of the Russian Theological Mission, the sisters of the Gorno Monastery and the worshipers took part in a procession with the icon of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, led by Metropolitan Isikhiy of Kapitoliad, according to the website of the Russian Theological Mission. At the meal that followed the procession, Archimandrite Vassian once again congratulated all those present — the clergy of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, the clergy of the Russian Theological Mission in Jerusalem, the sisters and worshipers of the monastery — on the feast. At the meal that followed the procession, Archimandrite Vassian once again congratulated all those present — the clergy of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, the clergy of the Russian Theological Mission in Jerusalem, the sisters and worshipers of the monastery.
Afterwards, the procession of many believers led by Metropolitan Isikhiy and Archimandrite Vassian traveled from the Gorno Monastery to the spring of the Virgin Mary in the village of Ein Karem, from where the icon departed for Jerusalem.
In the Trinity Cathedral of the Russian Theological Mission Archimandrite Vassian solemnly welcomed the venerated image of the Annunciation, which with the singing of hymns of the Mother of God was placed in its permanent place.
Communication Service OCA/Patriarchy.ru
