On May 17, 2024, the anniversary of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Church Abroad, a joint solemn service was held for the first time in the Trinity Cathedral in Jerusalem, attended by numerous representatives of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem of the Moscow Patriarchate (RSMJ) and the Russian Spiritual Mission in the Church Abroad, the Russian Spiritual Mission to Jerusalem.
The service was led by the head of the Russian Spiritual Mission of the Moscow Patriarchate archimandrite Vassian (Zmeyev). He was accompanied by Archimandrite Roman (Krasovsky), head of the Russian Spiritual Mission to the Church Abroad, Hegumen Nikon (Golovko), deputy head of the RDM of the Moscow Patriarchate, and the clergy of the monasteries and wards of both Missions.
The church was attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the State of Israel A.D. Viktorov, First Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Israel F.V. Georgi, Head of Protocol of the Russian Embassy in Israel N.Y. Fedorova, abbesses of the Russian monasteries in Jerusalem: Gornensky — Hegumen Ekaterina (Chernysheva). with sisters, Hegumen Barbara (Novikova) with sisters, Hegumen Elizabeth (Shmelts) with sisters, the director of the Vifan Women's School of the Church Abroad, Nun Maria (Vall), and parishioners of the Russian churches of the Holy Land.
At the Litany of Liturgy a prayer for Holy Russia was recited, as well as a prayer of thanksgiving for the restoration of unity within the Local Russian Orthodox Church.
At the requiem Litany, petitions were offered for the repose of the blessedly departed Patriarch Alexy II, Metropolitan Laurus (Shkurla) and all our fathers, brothers and sisters who worked for the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church.
At the Great Entrance and the Eucharistic Canon, the names of Holy Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine, His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia were invoked.
After the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, a thanksgiving service was celebrated.
Then, from the ambo of the Trinity Cathedral, he addressed the faithful with words of greeting. Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeyev) and Archimandrite Roman (Krasovsky) addressed the ceremony.
A.D. Viktorov addressed the participants of the celebration:
«Thank you for the opportunity to speak at today's event, dedicated to a significant date — the anniversary of the Act on Canonical Communion between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Church Abroad. This document marked an important stage in the healing of the trauma inflicted on our Fatherland more than a century ago by the bloody civil war.
The restoration of unity between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Church Abroad in 2007 was not just a reconciliation of believers, but an unprecedented example of overcoming a seemingly deep-rooted schism. In this context, the "Agreed Principles of Interaction" reached in 2022 in the Holy Land between the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem of the Russian Church Abroad became a historic milestone.
Unfortunately, Christian communities in the Holy Land have to face difficulties and manifestations of intolerance. There have also been attacks on Russian farmsteads. In this context, the Russian Embassy in Israel is carrying out multifaceted work with the Israeli authorities on the following issues ensuring the inviolability of religious sites. I am convinced that our joint efforts will contribute to finding constructive solutions to the most pressing problems.
We are ready to further increase our multifaceted partnership with both Missions in the interests of realizing Russia's unwavering course of preserving and increasing its spiritual and cultural presence in the Holy Land, protecting the interests of Christians and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East region.
In conclusion, I would like to congratulate everyone once again from the bottom of my heart on today's remarkable date.
Christ is Risen! »
Afterwards, a meal was offered for the many guests of the celebration by the zeal of the sisters of the Russian Theological Mission in Jerusalem.
EVCS Communication Service/Patriarchy.ru
