JERUSALEM: January 21, 2020
The Epiphany of the Lord in the Holy Land

After the Apodosis of the Nativity of Christ, the Church prepares the faithful to greet the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord. Daily services are performed in all the monasteries of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem.

On Friday, January 4/17, 2020, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), Chief of the Mission, performed the Royal Hours in the cave church of St Nicholas the Miracle-worker in Bethany Community of the Resurrection of Christ. The nuns and boarding-school girls read and participated in the service.

On Saturday, the Eve of the Epiphany of the Lord, the Chief of the REM was joined in performing divine services by the Mission clergy at the Church of the Ascension of the Lord on the Mt of Olives. After Divine Liturgy, festive vespers was performed followed by the blessing of the waters. The priests then sprinkled holy water throughout the convent grounds and the residences of the nuns.

On the Epiphany, Fr Roman celebrated Divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great at the Church of St Mary Magdalene, Equal-to-the-Apostles in Gethsemane together with the convent’s clergy, and blessed the waters in accordance with tradition.