JERUSALEM: 30 April 2024
Lazarus Saturday in Bethany

“Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, calling for Lazarus, who had died four days ago... and the Creator of all cried out to him: Lazarus, come forth” (stichera for the Palm Sunday).

On Saturday, April 14/27, 2024, when the Holy Church celebrates the great miracle of our Savior - the resurrection of His friend Lazarus, monastics and laity came to the city of Bethany (al-Azaria) to the Community of the Resurrection of Christ to celebrate this great feastday.

This site of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia) was built on the spot where, according to tradition, Lazarus’s sisters, Martha and Mary, met the Savior before performing His miracle.

On Friday evening, the Chief of the Mission, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), celebrated Great Compline and Matins in front of the chapel of the meeting of Martha and Mary with Christ.

In the morning, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated there in the open air. Before the service, the rite of minor consecration of water was performed.

Concelebrating with Father Roman were the clergy of the Mission: Archimandrite Innokenty (Sereda), Hieromonk Hesychius (Bashirov), Hieromonk Gerasim (Kotovsky), Priest Roman Gultyaev and Hierodeacon Amphilochy (Mazur). Pilgrims Hieromonk Seraphim and Protodeacon Vyacheslav Batalsky also served.

After the procession of the cross around the territory of the monastery, Fr Roman congratulated the Abbess of Gethsemane Convent, Mother Elisabeth (Smelic), and her sisters on their patronal feast day. He also noted the namesday of the monastery’s elder sister, Mother Maria (Wall). She labors in difficult circumstances for the monastery in the midst of a Muslim population. But thanks to her labors, the sisterhood and the Orthodox Bethany School for girls are thriving. They sang to her “Save o Christ God” in the hope that the Lord will continue to pour forth His mercy and give Mother Maria health and strength to bear her obedience.

Afterwords, the sisters of the community offered a hearty meal.

A photo-report on the event is posted here.

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