JERUSALEM: 20 April 2023
Pascha of Christ at Ascension of the Lord Convent on the Mt of Olives

On the holy night of the Resurrection of Christ, Divine Liturgy preceded by the bright paschal Matins was served with true paschal joy in the main church of the Ascension of the Lord Monastery on the Mt of Olives, Jerusalem.

The head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), presided over the services with the clergy of the convent – Archimandrite Innokenty (Sereda), Abbot Iona (Galishnikov), Hieromonk Gerasim (Kotovsky) and Archdeacon Hypatius (Moisej). Along with Abbess Barbara (Novikova) and her sisters, the temple was overflowing with pilgrims and worshipers. During the Liturgy, the first chapter of the Gospel of John the Theologian was read in different languages – Greek, Russian, Hebrew, German, Romanian, English and Church Slavonic. Communion was partaken from four chalices.

At the end of the Liturgy and the blessing of the artos and easter cakes, the clergy with the sisters of the monastery solemnly went to the monastery refectory, where they broke the long lenten fast.