The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

JERUSALEM: July 9, 2007
Photo-report of the Nativity of John the Baptist Celebrations on the Mount of Olives, a Reception Hosted By the Patriarch of Jerusalem and Midnight Divine Liturgy at the Life-Bearing Sepulcher of the Lord

CELEBRATION OF THE NATIVITY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST AT ASCENSION CONVENT ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES

On July 7, His Grace Bishop Peter of Cleveland celebrated Divine Liturgy at Ascension Convent on the Mount of Olives as the monastic choir and pilgrims' youth choir both sang. After the trapeza, Abbess Moisseia and the other nuns received His Grace, the clergymen and young pilgrims at their residence, describing convent life to them.

Photo-report of the Nativity of John the Baptist celebrations on the Mount of Olives, a reception hosted by the Patriarch of Jerusalem and midnight Divine Liturgy at the Life-Bearing Sepulcher of the Lord.

RECEPTION HOSTED BY HIS BEATITUDE THE PATRIARCH OF THE HOLY CITY OF JERUSALEM AND ALL PALESTINE

On July 7, 2007, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos received the pilgrims of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, headed by His Grace Bishop Peter of Cleveland. His Beatitude Vladyka delivered a deeply-emotional sermon and blessed the young people to visit the holy sites of Jerusalem and Palestine. In a response, Vladyka Peter relayed respects from His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus and expressed his gratitude for His Beatitude's blessing and holy prayers. The young choir then gave a concert, after which His Beatitude blessed the young singers to sing at midnight Divine Liturgy at the Life-bearing Sepulcher of the Lord. On this day, the pilgrims visited Gorny Convent, where Abbess Georgia warmly welcomed them.

MIDNIGHT DIVINE LITURGY AT THE LIFE-BEARING SEPULCHER OF THE LORD

On the night of July 7-8, 2007, the pilgrims of the Russian Church Abroad traveled the Way of the Cross towards the Church of the Resurrection of Christ as they sang prayers from Passion Week. The pilgrims venerated the Sepulcher of the Lord, Golgotha and the other holy relics of this church; they read the Rule before Holy Communion and participated in Divine Liturgy. They then venerated the Sepulcher while singing Paschal prayers and commemorated their friends and relatives.