Russian Ecclesiastical Mission commemorates its heavenly patron

DECR Communication Service, 23/01/2024

The year 2024 marks the 130^th anniversary of the demise of St. Theophan the Recluse, who served in the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem from 1847 to 1854.

On January 23, the commemoration day of Saint Theophan, Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeyev), head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, concelebrated the night Divine Liturgy with Archbishop Theophanes of Gerassa (Patriarchate of Jerusalem) in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Among other concelebrants were Hieromonk Filofey (Artushin), cleric of the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos at the Moscow Theological Academy, and Deacon Makary Petukhov of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission.

In the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission, the Divine Liturgy on the commemoration day of St. Theophan was celebrated by Hegumen Nikon (Golovko) and ordained pilgrims, Press Service of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission reports.

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Hieromonk Theophan (Govorov), future holy hierarch and recluse, was assigned to the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission on August 21, 1847. In Jerusalem, Father Theophan mastered icon painting, learned Greek, French and Arabic, studied Hebrew, and translated the Philokalia. In local monastic libraries, he studied the ancient ascetic practice of the Christian East. His work was officially commended: on May 5, 1851, he was awarded a golden pectoral cross, and on February 14, 1852, the Most Holy Synod appointed him “corresponding member of the Conference of the Kiev Theological Academy.” On May 3, 1854, at the onset of the Crimean War, the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission was recalled.

Having lived a long and eventful life and written many theological works, Saint Theophan peacefully died in his cell in the Vysha Monastery in 1894.

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Russian Ecclesiastical Mission commemorates its heavenly patron

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Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons