Head of Russian Ecclesiastical Mission celebrates Divine Liturgy at Magdala Metochion on its patronal feast

DECR Communication Service, 06/08/2025

On 4^th August 2025, commemoration day of St. Mary Magdalene, Equal-to-the-Apostles, Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeyev), head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, officiated at the Divine Liturgy at the Mission’s Magdala Metochion – the Church of St. Mary Magdalene.

Concelebrating with him were Hieromonk Matfei (Kozlov), sacristan of the Metochion of St. John the Forerunner at the Baptism Site in Jordan; the Mission’s clerics – Hieromonk Pyotr (Borodulin), Hieromonk Filofei (Artyushin) and Deacon Makary Petukhov; as well as the clergy of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and ordained pilgrims.

Among those who attended the divine service were Mr Alexey Krasilnikov, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Haifa, sisters of the Gorny Convent, and pilgrims.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the choir of the Gorny Convent, website of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission reports.

During the Liturgy, Archimandrite Vassian read out a prayer for the granting of peace.

The divine service was followed by a procession of the cross. After the head of the Mission read out a prayer to St. Mary Magdalene, the clergy sang prayers of praise to the saint and venerated her icon containing a particle of her holy relics.

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Head of Russian Ecclesiastical Mission celebrates Divine Liturgy at Magdala Metochion on its patronal feast

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons