The Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission Celebrated the Patronal Service at the Mission’s Compound in Jericho

DECR Communication service, 05.05.2026.

On May 2, 2026, at the compound of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jericho in honor of the Apostle of the Seventy Zacchaeus, a solemn patronal Divine service was celebrated, dedicated to the commemoration day of the Apostle Zacchaeus, Bishop of Caesarea of Palestine, formerly a publican. The celebration, which the Jerusalem Orthodox Church observes on May 3, was this year transferred to May 2.

The Divine Liturgy at the compound on this day was presided over by the head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeev), reports the Mission’s website.

Concelebrating with Archimandrite Vassian were: Hieromonk Innocent (Bespalov), a cleric of the Gorny Convent in Ein Karem; Hieromonk Dositheus, abbot of the Monastery in honor of the Holy Prophet Elisha (Jerusalem Patriarchate); and Deacon Makary Petukhov, a resident of the Mission.

Praying in the church during the service were: Abbess Ekaterina (Chernysheva) of the Gorny Convent in Ein Karem with the sisters; the senior sister of the Jericho compound, Nun Lukina (Ganicheva), with the workers of the compound; residents of the Monastery of St. Gerasimus of the Jordan (Jerusalem Patriarchate); and Russian pilgrims.

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

After the conclusion of the Liturgy, the head of the Mission with the clergy performed a glorification of the Apostle Zacchaeus.

Then the head of the Mission led the festive procession, after which he addressed the faithful with a sermon on the occasion of the patronal feast.

The liturgical hymns were performed by the choir of the sisters of the Gorny Convent.

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The Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission Celebrated the Patronal Service at the Mission’s Compound in Jericho

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons