Hierarch of the Church of Jerusalem officiates at Divine Liturgy on patronal feast of Haifa Metochion of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission

DECR Communication Service, 04/08/2026

On 2^nd August 2026, commemoration day of the Holy Prophet Elijah, the Metochion of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Haifa celebrated its patronal feast. With the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine, Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth and All Galilee officiated at the Divine Liturgy at the Metochion on the feast day.

Concelebrating with the archpastor were: Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeyev), Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem; Archpriest Miroslav Vitiv, Sacristan of the Metochion; clerics of the Mission – Hieromonk Filofei (Artyushin) and Deacon Makary Petukhov; Arabic-speaking clerics of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem; and ordained pilgrims.

The liturgical hymns were performed by choirs of the Gornensky Convent sisters and a local Orthodox Arab community.

Among those in prayerful attendance were Mr Alexey Krasilnikov, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Haifa, the Metochion parishioners, numerous representatives of the Arabic-speaking Orthodox Christian communities from Haifa, Nazareth and Bethlehem, as well as pilgrims from various parts of the Holy Land.

The Liturgy was celebrated in the Church Slavonic, Greek and Arabic languages, website of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission reports.

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

After the dismissal, a procession of the cross took place, followed by a festive repast.

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Hierarch of the Church of Jerusalem officiates at Divine Liturgy on patronal feast of Haifa Metochion of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons