JERUSALEM: 22 July, 2025
In Russian Gethsemane, the memory of the Holy Martyrs of Alapaevsk was honored

On Friday, July 18, 2025, on the day of the memory of the Holy Martyrs Grand Duchess Elizabeth and Nun Barbara, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), Chief of the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia), led a solemn service at the monastery of St Mary Magdalene, Equal-to-the-Apostles, in Russian Gethsemane (Jerusalem), where the relics of the Holy Martyrs of Alapaevsk rest.

The solemn divine service in the church dedicated to St Mary Magdalene was attended by the clergy of the monastery, Arabic-speaking clergy of the Jerusalem Patriarchate, Hieromonk Peter (Borodulin), a monk of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission (Moscow Patriarchate) and pilgrims in holy orders.

The service was conducted in Church Slavonic and Arabic. The hymns of the Divine Liturgy were performed by the choir of the Gethsemane sisters.

After the dismissal of the Liturgy, a moleben was served before the reliquary of St Elizabeth, after which Fr Roman addressed the pilgrims with a sermon and congratulated the abbess of the Gethsemane Monastery, Abbess Elizabeth (Smelz), on her namesday. Through the efforts of the Gethsemane nuns, a festive meal was offered to the clergy and guests.

Upon the conclusion of the monastery meal, the Abbess invited Archimandrite Roman, the clergymen who served with him, and representatives of the Russian diplomatic corps for a cup of coffee at her residence.