JERUSALEM: 30 August 2023
The Primate of the Russian Church Abroad serves in the Holy Land

His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America, having met with His Beatitude Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine, on 18 August, 2023, the eve of the feast Transfiguration of the Lord, officiated at divine services in the monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in the Holy Land, including Orthodox Bethany community.

On Saturday, 26 August, the Apodosis of the Transfiguration and the feast day of St Tikhon of Zadonsk, His Eminence celebrated Divine Liturgy at Gorny Convent. At the end of the service, Metropolitan Nicholas met with AD Viktorov, Russian Ambassador to Israel. Later that evening, Metropolitan Nicholas returned to the Mt of Olives Convent of the Ascension of the Lord, where he performed all-night vigil.

On Sunday, 27 August, the forefeast of the Dormition of the Most-Holy Theotokos, the First Hierarch celebrated Divine Liturgy at the convent, and later that evening,, he performed vigil, and the following day, the Dormition feast itself, celebrated Divine Liturgy at Gethsemane Convent's Church of St Mary Magdalene, Equal-to-the-Apostles.

On Monday, 28 August, after venerating the Tomb of the Mother of God in Gethsemane, His Eminence went to meet with Patriarch Theophilos, who hosted a dinner to honor the eminent guest.