On Tuesday, August 22, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, arrived in Jerusalem and was greeted at Holy Ascension Convent on the Mount of Olives where, on the afterfeast of the Transfiguration of our Lord and the feast of Holy Apostle Matthias, His Eminence celebrated Divine Liturgy. After the post-Liturgy meal, Metropolitan Nicholas conversed with Abbess Varvara (Novikova) and the sisters of the convent.

On the same day, His Eminence, having venerated the Life-Giving Sepulcher of the Lord and Holy Golgotha, was received by His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem & All Palestine in the offices of the Jerusalem Patriarchate. Here Patriarch Theophilos greeted Metropolitan Nicholas, wishing him a blessed and fruitful pilgrimage. At the end of this meeting, which was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere, the hierarchs exchanged commemorative gifts. His Eminence was accompanied by Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), chief of ROCOR’s Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, and Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur.

The First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad then proceeded to the headquarters of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem (Moscow Patriarchate). Here the distinguished guest was greeted by the chief of the Mission, Archimandrite Alexander (Elisov), mission staff, and sisters.

Metropolitan Nicholas visited the first Russian church in the Holy Land, the house church of the Holy Martyr Alexandra, located in the mission building. Here he warmly thanked the inhabitants for the warm and cordial welcome, noting that he was visiting the Holy Land for the first time in his new rank.

Responding to the words of Metropolitan Nicholas, Fr. Alexander stressed that it is especially important for the workers of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission to realize spiritual closeness with the episcopate and clergy of the Russian Church Abroad, and especially with its First Hierarch, to feel fraternal love and unity of purpose in today's changing world. In memory of his visit to the Mission, Archimandrite Alexander presented His Eminence with a bishop's staff.

Then tea was offered, during which the First Hierarch continued his interaction with Frs. Roman and Alexander.

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