On June 26, the Second Sunday after Pentecost, commemorating all saints who have Shown forth in the Russian land, Bishop Theodosius of Seattle celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of St. Mary Magdalene in the Gethsemane Convent in Jerusalem. Concelebrating with His Grace were Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky; head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem) and convent and visiting clergy.

Praying in the church were convent rectress Abbess Elizabeth (Smelic) and the sisters. Singing at Divine Liturgy was the Patriarch Tikhon Russian-American Music Institute (PaTRAM) male choir, under the direction of Elias Dubelsten. The church was filled with pilgrims, many of whom received Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Before Holy Communion, Bishop Theodosius delivered a sermon on the topic of the feast of All Saints of Russia.

Upon conclusion of Liturgy, the hierarchs served a Thanksgiving moleben before the relics of Holy New Martyr Elizabeth, invoking God’s blessings upon the singers of PaTRAM who had completed the recording of a new CD of Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil the day prior.

Fr. Roman then greeted the hierarchs, thanking them for their prayers during their two-week pilgrimage to the holy sites of Jerusalem; and the choristers for the completion of their God-pleasing work.

All then proceeded to the convent refectory for a traditional luncheon.