Holy Martyrs of Alapaevsk Honored in Russian Gethsemane

JERUSALEM — On July 18, 2025, a solemn divine service was held at the Monastery of St. Mary Magdalene in Russian Gethsemane, Jerusalem, to commemorate 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 the service at the church, which houses the relics of the Holy Martyrs of Alapaevsk.

The liturgy was attended by the monastery’s clergy, Arabic-speaking clergy from the Jerusalem Patriarchate, Hieromonk Peter (Borodulin) of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission (Moscow Patriarchate), and pilgrims in holy orders. The service was conducted in Church Slavonic and Arabic, with hymns performed by the Gethsemane sisters’ choir.

Following the liturgy, a moleben was held before the reliquary of St. Elizabeth. Archimandrite Roman delivered a sermon and extended congratulations to Abbess Elizabeth (Smelz) on her namesday. The Gethsemane nuns prepared a festive meal for the clergy and guests.

The event concluded with Abbess Elizabeth hosting Archimandrite Roman, accompanying clergymen, and representatives of the Russian diplomatic corps for coffee at her residence.

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