ROCOR's First Hierarch Arrives in The Holy Land
Met. Nicholas of Eastern America and New York departed for Jerusalem Monday, May 26, 2025.
JERUSALEM—Metropolitan Nicholas, Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, was welcomed at Ben Gurion Airport by representatives of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem. From there, His Eminence proceeded to the Ascension of the Lord Convent on the Mount of Olives, where he will lead the festal services for the Feast of the Ascension and officially install Nun Judith (Zastavskaya) as the new abbess of the convent—a decision confirmed at the recent Synod of Bishops meeting in London.
During his pilgrimage, His Eminence is scheduled to visit the Life-Giving Tomb of the Lord and other sacred sites, officiate at services within the Mission’s churches and monasteries, meet with clergy and monastics, and hold an audience with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine.
Metropolitan Nicholas's visit underscores ROCOR’s continued spiritual connection with the holy places and affirms its pastoral care for the faithful and monastic communities of an increasingly tumultuous region.
For more information on the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, visit missionrocor.ru/en
