Metropolitan Nicholas Leads Service in Jerusalem, Elevates New Abbess of Holy Ascension Convent on Patronal Feast Day
Mother Judith (Zastavskaya) will serve as spiritual leader of the historic Russian convent on the Mount of Olives.
JERUSALEM—Metropolitan Nicholas, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, led services in Jerusalem on May 16/29 for the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, joined by Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany, who arrived on pilgrimage. Metropolitan Nicholas had arrived in Jerusalem on May 27 for a pastoral visit.
Concelebrating with them were Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky) and Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeev), heads of the Russian Ecclesiastical Missions (REM), along with clergy and monastic pilgrims. During the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Nicholas elevated nun Judith (Zastavskaya) to the rank of Abbess of the Holy Ascension Convent, following the reading of the Holy Synod’s decree by Hierodeacon Amphilochius of REM at the small entrance.
In a ceremonial moment, Archimandrite Roman presented Mother Judith to Metropolitan Nicholas, who read the prayer for the elevation of the abbess and placed a golden pectoral cross upon her with the traditional exclamation “Axia!” The newly appointed abbess was then led to her cathedra by the retired Abbess Varvara (Novikova) and nun Ekaterina (Samara), the convent’s prioress.
Among those in attendance were Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Israel Anatoly Viktorov and his wife, members of the Russian diplomatic corps, and abbesses from Gethsemane and Gorne Monasteries – Mother Elisabeth (Smelic) of the Gethsemane Monastery of St. Mary Magdalene and Mother Ekaterina (Chernushova) of the Gorne Monastery in Ein Karem.
Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem and All Palestine arrived during the service with Archbishop Aristarchos of Konstantine and clergy of the Greek Patriarchate. His Beatitude offered greetings and a homily, and was presented with a hand-embroidered plashchanitsa (winding cloth) of the Holy Theotokos crafted by the convent’s sisters.
A prayer procession around the Church of the Ascension followed the Liturgy. After the dismissal, Metropolitan Nicholas formally handed the abbess’ staff to Mother Judith, accompanied by a spiritual exhortation. Archimandrite Roman presented her with an icon of her heavenly patroness, St. Judith of Bethulia.
The celebration concluded with a festive meal prepared by the sisters for worshipers and neighbors from the Mount of Olives, a longstanding tradition. Ambassador Viktorov extended congratulations and reaffirmed Russian support for the convent. Mother Judith later received pilgrims and clergy at her new residence.
Previously, UOJ reported on Metropolitan Nicholas’ visit to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem during the leave-taking of Holy Pascha.
