JERUSALEM: 7 August, 2026
His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine honors the patronal feast of Russian Gethsemane

On Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the feast day of St Mary Magdalene, Equal-to-the-Apostles, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine visited the Russian Convent dedicated to the saint in Gethsemane, Jerusalem.

The Primate of the Jerusalem Church was accompanied by Metropolitan Kyriakos of Nazareth, Archbishop Aristarch of Constantinople, and the clergy of the Jerusalem Patriarchate. His Beatitude congratulated Abbess Elizabeth, the convent’s nuns, and the pilgrims on the feast day of the heavenly patroness of Russian Gethsemane.

On this day, Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany. He was joined by His Grace Bishop Job of Stuttgart, Vicar of the German diocese, Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), Chief of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia), the convent’s clergy, and visiting priests. His Beatitude participated in the prayer service with a procession of the cross that followed, attended by the Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov, the Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission (Moscow Patriarchate) Archimandrite Vassian, and pilgrims.

“Saint Mary Magdalene remains a powerful example and protector for us,” remarked Patriarch Theophilos in his address to the participants of the celebrations. According to His Beatitude, her faith is especially important for the Jerusalem Church and the peoples of the Middle East, who are going through a period of severe trials and hardships.