JERUSALEM: March 9, 2021
Schema-Nun Christina and Nun Rufina of Ascension of the Lord Convent on the Mt of Olives repose in the Lord

Nun Christina

Sister Rufina

On February 26, 2021, after almost a decade of struggling with cancer, Schema-Nun Christina (born Sofia Diab), died peacefully in her cell. She had joined Ascencion of the Lord Convent on the Mt of Olives in Jerusalem in 1951 at the age of 7, on the feast day of the Three Hierarchs.

Mother Christina was born in 1944 in Zababde (a Christian city in Palestine near Ramallah). Mother Christina fulfilled various obediences at the monastery: cook, sacristan, reader and other duties. Despite her many years of illness, Mother Christina tried to attend every service. The last several weeks she remained in her cell, where she partook of the Holy Gifts of Christ.

On March 2, 2021, Nun Rufina (Albandac) died in Makasat Hospital at the age of 43. A severe case of COVID led to a pulmonary embolism and cardiac arrest.

Sister Rufina, (Palestinian, born Raniya Albandac), was born on March 11, 1978, in Bethlehem. Sister Rufina joined Ascension of the Lord Convent in 1998 when she was 23. She always desired the monastic life despite the disapproval of her father, who took her out of the convent several times. She was tonsured to the rassa by Archbishop (now Metropolitan) Mark (Arndt) of Berlin and Germany. She fulfilled the duties of cook, sacristan and reader. She spoke Arabic, English and Russian.

Both nuns were buried at the convent cemetery.

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