RUSSIAN ECCLESIASTICAL MISSION IN JERUSALEM: August 28, 2006
Metropolitan Laurus, Archbishop Mark and the Delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Delegation Visit Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Mission of the Moscow Patriarchate

On August 28, the Dormition of the Most-Holy Mother of God, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, along with His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany, Overseer of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem; Hieromonk Nicholas (Perekrestov), Secretary of the Mission; and the members of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia visited the Russian Holy Trinity Cathedral in Jerusalem. Here, His Eminence Vladyka Metropolitan was greeted by the Head of the Mission of the Moscow Patriarchate in Jerusalem, Archimandrite Elisey (Ganaba), who gave a tour of the Cathedral's holy items.

Greeting His Eminence, Fr Elisey called the visit to Holy Trinity Cathedral a symbol of the inner unity of the children of both parts of the Russian Orthodox Church and expressed joy that the Head of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia prayed at the holy places of this Cathedral on this holiday, which, he hoped would lead Russian Orthodox Christians to full prayerful and Eucharistic unity. In his response, His Eminence thanked the Head of the Mission of the Moscow Patriarchate for the invitation and wished him Divine help in his service. Then the visitors proceeded to the Mission's headquarters, where Fr Elisey offered a luncheon in honor of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the individuals accompanying him. Archimandrite Elisey then told His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, His Eminence Archbishop Mark and the other visitors about the joys and difficulties of the Mission of the Moscow Patriarchate in the Holy Land.

After the trapeza, the guests visited residence of the Head of the Mission, where Fr Elisey gave His Eminence Metropolitan a panaghia, and the discussion continued. Afterwards, the members of the ROCOR delegation bid farewell to Fr Elisey and his assistant, Hegumen Tikhon, expressing their profound gratitude to the nuns of Gorny Convent, who serve the Mission through various obediences, and prepared the trapeza.