JERUSALEM: May 19, 2026
On the anniversary of the signing of the "Act of Canonical Communion," a solemn service was held in Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission

On the anniversary of the signing of the "Act of Canonical Communion," a solemn service was held in Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem

On May 17, 2026, the 19th anniversary of the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, a solemn service was held in the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the RussianEcclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem. Divine Liturgy was led by His Eminence Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany (ROCOR).

He was joined by: the Head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeev), the Chief of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem (ROCOR), Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), as well as the clergy of the two missions.

The service was attended by guests invited for the celebration: AD Viktorov, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Israel ,with his wife, Mr M. Petrovic, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Israel, Mr D. Kovacevic, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina with his wife, and representatives of the diplomatic corps.

At Liturgy, the abbesses of Russian monasteries in Jerusalem prayed: Abbess Ekaterina (Chernysheva) of the Gorny Monastery in Ein Karem, Abbess Iudif (Zastavskaya) of Ascension of the Lord Convent on Eleon (Mt of Olives), Abbess Elizabeth (Smelic), of the Convent of St Mary Magdalene, Equal-to-the-Apostles, in Gethsemane, along with the sisters of the convents, pilgrims from Jerusalem and surrounding towns, and pilgrims to the Holy Land, reports the REM website.

In the special litany, a prayer for Holy Rus was read; a thanksgiving prayer was also offered for the reunification of the two parts of the Russian Orthodox Church. In the memorial litany, petitions were raised for the repose of Patriarch Alexy II of blessed memory, Metropolitan Laurus of blessed memory, and all the fathers, brothers, and sisters who labored for the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church.

During the Great Entrance and the Eucharistic Canon, the names of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine, His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, and His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, were commemorated.

During the service, a combined choir of the sisters of the Gorny Monastery sang.

After the dismissal of the Liturgy, Archimandrite Vassian greeted Metropolitan Mark and all participants of the celebration. In his sermon, he said:

"The Divine Liturgy of this memorable day is a true joy and celebration for all who cherish the unity of the Russian Church. Overcoming the schism is the fulfillment of Christ's commandment to preserve the God-given unity of faith and love in the Holy Spirit."

“Many hierarchs, priests, and laypeople performed a true feat to restore the unity of the Russian Church. Among them were you as well, dear Vladyka Mark. You are both a participant and a witness of that remarkable miracle called the Church. It is able, thanks to the very fullness of the Holy Spirit, to bring together scattered children and recreate what seemed lost to people, but in God always remains unchanging and eternal. The Russian Church has revived in people's hearts faith and love for God. And this faith has united us once again.

In his response, Metropolitan Mark thanked the heads of both Missions for their work for the benefit of the unified Russian Orthodox Church and addressed the pilgrims with a pastoral word.

At the conclusion of the service in the church, Fr Vassian hosted an official reception in the refectory of the historic Mission building for the participants of this commemorative event and numerous guests of the celebration. At the reception, speeches were made by Ambassador Viktorov and Ambassador Petrovic.

At the end of the official part, the ambassadors of friendly countries and invited guests visited the churches and monasteries of the Russian Church on the Mt of Olives, Gethsemane Convent Ascension Convent and the Convent in Ein Karem.