June 16, 2015
Jerusalem: Bishop Nicholas leads Pilgrimage to Holy Land & Kiev

From May 11-29, 2015, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, led a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Jerusalem, Palestine, and Kiev. Among the pilgrims were diocesan clergy and parishioners. Below we offer our readers an article about the pilgrimage by Synodal chancellor and rector of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY, Archpriest Serafim Gan.

Jerusalem! The very word makes one think about the Savior, the Gospel, the first Christians, the many ascetics of the Holy City, Archimandrite Antonin (Kapustin) of blessed memory who did so much for the Russian Church in the area, as well as the monastics who labor here in the Russian monasteries in difficult circumstances. One remembers the name of Metropolitan Anastassy (Gribanovsky), who died 50 years ago. He was the second First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, who had accomplished so much after the Bolshevik Revolution and Civil War to preserve these holy places for the Russian Church, and provided help to the Church of Jerusalem in reestablishing its episcopate. His memory was celebrated by His Grace, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, during his pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

The pilgrims accompanying His Grace visited the Church of the Life-Bearing Tomb of the Lord several times, each time sensing profound trepidation, which prevented them from noticing all of the surrounding details of the church, as their feelings and thoughts were concentrated inwardly, prayers to God filling their hearts, pleas for the Church, for peace, for the people of God, for blessings in their life and the correction of their ways. The Life-Bearing Sepulcher and Golgotha exuded an unbelievable spiritual force and sense of divine mercy, which renewed and strengthened the spirit. Bishop Laurus of Manhattan, the future First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, the inspirer and initiator of many pilgrimages from New York to the Holy Land, would say that here, one senses the presence of an enormous spiritual strength, which draws in and embraces the pilgrim, changing his whole life.

With the blessing of His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem & All Palestine, on Friday, May 15, His Eminence Isichios, Metropolitan of Kapitoliada, and Bishop Nicholas, his clergymen, and pilgrims participated in Divine Liturgy at the Sepulcher of the Lord. The Tombstone of the Lord served as the table of oblation, upon which the proskomedia is read from the knees. A table top is set upon the stone in the ante-chamber, known as the "Chapel of the Angel," which served as the altar. This altar is open to all and has been since the time that the Resurrected Lord opened the doors to Paradise for all mankind.

The pilgrims also experienced the joy of praying at Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Nativity of Christ in Bethlehem, celebrated by a clergyman of the Jerusalem Patriarchate who had studied at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, NY. Bishop Nicholas and his delegation were warmly received and partook of the Holy Gifts here. The site of the Nativity of Christ is marked with a silver star and an inscription in Latin, reading, "Here of the Virgin Mary was born Jesus Christ." Above this site is a marble slab which serves as an altar table. The manger, which is located under the ancient Basilica of the Nativity of Christ, is adorned with marble and precious materials and is illuminated by numerous lamps and chandeliers. The pilgrims, one by one, knelt and kissed a corner of the silver star under the altar table. Despite the crowding of numerous pilgrims, they were able to pray, palpably sensing the lofty inexpressible ecstasy and piety that filled their souls.

The pilgrims were also given the opportunity to immerse themselves in the waters of the Jordan River; they visited Mount Tabor, Bethany, Nazareth, Cana of Galilee, Capernaum, Magdala, the Tomb of the Mother of God, the home of her holy parents in Jerusalem, Hebron, Jericho, and the Tomb of St. Tabitha in Jaffa. They saw the monasteries of Venerable Gerasim of Jordan, George of Koziba, Theodosius the Great, and Saint Sabbas the Blessed, and many other holy places, serving a moleben at each, and commemorating all "them that have charged us, the unworthy, to pray for them." Bishop Nicholas and his pilgrims were received at the monastery of St. Sabbas with great love. Here, the pilgrims were able to venerate the relics of the monastery’s founder and the cave of Venerable John of Damascus, where he lived for over 30 years, and where divine aid inspired him to compose many stichera and canons used in our services to this day.

On Wednesday, May 20, the Apodosis of Pascha, Bishop Nicholas celebrated Divine Liturgy at Saint Mary Magdalene Convent in Gethsemane. The church is a prime example of Muscovite-style architecture. Its seven cupolas are all onion-shaped, resting on tall drums. The church lends the impression of lightness and splendor. The iconostasis is made of white marble and bronze, the floor is of multi-colored marble. The icons were painted by the renowned 19th-century painter Vasily Vereschagin. Above the royal doors is an enormous fresco, depicting St. Mary Magdalene, Equal-to-the-Apostles, standing before the emperor Tiberius’ judgment.

Here, Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Archbishop Mark of Berlin & Germany, who arrived in the Holy Land with a large group of pilgrims from the Diocese of Berlin, Germany & Great Britain. Joining him, besides Bishop Nicholas, was Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem of the Russian Church Abroad, his Mission clergymen, and other pilgrims. The convent choir sang joyously sang the Paschal hymns. Abbess Elizabeth (Smelic) warmly welcomed the pilgrims, and after divine services, offered them a magnificent luncheon. Venerating the relics of Venerable Martyresses Grand Duchess Elizabeth and Nun Barbara, and performing a memorial litany, during which Metropolitan Anastassy and the reposed monastics of the convent were commemorated, the pilgrims headed to Jacob’s Well, where the Savior and the Samarian Woman had their well-known interaction. They went to Holy Ascension Convent on the Mount of Olives to pray during All-Night Vigil on the eve of the feast of the Ascension of the Lord.

The Mount of Olives is the highest of all hills surrounding Jerusalem, and has always had a great number of olive trees. The Arabs call this the "holy mountain." From its heights, our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into Heaven. Empress Helen raised a grand church on the site. They say that domes did not cover the original church, and during services worshippers could gaze directly into the sky. A stone bearing the footprint of Christ is surrounded by a gold fence. When the Persians invaded, this church was destroyed to its foundations; later, a smaller, eight-sided chapel was built. This chapel now belongs to a Palestinian family and is used as a mosque. The pilgrims are allowed into the chapel for a small fee to venerate the divine footprint, which is surrounded by a marble frame, and the whole area is referred to as "the Footstep."

Approaching Jerusalem from any direction, one always sees, rising against the bright cloudless sky of Jordan, a tall, slender bell tower in the Mount of Olives Convent which is topped by a spire and a cross, known to locals as "the Russian Candle." Holy Ascension Church in the convent was built in the Byzantine style, with heavy walls and a low dome. Archimandrite Antonin is buried in the church, the greatest of the heads of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission. Here, Bishop Nicholas and his pilgrims celebrated the great feast day of the Ascension of the Lord, welcomed by Abbess Moisseia and her nuns. Divine Liturgy was headed by Archbishop Mark. His Beatitude, Patriarch Theophilus III, arrived in time for Holy Communion, having celebrated Liturgy earlier. After a festive luncheon at the refectory of the Church of St. Philaret the Merciful, Abbess Moisseia received the archpastors, clergymen, and pilgrims in her residence. Over a cup of tea, they spoke on spiritual topics, including the history and daily life of Ascension Convent. Fr. Roman warmly welcomed the Pilgrims and asked them not to forget the monastics in the Holy Land in their prayers and to share with everyone even the spiritual crumbs of this grace-filled experience.

The following day, the feast of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Nicholas, Wonderworker of Myra, Bishop Nicholas bade farewell to his pilgrims, blessing them on their return trip, and flew to the city of Kiev, where he arrived that evening. Kiev is now hosting the Third International "Mount Athos & the Slavic Nations" Conference at Kiev’s Dormition Lavra of the Caves, in which Metropolitan Christopher, Archbishop Emeritus of the Czech Lands & Slovakia, participated, along with Archimandrite Methodius, Abbott of Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos, and many others. Bishop Nicholas spoke with the participants of this conference during dinner at the residence of His Beatitude Onufry, Metropolitan of Kiev & All Ukraine, who welcomed everyone as a loving father. Bishop Nicholas pointed to the brotherly bonds connecting Kiev, Pochaev, Slovakia, and Serbia with the Russian Church Abroad, and relayed the message of love to His Beatitude, Metropolitan Onufry, from His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, the archpastors, pastors, monastics, and the fullness of the Russian Church Abroad, who earnestly pray in their churches for the cessation of the internecine war and the reestablishment of peace in the hearts of all. During dinner, Metropolitan Onufry spoke about the life of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, while the monks of Mount Athos talked about their hesychastic way of life, and lives of those who pray the Jesus Prayer.

On Saturday, May 23, Bishop Nicholas and Archpriest Serafim Gan visited Dormition Lavra of the Kievan Caves, where they co-served the All-Night Vigil. The following morning, the feast day of Sts. Cyril & Methodius, Teachers of the Slavs, His Grace officiated at Divine Liturgy at Holy Protection Convent in Kiev. They venerated the relics of Venerable Anastasia of Kiev (Alexandra Petrovna Romanova) and the Venerable Confessor Sophia (Grineva). During lunch, His Grace wished the nuns success in their spiritual life, and expressed joy at the Liturgy they jointly celebrated in this holy and blessed place. Later that day, Bishop Nicholas visited Holy Wisdom Cathedral (monument to Holy Great Prince Vladimir, Equal-of-the-Apostles) and other holy sites of Kiev. The following day, he met with Metropolitan Onouphry in his residence in Feofania.

On Tuesday, May 26, Bishop Nicholas celebrated Divine Liturgy at Holy Annunciation Church in the Far Caves of the Kiev Caves Lavra, where repose the relics of the Holy Hierarchs Paul of Tobolsk and Hieromartyr Vladimir of Kiev, the first hierarch of the Russian Church martyred at the hands the godless Bolshevik persecution.

On Wednesday, May 27, His Grace prayed at the Midnight Office and Canon with an Akathist to the Dormition of the Mother of God performed in the Great Cathedral of the Lavra, and venerated the relics of the venerable fathers of the Near and Far Caves of the Kiev Lavra. Later that evening, Metropolitan Onufry hosted a dinner to honor Bishop Nicholas, during which he recalled Metropolitan Laurus and their fraternal and heartfelt meetings, which began long before the Reestablishment of unity within the Russian Church. During these meetings, the hierarchs talked not about the division within the Russian Church and the need to overcome it, but about monasticism, prayer, Divine Liturgy, the spiritual life, and the holy sites.

The discussions with His Beatitude and the divine services spiritually benefited the participants of the pilgrimage to Kiev, and the familial and warm atmosphere of the trip to the Holy Land added to the experience, with all of the pilgrims sensing themselves to be members of one large Orthodox family, who will continue to gather together and support each other.

Official website of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia