In Jerusalem, Primate of ROCOR elevates new abbess of Ascension Convent

New Abbess of the Ascension Monastery in Jerusalem. Photo: missionrocor

On May 29, 2025, on the day of the celebration of the Ascension of the Lord, an important church event took place in Jerusalem – the elevation of Mother Judith (Zastavskaya) to the rank of abbess at the historic Ascension Convent of the ROCOR on the Mount of Olives, reports UOJ in America.

The service was led by Metropolitan Nicholas, the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, who arrived in Jerusalem on a pastoral visit on May 27. He was concelebrated by Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany, who was on a pilgrimage.

During the Divine Liturgy, following the reading of the Holy Synod's decree by Hierodeacon Amphilochius at the Little Entrance, Metropolitan Nicholas elevated Mother Judith (Zastavskaya) to the rank of abbess of the Ascension Convent.

The service was given special solemnity by the arrival of Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine with Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina and clerics of the Jerusalem Patriarchate. His Beatitude addressed the gathered with a welcoming speech and received as a gift the Epitaphios of the Most Holy Theotokos, embroidered by the sisters of the convent.

At the end of the service, Metropolitan Nicholas formally handed the abbess’ staff to Mother Judith, accompanied by a spiritual exhortation. Archimandrite Roman presented the new abbess with an icon of her heavenly patroness – Saint Judith of Bethulia.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Synod of the ROCOR condemned the trends in Russia towards the rehabilitation of the USSR ideology.

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