Go to a land flowing with milk and honey.
Exodus 33:3a
Israel is the promised land, the place where the people of Judah came out of the land of Egypt, where the son of God, Jesus Christ, lived. In the heart of every believer lives the hope of visiting the Holy Land, seeing Calvary, touching the slabs of the Holy Sepulcher. For an Orthodox Christian, this is not just an opportunity to get to know the land where Jesus was born, preached, healed, suffered, died and rose again. This is also a time of religious renewal, unity with the church, and growth in faith.
The Birth of the Church
The history of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church is full of ups and downs. Its first bishop (head) is considered to be the Apostle James, the brother of Christ. From here, from Jerusalem, the apostles began their missionary work; here they returned to exchange experiences, ask for advice, or make an important joint decision. In the 70s, after the suppression of the uprising against the Romans, the city was destroyed. The center of church life moved to Rome. However, after a pilgrimage here, St. Queen Helena and the discovery of the Holy Cross, the Jerusalem church began to be reborn. In 451, the patriarchate was established here, churches were built in the city, and pilgrims visited it. The Arab invasion stopped the further development of the patriarchate, and the arrival of the crusaders in 1099 completely forced the patriarchs to rule the church from Constantinople. Having survived the persecution of the Mamluks and the relative tolerance of the Ottoman Turks, the Jerusalem Orthodox Church came to life in the 16th century. Rich offerings made it possible to expand the monastery farmsteads and build new churches.
The main shrines of the Orthodox Church in the Holy Land are considered to be the Church of the Resurrection with the Holy Sepulcher and Golgotha. Other shrines include the monasteries of the Holy Sepulcher, John the Baptist, Bethlehem, many churches and chapels.
Russian mission
The Russian spiritual mission was established in Jerusalem in 1847 with the main goal of helping pilgrims. From the day of its foundation to the present day, the Russian Spiritual Mission has been subordinate to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’. The representative of the Patriarch is the head of the mission.
During the world wars, the mission’s activities as an organizer of pilgrimage trips and an educational institution ceased, but each time the mission was revived. Its new flourishing began in 1991, after Patriarch Alexy II visited Israel. In 1997, the 150th anniversary of the mission was widely celebrated in Israel. Patriarch Alexy II visited the Russian courtyard. In honor of this event, a large hotel complex for pilgrims was built in Bethlehem. Old monasteries and churches began to be rebuilt and new ones were built.
Now the area of responsibility of the Russian Orthodox Mission includes monasteries in Jerusalem, Jaffa, and Hebron. In these places, services are performed and prayers are offered in Russian.
Today the Russian mission is:
• Representation of the Russian Orthodox Church
• Center for pastoral care of believers
• Pilgrimage service of the Russian Church
• Center for education and education
Sunday schools for children and adults operate at churches subordinate to the mission. There they teach the basics of Orthodoxy, give Bible lessons, and do everything to preserve the Russian language and culture. The mission publishes the “Trinity Leaf”, where they publish articles about church rituals, Sacraments, and divine services. You can also find news about the mission’s activities and contact information there.
What is important to know about the state of Israel
Visa
Russian citizens arriving in Israel for up to 90 days do not require a visa. All you need is a passport with a validity period of at least 6 months.
Currency
The Israeli currency is the shekel. There are banknotes of 20, 50, 100 and 200 shekels and coins of 1, 2, 5 and 10. There are 100 agarot (kopecks) in a shekel. Coins of 10 and 50 agarot are in use.
Plastic cards
All known cards are in use: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Euro card, Access. You can exchange money at banks or special points, and cash out at any ATM. It should be remembered that banks charge a commission for cashing out money.
Time
Israel has winter and summer time. In summer the difference with Moscow is 1 hour, in winter it is Moscow time.
Climate
In Israel there are only 2 seasons. Summer, when it pours from you, and winter, when it pours on you. Hot, dry summer lasts from April to October, and winter with sharp temperature changes lasts from October to April. Comfortable shoes are useful in any season, but an umbrella and waterproof clothing are important for winter.
Language
The official languages of Israel are Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament and Arabic. Due to the large number of repatriates from the CIS countries, Russian is widely spoken, but residents should not be expected to speak the “great and mighty”. For the younger generation, English is the language of international communication.
Shabbat
On Friday, after sunset, life in Israel comes to a standstill for 25 hours. Government agencies, banks, and shops are closed. Public transport stops running. Restaurants and museums are closing. Taxis on Shabbat are not a problem; the drivers are usually Arabs or people who do not observe the Sabbath. Israel is a country of 3 religions, so it is important to show respect for each of them.
A pilgrimage is a time when a person focuses on his relationship with the Lord and goes deeper into his inner world. At such moments it is good to be alone, pray and meditate on God’s word. But it’s good to discuss your experiences, ask questions, and share your thoughts. Therefore, on pilgrimage trips organized by the Holy Land Foundation, a priest is always present. He will clarify what is unclear, advise what to do in this or that case, or simply explain why this or that action occurs.
Travel necessarily includes personal time and participation in church services.
Israel is a hospitable country, pilgrims are greeted there with joy, but seen off with sadness.
Charitable Foundation Holy Land
Investment in the Soul!
