Hebron, October 22, 2025
Photo: jerusalem-patriarchate.info
The Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem festively celebrated yesterday the centenary of the consecration of the Holy Monastery of the Holy Trinity of the Hospitality of Abraham by the Oak of Mamre by the late Patriarch of Damianos of Jerusalem, October 22.
The feast brought together hierarchs, clergy, and laity from various Local Churches, with the Liturgy headed by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, reports the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
Concelebrating with His Beatitude were Their Eminences Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, head of the Russian Church’s Department for External Church Relations, Metropolitan Isychios of Kapitolias, Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina, and Metropolitan Makarios of Acre-Ptolemais of the Jeruslaem Patriarchate, as well as Archimandrite Vassianos, head of the Russian Spiritual Mission, and numerous clergy from the Patriarchates of Jerusalem and Cyprus.
In his homily, Pat. Theophilos reflected on the Biblical scene of Abraham’s hospitality at Mamre, where the Lord appeared in the form of three visitors. “This sacred place stands as a testimony of our faith,” he said, “for the Incarnate Word of God, Christ, is the seed of Abraham; and all who belong to Christ are heirs according to the promise.” The Patriarch also emphasized the unity of the Orthodox Churches, noting that “we are laborers together with God, preaching the Gospel of salvation and keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Photo: jerusalem-patriarchate.info
Following the Liturgy, a procession took place to the ancient Oak of Mamre, where a supplication was offered.
During the festive meal, Pat. Theophilos addressed the gathering once more, expressing gratitude to God for “calling us to be guardians and servants of the Holy Places, tangible witnesses of the divine-human encounter.” He spoke of Abraham as the common forefather of all peoples, saying, “This holy place reminds us that peaceful coexistence among God’s children is possible. Though we may not always know the way, we trust in God, just as Abraham did.”
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Photo: rusdm.ru
The Russian Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Hebron traces its origins to the work of Archimandrite Antonin (Kapustin), head of the Russian Spiritual Mission in the 19th century. His first acquisition in the Holy Land, made in November 1868, was a parcel of land near Hebron—the very place where, according to Scripture, the Patriarch Abraham received three angelic visitors.
The first Divine Liturgy on the site was celebrated in 1871. Three years later, in 1874, a two-story stone guesthouse for pilgrims was built through Archimandrite Antonin’s efforts. In 1884, the Patriarchs Nicodemus of Jerusalem and Joachim III of Constantinople visited the Russian property in Hebron and blessed the establishment of a church there.
The monastery church was finally consecrated in 1925 by Patriarch Damianos of Jerusalem in honor of the Holy Forefathers, with side chapels dedicated to the Holy Trinity and to St. Nicholas.
A century later, this sacred site continues to serve as a place of prayer and pilgrimage, uniting the faithful in remembrance of Abraham’s faith and the mystery of Divine hospitality revealed at Mamre.
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