Russian Orthodox Church in Israel

Russian Orthodox properties in Israel refers to real-estate owned by the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) in Israel.

History

1840s up to Russian Revolution

While the first Russian Orthodox

Devshirmeh and jizya laws). Through diplomacy and a show of force Napoleon III forced the Ottoman Empire to recognize France as the "sovereign authority" in the Holy Land. This moved control of many Christian holy sites and buildings out of Orthodox hands and under Catholicism. These events were one of the main triggers for the Crimean War of 1856. Despite defeat in the war by 1856, Russia continued actively pursuing its interests vis-à-vis the position and influence of the Ottoman Empire and its European allies.^[2] Czar Alexander II continually worked to make sure Russia would have a presence in Palestine. Towards these ends a consulate was created in 1858.^[1]

The Czar also funded the work of

Arab converts switching from the GOC to the ROC.^[3]

The Russian government began using its diplomatic influence to persuade the Ottoman sultans to refuse the berat to candidates for patriarch to any GOC bishop that disagreed with them.

Jaffa road, known as the Russian Compound

.

These consisted of a large and elaborate church where the Russian

Ascension at the Mount of Olives. Another Russian hospice was built in the Muristan, along with an asylum for the insane, and schools.^[1] Russian pilgrimages were not only encouraged, but even subsidized by the Czar's government. At the time both Russia's political enemies and many within the GOC saw these projects as an intrigue of the Czar to make himself "a center of the Greek faith [i.e. Orthodoxy] which should rival Rome itself."^[4]

This would all change with the fall of the Russian monarchy.

After the Russian Revolution

With the rise of the communists most of the church properties in Palestine remained in the hands of those at odds with the Bolsheviks, and the majority of these joined with the

Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR).^{[citation needed]} Some properties of the ROC remained completely closed until 1941, when the Politburo ordered the churches reopened. An invitation was extended by the Soviets for all Orthodox prelates in the Middle East to come to Moscow to witness the installation of Patriarch Alexei I.^[3]

After Israeli Independence

When Israel became a state in 1948, all of the property under the control of the ROCOR within its borders was handed over to the Soviet dominated ROC in appreciation for Moscow's support of the Jewish state (this support was short-lived). The ROCOR maintained control over churches and properties in the Jordanian-ruled West Bank unmolested until the late 1980s.^{[citation needed]}

In 1952 the Soviets reopened the Russian Palestine Society under the direction of Communist Party agents from Moscow, replaced Archimandrite Vladimir with communist trained Ignaty Polikarp, and won over many Christian Arabs with communist sympathies to the ROC. The members of other branches of Orthodoxy refused to associate with the Soviet led ROC in Palestine.^[3]

List of properties

Church of Russia/Moscow Patriarchate (ROC)

Baptismal site in Jordan, Russian Pilgrims Residence^[5]
Jerusalem, the Russian Compound: the Holy Trinity Cathedral^[5] and the church of St. Alexandra the Martyr Queen
Ein Karem, the Gorny Convent^[5] with three churches: the Cathedral of All Russian Saints, the Church of Our Lady of Kazan, and the cave church of St. John the Baptist
Jaffa, Metochion of Righteous Tabitha^[5] with the church of St. Peter and St. Tabitha
Haifa, the church of St. Elijah on Mount Carmel
Tiberias, the monastery with the Church of St. Mary Magdalene
Tiberias (road to Magdala), Metochion of St. Maria Magdalene in Magdala^[5]
Tiberias (road to Magdala), Russian Pilgrims Residence^[5]

Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR)

The list might be incomplete.

Jerusalem, Convent and Church of Mary Magdalene.^[6]
Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives Convent with the Russian Church of the Saviour's Ascension and its bell-tower.^[6]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Catholic Encyclopedia - Jerusalem (After 1291). 1910.
^ ^a ^b Saint-Rene Taillandier (1866). "A Russian Mission in Palestine-Tischendorf and the Grand Duke Constantine". New York, NY: John A. Gray & Green.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Plot in Progress". Time Magazine. September 15, 1952. Archived from the original on January 12, 2008. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
^ ^a ^b Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine. Vol. CXXv. London: William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh. January–June 1879. p. 38.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem (Moscow branch), list of properties
^ ^a ^b Official ROCOR Mission site

External links

[After_1291-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Catholic Encyclopedia - Jerusalem (After 1291). 1910.

[Eclectic-2] Saint-Rene Taillandier (1866). "A Russian Mission in Palestine-Tischendorf and the Grand Duke Constantine". New York, NY: John A. Gray & Green.

[Time-3] "Plot in Progress". Time Magazine. September 15, 1952. Archived from the original on January 12, 2008. Retrieved 2009-08-06.

[Blackwood-4] Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine. Vol. CXXv. London: William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh. January–June 1879. p. 38.

[ROClist-5] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem (Moscow branch), list of properties

[ROCORlist-6] Official ROCOR Mission site

[note_n0-7] The ROC severed full communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2018, and later severed full communion with the primates of the Church of Greece, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and the Church of Cyprus in 2020.

[note_n1-8] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Autocephaly or autonomy is not universally recognized.

[note_n3-9] UOC-MP was moved to formally cut ties with the ROC as of May 27th 2022.

[note_n2-10] Semi-autonomous part of the Russian Orthodox Church whose autonomy is not universally recognized.

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