Russia is restoring its traditional presence on the Holy Land, which covers the territories of Palestinian Authority, Jordan and Israel. Jericho Mayor has handed over to the Russian side a paper certifying ownership of three land plots that belong to the Russian Orthodox Church.
One of the land plots, handed over to the Russian government, houses the Fig Tree, which according to evangelic legend was anathematized by Jesus Christ. The other two plots, known as the Moscow Land since the 19th century, are being transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church.
The number of pilgrims from Russia to the Holy Land amounted to several thousand at the beginning of last century. To accommodate the pilgrims the authorities built churches, shelters, hospitals and seminaries and set up a Russian post office, consulate and about 100 schools. Most of the property belonged to the Russians. But in course of history Russia lost hundreds of hectares and dozens of majestic structures which had once been built on the donations from Russian people.
The property is back to the Holy Land on account of efforts from the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, Russia’s oldest non-governmental organization, set up in 1882 by Grand Prince Sergei Alexandrovich, the uncle of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II. The Society’s effort to return the land plots to Russia received thanksgiving prayers from the believers. Father Igor is the rector of St.Trinity Church.
The handover of lands for pilgrim needs is of great significance to Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church, he says. The number of pilgrims is bound to grow in the light of a visa-free travel introduced by Russia and Israel. Given the situation there is an acute need for hotels and other accommodation for the believers. The reclaimed land plots will make it easier to accommodate the pilgrims so that they could worship the shrines and come back home with recollections of the holy places once trod by the Savior.
Russia is taking steps to retrieve its lands in Israel and Jordan too. Last year King Abdullah II of Jordan made a generous gesture by conferring on the Russian Orthodox Church a land plot on the bank of the River Jordan for gratuitous and unlimited use. In this place the authorities are planning to build a church, a pilgrim house and possibly, a spiritual mission center.
Konstantin Garibov, Voice of Russia