On Friday, August 30, 2019, after Divine Liturgy in the cave church dedicated to St Nicholas the Wonder-worker, located on the premises of Orthodox Bethany School for Girls in Jerusalem, Archimandrite Innokenty (Sereda) performed a moleben for the Orthodox Christian students and teachers to start the new year.
Participating in the service were Abbess Elizabeth (Smelic) of Gethsemane Convent of St Mary Magdalene, Equal-to-the-Apostles, her nuns, pilgrims and school assistants, along with the Orthodox students.
The new year will include 450 students, mostly girls living in the Palestinian Territory. Children receive an education in accordance with the full curriculum approved by the Palestinian Authority. They also study Christian culture. One of the languages offered is Russian. Of all the students, only 14 are Orthodox Christians. Christian girls do not only study at the school but live there as well. The nuns of Gethsemane Convent support the Orthodox girls.
The Bethany Municipality financed the restoration of a stone wall around the school premises before the beginning of the school year.
