Archimandrite Roman, head of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) mission in Jerusalem, has reported that the mission's monasteries in the Holy Land are once again under threat from rocket fire and is calling on the faithful for support amid the ongoing conflict.

In a statement published by the ROCOR aid fund, Archimandrite Roman described how the first week of Great Lent was disrupted by air raid sirens and explosions. He recounted that during the Divine Liturgy on Theophany Saturday, just before Communion, alarms rang out in the church, prompting worshippers to remain inside as the sounds of rocket interceptions echoed outside.

"Since then, similar alerts have sounded daily—both day and night," noted Archimandrite Roman. He explained that while most rockets are intercepted by Israel’s defense systems, the resulting explosions have shaken buildings.

Fragments from intercepted rockets have already landed within the mission's monastery grounds, with three pieces discovered at the Saint Mary Magdalene Monastery, including one near the church entrance.

Despite the tensions, Archimandrite Roman emphasized that no members of the mission have been harmed, although there have been casualties among local residents in the vicinity.

The escalating situation has also complicated the mission’s activities; airports in Israel are once again closed, leading to the cancellation of all flights and a near halt to pilgrimage activities. Just recently, an increase in pilgrims had raised hopes for recovery following the pandemic and previous conflicts, but the current escalation has put a swift end to these prospects.

Currently, two Russian Orthodox missions operate in Jerusalem: the Moscow Patriarchate Mission and the ROCOR Mission, which has been self-governing within the Moscow Patriarchate since May 2007. The ROCOR Mission is located at the Ascension Monastery on the Mount of Olives and includes the women’s Monastery of Saint Mary Magdalene in the Garden of Gethsemane. Communication between the two missions had been interrupted for decades due to wars and revolutions, only resuming with the unification of the Russian Church in 2007.