Clergy and worshippers gathered at the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem for a special prayer service calling for an end to wars and for peace throughout the world, as tensions continue to escalate across the Middle East.

The service took place on the Second Sunday of Great Lent at the mission’s house church dedicated to the Holy Martyr Empress Alexandra. It was led by Archimandrite Vassian (Zmeev), head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem.

Clergy of the mission concelebrated alongside visiting priests and pilgrims in holy orders from Russia and Moldova. Orthodox faithful from Jerusalem and nearby cities also attended the liturgy.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the clergy conducted a special prayer service “for the cessation of wars and for peace in the whole world.” During the service, prayers were offered for reconciliation among nations, an end to hostility, and the preservation of human life amid modern military conflicts.

The prayer service was held against the backdrop of ongoing instability in the Middle East. The region has seen continued exchanges of strikes between Iran and Israel in recent days.

Air raid sirens have repeatedly sounded across parts of Israel as air defense systems intercepted rockets reportedly launched from Iranian territory. On the evening of March 7, alerts were issued across many areas of central Israel, with reports of explosions in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Explosions were also reported the same day in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and in Manama, the capital of Bahrain, underscoring the widening tensions across the region.