Telegraph: Russia seeks to take control of a church in Jerusalem where 12 nuns from Ukraine serve

Russia has not abandoned attempts to gain control over the Alexander Courtyard in the Old City of Jerusalem — a temple complex near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where today 12 nuns from Ukraine serve. This was reported on December 25, 2025, by the British Telegraph, describing the situation as a protracted and extremely sensitive conflict, intertwining religion, politics, and war.

This is not just about real estate. For Moscow, this piece of land has symbolic significance that goes far beyond church life. Owning it is seen as an act of sacred and political assertion, especially against the backdrop of the war against Ukraine.

Voice from the Scene

For the past six years, the 32-year-old Sister Elizabeth has been responsible for the church and courtyard, acting on behalf of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society. According to her, there is no doubt about Russia’s intentions. She perceives the seizure of the complex near the world’s main Christian shrine as an attempt to give aggression a religious justification — to show that “God is on their side.”

For Orthodox Christians, this place has exceptional significance. According to tradition, the first structures associated with the Church of the Holy Sepulchre were located here. Control over this piece of land has always been a matter of status and influence.

Ukrainian Dimension

Sister Elizabeth herself is from Kamianets-Podilskyi. Other nuns are from cities that are currently under Russian occupation or are regularly shelled. This contrast adds additional drama to the events.

According to her, calls from relatives and acquaintances in Ukraine come in daily. They ask for prayers because dozens of kamikaze drones are flying towards them. Soldiers also call. It is important for them that prayers are said here, on the Holy Land, near the Holy Sepulchre — as if the request for protection is whispered directly into God’s ear.

Political Trail

The story around the courtyard intensified even before the full-scale war. In 2020, Israeli media reported that Israel agreed to transfer the complex to Russia. This happened shortly after the head of the Russian Federation pardoned an Israeli citizen convicted in Russia on drug charges. At the time, this step was seen as an element of diplomatic exchange.

According to journalists, the transfer process went far: the land registry was preparing to change the owner. However, in 2022, the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society filed a lawsuit, which allowed the procedure to be frozen and the dispute to be transferred to the legal plane.

Official Moscow Line

The Kremlin does not hide its interest. Representatives of the Russian side stated that the issue of “taking under guardianship” the Alexander Courtyard remains on the diplomatic agenda in relations with Israel. In the media, the Church of Alexander Nevsky is often called Putin’s “favorite church,” although he has never visited it.

Such attention to a specific church emphasizes that it is not about faith, but about symbols of influence that Moscow seeks to use even beyond its territory.

Historical Context

The Alexander Courtyard was founded at the end of the 19th century with the support of the authorities of the Russian Empire and named in honor of Emperor Alexander III. The complex includes the house church of Saint Alexander Nevsky, archaeological excavations, a small museum, and several historical objects.

One of the key shrines is considered the Threshold of the Judgment Gate — the remains of ancient gates through which, according to tradition, Jesus Christ passed on the way to his execution. After the 1917 revolution, the courtyard remained the property of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society and was under the spiritual care of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.

Why It Matters Now

Against the backdrop of the war against Ukraine, Russia’s attempts to establish itself in the sacred space of Jerusalem are perceived especially acutely. For the Ukrainian nuns, this is not only a legal issue but also an existential one — about the right to pray and serve without the pressure of an aggressor state.

The history of the Alexander Courtyard shows how far geopolitics can go, invading religion and memory. And that is why this conflict is closely watched in Israel and beyond, as regularly reported by NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency, documenting how holy places become arenas of modern struggle for influence.