Eleonskii Holy Ascension Nunnery belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCA). Its bell tower rises from the Mount of Olives near the Chapel of the Ascension, visible for kilometers around. The name of the monastery is determined by its location - the Christian tradition holds that it is here, in the Olives (Olives) mountain, Jesus ascended to heaven on the fortieth day after the resurrection.

Like many Russian churches in the Holy Land, the monastery owes its origins to the head of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, Archimandrite Antonin (Kapustin). The plot is at the top of the Mount of Olives Antonin father bought in 1870, put him on fir and olive trees. When landings have been excavated burial cave discovered mosaic floors of ancient churches. These well-preserved, very beautiful mosaics are now in the chapel and the so-called arhimandrichem house where the father is the Archaeological Museum of Antoninus.

In 1886 the monastery was consecrated Church of the Ascension ("My Little Hagia Sophia," as his father Antonin, referring to her resemblance to the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople). This building was built in neo-Byzantine style by the Italian architect Gian Batista Bizelli but Archimandrite took an active part in the work - a beautiful white stone iconostasis was designed and is drawn by himself. (Here's father Antonin is buried - in the north wing of his beloved church.)

Simultaneously with the construction of the bell tower of the church construction was going, also designed by Archimandrite. Above it worked the other Italian architect - Antonio Langodorki. The architecture of the imposing bell tower height of 64 meters is reminiscent of medieval Italian campanile, but the townspeople call it "Russian candle." Delivery bells, donated by the Church of Solikamsk merchant Alexander Ryazantsev, has become a bright event in the life of Jerusalem. The huge five-ton bell, who came to the Holy Land by sea, arms dragged to the top of the Mount of Olives hundred Russian pilgrims - along the narrow steep path into the rock. At the stops, they supported each other by singing the troparion, "Save, O Lord, Thy people."

Lying north of the church, for the churchyard, chapel gained a fair head of John the Baptist was built on the spot where, according to Orthodox tradition, found the severed head of John. A small fence placed directly inside the chapel on this sacred place, and many pilgrims come here to pray. Impressive picture illustrates the tragic episode of the New Testament: the executioner put his hand on her shoulder kneeling John the Baptist. Near the church is one more precious for the Orthodox pilgrims artifact - a stone on which, according to legend, was a Hail Mary, when Jesus ascended to heaven.