A total of 10 million roubles will be allocated to international non-governmental organisation the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society for repair and conservation work at the St. Sergius Metochion and an inventory and expert evaluation of objects with an artistic and historical value at the site with a view to their future restoration.
Before the revolution, Russia had around 70 sites in Palestine with metochions, churches and monasteries. Only around a dozen remain today, including the St. Sergius Metochion. An agreement on the site’s transfer to Russia was reached during talks with Israel in May 2007.