Russian Convent of the Ascension, Russian Orthodox monastery on Mount of Olives, Jerusalem, Israel

The Russian Convent of the Ascension is an Orthodox monastery on the Mount of Olives with sprawling grounds across multiple levels. The complex includes churches, auxiliary buildings, two cemeteries, and groves of olive and pine trees throughout its site.

The monastery was founded in the 19th century after Archimandrite Antonin Kapustin acquired land that held ancient remains. Excavations revealed old mosaics and tombs that showed the site's long past before becoming a religious center.

The convent's icons and frescoes were largely made by the nuns themselves, who also restored wall paintings damaged in the 1927 earthquake. The frescoes depict New Testament scenes tied by tradition to the Mount of Olives, including the Raising of Lazarus above the entrance. A Russian cross at the door has a slanted lower bar, read as the good and the bad thief.

The convent lies on the southern summit of the Mount of Olives, about 200 m from the Chapel of the Ascension, and is enclosed by a 1.5 km wall within dense Arab housing. Entry is through the gate off the street; the grounds hold two cemeteries and olive and pine groves. Visitors should dress modestly and check opening times before arriving, as the convent may close for private or religious observances.

Archimandrite Antonin Kapustin is buried inside the Church of the Ascension, to the left of the entrance; his tombstone is inscribed in old Slavonic letters and numerals. The monastery's bell tower rises 64 metres, a height recorded in the Hebrew sources.