On October 10-17, 2003, the first pilgrimage of Russian Christians to support the people of Israel took place in Jerusalem. The pilgrimage was sponsored by Michael Cherney Fund in the framework of the first international Jerusalem Summit.

The group included prominent Russian orthodox intellectuals who visited Yad Vashem, the Wailing Wall, the Temple Mount, Knesset, and on October 14 marched with slogans supporting Israel along the streets of the capital. Jerusalem march is an annual event attended by thousands of Christian Zionists from the world over in the framework of the feast of Sukkoth.

The Russian pilgrims were led by Mr. Sergei Filatov, President of the Fund for Socio-Economic and Intellectual problems, President of the Russian Intelligentsia Congress, and a former chief of staff in Yeltsin's administration.

The group also included well-known writers like Alexandr Nezhny, Lidiya Grafova, and Valery Kajaya; philosopher Grigory Pomerantz; cultural scientist Zinaida Mirkina; former Chairman of Religion Council Ambassador Konstantin Khartchev; poet Alexandr Zorin; Old Orthodox community leader Alexandr Antonov; Russian Baptist leader Vladimir Kiselev; priests Veniamin Novik, Innokenty Pavlov, and Valery Lapkovsky; Academician Yevgeny Yamburg; Culture Channel News Programming Director Yuri Skvortsov; Vice President of International Roerich Center Vyacheslav Morgachev, and many other Russian cultural figures.

On October 16 in Jerusalem, the group attended a round table with Knesset members and prominent Israeli public and cultural leaders.