Relics of St. Nicholas arrive in Russia

Leaving Italy



Arriving at airport

(Nikola 2017) - From 21 may to 28 July 2017 will be bringing in the Russia of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker stored in the Basilica of Bari (Italy). This is a unique event: for 930 years honest relics of St. Nicholas in Bari they have never left the city. Saint Nicholas is one of the most revered saints in all of Christendom. Every year hundreds of believers of the Moscow Patriarchate visited Bari to venerate the honourable relics of the great Saint of God. However, for the majority of Orthodox Russia pilgrimage are far too difficult.

The agreement on the transfer of part of the relics of St. Nicholas was reached at the historic meeting of Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill with Pope Francis February 12, 2016.
The press service of Church events is now accepting applications to cover the events related to the stay of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Moscow. The relic will be brought to the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour to the beginning of the evening service on may 21, 2017, on the eve of day of memory of St. Nicholas.

Vigil and meeting of the relics on may 21 at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, headed by his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill. The beginning of the worship service at 17.00.

From 22 may to 12 July the relics of Saint Nicholas will be available for veneration by the faithful in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. From 13 July to 28 July the relics will be in St Petersburg.

The access of pilgrims to the Shrine in Moscow will be organized on may 22 from 14.00 to 21.00. From 23 may to 12 July, the access of pilgrims to be carried out from 8.00 to 21.00 (get in line, you need to 17.00 in order to have time to go to the Shrine before the closing of the temple).

During the stay of the Shrine in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour will work the press center. The passage of journalists from the Volkhonka by editorial credentials in accordance with accreditation lists.

One of the main Christian relics will arrive from the Italian city of Bari. In the local Basilica the relics were almost a thousand years.

Then, what has been dreamed of by several generations of Russians, is finally going to happen. Today Catholic and Orthodox priests together out of the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari. Discussed final preparations for the delivery of the relics to Russia.

"It's an extraordinary, unusual event that will take place thanks to the historic meeting of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill. To me, it seems that the event is very significant from a spiritual point of view. It guides the Church to new ways. Sure it's a temporary transfer will contribute to the continuation and deepening of the dialogue between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Catholic," — said chiro Capotosto, rector of the Basilica of St. Nicholas.

"We are witnessing a unique historical event, when it might, a significant portion will be first delivered to Russia. The time has come, the Saint Nicholas wanted to visit for its healing relics of the faithful part of his flock, because for anybody not a secret that he is particularly revered in the Russian Church," said Archpriest Andrei Fighters.

Russia takes the 9th rib of the Saint. As they say, one of the innermost particles. One that is close to my heart. According to Christian faith, is near him, hides the spiritual senses.