21 September 2018 in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill led the solemn meeting of the ark with the right hand of St. Spyridon, reports patriarhiei.
From 24 August to 15 October, the hand of St Spiridon is brought to 12 cities and regions of Russia: Krasnodar, Yekaterinburg, Krasnoyarsk, Kemerovo, the Moscow region, Tula, Saint Petersburg, Tver, Saratov, Cheboksary, Yaroslavl and Moscow. Detailed information about the bringing of the relics from the island of Corfu, organized by the Charity Fund named after Saint Prince Vladimir, posted on the website https://spiridon.patriarchia.ru.
Orthodox Moscow welcomed the bringing of the relics of St. Spyridon Church bells. The ark with the right hand of the Saint were brought to the capital from the assumption Cathedral of Yaroslavl. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, hierarchs and clergy met the Shrine at the Western gate of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
The first vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia for Moscow Metropolitan Arseny of Istra and the head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archbishop Sergius of Solnechnogorsk, took the ark out of the hands of Archimandrite Justin (Constants), rector of the Church of Saint Spyridon in Kerkyra, and handed the relic to his Holiness Patriarch Kirill.
The singing of the troparion of St. Spyridon Patriarch brought the ark into the middle of the Church and put on the prepared place under the icon of the Saint.
Then his Holiness Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill celebrated a prayer service to St. Spyridon.
His Holiness was concelebrated by: Metropolitan Arseny of Istra, the first vicar of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia in Moscow; the Archbishop of Sergiev Posad Feognost, Chairman of the Synodal Department for monasteries and monasticism, Abbot of Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra; Archbishop Sergiy of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Administrative Secretariat of the Moscow Patriarchate; Archbishop Matthew, the Manager of the North-Eastern and Western vicariates of Moscow; Bishop Gury (Shalimov); Bishop of Dmitrov Theophylact, vicar of Andrew’s Stavropigialny monastery, the Manager of the southwest Vicariate of Moscow, Orekhovo-Zuevsky Bishop Panteleimon Chairman of the Synodal Department for Church charity and social service, Manager of the Eastern Vicariate of Moscow; Bishop Balashikha Nikolay, the chief editor of the Publishing house of the Moscow Patriarchate; Bishop Domodedovskaya John, Abbot of the Novospassky stavropegic monastery, managing the South-Eastern Vicariate and the Vicariate of New territories of Moscow; Archpriest Vladimir Diakov, Secretary of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia for Moscow; Archpriest Mikhail Ryazantsev, sacristan of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour; Archpriest Alexander Ageikin, rector of the Epiphany Cathedral in Moscow; the Metropolitan clergy.
Among the worshippers at the divine service were the organizers of offering honest relics of St. Spyridon Russian Orthodox Church: the rector of the Church of Saint Spyridon in Kakira Archimandrite Justin (constants), Chairman of the Board of the Charity Fund of St. Prince Vladimir Vladimir E. Babiy and others.
At the conclusion of the prayer service Patriarch Kirill addressed with speech to the participants of the solemn meeting of the relics of the Saint:
“Dear bishops, fathers, brothers and sisters!
I congratulate you on a great event in our spiritual lives — bringing from the island of Corfu in the feast the city of Moscow of the relics of St. Spyridon, Archbishop of trimythous. I would like to thank father Justin, the Fund managers that have contributed to this wonderful promotion, as well as Corfu the Archbishop for a blessing to be SIM relics in Russia.
It is well known how many people bowed to St. Spyridon on our land. Thousands of people came to these Holy remains — each with its own prayer, each with his own hope, and the heart of a man impossible to deceive. The veneration of St. Spyridon takes on Russia in antiquity, — it is connected with the life of the Saint, with his great deeds, including the defense of Orthodoxy at the first Ecumenical Council, and with many miracles, which his prayer was done. And this is due to our living experience. Many of our people, especially in the last decade, had the opportunity to come to the Corfu island and to venerate St. Spyridon, to seek him, blessings on many life issues, to seek healing of diseases. And how many people received healing, help and support!
Happy that today begins a pilgrimage of Muscovites to this Shrine in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Pray to Saint Spyridon, healed our diseases, both spiritual and physical, to Saint Spyridon by his prayers strengthened the unity of the Orthodox Church, helped to overcome the divisions that are plagued by the body of the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. We believe that his intercession to the Lord will be softened angry hearts, brighten the mind of those who don’t know what he’s doing. Let’s hope that by his prayers the Lord will strengthen the unity of the Orthodox Church and strengthen the faith of all of us, through his miraculous power will give everyone the opportunity to feel the action of God’s grace. His prayer God bless the Orthodox Church, our land and our people. Amen.”
The altar of the Temple of Christ the Savior, a conversation of His Holiness with the organizers of the bringing of the relics of St. Spiridon Russian Orthodox Church.
“It is a great joy for all of us. Bishop Nektary (Metropolitan of Corfu, Pakkoku and Diapontia Islands — ed.) give my love and gratitude. Very timely came the relics of Saint Spyridon on the Russian land. We need to strengthen our faith, healing, ailments, help. We believe that Saint Spyridon this aid will give us,” said Patriarch Kirill.
Chairman of the Board of the Charity Fund of St. Prince Vladimir Vladimir E. Babiy presented his Holiness the Patriarch with an icon of St. Spyridon.
Archimandrite Justin (constants), in turn, conveyed to His Holiness greetings and commemorative gifts from the Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu.
Representatives of Corfu metropolis of the Greek Orthodox Church shared with the Patriarch his impressions from visiting the dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church thanked His Holiness for the opportunity to visit the regions of Russia, which had never been.
From 22 September to 14 October, the access to the relics of St. Spyridon in the Church of Christ the Saviour is open daily from 8.00 to 20.00. To venerate the relics of Saint Spyridon in Moscow will be possible within 23 days.
These days at the Shrine will be made moleben with akathist to St. Spyridon.
October 15, after the morning service and the prayer service will be held solemn shrines from Moscow to the island of Corfu.
Information for pilgrims visiting the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow during translation of the relics of St. Nicholas. Spyridon