One of the most important events of the last week in Russia was arriving in Moscow on April 24 great Christian relic - the right hand of St. George the Victorious. Ark with St. George’s relics is one of the most revered Orthodox shrines, which is kept in the Athos monastery Xenophon, founded in the tenth century. Together with the ark a miraculous icon of the Great Martyr George was brought to Russia. For centuries monks from the Xenophon Monastery pray at these relics, being witnessed many miracles. It is well-known that the memory day of St. George the Victorious is on May 6, so bringing the relics of this great Martyr on the eve of Victory Day has special significance for Russia.

Within two months, believers will be able to worship the shrine in Moscow, St. Petersburg and 12 other cities in Russia. The first place of worship would be Yaroslavl archdiocese where it will be from April 24 to May 5, 2015. The relic will return to Moscow on May 6, on the feast day of the saint, and will be in the church of St. George the Victorious on Poklonnaya Gora until May 11. Then it will proceed to Stavropol, Elista, Volgograd, Belgorod, Krasnodar, Moscow region, St. Petersburg, Smolensk, Tula, Ekaterinburg.

In Russia, the shrine accompanied by a delegation of monks from the Xenophon monastery headed by Archimandrite Alexis, abbot of the Xenophon monastery. The event was organized by the Foundation of St. Vladimir, with the support of ACADEMSERVICE, which provides transport logistics and accommodation for participants of the delegation.

Schedule of St. George’s right hand stay in Russia