The relics of St. Nicholas were taken out of Russia in the Italian city of Bari
MOSCOW, 28 Aug — RIA Novosti. The special flight with the relics of St. Nicholas landed at the airport of the Italian city of Bari, he was met by the authorities and the clergy of the city, and an honor guard, told RIA Novosti member of the Russian delegation that brought the relic of Saint Petersburg.
The relics of St. Nicholas for the first time in 930 years, was taken from the city of Bari to Russia. In Moscow the relic arrived on may 21, where he was in the temple of Christ the Savior. After 52 days — July 13 — the relics moved to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg.
During the finding of the relics in Russia, they bowed to nearly 2.5 million pilgrims.
The relics were accompanied by, including, the Chairman of the Commission to the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia on the issues of bringing of the relics, Archbishop Sergius of Solnechnogorsk, head of the Pontifical Council for promoting Christian unity cardinal Kurt Koch, philanthropist Andrey Guriev family.
The ark with the relics will proceed in a solemn motorcade through the city in a special vehicle, made like the famous “popemobile”. In the papal Basilica of Saint Nicholas is committed solemn Liturgy, after which the representatives of the Russian Church will give power back to the Catholic side.
Saint Nicholas is one of the most revered saints in all of Christendom. Every year thousands of Orthodox believers arrive in 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 Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia Kirill expressed his hope that the prayer of the miraculous relics of St. Nicholas will serve to strengthen faith in the hearts of the people.