The Clergymen and Worshipers of the Synodal Cathedral Welcome the Reliquary of SS Elizaveta and Varvara

On April 12, the reliquary containing the relics of SS Elizaveta and Varvara was brought to the Synodal Cathedral in New York. Ever since the time of the ecclesiastical glorification of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in 1981, the right hand of St Elizaveta was kept in this church, under the administrative authority of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. On this day, the holy relics returned to their home.

To mark this event, after Divine Liturgy on April 17, the Senior Priest of the Synodal Cathedral, Protopriest Andrei Sommer, performed a moleben before the reliquary, which was suffused with prayer while traveling throughout all the corners of our suffering Fatherland over the last year. In his sermon at the end of the service, Fr Andrei remarked that the holy relics had traveled for some seven months. During this time, the reliquary visited over 140 cities in 61 dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, and some ten million people venerated the relics. The stream of pilgrims did not cease day or night, many families with children came. A great multitude of Russians were given consolation while praying before this reliquary, and there were miracles that occurred from the prayers of the Holy Women.

This historic even was the first joint effort of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. The Fund of St Andrew the First-called gave this trip its initiative.

Protopriest Andrei Sommer leads the moleben before the reliquary of the saints.

The reliquary containing the relics of the saints in the middle of the cathedral.