Source: Poltava Diocese (UOC)
October 18, 2016
At the invitation of His Eminence Philip, Metropolitan of Poltava and Mirgorod, His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America (ROCOR) arrived to Poltava, bringing to believers a piece of the relics of St. John Maximovitch.
Poltava believers waited for a long time for this momentous occasion, as Vladyka Philip had first requested a piece of the relics of the illustrious St. John Maximovitch for the Poltava land. St. John had finished the Poltava Cadet Corps at the beginning of the previous century. His memory is deeply respected there, with thousands of pilgrims prayerfully turning to him.
October 18, 2016 will go down in the history of Poltava’s Elevation of the Holy Cross Convent as the day when parishioners from Poltava and its surrounding areas first venerated the relics of St. John Maximovitch in the monastery.
His Eminence Metropolitan Philip of Poltava and Mirgorod celebrated the Divine Liturgy with His Eminence Archbishop Peter of Chicago and Mid-America, His Grace Bishop Benjamin of Novosanzharsky, secretary of the Poltava Diocese Archpriest Michael Boloschuk, ecclesiarch of the Makariv cathedral Archpriest Nikolai Dovganich, and clergy of the city of Poltava concelebrating.
At the end of the Liturgy, His Eminence Archbishop Peter gave an icon of St. John Maximovitch with a piece of his holy relics, in prayerful memory. It will be permanently located in one of the Poltava churches and all will be able to address their prayers for prosperity, unity and peace in their families and in the whole nation to him. St. John Maximovitch was a saint who always preserved in his heart love for Poltava, which has united forever various people from various countries.
