Vologda, Vologda Province, Russia, June 27, 2023
Photo: vologda-mitropolia.ru
On Sunday, June 25, on the feast of the Synaxis of All Saints of Vologda, the relics of Righteous Alexander Badanin (†1913) were solemnly transferred from the St. Sophia Cathedral in Vologda back to their historical resting place in the St. Lazarus Church in the local cemetery.
The celebration began with the Divine Liturgy in the cathedral, celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Vadim of Yaroslavl and Rostov and several other hierarchs, including His Eminence Metropolitan Mitrofan of Murmansk, a descendant of the Righteous Alexander, and His Eminence Archbishop Maximilian of Pesochensk, under whom St. Alexander was locally glorified in 2000, reports the Vologda Metropolis.
Special prayers for peace and for Holy Rus’ were read during the service.
Photo: vologda-mitropolia.ru
In his homily for the Synaxis of Vologda Saints, Hieromonk Ferapont of the Savior-Prilutsk Monastery noted that the majority of the Vologda saints were spiritual children of the great St. Sergius of Radonezh.
At the end of the service, the relics of St. Alexander were carried out of the cathedral under the ringing of the bells to be delivered to the Church of St. Lazarus the Four-Days-Dead in the Gorbachev Cemetery.
The relics of St. Alexander were uncovered on June 10, 2022, and their authenticity was confirmed by a team of experts. They were placed for public veneration on March 5 of this year.
The procession moved along almost the same route along which the coffin of St. Alexander was carried in 1913 on the day of his funeral and burial.
Photo: vologda-mitropolia.ru
At the entrance to the Gorbachev Cemetery, the local hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Savva of Vologda noted the importance of the event for the Russian North:
The transfer of the relics of the righteous Alexander to the St. Lazarus Church is an important step in preserving and transmitting the spiritual values of our fatherland, the experience of the holiness of our ancestors. Today we have gathered unanimously to honor the memory of this righteous and pious man, and to receive inspiration and strength for our faith through his holy relics. May St. Alexander Badanin become an assistant and patron for the entire Russian North, filling our hearts with peace, love and grace.
In the St. Lazarus Church, the relics were placed in a new oak reliquary, specially made for the occasion.
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Photo: vologda-mitropolia.ru
St. Alexander was born in Nikolsk, Vologda Province, in 1846, to very pious parents. His father was a deacon at the Sretensky Cathedral in Nikolsk.
He graduated from the Vologda Theological Seminary in 1868, then taught in various theological schools and seminaries.
In 1883, St. Alexander was ordained to the priesthood and appointed a cleric of the Vologda Cathedral. In 1891, he was transferred to the Ascension Church, where the parish had to be rebuilt almost from scratch. He was known to give away even the meager salary he received.
Eventually, the parish bloomed. St. Alexander served daily and the church was always full.
He usually preached when people were venerating the cross at the end of the service, and it’s said that those who were venerating would hear exactly what they needed at that moment. For his humility and piety, the Lord gave St. Alexander the gift of seeing the thoughts and intentions of the people who came to him with faith.
St. John of Kronstadt would often visit his homeland of Vologda, and when the people asked him to teach them how to live, he would tell them to turn to St. Alexander, a great man of prayer.
St. Alexander was always a sickly man, and he eventually had to retire from celebrating the services, though he continued to serve the people.
Like the Optina Elders Ambrose, Joseph, and others, St. Alexander’s illness confined him to his chair, but he continued to serve the Church with prayer, healing the spiritual ailments of those who came to see him.
On one wall of his room hung a large image of St. Seraphim of Sarov, whom St. Alexander dearly loved. He would bless everyone who entered his room, but would not let them kiss his hand, telling them to kiss the hand of St. Seraphim instead.
St. Alexander peacefully reposed in 1913.
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