St. Petersburg, September 13, 2024
patriarchia.ru
On August 30, 1724, according to the order of Emperor Peter I, the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky, previously treasured in the city of Vladimir, were installed in the St. Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg.
The Russian Orthodox Church began celebrating the 300th anniversary of this transfer late last year, and yesterday, the festivities reached their culmination on the feast of the Translation of the Relics of St. Alexander itself.
The main celebration was led by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia in the Holy Annunciation Church of the Holy Trinity-St. Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg, reports the Russian Orthodox Church.
St. Alexander’s relics were previously kept in the Lavra’s Holy Trinity Cathedral, but were transferred to the upper church of the Annunciation Church, consecrated in honor of St. Alexander, on the feast day last year.
The Patriarch was joined by four brother bishops, including His Eminence Metropolitan Timothy of Bostra of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church, and a host of priests and deacons.
At the end of the Liturgy, the local hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Barsanuphius of St. Petersburg presented the Patriarch with an icon of the Blessed Prince St. Alexander Nevsky and a set of two episcopal Panagias and a Cross.
And as a gift to the Lavra, Pat. Kirill presented an ancient altar Gospel and a reliquary with a particle of the Precious and Lifegiving Cross of the Lord.
Then the Patriarch led a procession with St. Alexander’s relics from the Annunciation Church to Alexander Nevsky Square just outside the monastery. Orthodox faithful arrived on the square from several other processions as well.
On the square, the relics were placed on a special platform with a canopy, where Pat. Kirill served a moleben with a prayer to St. Alexander. 14 bishops participated in the prayer service altogether.
After the service, the relics were transferred back to the Annunciation Church in the Lavra.
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St. Alexander Nevsky (Alexei in monasticism) died on his way back from the Horde in Gorodets on November 14, 1263, and was buried on November 23/December 6 in the Nativity Monastery in Vladimir. His veneration began immediately after his burial, as it was marked by a miracle: The saint extended his hand for the prayer of absolution. The incorrupt relics were discovered before the Battle of Kulikovo, in 1380, and then a local celebration was established. The grand prince was glorified for general Church veneration during the reign of Metropolitan Makary, at the Moscow Council in 1547. On August 30, 1721, Emperor Peter I concluded the Treaty of Nystad after the war with the Swedes. This day was decided to be consecrated by transferring the relics of the saint to the new capital—St. Petersburg. Taken from Vladimir on August 11, 1723, the relics arrived in Shlisselburg on September 20, and on August 30, 1724, they were placed in the Alexander Nevsky Monastery.
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