The relics of one of the most revered Christian saints St Nicholas the Wonderworker are to be brought from Italy to Russia in late May. It was negotiated by Patriarch Kirill and the Pope during their meeting last February. The upcoming event is literally historical. This is the first time in more than 9 centuries that the relic will leave the basilica in the city of Bari. At first the relics will be in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior to go on to St Petersburg in late July.
Meanwhile Asya Emelianova reports from Italian Bari. Special attitude doesn't consist only in the keys with which father Andrei can open all the doors in this holy crypt. It is also in weekly services in Russian for many Orthodox pilgrims, queuing for 2-3 hours to kiss the relics. The peak of pilgrimage was in 2010s. Up to 10.000 pilgrims came in a day.
And approximate statistics say at that time about 100.000 people annually came to Bari to kiss the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. So, Bari is the third most important place. The relics of the saint, most beloved one by the Orthodox and Catholics, are kept under a heavy marble slab. The table is only opened once a year to take myrrh through a small hole on the major holiday, day of the translation of the relics. In 1087 they were brought into the city on these wooden stretchers. This is the first time that the relics will leave the city.
It was agreed by the Patriarch and the Pope during their personal meeting. We were amazed, it was their first meeting. They had so much to discuss. But they had time for this subject, too. I mean, a possible trip of the relics to Russia. The blessing of the Pope was indispensable as our church is papal. Can you see a stemma here? We're only standing guard over this relic. In fact, Italians stole their main relic from the city of Myra of Lycia, where the saint was the archbishop. The church of Nicholas, which is in modern Turkey still has an empty sarcophagus where the relics were initially kept. Merchants from Bari went to Myra, concerned about the future of Christian shrines.
The Middle East was invaded by the Turks, who ruined and plundered temples. The kidnapping was successful. The sarcophagus was guarded by only four monks. They were tied up, the table was broken and the relics were extracted after a lity. Bari citizens didn't take the ark with them.
The remains of the saint were wrapped in cloaks and brought aboard. It was the Russian Orthodox Church that recognized immediately this holiday and began to celebrate it. It is May, 9, the translation of the Relics. Russian pilgrims setting off on a long trip to Italy need accommodation, a place for prayer. Emperor Nicholas II decided to buy a lot in Bari, build a church, and money for this was raised en masse. But the Tsar never visited this place. The temple designed by Shusev remained unfinished and unpainted. But the drawings by Petrov-Vodkin remain. Any day Bari is expecting a luxurious multi-tier iconostasis. 100 years later it will finally be like it was dreamed of meaning a piece of Russian land within an inch of the shrine. There is a feeling of grace in the church of St Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Sometimes we even, Lord, have mercy on us, do not appreciate this Grace of God of being here, praying here. Very soon the Italians are to do something they have never done. They'll open the table, extract the relics and prepare for the transfer to Russia. Reliquary, a special casket for the relics, is being prepared in Moscow. The whole city will see off the relics before this unique trip. In three weeks sharp, on Sunday, May 21 the casket with the relics of saint Nicholas will be handed over to the Russian Orthodox Church. This invaluable cargo will fly to Russia with guards and prayer to arrive in Moscow by evening service. The entire Orthodox world is looking forward to this miracle.
