Terminology - relics

TRANSLATION – The removal of a Saint’s relics from one place to another; on the anniversary of such transference the saint’s feast is observed; e.g., Translation of the Relics of St. Nicholas on May 9.

Holy Relics that rest in our church

On this page, will list the saints whose Holy Relics rest, or once reasted in our church.

Through the prayers of your Holy Saints, Lord Jesus Christ our God, Have mercy upon us and save us!

About Holy Relics:

The Holy Relics are the miracle-working bones, clothing, or objects, of certain saints. We honor them as objects in which God Himself manifests all the miraculous power of His Grace. As long as the saints were on earth, they had the Grace of the Holy Spirit in abundance and by this Grace they not infrequently worked miracles.

Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev

In our church, rest relics of our father among the saints, the holy New Martyr Metropolitan Vladimir (Bogoyavlensky) of Kiev and Gallich, the first bishop to be tortured and slain by the Communists at the time of the Russian Revolution.

Martyr Metropolitan Vladimir is remembered on the day of his martyrdom, January 25. The Synaxis of Russia’s New Martyrs and Confessors is also observed on the Sunday closest to January 25.

Venerable Alexis the Man of God

In our church, once rested relics of the holy Venerable Alexis. He is commemorated by the Church on March 17.

St Alexis was born at Rome into the family of the pious and poverty-loving Euphemianus and Aglais. The couple was childless for a long time and constantly prayed the Lord to grant them a child. And the Lord consoled the couple with the birth of their son Alexis.

Basil the Blessed

In our church, once rested relics of the holy Basil the Blessed. He is commemorated by the church on August 2.

Saint Basil the Blessed, Wonderworker of Moscow, was born in December 1468 on the portico of the Elokhov church in honor of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos outside Moscow. His parents were commoners and sent their son to be trained as a cobbler.

Venerable Ignatius Bishop of Rostov In our church, rest relics of the holy St Ignatius the Bishop and Wonderworker of Rostov. He is commemorated on by the church on May 28 Saint Ignatius was Bishop of Rostov, and shepherded his flock for twenty-six years. After his death on May 28, 1288, his body was broght… Read More

Venerable Ignatius the Archimandrite of the Kiev Caves

In our church, rest relics of the holy Saint Ignatius, Archimandrite of the Kiev Caves. He is commemorated by the church on December 20.

Saint Ignatius, Archimandrite of the Kiev Caves: In the general service to the Kiev Caves saints, it says of him:

“Ignatius, monastic pastor and healer of the sick, in our infirmities you help us by your reverence, therefore let us offer song of praise unto your memory” ^{(Ode 1 of the Canon)}.

Euphrosyne Abbes of Polotsk

In our church, once rested relics of the holy Venerable Euphrosyne (sometimes spelled Efrasinnia), Abbess of Polotsk. She is remembered by the church on May 23.

Saint Euphrosyne was named Predslava in the world, and was the daughter of Prince George Vseslavich. From her childhood she was noted for her love of prayer and book learning. After turning down a proposal of marriage, Predslava received monastic tonsure with the name Euphrosyne. With the blessing of Bishop Elias of Polotsk, she began to live near the Sophia cathedral, where she occupied herself by the copying of books.

Venerable Isaac the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves.

In our church, once rested relics of the holy Venerable Isaac the Recluse of the Kiev Near Caves.  He is remembered by the church on February 14.

Saint Isaac was the first person in northern lands to live as a fool for Christ. His name in the world was Chern. Before becoming a monk, he was a rich merchant in the city of Toropets in the Pskov lands. Having distributed all his substance to the poor, he went to Kiev and received the monastic tonsure from St Anthony (July 10).

Venerable Theodore the Silent of the Kiev Caves

In our church, once rested relics of the holy Venerable Theodore the Silent of the Caves.  He is remembered by the church on August 28.

Saint Theodore chose the exploit of silence, in order to dwell constantly in remembrance of God, and to safeguard himself from temptation even by a word. He was glorified by the Lord with the gift of wonderworking.

Venerable Hypatius the Healer of the Kiev Caves

In our church, once rested relics of the holy Venerable Hypatius the Healer of the Caves.  He is remembered by the church on March 31. 

Saint Hypatius the Healer of the Caves, attained glory through his severe fasting and prayerful vigilance. By night he stood at prayer, slept very little, and ate only bread and water.

Nestor the Chronicler of the Kiev Caves

In our church, once rested relics of the holy Saint Nestor the Chronicler, of the Kiev Caves. He is commemorated by the church on September 28.

Saint Nestor the Chronicler, of the Kiev Caves, Near Caves was born at Kiev in 1050. He came to St Theodosius (May 3) as a young man, and became a novice. St Nestor took monastic tonsure under the successor to St Theodosius, the igumen Stephen, and under him was ordained a hierodeacon.

Venerable Nicholas Sviatosha, wonderworker of the Kiev Caves

In our church, once rested relics of the holy Venerable Nicholas Sviatosha, wonderworker of the Kiev Caves.  He is remembered by the church on October 14. 

Saint Nicholas Sviatosha, Prince of Chernigov, and Wonderworker of the Kiev Caves, Near Caves, was a great-grandson of Great Prince Yaroslav the Wise and son of Prince David Svyatoslavich of Chernigov (+ 1123). Nicholas was the Prince of Lutsk, and he had a wife and children (his daughter was later married to the Novgorod prince St Vsevolod-Gabriel (February 11).

St Philaret (Drozdov) the Metropolitan of Moscow

In our church, once rested relics of our father among the saints Metropolitan Philaret. He is commemorated by the church on November 19.

Saint Philaret (Drozdov) was born on December 26, 1782 in Kolomna, a suburb of Moscow, and was named Basil in Baptism. His father was a deacon (who later became a priest).

The young Basil studied at the Kolomna seminary, where courses were taught in Latin. He was small in stature, and far from robust, but his talents set him apart from his classmates.

In 1808, while he was a student at the Moscow Theological Academy at Holy Trinity Lavra, Basil received monastic tonsure and was named Philaret after St Philaret the Merciful (December 1). Not long after this, he was ordained a deacon.

Venerable Alypius the Iconographer of the Kiev Near Caves

In our church, once rested relics of Saint Alypius. He is commemorated by the church on August 17.

Saint Alypius, one of the first and finest of Russian iconographers, was a disciple of St Nikon (March 23), and from his youth he lived a life of asceticism at the Kiev Caves monastery. He studied the iconography of the Greek masters, and from the year 1083 beautified the Caves monastery church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.

St. Alexander the Patriarch of Constantinople

In our church, once rested relics of His Holiness Patriarch Alexander (August 30)

Saints Alexander, John and Paul, Patriarchs of Constantinople, lived at different times, but each of them happened to clash with the activities of heretics who sought to distort the teachings of the Church. St Alexander (325-340) was a vicar bishop during the time of St Metrophanes (June 4), the first Patriarch of Constantinople.