A small part of the relics of Holy Martyr Vjacheslav given to the Representation of the Church of the Czech Lands

A SMALL PART OF THE RELICS OF HOLY MARTYR VJACHESLAV GIVEN TO THE REPRESENTATION OF THE CHURCH OF THE CZECH LANDS

On October 11, 2001, the Commemoration Day of the Holy Prince Vjaceslav of Czechia, Archbishop Christopher of Prague and the Czech Lands celebrated the divine liturgy at the church of St. Nicholas-in-Kotelniki, the representation of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia. He was assisted by Bishop Athanasios of Kyreneia, representative of the Patriarch of Alexandria at the Moscow Patriarchate, Bishop Alexy of Orekhovo-Zyevo, vicar of the Moscow diocese, as well as Protopresbyter Michael Dandar, rector of St. Nicholas’, and Moscow clergy.

After the service, Archbishop Christopher presented the church with a small part of the relics of Holy Martyr Vjaceslav, which he brought from Prague with the blessing of His Beatitude Nikolaj, Metropolitan of the Czech Lands of Slovakia. On the instruction of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia, the shrine with the relics was accepted by Bishop Alexy. On behalf of the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church and the pious flock in Moscow, His Grace Alexy expressed cordial gratitude for the precious gift which will henceforth stay in Moscow presenting a vivid testimony to the brotherly spiritual links existing between the two Churches.

Among those who took part in the service were Archpriest Nikolay Balashov, DECR acting secretary for inter-Orthodox relations and ROC institutions abroad, and Protodeacon Vladimir Nazarkin, assistant to the DECR Chairman for protocol.