Festivities in the Kaliningrad Diocese on the occasion of the bringing of a particle of the relics of Admiral Feodor Ushakov to the main military base of the Baltic fleet

FESTIVITIES IN THE KALININGRAD DIOCESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE BRINGING OF A PARTICLE OF THE RELICS OF ADMIRAL FEODOR USHAKOV TO THE MAIN MILITARY BASE OF THE BALTIC FLEET

On November 24-25, 2001, the Kaliningrad region celebrated the bringing of a particle of the relics of Feodor Ushakov, a great Russian naval commander who has been recently canonized by the Church. Admiral Ushakov began his career at the Baltic fleet and was a founder of the Black Sea fleet of Russia and his first commander. He won all battles and did not lose any single ship either in sea battles or on long cruises. After the retirement he spent the rest of his life in good works and prayers.

The shrine with the relics of the saint was transported to Kaliningrad from the Monastery of the Nativity in Mordovia by rail and then brought to the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, where the Moleben to St.Feodor and the Vigil Service were celebrated.

On November 25, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad celebrated the festive Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour together with Archbishop Feofan of Berlin and Germany, Archbishop Varsonofy of Saransk and Mordovia, Bishop Simeon of Vladimir Volynsky and Kovel, Bishop Serafim of Baltiisk and many clergymen. After the Liturgy the venerable relics of the saint were brought to Baltiisk, the main military base of the Baltic fleet.

The Moleben was celebrated in the chapel of the Holy and Right-Believing Prince Dmitry Donskoy. Then the Admirals of the Russian Fleet under the sounds of military march brought the shrine with the relics to the flagship boat of the Baltic Fleet commander. The venerable relics of the heavenly patron of military sailors were brought along the harbour thus blessing the ships at the Baltiisk roadstead. Addressing the participants of the celebrations, Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad said that the holy and venerable sailor Feodor Ushakov gave us an example of how the human spirit imbued with faith performs miracles. Anyone who knows about the life and fate of soldiers in the Army and sailors in the Fleet, understands that soldiering with no defeats is truly the miracle of God.

When the flagship boat with the holy relics on board returned to the wharf, the solemn formation of the staff and the military parade were held. In the afternoon the procession with the shrine with a particle of the relics of the venerable soldier Feodor went from the Baltiisk wharf to the Marine Cathedral of St.George the Victorious, where the shrine will be kept.

It is planned that in future the particles of the relics of St.Feodor Ushakov, the first military sailor canonized by the Church, will be brought also to the churches of the Black Sea, Northern and Pacific fleets of Russia.