The right hand of St. John the Baptist is brought to Moscow

On May 7, the eve of the celebration of the anniversary of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy’s enthronement, the right hand of St. John the Baptist, the prophet, forerunner and baptizer of the Lord, was brought to Russia from Montenegro. This event providentially coincided with the commemoration day of the third finding of the head of St. John the Baptist.

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia celebrated the Vigil service in the Church of Christ the Saviour together with the assembly of archpastors on May 7.

At the Polieleos, His Holiness led the solemn meeting of the holy relics of St. John the Baptist brought from the Cetine monastery in Montenegro with the assistance of the Holy and All-Laudable Apostle Andrew the First-Called Foundation. Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and Primorje (Serbian Orthodox Church), Metropolitan Vladimir of Tashkent and Central Asia, Archbishop Michael of Geneva (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia) who accompanied the relic handed it over it to the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church at the entrance to the church. It was ceremonially brought inside and put on the lectern.

His Holiness Patriarch Alexy addressed those gathered in the Church of Christ the Saviour and said:

‘Today we have an opportunity to pray before this holy relic and get a blessing from the right hand of the one who saw the Lord and Saviour coming to the River Jordan and exclaimed: ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ (Jn 1:29). The forerunner of the Lord put his right hand on the head of the Saviour of the world, when the Lord sanctified the waters through His baptism and established the sacrament of Baptism. Let us venerate this right hand and ask the great prophet and forerunner, who preached repentance, to teach us repentance without hypocrisy and life in Christ.

This holy relic was brought here through the great mercy of the Lord. From it, the grace of God is pouring on us in abundance, strengthening us and giving us the power to be courageous followers of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let us glorify St. John the Baptist and ‘with one mouth and one heart’ ask him for spiritual strengthening and help in our life.’

The right hand of St. John the Baptist will stay in Moscow till June 16 and then be brought to several cities of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.