In Smolensk, 10,000 believers venerated the right hand of Saint Spyridon of Trimythous

A major religious event took place in Smolensk: during the first day of the reliquary containing the right hand of Saint Spyridon of Trimythous’s stay in the city, approximately 10,000 believers came to venerate it. According to the Greek publication * * *Vima Orthodoxias*, the relic was delivered to the Cathedral of the Holy Dormition on September 2, where it was solemnly received by Metropolitan Isidor of Smolensk and Dorogobuzh.

Despite the large influx of pilgrims, city residents and visitors from other regions—including Belarus—patiently waited their turn to venerate the relics. On the evening of September 3, Metropolitan Isidor led a prayer service before the relic in the presence of the clergy, representatives of regional authorities—including Petr Mukhin, Minister of Internal Affairs for the Smolensk Region—and a large number of parishioners.

Saint Spyridon, venerated throughout the Orthodox world as a swift helper in everyday needs and illnesses, attracts a huge number of pilgrims during his visits to Russian dioceses. After concluding its stay in Smolensk on September 4, the relic set off for the next city on its itinerary—Irkutsk—where a massive gathering of the faithful is also expected.

As a reminder, Metropolitan Nektarios of Kerkyra, Paxos, and Diapondia recently published an official statement regarding the recent pilgrimage of the right hand of Saint Spyridon of Trimythous to Russia, emphasizing that the spiritual bonds between Orthodox peoples cannot be severed as a result of current geopolitical events. The Metropolitan noted that the transfer of the holy relic was carried out with the full canonical blessing of the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church.