A spectacular Church celebration just occurred in the city of Chernigov, Ukraine, On September 22. In the Trinity Cathedral, before the holy relics of St. Theodossios of Chernigov, Metropolitan Sergii of Ternopol celebrated the Divine Liturgy with a large group of clergy, in commemoration of 125^th anniversary of the canonization of this Saint. The Liturgy was followed by a procession with the holy relics.

St. Theodosius was the Archbishop of Chernigov in late 17th century, being highly revered by the faithful during his life and after his blessed repose. He was the first Saint to be canonized by the Russian Church during the reign of Emperor St. Nicholas II.

During the Imperial epoch of the Russian history, in the 18^th-19^th centuries, the canonization (more accurately, glorification) of Saints nearly came to a standstill: only five names were added to the roster in two hundred years. Then under the rule of Emperor St. Nicholas II, eight Saints were canonized, including St. Seraphim of Sarov and St. Hermogenes of Moscow.