On August 25, 2026, the TASS news agency in St. Petersburg hosted a press conference dedicated to the upcoming bringing to the Northern capital of the relics of St. Spyridon of Trimifunt from the island of Corfu.
Russian Russian People's Council Deputy Chairman Sergei Rudov noted that the VRNS has been involved in the bringing of relics of saints and especially revered icons for the fifth year, cooperating with the Russian Orthodox Church's Commission for the Development of Pilgrimage and the Bringing of Shrines, dealing with transportation, accommodation and security issues.
Sergei Rudov said that from August 20 to September 20, the right hand is brought to 13 cities in Russia.: Cheboksary, Kazan, Diveevo, Nizhny Novgorod, Saint Petersburg, Pskov, Smolensk, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk, Chelyabinsk, Yekaterinburg, Vladimir, Moscow.
Archpriest Alexander Pashkov, Chairman of the Kazan Cathedral Parish Council, spoke about the time of access to the shrine for believers in St. Petersburg. The solemn meeting will take place on August 27 at 21.30. It will be possible to venerate the ark until 23.00. From August 28 to 30, access will be open from 6.30 to 23.00, and on August 31 from 6.30 to 14.00. At 15.00, the shrine will depart for Pskov. During all the days of the shrine's stay in the cathedral, the clergy of the St. Petersburg Metropolitanate will perform prayer services with the akathist to St. Spyridon of Trimifunt.
"In this difficult time, the Lord sends us His saint, so that he may once again pass through the Russian land with his relics, as he did in 2018, so that everyone who touches them with faith will not be left without his heavenly intercession. The Lord says: "According to your faith, let it be done to you" (Matthew 9:29). Many turn to St. Spyridon, and miracles are performed through their prayers. We will approach the holy relics with faith, a pure heart, love, sincerity, pain and feelings, joys and sorrows, and through them to St. Spyridon, who stands before God, and offer our prayers," said the priest.
Passage to the shrine will be organized from Kazanskaya Street. The volunteers will distribute the flows of people and answer questions. For believers with children, people with disabilities and the elderly, passage to the relics will be carried out out of turn. You can submit notes that representatives of the delegation that brought her here will take to the island of Corfu.
The participants of the press conference said that the main petitions should be offered in advance, in a queue, since St. Spyridon is present not only in the relics: he is always there, in the Face of God. You can venerate the relics and remain empty inside. Or you can make a small but lively movement of the heart, sincerely appeal, and the saint will bring the prayer to the Lord. After all, miracles are not performed by the saint himself, but by God, to whom the saints boldly stand, interceding for people.
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Saint Spyridon of Trimifunt was born at the end of the 3rd century in Cyprus. He was a shepherd, had a wife and children. He gave all his means to the needs of his neighbors and strangers. The Lord rewarded him with the gift of miracle-working and healing the terminally ill. After his wife's death, Spyridon was elected bishop of Trimifunt. He did not change his lifestyle, combining simple peasant labor with pastoral ministry and works of charity. The saint took care of his flock with love and became famous for many miracles that are performed through his prayers to this day. According to some sources, he was a participant in the First Ecumenical Council.