On August 17-24, 2026, at the invitation of His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, and with the blessing of the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Nectarius of Kerkyra, Paxia, and Diapontia visited Russia on a pilgrimage. One of the main events of the visit was the bringing to Russia of the right hand of St. Spyridon of Trimifunt.
The Greek delegation included clerics and staff of the Kerkyra Archdiocese, including the rector of St. Spyridon's Cathedral in Kerkyra and Protopresbyter George Vlachos, keeper of his relics. The guests were accompanied by representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church's Commission for the Development of Pilgrimage and the Bringing of Shrines and the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations.
At Sheremetyevo Airport, the delegation was met by Metropolitan Gregory of Voskresensk, the Moscow Patriarchate's business manager. The guests' place of stay in the capital was the Pokrovsky Stavropol Convent, where they were greeted by the abbess of the monastery, Abbess Theophania (Miskina), and the sisters of the monastery.
On August 18, Metropolitan Nektary met with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the DECR, at the Department for External Church Relations. The sides discussed fraternal ties between the Russian and Greek Orthodox Churches, as well as the spiritual significance of bringing a revered Christian shrine to Russia.
On August 19, the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Metropolitan Nektary and the clergy accompanying him concelebrated with His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Upon completion of the service, Metropolitan Nektarios was awarded the Order of St. Seraphim of Sarov, II degree, for his contribution to strengthening friendly relations between the Russian and Greek Orthodox Churches.
In turn, the Greek hierarch presented the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church with the highest award of the Kerkyra Metropolia — the Order of the Golden Cross with the Star of St. Spyridon. In the evening of the same day, the delegation visited the Zachatievsky Stavropol Convent in Moscow.
On August 20, Metropolitan Nektary and his entourage arrived in the Chuvash Republic. At Cheboksary airport, the right hand of St. Spyridon was met by Metropolitan Savvati of Cheboksary and Chuvashia, bishops and clergy of the Chuvash metropolis, and representatives of the republican authorities.
The solemn meeting of the ark with the shrine took place in Cheboksary's Vvedensky Cathedral. A prayer service was performed before the right hand of Saint Spyridon. On the same day, the guests visited the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Convent and the Holy Trinity Monastery.
On August 21, Metropolitan Nektary and Metropolitan Savvati celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Vvedensky Cathedral. In memory of the joint prayer and the offering of the shrine, the Greek hierarch was awarded the medal of the Chuvash Metropolia of the three Hierarchs Gurius, Herman and Varsonofy of Kazan, I degree.
The departure of the shrine began with a procession from the Vvedensky Cathedral along the "Road to the Temple" to the Cheboksary River Port. A prayer service was held at the pier to St. Spyridon of Trimifunt, the Wonderworker, after which the delegation headed for Kazan.
Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan met the ark with the right hand of St. Spyridon and the guests accompanying the shrine in the capital of Tatarstan. The shrine was taken to the Cathedral of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God of the Kazan Bogoroditsky Monastery, where a solemn prayer service was held.
On August 22, the President of the Republic, Rustam Minnikhanov, received Metropolitan Nektariy at the Government House of the Republic of Tatarstan. He thanked the Greek hierarch for the opportunity to worship at the great shrine provided to the Orthodox believers of Tatarstan. On the same day, representatives of the Kerkyra and Kazan metropolitanates met at the Kazan Diocesan Administration. Special attention was paid to the development of church life, the revival of Orthodox shrines, social service and interreligious cooperation.
On August 23, the 12th Week after Pentecost, the Cathedral Episcopal Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Kazan Cathedral. The divine service was led by Metropolitan Nectarius of Kerkyra and Metropolitan Kirill of Kazan and Tatarstan, co-served by bishops and clergy.
Upon completion of the Liturgy, Metropolitan Nektary was awarded the medal of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, first class. At the end of their stay in Russia, the Greek delegation visited the ancient temples of Kazan, after which they left for their homeland.
The right hand of St. Spyridon of Trimifunt will be in Russia until September 20, 2026, so that believers from different regions of the country can worship the shrine.