On February 23-25, 2024, the II Patriarchal International Festival of Martial Arts and martial Arts "Cup of Equal-to-the-Apostles Nicholas of Japan" will be held in the Mytishchi Arena sports complex near Moscow.
A martial arts tournament dedicated to the enlightener of Japan has been held in the Moscow region since 2011. Over the years, it has been attended by more than 35,000 athletes and 100,000 spectators. Since 2016, athletes with disabilities have been participating in the festival. The Forum has become a significant event in the world of martial arts and since 2022, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, it has the status of a Patriarchal Festival.
In 2024, the festival will bring together more than 4.5 thousand athletes (including those with disabilities) aged ten years and older, from more than 49 regions of Russia and seven countries near and far abroad. Both adult and young athletes will take part in competitions in 16 sports areas. Information support will be provided by leading TV, radio and Internet channels with an audience of 45 million people.
As part of the preparatory measures, an icon with a particle of the relics of Equal-to-the-Apostles Nicholas of Japan was brought to the zone of a special military operation and the diocese of the Moscow Metropolis. A particle of the relics of St. Nicholas was handed over in 2013 for worship in Russia by Metropolitan Daniel (Nusiro Ikio), who also gave his blessing to the festival.
The festival's guests will be the episcopate and clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church, heads of regional and municipal formations of the Russian Federation, athletes, veterans of military operations and participants of the SVO.