Gifts of the Magi will arrive in Moscow on Christmas Eve

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

For the Orthodox, Christmas Eve has come - the eve of the Nativity of Christ. In the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and in all Orthodox churches in the country, services are held on the eve of the great holiday. And by evening, believers will be pleased with one of the few holy relics associated with the earthly life of Jesus Christ - the Gifts of the Magi are being brought to Russia.

As specified, the Gifts of the Magi will leave the Greek land for the first time, where they have been kept in the Athos monastery of St. Paul since the 15th century. In the ark, which will be brought to Russia, there is a part of the Gifts that have survived to this day - three gold plates with a delicate filigree ornament, to which beads made of a mixture of incense and myrrh are attached on a silver thread, ITAR-TASS writes.

According to legend, shortly before her repose, the Mother of God gave the shrines to two pious women. Subsequently, the Gifts ended up in Byzantium, and after the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453, they came to Athos, where they were taken by the Serbian princess Maria.

“Through prayers to the Lord, people who prayed at the relic often receive healing from infertility, possession by unclean spirits, cancer and other serious illnesses,” said one of those living in the Athos monastery. - An unearthly fragrance often comes from the Gifts. It is especially intensified when the shrine is taken out of the sacristy to the middle of the temple for the worship of believers."

You can worship the relics in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior from January 7 to 13. Access to the shrine will be open from 08:00 to 22:00 hours.

Meanwhile, Patriarch Kirill recalls that on Christmas Eve, or the eve of the Nativity of Christ, "the church remembers all those who preceded the Savior in the flesh - His relatives from Abraham," which "helps us understand that the Savior is part of our history."

On the night of January 6-7, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, according to tradition, will lead the meeting of the Nativity of Christ in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.