News-Release
#11.
Relics of St. Innocent of Irkutsk
Find a Home at St. Innocent Church
A significant aspect of the commemoration of the 200th
anniversary of the Glorification of St. Innocent of Irkutsk on the patronal
feast day (26 November 2005) of the patron saint of St. Innocent of Irkutsk
Orthodox Church in Redford, Michigan, was the opportunity to venerate a particle
of the saint's relics and to serve the Akathist to the saint in front of his
relics. His Eminence Vladyka Vadim, Archbishop of Irkutsk and Angara, gave this
particle of the saint's relics to St. Innocent Church on the feast of the
Elevation of the Holy Cross, 1999, at the Znamensky Bishop's Cathedral in
Irkutsk. The small Patriarchal Parish of St. Innocent in Metro-Detroit is
extremely blessed that relics of its patron saint have found a home there. They
are in the star-burst reliquary attached to the icon of St. Innocent in the
above photo, painted by master-iconographer, V. Rev. Archpriest Fr. Theodore
Jurewicz of Erie, PA. The Pastor of St. Innocent Church is V. Rev. Archpriest
Roman Star, Assistant Dean of the Central States Deanery.
The Znamensky Women's Monastery in Irkutsk, near Lake
Baikal in eastern Siberia, where St. Innocent's relics are located, is shown in
the above photo. The relics of the "Holy Man of Siberia" were originally located
in the Ascension Men's Monastery. But in 1921 the saint's relics were
confiscated by the communists, and the Ascension Monastery was destroyed.
Therefore, when the saint's relics were miraculously discovered in Yaroslavl and
returned to Irkutsk in 1990, they were placed in the Bishop's Cathedral located
in this monastery, as the most suitable new location for the holy relics of the
first missionary bishop to eastern Siberia. The diocesan offices of His
Eminence, Vladyka Vadim, are also located here.
[PHOTO TO BE ADDED SOON]
The beautiful full-sized reliquary containing the relics
of St. Innocent of Irkutsk, with a large icon above it (above photo), are
located in the main cathedral of the Znamensky Women's Monastery in Irkutsk,
Siberia. The saint's relics were placed there after their miraculous and blessed
return to Irkutsk on the September 2nd, 1990. There is also a full-sized icon on
the inside of the cover of the reliquary. The reliquary is situated at the front
right side of the cathedral, in front of the solea.
[PHOTO TO BE ADDED SOON]
St. Innocent's incorrupt relics (above photo) are vested
in bishop's vestments, with a veil over his face, and red velvet mittens and
booties on his hands and feet. He holds a cross in his hands. Usually his sacred
relics are covered with a glass and metal cover, which has been raised for this
photo.
It was a great blessing for everyone present at the
celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Glorification of St. Innocent in
Redford, Michigan, to have the opportunity to venerate a particle of the saint's
relics, as though they were themselves standing in front of St. Innocent's
incorrupt relics, and leaning over into the saint's reliquary to kiss his hands
and feet.
