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Saint Joasaph of Belgorod: from canonization to discovery. Part 1. First steps to glorification (1791–1819)translated

September 5, 2026 · 1 min read

With the blessing of Metropolitan John of Belgorod and Stary Oskol This year the Belgorod Metropolis celebrates two significant dates: the 115th anniversary of the glorification of St. Joasaph of Belgorod as a saint and the 35th anniversary of the second discovery of his holy relics. Saint Joasaph, who died in 1754 and had already acquired the gift of miracles during his lifetime, was canonized after a century and a half of popular veneration. The celebrations of 1911 became one of the greatest church events of pre-revolutionary Russia. During the years of atheistic persecution, the relics of the saint were desecrated, taken to Moscow and lost. However, in 1991, at the beginning of the revival of the Church, they were miraculously found in the attic of the Kazan Cathedral in Leningrad and triumphantly returned to Belgorod. These two dates - 1911 and 1991 - are separated by the tragic age of Russian history, but they are connected by a continuous thread of people's memory and faith in the heavenly patron of the Belgorod land, whose incorruptible relics now reside in the Transfiguration Cathedral.

Together with you we will learn all the details of those events thanks to which Holy Belogorye acquired the relics of its Heavenly patron. Towards the end of the 18th century, a pilgrimage to Belgorod to the tomb of St. Joasaph...

Source: Site: Белгородская епархия · Read the full story →

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Ирина Соловьёва

It is interesting that by the end of the 18th century, pilgrims reached out to his coffin, although there was no official canonization yet. It turns out that popular veneration went on as usual for a century and a half. I'm looking forward to the continuation, especially about how in 1991 the relics were found in an attic in St. Petersburg.

Людмила Комарова

Yes, Irina, that’s right - popular veneration began almost immediately after his death, people went to the coffin and received help, although the Synod delayed the decision until 1911. I especially remember how in 1991 the relics were found in that same box in the attic of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg, as if they had been specially preserved for us. Have you been to the relics in Belgorod?

Александр Богданов

Yes, by the end of the 18th century, pilgrims were already going to Belgorod, although the Synod only decided in 1911. I also have a question about 1991: how exactly did the box with the relics end up in the attic of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg? Was it hidden there on purpose in the 20s? I'm waiting for the second part.

Γιάννης Νικολαΐδης

I agree with what you all said about the pilgrims starting early in the late 1700s, even without the Synod's approval back then. It shows how real the people's faith was from the start after his death in 1754. The part about finding the relics in a box on the attic of the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg in 1991 still puzzles me too – was it hidden there deliberately in the 1920s during the troubles? Looking forward to part two for the full story.

Gabriela Stan

Yes, this happens here in Constanța too, people come to the relics and ask for help years before the Church officially recognizes them. I am glad that the article mentions the pilgrims who started coming to the tomb of Saint Joseph since the end of the 18th century. I'm waiting for the second part, especially how the relics ended up in the attic of the cathedral in Leningrad.