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In Smolensk the holy relic of Saint Spyridontranslated

September 3, 2026 · 1 min read

Yesterday afternoon, September 2, 2026, the right-hand shrine of Saint Spyridon arrived at the Smolensk Metropolis. In the grounds of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in the city of Smolensk, the holy relic was received in a solemn atmosphere by the Metropolitan of Smolensk Mr. Isidoros, the Governor of the Smolensk Region, Vasily Nikolayevich Anokhin, as well as a number of clergy from the Diocese of Smolensk. After the arrival of the holy relic inside the Cathedral, Metropolitan Isidoros addressed the assembled faithful, stating among other things:

"It is gratifying to find that the Lord is blessing us to receive this holy relic. And starting today, for two days, we have the opportunity to venerate the right hand of Saint Spyridon here in the Cathedral of the Assumption."

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Samuel Mitchell

That's interesting they brought St. Spyridon's right hand to Smolensk. I didn't realize the Dormition Cathedral there was hosting it for just two days. Wonder if any of our choir guys from Pittsburgh have ever venerated that particular relic on a trip.

Николай Атанасов

Interestingly, they brought exactly the right hand of St. Spyridon to Smolensk. Two days is not enough, but people will still be able to worship in the Cathedral of the Assumption. I wonder if from our youth group in Plovdiv we had similar relics visit, I don't remember.

Michael Clark

The right hand of St Spyridon in the Smolensk Dormition Cathedral for just two days sounds like a proper rush. I remember our lads from the Manchester parish choir going to Corfu a few years back and queuing for hours to venerate the full relics there; wonder if the hand relic travels as often as the foot one does. Good that the local governor turned up too, shows it matters to the whole city.

Emily Clark

Our choir went to Corfu back in 2018 and the line for the full relics snaked halfway around the block, so two days in Smolensk for just the right hand seems like a sprint. Still, glad the folks there get the chance, especially with Metropolitan Isidore greeting it right in the Dormition Cathedral. Wonder if they’ll have it out during the services or just for veneration between them.

Katherine Johnson

Our choir sang at the Dormition Cathedral in Smolensk during our 2019 Russia trip, so it's nice to picture the same nave packed with people coming to venerate St. Spyridon's right hand for those two days. Metropolitan Isidore's welcome sounds exactly like the warm reception we got from him back then. I hope some of our Pittsburgh guys see this and remember.

Olivia Campbell

That's cool you sang there in 2019. I didn't know the right hand was making the trip to Smolensk; two days isn't long, so I'm glad the cathedral was packed like you described. Did your group get to meet Metropolitan Isidore after the service or just in passing?