Visit of the Holy Cross.

 Icon depicting The Cross of Kiy, a replica of the True Cross with holy relics commissioned by Nikon, Orthodox patriarch of Moscow, in 1656. On the left are the images of Saint Emperor Constantine the Great, Tsar Alexey Mikhaylovich and Patriarch Nikon. To the right: Saint Empress Helena and Tsarina Maria Ilyinichna.

         In 326AD St Empress Helen, (mother of St Constantine the Great) discovered the Cross on which Christ had been crucified. It was found with other artifacts  such as the  nails and the board which bore the inscription ordered by Pilate.  It was further verified by the miracles that accompanied it, namely the raising of a dead man and the healing of a woman in its shadow.

The Relic is in the Golden box on the stand on the right of the candles in the photo.

We  were blessed recently with a tour of the Relic of the Holy Cross throughout England.  It was  an honour to have the opportunity venerate such a relic. Although the church was standing room only at times I was told that had this been Russia the queue would have been several hours long!


There are links here to much better photographs of the Tour and the Relic itself.
Photos by James Hyndman on Flickr of the visit of the Holy Cross to Oxford


Visit of the Relic of the Holy Cross to London Russian Orthodox Church Abroad’s Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God and the Royal Martyrs.

Also a  Sermon preached by Fr Stephen Platt before the Relic of the True Cross