The cross of the Apostle Andrei the First -Called, who will be brought to Russia for worship, insured for 10 million euros

The cross of the Apostle Andrei the First -Called, brought for worshiping to Russia, is insured for 10 million euros.

As the director of the Branch of the Fund Andrei First-Called in Greece, Sergei Golovin, said on Wednesday in an exclusive interview with ITAR-TASS, "in fact the relic is priceless, but it had to be insured.

When asked when the idea arose to Russia to bring to Russia, constantly stored in the Cathedral of the Apostle Andrei the First -Called in Patra, the representative of the fund replied that this idea was carried for more than two years.

The director said that today a delegation is arriving in the head of the trusteeship of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation Andrey Pick-Zannaya Vladimir Yakunin, who will accompany the relic on July 11 in St. Petersburg.

Golovin noted that according to the approved plans, the shrine should return to patra on August 2. “But two years ago, we brought to Russia from the Holy Mount Athos in Greece the belt of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was worshiped by 3 million pilgrims,” the director said. “And then we constantly did not have enough time, so the life of the belt in Russia was extended twice.”

"We have an obligation to return the shrine to the Church of Andrei the First -Called in Patra on August 2, the representative of the fund emphasized, explaining that, nevertheless, if there is a need to extend the deadline for the relic," then we will pray and ask the blessings of both the Archbishop of the Afinsky and the Patriarch of Moscow to change the deadlines. "" This is possible, but still the process has not begun, this issue has not begun, this issue of this issue. Not worth it, ”Golovin added.

The Cross of the Apostle Andrei the First-Called is a rather massive structure of 2 m high and about 1.2 m wide. According to legend, the cross on which the Apostle Andrei took a martyrdom was a X-shaped form, which is also commonly called Kosim or Andreevsky. In the Greek city of Patra, where a crucifix was committed around the year 70, a majestic cathedral was erected in honor of Andrei the First-Called, which is the largest in Greece. Apostle Andrei the First-Called is the heavenly patron saint of Rus', St. Petersburg and Patr.

According to preliminary information of the Andrei Fund, the shrine will stay in the Kazan Cathedral of St. Petersburg from July 11 to 15. Then the shrine will be delivered to the Moscow region, where she can bow to her from July 16 to 26. Having left Russia, the cross will stay in Kyiv for three days, where festive services will be held in honor of the Day of Baptism of Rus' with the participation of the Primate of the Local Orthodox Churches. From July 29 to August 2, it will be possible to bow to the shrine in Minsk.