On the first day, Nicholas the Ugodnik in XXS bowed from 20 to 25 thousand pilgrims, defending in line for 2-4 hours

On the first day after the opening of the access of believers to the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker, brought to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior from Italy, from 20 to 25 thousand believers were able to apply to the shrine. At the same time, the pilgrims spent in line from two to four hours.

TASS, citing a source in law enforcement agencies, reports that as of 21:30 on May 22, 25 thousand people came to the temple. The calculation was carried out along the framework of metal detectors through which the passage is carried out.

At the same time, Interfax, citing the head of the Department of National Policy and Interregional Relations of Moscow, Vitaly Suchkov and counted the same framework for nearly 20 thousand believers. “Yesterday (according to data), 18,600 people managed to apply for 21 hours. The calculations are conducted through the framework through which the pilgrims pass, so this is the only objective figure,” said Suchkov. According to him, pilgrims spend in line from two to four hours.

- The relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker without any queues can be worshiped in several metropolitan churches - Patriarch Kirill, in gratitude for bringing the relics of Nikolai Wonderworker, handed Papa Francis the old image of the saint

According to the head of the Patriarchal press service, Priest Alexander Volkov, Orthodox volunteers and clergymen are on duty in the queue, prayers are constantly performed in the temple, "the mood in the queue is very positive." The priest noted that people come from all over the country, and thanked the Moscow government for their help in organizing the event.

Meanwhile, according to TASS on the evening of May 22, after the closure of the temple, people did not disperse, many were going to spend all night waiting for access to the temple.

On average, to bow to the shrine, people who have already entered the temple went away about five minutes. The ark with the relics of the saint is guarded by more than 1000 military personnel and employees of the Russian Guard.

On the eve of May 22, it was reported that the line to the temple was stretched by 1.5 km . From May 23 to July 12, access will be available daily from 08:00 to 21:00. Then the ark with the shrine will be transported to St. Petersburg, where it will be located from July 13 to July 28.