The Pitcher Containing the Blood and Dirt of Saint Demetrios

One of the most important treasures of the Orthodox Church is kept in the Church of Saint Demetrios in Thessaloniki. It is an ancient pitcher made of ceramic which is claimed to contain the actual blood of Saint Demetrios that was mixed with the dirt from the ground on which his martyric blood was spilled. The blood and soil within the pitcher are dried up, but when mixed with water it is commonly referred to as holy myrrh, since the Saint is known as the Myrrhgusher.

The priest of the church, Archimandrite Damaskenos Petikas, says that the church acquired this important relic on October 23, 1985, and recounts that the pitcher was in the hands of the Savva family, a family of Thessaloniki that goes back centuries, who lived since the Byzantine era in a house below the Church of Saint Demetrios, near the current Church of Saint Nicholas. The house was completely destroyed by the great fire of August 1917 and then all the written evidence regarding the history of the family and the acquisition of the pitcher was also destroyed.

The Relics of Saint Methodia of Kimolos

Saint Methodia of Kimolos, after living as a recluse for several years, reposed in the Lord at the age of 47 on October 5, 1908. The day after her repose, it was noticed that her limbs were still flexible. She was then initially buried in the Church of Saint Spyridon on the island of Kimolos.

On August 15th 1946 she was locally recognized as the "patron and guardian of the island and its great benefactor."

By 1962 her monastic cell had fallen into ruin. For this reason a small church was built over the ruins dedicated to the Panagia Eleousa and Venerable Methodia. Her relics were then transferred from the Church of Saint Spyridon to a crypt in the new church.

Remembering When the Head of Saint Symeon the Barefoot Was Stolen During the Greek Civil War and How It Was Miraculously Found

By Fr. Elias Makos

Saint Symeon, who was also the abbot of the Philotheou Monastery on Mount Athos, is an ascetic figure of Orthodoxy, whose soul escaped from the finite world, was connected with God and remains immortal.

On August 22nd, the Orthodox Church celebrates the memory of the finding of his head, which was stolen during the Civil War from the Monastery of Flamouriou in Pelion, of which the Saint was its founder, and then it was miraculously found.

As the crisis in our world grows, such events, not too long ago, show that faith saves and inspires.

The Relics of Saint Olympia the Deaconess

 

By St. Justin Popovich

 

After Saint John Chrysostom was exiled from Constantinople and traveled to Cyzicus, Saint Olympia was also sentenced to be exiled and shelter in Nicomedia. Upon learning of this, Saint John Chrysostom wrote her a letter from his imprisonment, consoling her in her troubles. Having spent a considerable amount of time in captivity and having suffered many torments, the blessed one reposed in the Lord on July 25th 408.

After her repose, while her honorable body was not yet buried, the Saint appeared in a dream to the Bishop of Nicomedia and said: "Put my body in a wooden box and cast it into the sea, so wherever the waves throw it onto the shore, there may it be buried."

Synaxarion of the Finding of the Honorable Head of our Venerable Mother Matrona of Chios

 By St. Nikephoros of Chios

Synaxarion

On the 15th of this month [July], we commemorate the finding of the honorable Head of our Venerable Mother Matrona of Chios.

Verses

You departed the world completely unworldly,
The virgin approaching Christ as a bride.
On the fifteenth the head of Matrona was taken from the earth.

A sufficient amount of years passed after the death and burial of the Saint, and her miracles, as a bottomless well, were increasing for those who came with faith to her temple (those bound came from everywhere and received their desired health). The people of Chios, whose children are tenderly loved by the Saint, wanted to restore her sacred temple, and they made it spacious, so that the crowds can go through the entrance. In an attempt to move her grave, they found inside her holy Head, as an inviolate treasure, a wealth that cannot be taken away, and they breathed in a wondrous fragrance, which everyone could smell. At the time it was found, many miracles occurred - a paralytic stood up, and a stammering woman rose from her bed glorifying God with clear words, on her own behalf and on behalf of the paralytic that was healed. These and other things always take place until today by the Saint, which is why the commemoration of the finding was established to be celebrated today, for our benefit, and the honor and glory of the Saint, and those who have been healed by God glorify him.

The Relics of Saint David the Dendrite of Thessaloniki

During the period of the Latin rule of the house of Montferrat in Thessaloniki (1204-1222), the sacred relic of Saint David the Dendrite was transferred to Italy and in 1236 it was in Pavia, from where it was transferred to Milan in 1967. By the actions of the late Metropolitan of Thessaloniki Panteleimon II, it was returned to Thessaloniki and was placed in the Basilica of Saint Demetrios on September 16, 1978, while today it is kept in the Monastery of Saint Theodora in the center of Thessaloniki. His memory is celebrated on June 26.

 

The Skull of a 15 Year Old Neomartyr, Saint Niketas of Nisyros

The memory of the Holy New Martyr Niketas of Nisyros (+ 1732) is celebrated by the Church June 21st.

He was beheaded by the Turks at the age of 15 for becoming a Christian after being raised a Muslim.

Today his sacred skull is kept in Iveron Monastery at Mount Athos.

Venerable Stephen the Chorebite, Whose Incorrupt Relics Rest in the Ossuary of Saint Katherine's Monastery of Mount Sinai

The Ossuary of the Monastery of Saint Katherine, at the foot of Mount Sinai, occupies the ground floor beneath the Chapel of Saint Tryphon. When bones have been disinterred from the cemetery, they are placed in the Ossuary in an orderly manner. Memorial services are regularly held in the ossuary, commemorating those who have gone before to their rest. It is edifying to recall that our life here has its appointed end. It is also important to remember that these are the bones of those who have fallen asleep, and who lie here awaiting the Resurrection and the Second Coming of Christ.

Translation of the Sacred Relics of our Venerable Father George Karslides

 On the 9th of this month [February], we commemorate the translation of the relics of Venerable George Karslides.

Verses

The fragrance of your relics George,
Proves that grace dwells within you.

Below is the testimony of a nun who witnessed the translation of the relics of Saint George take place on February 9, 2006:

"It was nine o'clock in the morning. We had been standing on our feet since nightime. As much as they could they alternated between diggers. We were chanting, said the prayer, the Salutations to the Panagia, in the icy landscape that reminded us of Russia where he came from. There was silence, in order to hear the shovels and the pickaxes and the murmuring of the prayer and the supplications to the Lady Theotokos and the name. The weather was hazy, cloudy, frosty, and the whole surrounding atmosphere had the semblance of the resurrection. Within the ice one could smell the spring, our thoughts had been purified, our inner man had become unburdened, the passions had become hidden.

The Skull of Saint Makarios Kalogeras of Patmos

The sacred skull of Saint Makarios Kalogeras rests in the Patmiada Ecclesiastical School, which he founded, on the island of Patmos.

 

The Patmiada School is located near the Cave of the Apocalypse in Patmos. The foundation of the Patmiada School, also referred to as the Great General School of the Nation, was the most important event of 18th century Greece. The school was founded by Makarios Kalogeras in 1713, though the initial efforts were made by Metropolitan Gregory.

The Sacred Skull of Saint Stylianos

Saint Stylianos was from Paphlagonia and lived in strict asceticism for the love of Christ in the latter 6th century and early 7th century. When he reposed in the Lord, his face shone like the sun and an angel appeared to take his soul to heavenly glory. His prayers have worked many miracles, both during his earthly life and since. He is of special help to children who are ill, orphans and to childless couples.

The Reconciliation of Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Epiphanios of Salamis

 

Archbishop Theophilos of Alexandria was the enemy of Archbishop John Chrysostom of Constantinople. Bishop Epiphanios of Salamis, an enemy of Origenism, was told by Archbishop Theophilos that Archbishop John was harboring Origenist fugitives. Epiphanios traveled to Constantinople and conspired to discredit John and cast doubts on his leadership, while John did his best to accommodate his elderly colleague from Cyprus, not knowing he had been duped by Theophilos. Their differences, however, were irreconcilable. In the end, each bishop wished a dubious fate for the other, both of which came true: Epiphanios died on his journey home, and John was deposed twice and died in exile.

Translation of the Relics of the Holy New Martyr George of Ioannina

 

The Holy New Martyr George of Ioannina was hanged to death on January 17, 1838. One hundred and thirty-three years later, on October 26, 1971 his sacred relics were translated to the newly-built Church of the Holy New Martyr George of Ioannina in the city square.

"A deep emotion continues in my heart and fills my soul with awe and sacred fear, because the Most High has reserved for me this great honor, that I should at least search for him and that His unworthy servant should deposit the Sacred Relics from the grave to his household position."

"You have supported me, my children in the Lord, my dear ones, and you have strengthened me in the great dare, which I attempt, of the exhumation of our Patron Saint, through your fervent prayers."

The Hand That Held The Prayer Rope Was Undamaged

 

Recently Fr. Eusebius, who lived in a cell by himself at New Skete of Mount Athos, reposed in the Lord. He had not been seen for 3 or 4 days, so other monks from neighboring cells went to check up on him, and having entered his cell when he didn't answer, they found his dead body.

What astonished them and struck them with amazement, was that although the entire body including his whole left hand was blackened due to sepsis, the right hand that held his prayer rope was completely undamaged. The fathers saw this as a confirmation of the power of the Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me."

 

The Return of the Skull of the Apostle Andrew to Patras as a Fruit of the Dialogue With the Roman Catholic Church

In the book by the theologian Aristides Panotis Peacemakers: Paul VI - Athenagoras I (Athens 1971) we read the following very interesting things about the return of the Honorable Head of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called from Rome to Patras on September 26, 1964:

"The story of the return of the head of Saint Andrew began in February 1963 at a meeting of Orthodox and Catholics in Athens. The relevant suggestions are made in Rome, with positive results. The Metropolitan of Patras, Konstantinos, is indicated by the writer the path he must follow. The text is written and sent. The answer is most desirable. In the middle of May, John Willebrans comes to Patras, for secret consultations with Metropolitan Konstantinos, who writes a personal letter to Pope Paul VI. Pope Paul VI responds in the affirmative to the request. But he wants the head to be returned "with a new reliquary worthy of its contents", which he would pay for himself, because the original reliquary, with which Thomas Palaiologos handed it over to Pope Pius II in 1462, had been replaced with a newer one, and the traces of the old one were lost in a Sacristy. Reliquary designs are requested from Athens, of the Orthodox type, but at the same time research is being done to discover the original reliquary. It is discovered. It was in the museum of the homeland of Pope Pius II. It is golden and its scientific examination by eminent archaeologists and Byzantine scholars proves that it is a rare work of art of the pre-iconoclast period (7th century) and thus has great artistic value. After this responsible opinion, the Pope decides to make a double gift to the Metropolis of Patras, the head and the ancient reliquary. They repair it and add only a base of precious stones, "blue" (lapis lazuli) with the inscription "in the spirit of concord and as a sign of great love". In this unique reliquary, with a relevant ceremony, in the presence of the Orthodox Observers, the Pope encloses the sacred relic and seals it and in this manner it is handed over to the Metropolitan of Patras Konstantinos, on 26 September 1964."

 

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

 

Photo of the Relics of Saint Kosmas the Aitolos from the Archdiocese of Tirana

The relics of St. Kosmas the Aitolos rest in a simple wooden coffin in the Archdiocese of Tirana for security reasons. The skull was stolen by Austrian-Hungarians in 1917 and is likely located in a museum in Vienna. Other portions of his relics are in Orthodox shrines throughout the world.

 

The Tomb and Relics of St. Kosmas the Aitolos 

 

 

Elder Ephraim of Arizona and the Holy Skull of Saint Joseph the Hesychast

By Elder Ephraim of Philotheou and Arizona

When we did the exhumation of the Elder, three years after his repose, we removed him with an amber color - this is a sign of holiness. All his holy relics were like amber.

At the exhumation, all the brothers who were there said, "I will take this," "I will take the other" and I said to myself: "I will not speak at all, whatever they give me."

Father Athanasios took his hand, saying:

"This little hand saved me, with the batteries I was eating!"

And while everyone was taking a piece of his holy relic for a blessing, I was sitting aside. Then Elder Arsenios turns and says:

"Give the head to Papa-Ephraim."

The Tomb and Relics of Saint Cyril the Apostle to the Slavs

A chapel on the right side of the nave of the Basilica of San Clemente in Rome is dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodios. In this chapel rests the only surviving relics of Saint Cyril. The original tomb of the Saint is also in the basilica, with offerings there dedicated by all the Slavic nations, as well as other nations of the world.

At the request of the King of Moravia, the Roman Emperor Michael III in 863 sent the two brothers Cyril and Methodios from Thessaloniki to teach and preach Orthodox Christianity.

The Holy Stone - A Fragment of the Stone on Which the Angel Announced the Resurrection to the Myrrhbearers

"And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it." (Matt. 28:2)

In the Rotunda of the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem is the Aedicule or Kouvouklion. The Aedicule or Kouvouklion has two rooms – one holds the Holy Stone (Hagios Lithos), called the Chapel of the Angel, the other is the Holy Tomb of Jesus itself, or the Holy Sepulchre. In the Chapel of the Angel is a fragment of the Holy Stone which sealed the entrance into the Tomb of Christ and on which the Angel sat as he announced the good news of the Resurrection of Christ to the Myrrhbearers. 

 

Relics of the Cross of the Good Thief

The Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome claims to have a portion of the cross on which the Good Thief was crucified next to Jesus; it is located in its La Cappella delle Reliquie. 

 

This cross was found by Saint Helen in the fourth century when she discovered the True Cross of the Lord. According to tradition, Saint Helen herself brought this relic to Rome which she kept in her palace.