Section 06: The Journey of the Relics

The odyssey of the relics of Sts. Elizabeth and Barbara from a mine shaft in the Urals to a golden-domed church above the Garden of Gethsemane, and their veneration since. This section follows the coffins out of Russia with the White retreat, through China to Jerusalem in 1920–1921, and on through the 1981 glorification and the great tour of 2004–2005, when millions venerated portions of the relics across the lands of the former Soviet Union.

Contents

File Topic
To Jerusalem Fr. Seraphim Kuznetsov’s custody of the coffins; the passage across Siberia (Chita, Harbin) in 1919–20; the Beijing interlude in the St. Seraphim crypt; Princess Victoria’s arrangement of the transfer; the voyage by Suez; the January 1921 interment at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, fulfilling Elizabeth’s 1888 wish; Barbara laid beside her
Gethsemane Shrine The 1981 ROCOR glorification and the examination of the relics; the reports of partial incorruption; the 1982 translation from crypt to church proper; the portions distributed; the 2004–05 tour through Russia; the Marfo-Mariinskaya obitel’s portion; the Gethsemane convent today

How to Use

  • Read To Jerusalem for the providential arc of the relics’ journey — the wish spoken at Gethsemane in 1888 fulfilled there in 1921.
  • Read Gethsemane Shrine for the life of the shrine since: glorification, translation, distribution of portions, and the convent that keeps the saints in the Holy Land.

Cross-References