Celebration in honor of the position of the honest robe of our Lord Jesus Christ in Moscow (23/07)

During the reign of the blessed tsar and grand duke, the autocrat of all Russia, Mikhail Feodorovich, Shah Abbas reigned in Persia during the patriarchate of His Holiness Philaret —. Feeding love and affection for the blessed Tsar Michael, Abbas often sent ambassadors with gifts to him. Likewise, the Russian Tsar sent ambassadors with gifts to him. In March 1625, a certain glorious ambassador named Urusambek arrived in Moscow to see the blessed Tsar Michael. This ambassador was sent by the above-mentioned Shah Abbas. Urusambek brought with him a message and many valuable gifts.

In addition, he brought with him a precious gift to His Holiness Patriarch Philaret, namely: the robe of our Lord Jesus Christ, laid in a golden ark decorated with precious stones. In this message, the Persian Shah announced that the robe of Christ was found during the conquest of the Iveron country in the metropolitan sacristy, where it was sealed in one of the crosses. Having taken this robe, the Shah sent it as a gift to His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow.

His Holiness Patriarch Filaret happily accepted the great gift, and then called on the experienced Greek elders who were in Moscow at that time. His Holiness Patriarch Filaret asked these Greek elders — do they know anything about the robe of the Lord, and what do they say about it in the Greek countries? Each of the elders told what he knew, saying that many miracles were done by this robe of Christ.

His Holiness Patriarch Filaret listened to all the reports about the robe of the Lord, then consulted with the Eminence Russian bishops. On their advice, strict fasting and prayer were declared. Then, having performed an all-night vigil on the Week of the Worship of the Cross, His Holiness the Patriarch ordered the robe of Christ the Savior and our God to be placed on the sick, just as in ancient times the pious Queen Helena placed the cross of Christ on the dead man to certify everyone in his truth.

And just as then the cross of Christ was recognized because of strength, in some ways a dead man rose again, so now in the same way everyone has verified the truth of the robe of the Lord, for from it all the sick on whom it was entrusted received healing and a quick recovery.

The blessed king and His Holiness the patriarch were filled with great joy for such grace, then they ordered to arrange an honorable and especially decorated place in the great cathedral church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the western side, in the right corner, where there was an image of the life-giving tomb of Christ. Here the honest robe of the Lord was laid.

The event of the transfer of the honest robe of the Lord occurred in March, during Lent, but for the sake of Lenten time, the celebration of the transfer of the honest robe of the Lord was postponed to July 23 (new style).

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