A wonderful event has happened in Orthodox Brooklyn. The holy relics of St. Equal-to-the Apostles Prince Vladimir – the Baptizer of Rus, were brought to the new church of St. John the Forerunner.

On Sunday, November 16, the holy relics of St. Equal-to-the Apostles Prince Vladimir were welcomed in St. John church in very particular, spiritually joyful manner. Afterwards the relics were gifted to the church.

According to God’s will and blessing of Primate of Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Most Blessed Metropolitan Onufriy, this great mission was fulfilled by Metropolitan of Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi and Vyshneve Alexander (Drabynko), who arrived to the United States to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Episcopal Ordination of the First Hierarch of ROCOR, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion.

At 10 AM, the church, where anyone may feel special, quiet waves, was filled with people, and a few minutes later heard a quiet but pleasant whisper: «He is coming». Subdeacon appears in the doorway, carrying a majestic and beautiful icon with the relics of St. Prince Vladimir, and after him His Eminence Metropolitan Alexander with a smile on his face.

The Rector of the church, Archpriest Alexander Belya, in his welcoming address said that anyone’s wish, if it’s pleased to God, and united with faith and prayer, God will fulfill. And Metropolitan Alexander’s visit with such great shrine to our new and majestic church is a bright example of that statement.

His Eminence Metropolitan Alexander led the Divine Liturgy on that day; several clergy celebrated together with him: Rector of the parish and Dean of First New York Deanery Alexander Belya, Archimandrite Alexander (Belya), the Dean of Seventh Deanery of Florida, parochial Deacon Petr Utkin and Deacon Dionysius Lvov, the clergyman of Synodal Cathedral.

After the Liturgy, according to blessing of Most Blessed Metropolitan Onufriy, Metropolitan Alexander awarded Rector of the church, Archpriest Alexander Belya, with the order of St. Great Martyr George the Victorious. The churchwarden of parish, Ivan Belya, received the same order. The benefiters of church – Mikhail and Ruslana Kadar were awarded with the order of Our Lady of Pochayiv.

SUMMARY. In 2013 Russian Orthodox Church solemnly celebrated the 1025th Anniversary of the Baptism of Rus. On the occasion of this celebration, with the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Volodymyr (†2014), and with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, was timed religious procession with the relics of St Prince Vladimir in many regions of Russia, including Siberia and the Far East, as well as Belarus and Ukraine. During that gracious, spiritually joyful visit were noted a lot of different miracles of healing. According to Metropolitan of Krasnoyarsk and Achinsk Panteleimon, the relics of St. Prince Vladimir has a special power to heal cancer, eye diseases, back pain and joint pain, oncologic diseases, to give strength for childbearing to women and men, return of hearing, and most importantly, help to find peace of mind.