The saint’s right hand was taken from Almaty to the St. George Church. Believers from Baikonur and nearby communities came to venerate the relic.
A festive liturgy was held at the church on Wednesday, led by Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan. Before the service, bishops and clergy performed a brief prayer service in honour of St. Spyridon, according to the Russian Orthodox Church’s Kazakhstan Metropolitan District.
The saint’s right hand was brought from the Greek island of Corfu first to Russia and then to Kazakhstan. The relic is in the country from Sept. 21 to Oct. 10 with the blessing of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus.
After Baikonur, the relic is scheduled to travel to Pavlodar on Oct. 8 and 9, then to Shymkent on Oct. 9 and 10. The Kazakhstan Metropolitan District had previously announced the itinerary.