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Orthodox Christians from Ingushetia go on pilgrimage to Cross of St. Andrew the First Called

The delivery of the great Christian relic to Russia from Greece is timed to coincide with the 1025th anniversary of adoption of Christianity in Russia

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

NAZRAN, July 21 (Itar-Tass) - Forty-five Orthodox Christians from Ingushetia on Sunday set off on a bus trip to Moscow to see the Cross of St. Andrew the First Called.

"The god believers learnt that the priceless relic had been delivered to Russia from Greece. They said they would like to go and see the Cross and bow to it in respect,” Kazbek Sultygov, Ingushetia’s acting minister for PR and inter-ethnic relations, told Itar-Tass.

Ingushetia’s President Yunus-Bek Yevkurov ordered to organize a trip for the Orthodox believers.

"I am happy to see my long-standing dream come true. I will see the relic and bow to it,” said Zinaida Zvyagintseva, 79, from Ordzhonikidzovskaya settlement. The old lady had taken her grandson and his young wife with her.

"There are not only old people in our group. Young people for whom faith, spirituality and family values have become norm of law are travelling with us,” Zvyagintseva told Itar-Tass.

The delivery of the great Christian relic to Russia from Greece is timed to coincide with the 1025th anniversary of adoption of Christianity in Russia. The Cross of St Andrew the First Called arrived in Russia on July 11. According to the Fund of St. Andrew the First Called, more than 300,000 pilgrims have bowed to it in St. Petersburg and Moscow.

The Cross was delivered to the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior on July 19.

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