Holy Relics

Soul and matter are created by God, and God by His incarnation bestowed further Divine glory in Christ so that we too may become like God. The holiness of the saints, both their souls and bodies, derives from their virtuous lives which were lived in harmony and synergy with this Divine Grace. Through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit lives are transformed; the very bones of saints themselves are containers of grace and filled with glorification bringing healing, miracles and the odour of sanctity and myron to the faithful who venerate them as a sign of their faith in the Incarnation and Resurrection of Christ. Saint Ephraim the Syrian relates the following concerning holy relics: "Even after death they act as if alive, healing the sick, expelling demons, and by the power of the Lord rejecting every evil influence of the demons. This is because the miraculous grace of the Holy Spirit is always present in the holy relics." The Word becoming flesh lies at the very heart of our pious veneration of holy relics without which in the Antimensia no Holy Liturgy can be served.

St. Nicholas Planas of Athens (1851-1932)

St. Nikolaos Planas fell asleep in the Lord on the 2nd March. We are blessed at Holy Cross in having some fragments of the bones of St. (Papa) Nikolaos Planas of Athens. These are contained in a larger and smaller reliquary, set in wax and were given to us from a lady in Athens who had association with a Monastery with which the Saint had association. The smaller of the two relics often emits a beautiful fragrance.

Apolytikion

In the First tone:
Having escaped from the traps of the deceiver, most holy (one), thou didst go through life unerringly, O our father, blessed Nicholas Planas, having received celestial gifts, with vigils and fasts you serve thy Lord in holiness. Thou who supplicates extensively, Naxian priest, intercede so that the divine mercy is also bestowed upon us.

Photo of St. Nicholas Planas

Ἀπολυτίκιον

Ἦχος α’, τῆς ἐρήμου πολίτης:
Τᾶς τοῦ πλάνου παγίδας ἐκφυγῶν, ἱερώτατε, ἀπλανῶς ἐπορεύθης διὰ βίου, πατὴρ ἠμῶν, Νικόλαε ἀοίδιμε Πλανᾶ, οὐράνια χαρίσματα λαβῶν, ἀγρυπνίαις καὶ νηστείαις, ἱερουργῶν ὁσίως τῷ Κυρίῳ σου. Ὅνπερ καθικετεύων ἐκτενῶς, Νάξιον ἱεράτευμα, πρέσβευε δωρηθῆναι καὶ ἠμὶν τὸ θεῖον ἔλεος.

St. Joachim of Vatopaedi and Ithaca (1786-1868)

St. Papoulakis fell asleep in the Lord in the 2nd of March. We are double blessed in possessing a relic of St. Joachim of Vatopaedi and Ithaca. The relic was given to us by Pater Theodosios Dendrinos of Ithaca as a holy gift to our Holy Synodia of the Holy and Life Giving Cross for translating the book of the life of St. Joachim into English.

Apolytikion

In the Third tone:
Shining with divine grace, you illumined those caught in the darkness of ignorance and apostasy by your teachings and radiant wonders, Joachim, most-divine ascetic, all-precious offspring of Ithaki, entreat Christ to grant us great mercy.

Icon of St. Joachim of Ithaca and Vatopaedi. The Saint is also known by the affectionate term "Papoulakis".

Ἀπολυτίκιον 

Ἦχος γ´, Θείας πίστεως:
Θεία χάριτι λελαμπρυσμένος κατεφώτισας τοὺς ἐν σκοτείᾳ ἀγνωσίας καὶ δουλώσεως πέλοντας ταῖς διδαχῶν καὶ θαυμάτων ἀκτῖσί σου, Ἰωακείμ, ἀσκητὰ ἐνθεώτατε· γόνε πάντιμε Ἰθάκης, Χριστὸν ἱκέτευε δωρήσασθαι ἡμῖν τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

​179 Venerable Martyrs of Pantocrator Monastery, Attica, Greece

Apolytikion

In the Fourth tone:
As spotless lambs of the Savior, dashing out of various nations, the flock gathers together at Pantokratoros. Having been put to death by the rage of the barbarians, rejoicing you enter into heavenly pastures. Therefore holy martyrs of Christ, interceed on behalf of our souls. (source)

Icon and relics of the 179 Venerable Martyrs of Pantocrator Monastery, Attica, Greece

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Ἀπολυτίκιον 

Ήχος δ΄. 
Ως του Κυρίου αγιόλεκτοι άρνες, εξορμημένοι εκ χωρών διαφόρων, τη ποίμνη συνεδράμετε του Παντοκράτορος, όθεν θανατούμενοι απηνεία βαρβάρων, χαίροντες εξήλθετε εις ουράνιον μάνδραν, καθάπερ όσιοι και μάρτυρες Χριστού εκδυσωπούντες υπέρ των ψυχών υμών.

​​St Jacob of Hamatoura

Apolytikion

In the Third tone:
As a cedar of Lebanon groweth without fear of martyrdom and death, thou didst become a victor, O Father Jacob. Thou didst conquer death in thy body when by humility thou didst control the passions and when thou wast burnt like incense as a  sacrifice. Intercede with Christ to grant us great mercy.​

Icon and Holy Relics of St Jacob of Hamatoura

​The Icon of St Jacob of Hamatoura and his holy relics were sent to us by Hegoumenos (i.e. Abbot) Archimandrite Panteleimon from the Monastery of the Mother of God at Hamatoura, Lebanon. St Jacob's feast day is the 13th of October. 

​Other Relics

The Parish also has secondary relics with stones from the Isle of Iona where St. Columba launched his mission, from the cell of St. Herbert on St. Herbert’s Island and from the grave of Elder Arsenios from Prislop Monastery in Romania.

We are also blessed to have two threads of the cassock of St John Maximovitch of Shanghai and San Francisco.

Reliquaries donated by the families Michelis and Anastasios Papadopoulos.