Various Events Accompany Transfer Of Charnetsky Relics
http://www.risu.org.ua/article.php?sid=371&l=en LVIV, UKRAINE, Jul 10, 02 (RISU.org.ua) � A number of events will be held in conjunction with the transfer of the earthly remains of Blessed Nicholas Charnetsky, a bishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, from Lychakivskyi Cemetery to the Church of St. Josaphat, both in Lviv. In addition to a solemn procession through the streets of Lviv, there will be various prayer services, and vigils day and night near the relics conducted by the faithful of various eparchies. The final event will be the sealing of the relics into an altar and the placement of a cross on the site where the future Church of Blessed Nicholas, Bishop and Martyr, will be built. The events began on 4 July 2002 and will continue until 11 July 2002.
Among the 27 Greek Catholics who were beatified by Pope John Paul II in June 2001 in Lviv, Blessed Nicholas holds a special place. Long before his official glorification, the Ukrainian people gave him special reverence, on an intuitive level. Because of the numerous incidents of miraculous healing of the sick attributed to his intercession, he is sometimes called �the Ukrainian Nicholas the Wonderworker,� referring to a title of St. Nicholas of Myra (�Santa Claus�).
There will be constant prayer in the church where Blessed Nicholas�s remains are kept. The services to be held include the akathist for the healing of the sick. Some of the relics will be placed in the statue of St. Josaphat and will there be available for the veneration of the faithful.
In this way, the church will be better aware of all incidents of healing and other miracles connected with the prayers of Blessed Nicholas. This will help in the process of the canonization of Nicholas Charnetskyi, that is, his official glorification as a �saint� of the Catholic Church.
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In my opinion it is too bad that the relics
are being enshrined in the altar of the church. This is the ancient practice of early Christianity and maintained in the West. Howevever, in the East the tradition arose of placing whole relics in the nave so that people could venerate them. However, this is a minor detail.
Great news!
Daniil