Gifts of the Magi, Christian relics associated with the life of Jesus Christ, were delivered to Moscow for the first time on Christmas Eve from a monastery on Mount Athos.
© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Astapkovich / Go to the mediabankGifts of the Magi, Christian relics associated with the life of Jesus Christ, were delivered to Moscow for the first time on Christmas Eve from a monastery on Mount Athos.
Gifts of the Magi, Christian relics associated with the life of Jesus Christ, were delivered to Moscow for the first time on Christmas Eve from a monastery on Mount Athos.
© RIA Novosti . Maxim Blinov / Go to the mediabankThousands of believers come to venerate the relic. People have to wait in line for about eight hours to get into the cathedral.
Thousands of believers come to venerate the relic. People have to wait in line for about eight hours to get into the cathedral.
© RIA Novosti . Maxim Blinov / Go to the mediabankBelievers at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior by the shrine with the Gifts of the Magi, relics brought to Moscow for the first time from the Agiou Pavlou monastery on Mount Athos.
Believers at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior by the shrine with the Gifts of the Magi, relics brought to Moscow for the first time from the Agiou Pavlou monastery on Mount Athos.
© RIA Novosti . Sergey Pyatakov / Go to the mediabankIt is the first time that the Gifts of the Magi have left Greece.
It is the first time that the Gifts of the Magi have left Greece.
© RIA Novosti . Maxim Blinov / Go to the mediabankThey were delivered to Russia by 83-year-old Archimandrite Parfeny (Mourelatos), who led the delegation from Mount Athos monastery and carried the relic off the plane.
They were delivered to Russia by 83-year-old Archimandrite Parfeny (Mourelatos), who led the delegation from Mount Athos monastery and carried the relic off the plane.
© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Astapkovich / Go to the mediabankThe Gifts of the Magi were delivered to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow for the Christmas service, which started at 11pm on January 6, where they were greeted by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
The Gifts of the Magi were delivered to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow for the Christmas service, which started at 11pm on January 6, where they were greeted by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia.
© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Astapkovich / Go to the mediabankThe Gifts of the Magi are among the few preserved relics associated with Christ’s life on Earth.
The Gifts of the Magi are among the few preserved relics associated with Christ’s life on Earth.
© RIA Novosti . Maxim Blinov / Go to the mediabankOn Christmas Eve, Orthodox Christians remember the evangelical story of the adoration of baby Jesus by the three kings of the Orient.
On Christmas Eve, Orthodox Christians remember the evangelical story of the adoration of baby Jesus by the three kings of the Orient.
© RIA Novosti . Maxim Blinov / Go to the mediabankAccording to the Bible, the wise men lay before the baby Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh: gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense as a symbol of deity, and myrrh as a symbol of human death.
According to the Bible, the wise men lay before the baby Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh: gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense as a symbol of deity, and myrrh as a symbol of human death.