St. George's Cathedral in Vladikavkaz has been appointed the custodian of the miraculous relics of St. George the Victorious. The majestic temple with five domes and a hipped bell tower is a pearl and an architectural monument of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania.
A trip to history
The construction of St. George's Cathedral in Vladikavkaz began on October 18, 1996. In 2003, divine services were already held in the temple and religious rites were performed. However, construction work on its territory has not been completed and continues to this day.
The city authorities provided a place for its construction on the territory of a former cemetery in a picturesque corner of the capital of North Ossetia-Alania. Funds for the construction of the temple were raised by the whole world through charitable donations from believers and various organizations.
Architect Yu. A. Naniev chose the Cathedral of Michael the Archangel as a model for the creation of the project, in the early twentieth centurylocated in Vladikavkaz, but destroyed in Soviet times.
The Ossetian people revere the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious as their patron, so the newly built cathedral was consecrated in his name.
The first information about the appearance of Christianity in the territory of North Ossetia dates back to the 1st century from the birth of Christ. Since the 4th century, the Alanian Christian community has already appeared here. There are many testimonies about the preaching and walking of the Apostle Andrew through the lands of Alanya, which is associated with the spread of Christian doctrine here.
How to find the cathedral
St. George's Cathedral is located in Vladikavkaz at the address: Barbashova street, house 38. The temple is located 3 km from the center of Vladikavkaz. The nearest bus stop is about a 10-minute walk through the picturesque surroundings. The temple is open from 8 am to 6 pm.
Activity and history of finding shrines
On the territory of the cathedral there are offices of the Vladikavkaz and Alan diocese. Bishop Leonid manages it. The church has a Sunday school. The clergy conduct religious and educational work for the spiritual development of parishioners. Since September 2010, an Orthodox gymnasium has been operating at the temple.
In October 2010, His Beatitude Pope and Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa donated the relics of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious to the cathedral. The ark with a particle of relics was delivered to North Ossetia-Alania from Cairo. Immediately after arrival, a service was held at the cemetery in Beslan in memory ofvictims of a terrible tragedy in September 2004.
After the miraculous shrine was brought to St. George's Cathedral in Vladikavkaz, thousands of believers defended the solemn service in the temple and on the street, since the temple could not accommodate everyone who wanted to attend this service. People then spent several hours in a long queue to touch the ark. The next morning, the ark was delivered to a helicopter, which circled over the entire republic for several hours to consecrate it with the relics of the heavenly patron.
The relic is kept in the Cathedral of St. George's Cathedral in Vladikavkaz, and all believing Christians come here to bow to the shrine. An icon with a particle of the relics of the holy righteous warrior Fyodor Ushakov was placed in the temple. Spiritual mentors of the cathedral and the diocese take part in all life situations to help those in need. They work with military personnel, prisoners, children from orphanages and shelters, as well as with church parishioners. Shrines are brought here so that thousands of believers can have access to them and ask for help in difficult life situations.
Relics of the Cathedral
On April 15, 2017, the Easter Holy Fire was delivered to St. George's Cathedral in Vladikavkaz from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, where it was received by Bishop Leonid of Vladikavkaz and Alan. Vladyka held a festive Easter Liturgy and congratulated all the inhabitants of North Ossetia-Alania on the bright Resurrection of Christ. He wished people well and peace,prosperity, prosperity and joy.
In November 2014, a reliquary cross with a piece of the Lord's Robe and relics of saints was brought to St. George's Cathedral in Vladikavkaz. These are the relics of John Chrysostom, George the Victorious and the healer Panteleimon. At the same time, the relics of the Matrona of Moscow were delivered to the temple in an ark. These relics were in the cathedral for about a month and were available for worship.
