The icon and relics of Saint Hierarch Nicholas will be taken to the Metropolitan Cathedral in Chisinau on December 2. These will be met in the square of the Cathedral at 7am, IPN reports.

Contacted by IPN, Bishop Ioan Mosnegutu of Soroca, metropolitan vicar, said Saint Hierarch Nicholas is one of the most known and honored saints of all times. “Many of those who are married have him as the patron saint of the family,” he stated.

According to the bishop, the honoring of relics and icons is a widely spread Christian practice. The cult of relics is developed among the faithful. “Saint Nicholas played a very important role in establishing the church and helped a lot of people both financially and spiritually,” stated Ioan Mosnegutu.

The icon and relics of Saint Nicholas, the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, will be brought from Italy’s Bari, where they are kept.

It is not yet known how long the relics will be in Chisinau. The period will depend on the flow of faithful who will come to pray before them.