The Church believes that by venerating the relics of a saint, we are honoring God Himself, whose power is manifested through these visible remains. The Church holds that the gifts granted to a saint remain present in their relics. These gifts include the ability to heal various ailments and to expel evil spirits.

The veneration of relics is expressed through their reverent preservation in tombs within churches and through acts of devotion and worship. Relics may take the form of an entire body or a part of it. Notably, the tradition of dividing relics into smaller parts and distributing them among different churches emerged around the third or fourth century.

The veneration of relics serves as a practical expression of the Church’s doctrine on the connection between the earthly Church and the heavenly Church. A Christian’s act of touching or kissing relics, or praying near them, is an external manifestation of their inner prayer. By doing so, a person can ask God for everything they need, as saints act as a bridge between humanity and God.

In Ukraine, we are more accustomed to venerating holy icons, which is understandable, as there are relatively few relics. Moreover, during times of persecution against the Church, many relics were hidden in various places, and not all of them have been returned to their churches.

Many people today face hardships, whether due to poor health or a lack of daily necessities. Thus, sincere prayer before the relics of saints can truly bring help and comfort.