The cross of St. Andrew the Apostle has arrived in Russia's second largest city, St. Petersburg, after being transported from Greece.
The city governor Georgy Poltavchenko and other officials met the Russian-Greek delegation that brought the cross from Athens on July 11.
The cross will be displayed at the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg, in Moscow, in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and the Belarusian capital, Minsk, as part of celebrations marking 1,025 years of Christianity in what was known as Kyivan Rus.
It is believed that St. Andrew brought Christian teaching to the place where Kyiv -- once the capital of Kyivan Rus -- was later built.
Russian historians consider Kyivan Rus to be part of Belarusians, Russians and Ukrainians' cultural heritage.
The cross is insured for 10 million euros and will be transported back to Greece on August 2.
The city governor Georgy Poltavchenko and other officials met the Russian-Greek delegation that brought the cross from Athens on July 11.
The cross will be displayed at the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg, in Moscow, in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and the Belarusian capital, Minsk, as part of celebrations marking 1,025 years of Christianity in what was known as Kyivan Rus.
It is believed that St. Andrew brought Christian teaching to the place where Kyiv -- once the capital of Kyivan Rus -- was later built.
Russian historians consider Kyivan Rus to be part of Belarusians, Russians and Ukrainians' cultural heritage.
The cross is insured for 10 million euros and will be transported back to Greece on August 2.