The Gift of the Magi from Mount Athos will be viewed by thousands of people in St. Petersburg today

Today in Saint Petersburg, there will be the Gift of the Magi (Russian: Дары Волхвов), which according to legend, were presented to baby Jesus. This is one of the most venerated relics in Christianity. 

The relic will be in the Kazan Cathedral of the Mother of God (Russian: храм Казанской иконы Божией Матери) on Moskovsky Prospect, 100, from January 14th to the 17th. On the first day, the church will be open from 16:30 to 22.00. On January 15 and 16, access to the Sacrament of the Magi will take place from 06:00 to 22:00, and on Jan. 17 – from 06:00 to 13:00.

The Gift of the Magi is gold, sacred and placed in a special silver shrine. Earlier relics were never taken out of the monastery on Mount Athos. In Russia, a woman will be able to touch them for the first time.