BARI, ITALY [DOM] – His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Midwest recently completed a pilgrimage to Bari, Italy, to pray before the relics of the holy hierarch, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra and Lycia. The pilgrimage took place September 15 through September 24.
On September 15, His Eminence landed in Rome and spent several days visiting the holy sites of the city. His Eminence venerate the Chief Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul, as well as the Martyr Sabastian, St. Clement, and other saints of the Church.
On the 19th, the Archbishop traveled to the town of Bari, where the relics of St. Nicholas has been since 1084. On Saturday, September 20th the Archbishop served the Divine Liturgy on the tomb of St. Nicholas with local clergy. At the conclusion of the service, the Archbishop offered a few words and then went under the altar where the relics are kept to offer prayers for the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of the Midwest.
Following the service, the Archbishop was taken to visit local towns and venerated the relics of St. Cosmas and St. Damian, and St. Stephen the First Martyr.
On Sunday morning, His Eminence presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Russian Orthodox Church podvorie, St. Nicholas Church, Bari.
In reflecting on his pilgrimage, the Archbishop stated that it was such a blessing and even a dream come true to be able to celebrate the liturgy on the relics of St. Nicholas. He noted that the diocese has a number of communities dedicated to the saint, and so it was meaningful to remember them, and everyone within the diocese.
