The representative of the noble family John Kulchitsky was born, presumably, in 1680 in Chernigov. Since childhood, he dreamed of devoting himself to Christian service. He graduated from the Kiev Theological Academy. At the end he took tonsure with the name Innocent in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. He served where he was sent: in St. Petersburg, in Moscow. And in 1721 Innocent was consecrated bishop and sent as head of the Orthodox mission to Beijing. The bishop traveled to the border with China for a year and waited 3 more years for permission to travel there. But I didn’t. During this time, the Irkutsk and Chita diocese was organized and Innocent appointed its head. The land in those days was wild, without roads and large settlements. Saint Innocent did a great job in spreading the Gospel and baptizing the local people. He opened 2 schools at the Ascension Monastery: Russian and Mongolian. He spent much time on trips, reaching the most remote corners of the diocese, where he converted many to Christ with fiery sermons.
Heavy trials affected the saint’s health and in 1731 he died. Miracles began to occur at the tomb. Then it was reported that in other settlements of Eastern Siberia many healings and miraculous deeds were performed by prayer to the saint.
In 1764 in the Tikhvin church began repairs. During the transfer of the body of the saint, it was found that the decay did not touch either the body or the clothes of the deceased. In 1783 there was a fire in the Znamensky Monastery. Almost all the stone buildings were burned, and the wooden Tikhvin Church survived. It lasted 20 years after the fire.
After this miraculous event, the flow of pilgrims to the tomb of the saint increased significantly.
The monastery collected all written testimonies from priests and private individuals about miraculous phenomena through the prayer of Innocent.
In 1800, Bishop Benjamin of Irkutsk gave written testimony about miracles to the Holy Synod. The Synod sent a representative to examine the relics. It was confirmed that they remained incorruptible. After 2 years, the Synod sent a request to Bishop Benjamin to report on the state of the body. In response, the bishop assured that he had not touched the body.
On December 1, 1804, the Synod recognized the body of Innocent as holy relics. On February 22, 1805, the relics of the saint with the procession of the cross were transferred to the Ascension Cathedral.
Alas, the Red Terror did not tolerate such reverence. In 1921, the cancer with relics was opened, allegedly for medical examination, and then taken to an unknown destination.
For a long time the relics were considered lost. 70 years later, documents were discovered in the Irkutsk archives about the transfer of the relics to the Yaroslavl Museum of Anti-Religious Propaganda. In September 1990 they were returned to Irkutsk. A procession with bells was held in the Znamensky Cathedral. The shrine with the relics was placed in the main chapel.
Celebration
February 22
Charity FondHoly Land
Investment in the Soul!
