From July 11 till August 2 2013, the holy relic traveled to St. Petersburg, Odintsovo, Dmitrovo, Moscow, Kiev and Minsk. In 23 days more than a million people paid homage to St. Andrew’s Cross.
Depending on the time of day, the duration of waiting in line varied from 30 minutes to 6 hours in different cities. If necessary, the temples were opened round the clock to make it possible for all those who wished to worship the holy object.
Upon the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, St. Andrew the First-Called Foundation was among the organizers who brought St. Andrew’s Cross to the Russian Orthodox Church and was responsible for safety of the holy object throughout its journey. People coming to the temple received paper icons of St. Andrew.
Bringing the Cross of the Holy Apostle to St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kiev and Minsk is intended to emphasize that the spiritual life of the peoples of the three states originates from a single source – the blessing given by the Andrew the Apostle and to the Baptism in the Kiev font in 988.
