On 2 June, the day of the Leave-taking of the Ascension of the Lord, the rector of Saint Alexius Cathedral, Priest Igor Babakov, celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the Uncovering of the Relics of St. Alexius, Metropolitan of Kiev, Moscow and All Russia, the Wonderworker.
The All-Night Vigil was served in the church on the eve.

St. Alexius, Metropolitan of Moscow and Wonderworker of All Russia (Eleutherius in the world), was born in 1292 (according to other sources, in 1304) in Moscow, into the family of the boyar Theodore Byakont, who came from the Principality of Chernigov.
In 1320 he entered the Moscow Theophany Monastery, where he spent more than twenty years in strict monastic struggle. His guides and friends were remarkable ascetics of that monastery: the Elder Gerontius and Stephen, the brother of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh. Then Metropolitan Theognostus ordered the future saint to leave the monastery and take charge of the judicial affairs of the Church. The saint held this office for 12 years with the title of metropolitan's vicar. At the end of 1350 Metropolitan Theognostus consecrated Alexius Bishop of Vladimir, and after the metropolitan's death he became his successor in 1354. Patriarch Callistus granted Alexius the right to be regarded as Archbishop of Kiev and Great Russia, with the title of "most honorable Metropolitan and Exarch".
Despite all the troubles of the time, St. Alexius cared for his flock in every way: he appointed bishops, founded cenobitic monasteries (on the model of the Trinity Monastery founded by Venerable Sergius), and built relations with the khans of the Horde. More than once the saint himself had to travel to the Golden Horde. In 1357 the khan demanded of the Grand Prince that the hierarch come to him and heal his blind wife, Taidula. "The request and the task exceed the measure of my strength," said St. Alexius, "but I trust in Him Who gave sight to the blind; He will not despise the prayer of faith." And indeed, through his prayer, the khan's wife, sprinkled with holy water, was healed.
St. Alexius reached a ripe old age, 78 years, having occupied the metropolitan see for 24 years.
He reposed on 12 February 1378 and, according to his will, was buried in the Chudov Monastery.

Many years later his holy and wonder-working relics were found completely incorrupt. Even the vestments on the reposed hierarch were entirely intact, as if they had been put on the day before. After this event the memory of the great hierarch and intercessor for the Russian land came to be venerated.

The relics of St. Alexius were transferred to the Archangel Cathedral, and in 1947, in connection with the preparations for the 800th anniversary of Moscow, at the request of Patriarch Alexy I, they were transferred to the Theophany Cathedral in Yelokhovo, where they rest to this day.

To this day, as from an inexhaustible spring, many healings flow from them, and through his holy prayers help is given to all who come to them with faith.

At the end of the Liturgy Fr. Igor addressed the worshippers with a heartfelt word. At the close of his sermon the rector warmly congratulated everyone on the feast.

Then the Akathist to St. Alexius was read.