Relics, Icons and Crosses are Onboard International Space Station, Cosmonaut Says

Catholic News Agency ^ | 1/20/10

[marshmallow]

Moscow, Russia, Jan 20, 2010 / 12:11 am (CNA).- The Gospels, four icons, crosses and a relic of the True Cross have been taken aboard the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS), a Russian cosmonaut has reported. A photo taken by the station crew shows an icon and a crucifix floating in zero gravity in the ISS.

Writing on his blog at the website of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Cosmonaut Maksim Suraev responded to readers’ questions about religious symbols on the space station.

“We have four holy icons on the Russia segment. We also have the Gospels and a big cross,” he said, according to a blog entry translated by Russia Today in November 2009.

Russia Today reported that the Lord’s Divine Cross was given to A.N. Merminov, the head of Roscosmos, by the late Patriarch of Moscow Aleksy II. The cross was delivered to the station in 2006 by the crew of Soyuz TMA-8.

Suraev added that he has a reliquary cross in his cabin.

“A priest gave it to me at Baikanur before the launch. Father Job told me a piece of the original cross on which Jesus was crucified is contained in mine.”

He added that his cross was blessed in the major monastery of Sergiev Posad.

“It will be with me the whole expedition and will return with me to Earth,” the cosmonaut wrote.

Holy relics and other objects have been on previous spaceflights. U.S. astronaut Ronald Garan brought a relic of St. Therese of Lisieux with him on the space shuttle Discovery in 2008. He plans to bring another relic of the saint with him on a mission to the ISS in 2011.

One of the icons and a cross floating in zero gravity on the ISS. Credit: Roscosmos.

[marshmallow]

I was only a kid at the time but I'll always remember Frank Borman reading from the Book of Genesis on Apollo 10 as it orbited the moon.

God bless the Russians as they return to their Christian roots.

[Joe 6-pack]

Just wait ‘til the ACLU starts arguing for the separation of Church and Space.

[cripplecreek]

God knows how long the communists tried to kill Christianity before giving up and trying to absorb it.

[grobdriver]

Funny (and sad) that fellows from the old Soviet Union should have these items in their cabins while NASA, ever PC, probably prohibits them from our guys.

I don't know that for fact, but wouldn't be surprised... "Government supported space mission - no religious symbols!"

[Ditto]

I was only a kid at the time but I'll always remember Frank Borman reading from the Book of Genesis on Apollo 10 as it orbited the moon.

It was Apollo 8, and I'll aways remember that too.

[buck61]

Well, there goes our space exploration. The ACLU will no doubt say these relict’s have no purpose being connected to gov. expenditures and, is not constitutional.

[marshmallow]

Thank you.............age is taking its toll.

[RedDogzRule]

Russia seems to be coming out of communism with a religious fervor that is amazing to watch. My priest tells me that the seminaries there are are full. Actually, Christianity has always come out of periods of great persecution with enormous growth. My hope is that they will be the bulwark to the East yet again to protect Europe from the onslaught of Islam, since much of western Euope has lost its faith and desire to live free of Muslim overlords.

[cripplecreek]

[isom35]

“separation of Church and Space” :) that’s pretty good.

[A.A. Cunningham]

U.S. astronaut Ronald Garan brought a relic of St. Therese of Lisieux with him on the space shuttle Discovery in 2008. He plans to bring another relic of the saint with him on a mission to the ISS in 2011.

[grobdriver]

Ah.
Just so.

Garcon! More coffee!

[ROLF of the HILL COUNTRY]

What made it even more inspiring was Apollo 8 entered lunar orbit on Christmas Eve 1968, and we were all watching the Earthrise for the first time as Genesis was read!

[stylecouncilor]

ping

[bronx2]

One must reconsider Cold War rhetoric in light of these events. I feel much more aligned with these Russians than I do with the likes of Abe Foxman, the ADL,or the ACLU which threatens the very existence of Christianity in this nation. Islam would probably support our efforts against these secular humanistic agnostic types but their price might be too expensive.I do not envision any reconciliation with these seculaar types and can accept second civil war. Maybe the Hollywood types can make a movie of the episode.

[onedoug]

Good stuff. Onward Russian Christianity. Just leave the bones behind.