JAN 27: DIVINE LITURGY – 6:00 PM.
Some calendar feasts are called the “Translation of the Relics” of a particular saint. The word ‘translation’ means, the removal of the remains of a saint from one place, for example, his or her tomb, usually in a reliquary or container for holy relics, to another place, like an important church or cathedral. In this case, St. John Chriysostom’s holy relics were transferred to Constantinople, as you read below.
“On January 27, the translation of St. John’s honored relics from the Armenian village of Comana (where he died in exile in 407) to Constantinople (where he had governed the Church earlier as Patriarch) is celebrated. Thirty years after his death, Patriarch Proclus made a speech in memory of his spiritual father and mentor. By this speech he roused the love of the people and the Emperor, Theodosius the Younger, towards the great saint, so much so that they all wanted the relics of St. John to be translated to Constantinople. It is related that the coffin containing the relics could not be moved from its place until the Emperor wrote a letter to St. John, begging his forgiveness (Theodosius was the son of Eudoxia, who had persecuted the saint) and appealing him to return to Constantinople, his former residence. When this repentant letter was placed on the coffin, the latter became light enough in weight to be moved.
Before the translation, many of the sick were healed upon touching the coffin. When the relics arrived at the capital, the Emperor again begged forgiveness over them in his mother’s name, as though it were she herself speaking these words: “While I lived in this temporal life, I acted in malice towards thee; but now that thou livest in eternal life, be thou of help to my soul. My glory passes and there is naught to help me; help me, Father, in thy glory; help me before I come to be condemned before the judgment of Christ.” When the saint was carried into the Church of the Holy Apostles and placed on the patriarchal throne, the assembled throng heard these words from his mouth: “Peace be with you all!” The translation of the relics of St. John Chrysostom was carried out in 438.” From the site: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2021/01/27/100327-translation-of-the-relics-of-saint-john-chrysostom-archbishop-of
