Activities of Metropolitan Gregory (Chukov) in the context of the partial return of Holy relics in the 1940s-1950s

The main purpose of the article is to highlight the contribution of one of the most active and energetic hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Soviet era, Metropolitan Grigory (Chukov), to the process of returning Holy relics to the Church in the context of state — Church relations in the second half of the 1940s-1950s. The post-war course of the Soviet government to normalize these relations raised hopes among the faithful and the clergy of the Moscow Patriarchate for the return of the Holy relics that survived the anti-religious campaigns and were kept in various museums in the country. The results of Bishop Gregory’s initiative to return the relics of Saint Theodosius of Chergnigovo, Saint James of Borovichi, and Saint Nikita of Novgorod are considered.