Archbishop Michael has blessed Saint Basil’s Orthodox Church in Watervliet NY with holy relics of the following saints:  Great-Martyr and Healer Panteleimon, Innocent (Metropolitan of Moscow & Apostle to America), Grand Duchess Elizabeth the New-Martyr, Tikhon (Patriarch of Moscow & Enlightener of North America), Alexis of Wilkes-Barre (Confessor & Defender of Orthodoxy in America), Raphael (Bishop of Brooklyn), and Venerable Ambrose (Elder of Optina). Father Jason Vansuch prepared the relics by placing each in a special wax mixture called mastic. “Our reliquary was sent to us from Russia,” said Father Peter Olsen (parish rector). “Many thanks to God for this amazing blessing and to our loving hierarch, Archbishop Michael, and Father Jason for his kind help. Glory to Jesus Christ!”