Kursk-Root Icon Visits Kazakhstan, Russia

The Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God has made a visit to its original home in Kursk, Russia, following its first visit to the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan. After a brief stop in Moscow the Icon is due to return to its home at Our Lady of the Sign Cathedral in New York this coming week. More here.

Kursk-Root Icon to Visit Oldest Monastery in North America

With the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad the wonderworking Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God will be at the feast day celebrations of the Monastery of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk in South Canaan, Pennsylvania, this coming August. More here.

Kazakh Orthodox Local Synod Meets in Uralsk

The Local Synod of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan has met under its first hierarch, Metropolitan Alexander (Mogilev) of Astana, in Uralsk, Kazakhstan, to discuss issues in the life of the Russian Orthodox Church in the country. Among other things the assembled hierarchs approved plans for a September visit by the Kursk-Root Icon and blessed the commemoration of the Astana Icon of the Theotokos.

The Local Synod's session closed with a concelebration of services in Uralsk's Cathedral of the Nativity to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Eparchy of Uralsk. More (in Russian) here.

Decisions Taken on Jerusalem, Western Rites by ROCOR Synod

At its recent session the full Synod Abroad of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) took several decisions regarding the life of the ROCOR, among them organizing a stavropeghial vicariate under the supervision of Bishop Jerome (Shaw) of Manhattan for the care of the ROCOR's Western Orthodox faithful, the appointment of Hegumen Tikhon (Amelchenya) as head of the Synodal Russian Orthodox Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem, the elevation of Bishop Gabriel (Chemodakov) of Montreal to the rank of archbishop, and the blessing of a request that the Kursk-Root Icon visit the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan.

In addition to the reports on the dioceses by its members the Synod Abroad also heard a report from Archbishop Justinian (Ovchinnikov) of Narofominsk on the state of the patriarchal Russian Orthodox representation to the American Orthodox Church (OCA) in the United States. Bishop Job (Smakouz) of Kashira, head of the patriarchal Russian Orthodox representation to the Canadian Orthodox Church (OCA), was not present at the session. More here.

Kursk Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign

Joyous feast! Today is one of the three feast days of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign. This particular icon has such a long title for several reasons. The first is that it is an icon of the Mother of God of the Sign, a portrayal of our Lady grounded in the sign foretold by St. Isaiah ("behold, a virgin shall conceive"). The second is the way in which it was found on the ground next to a tree root. The third is that the place in which the icon was found is close to the city of Kursk in central Russia.

The Kursk-Root Icon was first discovered in the 13th century near what were then the ruins of Kursk, which had been destroyed during the Tatar invasion. It was quickly revealed to be wonderworking as the place on the ground where the Icon was found became a spring as soon as it was picked up. Since then the Mother of God has continued to work miracles through her icon - restoring it after its desecration by the Tatars, saving the city of Kursk from the Polish invasion, and protecting the faithful in Russia and throughout the world from sickness and harm.

Today the Kursk-Root Icon is best known as the 'Protectress of the Diaspora,' having left Russia following the end of the Russian Civil War and taken up residence in the Russian Diaspora since then. Since its departure from Russia the Icon has remained close to the Synod Abroad of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), at one time residing in a hermitage built for it in New York before being transferred to the Cathedral of the Sign (dedicated to the Icon) in New York City.

More on the history and meaning of the Kursk-Root Icon can be found here. May the protection and intercessions of the Mother of God be with us always!

Kursk Icon in Perth Amboy

The Kursk-Root Icon in the home parish of Metropolitan Nicholas (Smisko), St. John the Baptist's Church in Perth Amboy, on the day of his repose.

Kursk Icon in Tarpon Springs

The Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God during its recent visit to St. Nicholas' Cathedral in Tarpon Springs, Florida. More pictures from the Icon's visit to Tarpon Springs can be found here.

Kursk Icon Visits Macon, Georgia

Pictures from the recent visit of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God to St. Innocent's Church in Macon, Georgia, can be found here. St. Innocent's is a parish of the American Orthodox Church and is rather unique in North America in that it was built in the Georgian style - of the ancient country of Georgia that is, not the much younger American state :-). Enjoy!

Kursk Icon Visits Jordanville

The wonderworking Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God of the Sign as part of its tour of the Eastern American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad has visited Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York. Following the greeting of the icon by Archimandrite Luke (Murianka) and the Monastery's brotherhood a supplication (молебен) and akathist were served before it in the lower church of the cathedral dedicated to St. Job of Pochaev. More on the icon's visit can be found here.

Kursk Icon Visits Columbus

The Kursk Icon of the Mother of God has visited Holy Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Columbus, Ohio. More on its visit can be found here. Some beautiful pictures from the visit, among them the one included with this post, can be found here.

Recent Travels of the Kursk-Root Icon

All the traveling the Kursk-Root Icon's been doing lately and is scheduled to do has me wondering whether the Synod Abroad is preparing to return it to the Kursk Hermitage in Russia. Has anyone heard anything to this effect?

Kursk-Root Icon to Visit Woodbury, Michigan

I don't know whether anyone in south-central Michigan reads this or not, but the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora, will be visiting St. Herman of Alaska's Church in Woodbury, Michigan, next week. There'll be Vespers and an akathist on Thursday (21 October) at 6pm and, God willing, the Divine Liturgy will also be served on Friday (22 October) at 8am with the Hours preceding. More on the history of the Kursk-Root Icon can be found here.