Kursk Root Icon Visits St. Stephen Cathedral - 12/27/10
On
Monday morning, December 27, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of
God arrived in Philadelphia and visited St. Stephen’s Cathedral
(OCA) on the occasion of the patronal feast day. The Icon was greeted by the clergy, led by His Grace
Tikhon, Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania.
His Grace
celebrated the Divine Liturgy, co-served by Eastern American
Diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov, cathedral dean Priest
Victor Gorodenchuk, and visiting clergy. Adverse weather conditions
made it difficult for many parishioners and clergy to be at the
service. Upon completion of the Liturgy, a short moleben was served
before the wonderworking icon.
In
honor of the Kursk Icon’s visit to Philadelphia, Fr. Serge presented
Bishop Tikhon and Fr. Victor with a copy of the Kursk Root Icon with
a commemorative plaque from the First Hierarch of the Russian Church
Abroad, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion. Bishop Tikhon expressed
his joy at having been able to serve the Divine Liturgy that day
before the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon, and asked that Fr. Serge
pass along his gratitude to Metropolitan Hilarion for his kindness
and brotherly love toward the hierarchy, clergy, and faithful of the
Orthodox Church in America. More photographs can be viewed on the ROCOR website.