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December 23, 2009
Fletcher, NC: The Kursk Root Icon visited St. Nicholas Church

asheville.lg.jpg (47092 bytes)On Tuesday, December 22, the feast of the Conception by the Righteous St. Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Kursk Root Icon visted St. Nicholas Church in Fletcher, NC. The icon was triumphantly greeted in front of the church by a procession, and the moleben with akathist began at once, led by diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov, co-served by rector Priest Onouphry Keith, Archpriest Mark Burcha (Dean of the Carolinas Deanery - OCA), Archpriest Demetrios Iliou (rector of Holy Trinity Greek Church in Asheville, NC), Priest Nikolay Miletkov (cleric of St. John of the Ladder Church in Greenville, SC - OCA), and diocesan treasurer Priest Jonah Campbell. The church was so full of worshipers that, despite the wintry weather, the doors had to remain open all service. After the moleben, the parish was presented with a copy of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign" - a blessing from His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad. A dinner was then held in the parish hall, featuring a delicious fish soup, as well as the photo montage of the Kursk Root Icon's return to Russia in September. As the faithful prepared to part ways with the icon, one pious parishioner brought everyone present to tears with her beautiful singing of various prayers in English to the Mother of God. Many Orthodox faithful in the South joined the Orthodox faith by conversion at an adult age, and a certain special feeling of grace can be felt due to the piety and loyalty of the people here to the true faith. O Most Holy Theotokos, save us!

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese