Home     News     Administration     Spiritual Court     Parishes     Documents     History
Orthodox Resources     Youth Association     Music Commission     Links

Русская Версия

December 12, 2009
Philadelphia: The Kursk Root Icon visited Our Lady Joy of All Who Sorrow Church

phil.lg.jpg (51110 bytes)On Saturday, December 12, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God visited the Church of Our Lady, Joy of all who Sorrow (Philadelphia, PA). The icon was accompanied by the diocesan secretary, Archpriest Serge Lukianov, and diocesan media office staffers. The rector, Archimandrite Athanasy (Mastalsky), greeted the icon alongside the faithful, after which they also greeted His Grace, Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, who had arrived in Philadephia on an archpastoral visit. His Grace led the All-Night Vigil with an akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos, co-served by Archimandrite Athanasius, Archpriest Serge, Priest Nikolai Manduke (Millville, NJ), and Deacon Nathan Mousselli (Lakewood, NJ).

It is difficult to describe the particular feeling of grace experienced by all those present. In fact, the Kursk Root Icon was not the only wonder-working icon present at the service; the myrrh-streaming icon of St. Anna, which is housed in the church, was also present.

After the singing of the akathist, Archpriest Serge offered to the rector a copy of the Kursk Root Icon, identical in size to the original, on behalf of the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Hilarion, and the Diocesan Council. When the faithful came to venerate the wonder-working icon Fr. Athanasy gave out copies of the Kursk icon, a blessing from the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.

After the Vigil, a delicious dinner was offered, during which Fr. Serge presented a unique montage of the photographs from the return of the holy icon to Russia. The faithful watched with joy, as His Holiness the Patriarch and almost one million of our compatriots came to venerate this holy icon for the first time in 90 years.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese