Русская Версия

February 8, 2010
The Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God visited the Orthodox churches of Atlanta

On Sunday, February 7, upon completion of the Divine Liturgy in St. Mary of Egypt Church, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God visited the second St. Mary of Egypt Church (OCA) in Atlanta, where it was met in procession by the rector, Archpriest Peter Smith, co-serving clergy, and a multitude of the faithful. As the icon entered the church, parish children threw flower petals in its path. The cozy wooden church was filled to capacity, and many had to stand outside. The moleben before the Kursk icon was led by Archpriest Serge Lukianov (accompanying the icon), the rector, Archpriest Steven Ritter (cleric of St. Mary of Egypt Church – ROCOR), Hieromonk Cyprian (DuRant; parish cleric), Priest Thomas Alessandroni (parish cleric), and parish Deacon Lazarus Muska. While the faithful venerated the icon, the choir sang the Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos.

The Kursk Icon then left for the immediately neighboring Serbian Church of Sts. Peter & Paul, where it was greeted by the rector, Priest Sasa Turkic, and the faithful. The akathist before the Kursk Icon was led by Fr. Serge, co-served by Fr. Sasa and Fr. Steven, who helped the icon in its travels through Atlanta immensely. The akathist was sung in Slavonic, English, and Serbian. After the singing of the akathist, Fr. Serge greeted the rector and faithful on behalf of the First Hierarch of ROCOR, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, noting in part the significance and appropriateness of the Kursk Root Icon completing its two-month journey through the Eastern America Diocese in a Serbian Church, given that the Serbian people granted the Kursk Root Icon and its guardians, as well as countless refugees, asylum during the most difficult years of Russia’s history.

The following day, the Kursk Root Icon left on a morning flight from Atlanta to New York.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese