Русская Версия

December 22, 2009
Cayce, SC: The Kursk Root Icon visited St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Church

On Tuesday, December 22, the day of the Conception of the Most Holy Theotokos by the Righteous St. Anna, the Kursk Root Icon visited St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Church in Cayce, near Columbia, capital of South Carolina. The icon was greeted in front of the church by a procession, and the parish children threw flower petals in the icon’s path. The Divine Liturgy then began, celebrated by diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov, co-served by rector Priest Mark Mancuso, Archpriest Anastasy Yatrelis (rector of Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church in Summerville, SC), Priest Thomas Moore (rector of Holy Apostles Church in Columbia, SC - OCA), Hieromonk Cyprian (cleric of St. Mary of Egypt Church in Norcross, GA - OCA), and parish Deacon Columba Wilson. Archpriest Michael Platanis (cleric of Holy Trinity Greek Church in Columbia, SC) prayed in the altar and communed of the Holy Mysteries. Also present at the service was Abbess Thecla of Sts. Martha & Mary monastery in Wagener, SC - OCA. It was wonderful to see virtually everyone present come and take Holy Communion, which was dispensed from two chalices. Upon completion of the Liturgy, Fr. Serge delivered an inspirational sermon on the importance of honoring the Mother of God, especially in Her wonder-working Kursk Root Icon. He noted, in part, that we are as little children, asking much, but contributing little. He called upon the faithful to approach the icon of the Mother of God with special sincerity, thus beginning a new spiritual life through true repentance. A moleben was then served before the icon, after which 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, was presented to the parish. Before departing, Fr. Serge treated everyone to a photomontage of the historic return of the Kursk icon to Russia.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese