June
25, 2009
New York: Members of the
Working Group For the Trip to Russia of the Hodigitria of the Russian
Diaspora Visit Kursk
On
June 18-19, 2009, clergymen of the Diocese of Eastern America and New
York Protopriest Serafim Gan and Priest Alexandre Antchoutine visited
the city of Kursk as official representatives of the First Hierarch of
the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. The purpose of their
trip was to hold a series of meetings with ecclesiastical and civil
figures to organize the visit of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of
God to Russia and to review the renovation and construction work under
way at Kursk Hermitage. They also participated in the traditional
procession of the cross with the copy of the Hodigitria [Protectress]
of the Russian Diaspora, headed by His Eminence Archbishop German of
Kursk and Ryl'sk along with other clergymen of that diocese. Also
participating in this procession, held annually according to ancient
tradition on the 9th Friday after Pascha, was Georgy S Poltavchenko,
Plenipotentiary of the President of the Russian Federation in the
Central Federal Region, the governors of the central regions and over
30,000 residents of Kursk.
At a meeting of the Benevolent Fund for the Rebirth of the Kursk-Root
Hermitage, Mr Poltavchenko presented Fr Serafim with written
guarantees for the safety and return of the miracle-working Icon to
the USA, given by the Administration of the President and the Ministry
of Culture.
Official
website of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws
