Русская
Версия
September
25, 2009
Kursk, Russia:
Tens of thousands of Kurskans triumphantly and joyously greet the
Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God
On
September 23, Archbishop Arseny of Istra (vicar
of the Moscow Diocese) celebrated the Divine
Liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow,
co-served by Archpriests Vladimir
Divakov and Michael Ryazantsev, clerics of the
capital city. Present at the service were His
Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, and other reverend archpastors of the
Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR). Upon completion of
the Divine Liturgy and joined by a multitude of archpastors and
pastors, His Holiness Kyrill, Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia, led
a farewell moleben, after which the Protectress of the Russian
Diaspora left for Kursk. Upon the triumphant greeting of the Kursk
Root Icon at Kursk Airport, a crucession made
its way from Perekalsky Square to the Cathedral of the Sign, where a
moleben was served and the miraculous icon presented for veneration to
the public. That evening, the Governor of the Kursk Province, A.N.
Mikhailov, held a reception in honor of His Holiness, Patriarch Kyrill,
and those accompanying him, including members of the ROCOR
delegation.
On
the following day, in the presence of the Kursk Root Icon of the
Mother of God, Patriarch Kyrill performed the Great Consecration of
the reconstructed Kursk Root Hermitage Church of the Nativity of the
Theotokos, afterwards celebrating the Divine Liturgy. After the
liturgy, His Holiness delivered a moving address and presented
commemorative gifts and awards to those whose special efforts aided in
the reconstruction of that holy church.
In
his response, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, emphasized the
importance of realization of homeland and love for Russia, especially
on the part of those who have spent their entire lives abroad. His
Eminence then awarded His Holiness the highest award of the Russian
Church Abroad, the Synodal Order of the Sign 1st Class, as
well as icons of St. John (Maximovitch) and of St. Seraphim of Sarov
holding the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.
Turning
to the Presidential Plenipotentiary to the Central Federal District of the
Russian Federation, G.S. Poltavchenko, also the Chairman of the Benevolent
Fund for the Rebirth of the Kursk-Root Hermitage,
His Eminence offered words of gratitude, granting him the Synodal
Order of the Sign 1st Class and a commemorative icon.
Metropolitan Hilarion also donated an icon of St. John of Shanghai,
with a piece of the hierarch’s relics, to the newly blessed church.
Photo-report
Translated
by the
Media
Office of the Eastern American Diocese
from the Official Website of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad
www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws
