January 26, 2010
Mahopac, NY:
The Kursk Root Icon visited the New Kursk Root Hermitage
On
Saturday the 23rd and Sunday the 24th of January, the Kursk Root Icon
of the Mother of God visited the Nativity of the Mother of God Church
in the New Kursk Root Hermitage in Mahopac, NY. The history of the New
Root Hermitage is closely tied to the history of the whole Church
Abroad, especially with the wonder-working icon itself, which was kept
here during its first years in the United States. The New Kursk Root
Hermitage was the spiritual center of the Eastern American Diocese and
the Russian Diaspora in general for many years. There was a modest
monastic brotherhood here, as well as the summer residence of the
First Hierarch. Unfortunately, over the last few years Mahopac has
undergone great trials, including a fire that almost burned down the
entire church. By God’s grace, a renewal has begun in the Hermitage
over the course of the last year and, with the blessing of ROCOR’s
Holy Synod, a new parish, dedicated to the Nativity of the Mother of
God, was founded here in September. Parishioners have undertaken a
great labor: the complete renovation of the church and main building,
a project that will be continuing for the next several years. Thanks
to the fervent efforts of warden George Temidis, treasurer Vyacheslav
Maltsev, head sister Olga Maltsev, and many other benefactors, the New
Kursk Root Hermitage is being reborn. This week, Metropolitan Hilarion
issued a directive officially accepting Archpriest Victor Tseshkovsky
into the Eastern American Diocese from the Ukranian Orthodox Church
and appointing him rector of the Nativity of the Mother of God Church
in Mahopac. With God’s help, Fr. Victor hopes to continue the holy
work of restoring this sacred place.
On
Saturday, January 23, the secretary of the Eastern American Diocese,
Archpriest Serge Lukianov, brought the wonder-working Kursk Root Icon
to Mahopac for the All-Night Vigil. The vigil with akathist was served
by Fr. Victor, Fr. Serge, and Priest Ilya Gun. During the service, it
was touching to see a great number of the faithful going to holy
confession. The following morning a triumphant greeting of the Kursk
icon was held, followed by a greeting of His Grace Jerome, Bishop of
Manhattan, who arrived to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. His Grace was
co-served by the above-mentioned clergy, as well as Deacons Dimitri
Temidis and Ivan Voloshchuk, in the presence of a large confluence of
the faithful. Upon completion of the Liturgy, the Metropolitan’s
directive appointing Fr. Victor rector was pronounced, after which he
presented copies of the Kursk icon to parishioners who helped make the
icon’s visit a success. On behalf of the First Hierarch of ROCOR,
Fr. Serge presented the parish with a large copy of the wonder-working
icon in memory of the visit of the Kursk icon to Mahopac. The priests
then performed a crucession with the wonder-working icon around the
church and St. Zosima’s Candle Factory, which is located on the New
Kursk Root Hermitage grounds. From Mahopac the icon departed for Holy
Trinity Monastery in Jordanville.
Media Office of the Eastern American
Diocese
