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January 31, 2010
Virginia Beach, VA: The Kursk Root Icon visited the parish of St. Joseph of Optina

On Thursday, January 28, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God visited the parish of St. Joseph of Optina in Virginia Beach, VA. The city sits on the Chesapeake Bay, the biggest bay in the United States. Entering the city from the north, the icon traveled over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, which at 23 miles long was considered one of the seven engineering wonders of the modern world at the time of construction. The city is the biggest population center in the state, followed by its neighbor, Norfolk, home of the largest naval base in the world.

Norfolk itself is also home to Annunciation Greek Cathedral, in whose adjunct chapel of St. Theodore the icon was greeted and a moleben with akathist served. The chapel was filled to capacity with the faithful, and many had to stand in the narthex. The moleben was led by diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov, co-served by the rector of St. Joseph of Optina parish, Archpriest Seraphim Stephens, and Archpriest Andrew Nelko (rector of Dormition of the Theotokos Church in Norfolk – OCA). Upon completion of the moleben, and after everyone had a chance to venerate the icon, a photomontage of the Kursk icon’s visit to Russia was shown.

The parish of St. Joseph temporarily hold services in St. Theodore’s Chapel while funds are gathered for the renovation of a new parish church.

 

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese