December 28, 2010 Bluefield,
WV: The Kursk Root Icon visited St. Mary’s Church
On Thursday,
December 23, despite heavy snowfall, the Kursk Root Icon of the
Mother of God traveled to one of the southernmost points in West
Virginia to visit St. Mary’s (Dormition) Church in Bluefield. The
Icon was greeted by rector Priest Mark Tyson and a multitude of
the faithful, who had come to venerate the wonderworking image. The
rector led a moleben, co-served by Archpriest Serge Lukianov and
Hieromonk Alexander (Frizzell), who were accompanying the icon.
Upon completion of
the service, Fr. Serge presented the rector with a copy of the Kursk
Icon with a commemorative plaque on behalf of the First Hierarch of
the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, in
memory of the wonder-working icon’s visit to Bluefield.
During the
veneration of the icon, the choir sang many marvelous
Carpatho-Russian-style hymns to the Most Holy Theotokos. After the
service, all were invited to a lenten meal in the parish hall, where
the parishioners were able to interact with the clergy and one
another. After the dinner, Fr. Serge presented a photomontage of the
wonderworking icon’s return to Russia in 2009.
Republication of
materials must include a reference to: "Eastern American Diocese
www.eadiocese.org."
