February 15, 2011
Columbia, SC: The Kursk Root Icon visited St. Elizabeth the New
Martyr Church
On
Friday, February 11, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God
visited
St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Church in Columbia, the capital of
South Carolina. The parish recently acquired a new church building,
as well as a parking lot and hall, and parishioners were overjoyed
at the opportunity to have the Mother of God bless their new
property.
The Icon was greeted in
procession in front of the church, and parish children threw flower
petals in its path. The Divine Liturgy then began, celebrated by
Eastern American Diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov,
co-served by South Carolina clerics Archpriest Anastasy Yatrelis
(rector of Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church in Summerville), parish
rector Priest Mark Mancuso, Priest Thomas Moore (rector of Holy
Apostles Church in Columbia) and parish Deacon Columba Wilson.
It was wonderful to see
virtually everyone present come and take Holy Communion, which was
dispensed from two chalices. Upon completion of the Liturgy, Fr.
Serge delivered an inspirational sermon on the importance of
honoring the Mother of God, especially in Her wonderworking Kursk
Root Icon. He noted, in part, that we are as little children, asking
much, but contributing little. He called upon the faithful to
approach the Icon of the Mother of God with special sincerity, thus
beginning a new spiritual life through true repentance. Fr. Serge
then presented the rector with an icon of the Mother of God of the
Sign, a blessing from Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the
Russian Church Abroad.
After a luncheon in the parish
hall, those accompanying the Icon were given a tour of the State
Capitol and other sights the capital city had to offer.
That evening in church, a
moleben and akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos were served by the
above-mentioned clergy (with the exception of Fr. Anastasy, but with
the addition of Archpriest Michael Platanis, rector of Holy Trinity
Greek Church in Columbia). Worshipers said long goodbyes, not
wishing to part ways with the holy icon, and not leaving the church
until the wonderworking image finally departed for Charlotte.
Republication of
materials must include a reference to: "Eastern American Diocese
www.eadiocese.org."
