WESTERN EUROPEAN DIOCESE: July 26, 2012
The Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God Concludes Its Visit to the Western European Diocese

On Wednesday, July 25, 2012, His Eminence Archbishop Michael of Geneva and Western Europe performed a moleben and akathist before the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God “of the Sign” at Exaltation of the Holy Cross Cathedral in Geneva to a large gathering of worshipers. His Eminence was joined by the cathedral’s clergymen, visiting clerics and the keeper of the main holy icon of the Russian diaspora, Protodeacon Nicholas Olhovsky. The miracle-working icon will visit other parishes in the Western European Diocese, including Paris, Lausanne and Vevey in the next few days.

On Tuesday, July 31, the Kursk-Root Icon will be brought to St Seraphim Church in Sea Cliff, NY, where all-night vigil and akathist will be performed for the parish feast day. His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York will celebrate Divine Liturgy on the next day, August 1, the feast day of St Seraphim of Sarov. During this service, Protodeacon Nicholas will be ordained to the priesthood, and before the veneration of the cross, His Eminence will award a gramata [decree of blessing] to the parish, establishing it as a memorial church to the reestablishment of the fullness of brotherly communion and unity within the Russian Orthodox Church.