PERM: October 4, 2012
The Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God Visits Perm Diocese

On the evening of October 2, 2012, the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God “of the Sign” arrived in the city of Perm, Russia, brought by His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany.

The icon was greeted at Holy Trinity Cathedral by a multitude of local clergymen.

A moleben and akathist were performed before the holy icon, during which Cossacks of the North-West (Prikamsk) United Regional Cossack Community, the Volga Military Cossack Communion headed by OI Saliichuk and cadets from the Ataman Yermak Novoilyinsk Cossack Cadet Corps provided security.

At the end of the services, when worshipers were given an opportunity to venerate the Kursk-Root Icon, His Eminence Metropolitan Mefody of Perm and Solikamsk fervently thanked Archbishop Mark for finding the opportunity to bring the icon to their remote Ural city: “Look, dear Vladyka, how many believers have gathered in church today despite the fact that it’s a workday! Let it rain, let the wind blow, but our hearts are warmed by the joy of meeting this great holy icon!”

In return, Vladyka Mark thanked Metropolitan Mefody for his hospitality and expressed confidence that the visit of the image of the Mother of God to the Perm region would be a healing event for people seeking to strengthen their faith. “The very fate of this wonderful icon--which survived fires, theft, being hacked to pieces by enemies of the faith—is clear proof of Divine Providence.”

The icon will be available for veneration at Holy Trinity Cathedral in perm from October 2-9.

Ekaterina Lyubomirskaya
www.permeparhia.ru