NAKHODKA, RUSSIA: November 19, 2013
The Miracle-Working Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God is Brought to Nakhodka Diocese in Russia

The visit of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God “of the Sign” to the far-eastern Primoriye region is continuing. On the morning of November 18, 2013, the icon was brought from Vladivostok, Russia, arriving by noon at Nakhodka, the cathedral city of the Primorsk Metropoliate. This is the first visit to the newly-established Nakhodka Diocese by this important Russian Orthodox icon, brought by a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

The Kursk-Root Icon was greeted at Kazan Icon of the Mother of God Cathedral by His Grace Bishop Nikolai of Nakhodka and Preobrazhensk along with a host of clergymen of the diocese. Attending the welcoming ceremony and subsequent divine service were some 400 faithful.

A moleben was performed before the image of the Mother of God, headed by His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and Bishop Nikolai, who were joined by clergymen of the diocese. Clergymen of ROCOR also prayed at the service, representing the delegation which brought the ancient holy icon to the Primoriye region: Protopriest Vladimir Boikov, Dean of New Zealand of ROCOR; Protopriest Serafim Gan, Secretary of the First Hierarch of ROCOR; Priest Nicholas Olhovsky, caretaker of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign", and Protodeacon Alexander Kotliaroff of SS Peter and Paul Cathedral in Sydney, Australia (ROCOR).

Right after the moleben, those in attendance were given the opportunity to venerate the icon.

Priest Vitaly Sharkeev, Director of the Press Service of Nakhodka Diocese, announced:

“We invite all who wish to venerate the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God ‘of the Sign’ here in Nakhodka. During the very first hours after its arrival, some four hundred believers venerated it, followed by an expected growing stream of pilgrims. That is why the doors to the Kazan Cathedral will remain open until late evening; at first we hoped to keep the church open for 22 hours, but we have decided that we will remain open until the stream of visitors ends.”

At 4 pm, all-night vigil will commence in Kazan Cathedral. The icon will remain in Nakhodka until November 21.