RUSSIA: November 21, 2013
The Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign" Will Be Available for Veneration in Ussuriisk Around the Clock

During the visit of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign" to the city of Ussurisk, Russia, Protection of the Mother of God Church, where the icon is being kept, will remain open around the clock from November 21-22, 2013 . Over a thousand pilgrims came within the first few hours.

On the evening of November 21, a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia brought the miracle-working icon to the next city of the Primoriye region, the city of Ussuriisk. Leading the delegation is His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

The Kursk-Root Icon was welcomed to Protection Church by His Eminence Metropolitan Veniamin of Vladivostok and Primorsk; Protopriest Sergei Yakutov, Dean of the 2 nd Deanery of Ussuriisk; Priest Dimitry Fedorin, Dean of the 1 st Deanery, and a host of clergymen of the Vladivostok Diocese.

Representing ROCOR were 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).

The first hours after the ceremonious greeting of the icon and all-night vigil that followed in Protection Church, over a thousand people gathered. That night, the clergymen of the Vladivostok Diocese and Russian Church Abroad commenced performing molebens before the miracle-working icon.

Elena Porva, assistant of Fr Sergei, said:

This great evening, Protection of the Mother of God Church was filled with parishioners, spilling out into the street, waiting for the opportunity to approach this holy icon. That is why we decided to leave the church open all night. Molebens are to be performed before the icon constantly. All those who wish to venerate this ancient image will be able to.

On Friday morning, November 22 , Divine Liturgy will begin at Protection Church. The Kursk-Root Icon will remain in Ussuriisk until Friday evening.