KURSK, RUSSIA: September 30, 2015
The Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign" is Venerated at the Medical Facilities of Kursk

On September 29, 2015, His Eminence Metropolitan German of Kursk and Rylsk brought the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign,” which is visiting the Kursk region, to the Oblast Children’s Clinical Hospital, the Oncological Center and a new cancer-treatment center, as well as a perinatal center in the city of Kursk, Russia.

By a benevolent tradition that has taken root, during the annual visits of the miracle-working Kursk Icon of the Mother of God to Kursk, it is brought to patients at its medical facilities. The image of the Queen of Heaven is greeted with trepidation and tear-filled eyes. No one present could remain unmoved, for the Mother of God Herself is visiting the sick in Her holy icon, bringing consolation and strength to continue their struggle against illness.

The icon was first brought to the Church of Holy Hierarch and Healer Panteleimon on the grounds of Kursk Psychiatric Hospital. Fr Ilya, the church rector, performed a moleben before the icon and consecrated a painted copy of the icon meant to be kept at this church. The parishioners, medical staff and patients greeted the icon with abundant joy and prayed for the speedy completion of construction and renovation of the site. Some five hundred people were able to venerate the image of the Mother of God.

The miraculous icon was then brought to Kursk Theological Seminary, where Metropolitan German greeted it along with the seminary’s Dean, Archimandrite Simeon (Tomachinsky). A moleben was performed in the chapel, after which the seminarians venerated the Kursk-Root Icon.

Vladyka German, as he visited each hospital, performed a moleben and akathist to the Mother of God, blessing everyone in attendance and visiting the rooms of those who were not ambulatory. He brought the icon to each patient and prayed for the seriously ill.

At the Oncological Center, Metropolitan German visited its soon-to-be-consecrated chapel, meant to provide spiritual succor to the patients.

On the way to the perinatal center, Vladyka German stopped by Transfiguration Church, which is still under constructions, where he prayed for the successful completion of construction; many of its parishioners gathered to venerate the holy icon.

The visitors were welcomed at the perinatal center by Chief Surgeon Valentina Ivanovna Krestinina and Nina Ivanovna Starodubova, Head of the Family Health Center. Vladyka German brought the icon into the conference room and expressed his heartfelt wishes for all who gathered to venerate the icon, stressing the importance of prayer in the life of a Christian. A moleben was then performed before the icon. Dr Krestinina then recounted to Protopriest Vladimir Malchenko of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, who is accompanying the icon, the history of the work and unique equipment of the center. The staff and patients expressed their earnest gratitude to Vladyka German and the other clergymen of the diocese for the great joy they had brought them.

That evening, the holy image was returned to Znamensky Cathedral, where anyone who wishes to can venerate the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God until October 2.