WESTERN EUROPEAN DIOCESE: 16 October 2025
The Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God “of the Sign” is ceremoniously greeted in the Western European Diocese

The wonderworking Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, Guide of the Russian Orthodox Diaspora and the most revered icon of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, was solemnly welcomed by the Diocese of Great Britain and Western Europe with festive services in Zurich, Switzerland.

Having departed from the Synodal Residence in Manhattan with the blessing of the First Hierarch, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas, a cleric of the Geneva Cathedral of the Exaltation of the Cross, Archpriest Emilian Pocinoc, bore the sacred image from New York to Switzerland, where it was greeted at the Zurich airport by clergy and faithful of Pokrov Parish in the city. The icon was then taken to the parish, which has existed in Zurich for nearly a century, where it was formally greeted by the Ruling Hierarch, His Grace Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe, and the retired diocesan Hierarch, Archbishop Michael. The sacred image was then enshrined in the center of the small temple and the evening services prayed before it.

Following the conclusion of the evening services — dedicated to the Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos, which is celebrated the next day — the Kursk-Root Icon was borne aloft in a procession through the streets of Zurich, accompanied by the hierarchs, clergy, faithful and city officials, arriving in due course at the Holy Trinity Church of the Korsun Diocese. There the icon was greeted by yet more faithful and clergy, and a moleben with akathist was sung before the sacred image, so dear to Orthodox faithful across the whole world.

The arrival in Zurich marks the beginning of the eight-week visitation of the icon to the parishes of Western Europe and the British Isles. The schedule of the icon’s movements may be found here.

The next day, the sacred image will abide in the Zurich temple for the Divine Liturgy of the Feast of the Protection — the feast day of the Parish — after which it will travel to Basel.

Western European Diocese