On Saturday, December 26, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God arrived from Holy Cross Monastery with diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov to St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC. The icon was triumphantly greeted by the rector, Mitred Archpriest Victor Potapov (member of the Diocesan Council) and cathedral clergy, as well as His Eminence Anthony, Archbishop of Krasnoyarsk and Yeniseisk (visiting the United States with the blessing of His Holiness, Patriarch Kyrill) and His Grace George, Bishop of Mayfield. The Vigil was led by Archbishop Anthony, co-served by Bishop George, the rector, Archimandrite Nektary (Seleznev; personal secretary to Archbishop Anthony), diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov, and parish clerics: Priest John Johnson, Priest Alexander Resnikoff, Protodeacon Leonid Mickle, and Protodeacon John Cavin. Also praying in church during the Vigil was Archimandrite Joachim Cotsonis, director of Holy Cross Greek Seminary in Boston, MA.

The following morning, parishioners and other faithful greeted the wonder-working icon once more with a triumphal procession, after which they greeted His Grace, Bishop George. Cathedral warden Dimitri Mikhailovich Saretsky greeted Vladyka at the doors of the cathedral with a wonderful speech, welcoming His Grace and asking his holy prayers for everyone present before the wonder-working image. Bishop George celebrated the Divine Liturgy, co-served by the rector, the diocesan secretary, and cathedral clergy, under the marvelous antiphonal singing of the cathedral’s two choirs. Youri A. Petcherkin directed the Slavonic choir, while Jared Brewer directed the English choir. The cathedral was filled to capacity with parishioners and the faithful, reminding everyone of the recent travels of the Kursk Icon to Russia, where churches were similarly filled to capacity.

Also present at the Liturgy was the Ambassador of Russia to the U.S. Sergei Ivanovich Kislyak and his wife, as well as the embassy’s Cultural Attaché, Dr. Vyacheslav Vladimirovich Moshkalo. At the end of the service, Bishop George presented the Russian Embassy with a copy of the Kursk icon on behalf of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York. Upon completion of the Liturgy, a Panihida was served for His Holiness, Patriarch Pavle of Serbia, and the murdered Priest Daniel Sysoev. A luncheon was then served in the parish hall, during which Fr. Serge presented a photomontage of the visit of the Kursk Root Icon to Russia.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese

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