Feast Day of the Protectress

Tuesday, 10 December is the holiday of the Miracle-working Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God. On this day, the Russian diaspora markes the feast day of its "Hodigitria" (Protectress). This day is also the feast day of the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign in New York, the permanent home of the Kursk-Root Icon. The Icon will arrive in New York on this day from Southern California, where it has been visiting parishes and the faithful. It was expected that the festal services would be led by the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, but due to illness he is still unable to serve, and for this reason, His Grace Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan will lead the clergy.

On this day the faithful flock of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia are especially called upon to pray for our Church, Her hierarchs, clergy and flock, and particularly for the health of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus.

On this day, we call the attention of our readers to the article by Archbishop Seraphim (of Chicago and Detroit) of blessed memory: "The Kursk Icon with the Russian Exiles in Germany and Western Europe," written some 50 years ago.