NEW YORK: November 30, 2009
The Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God Will Visit Kiev

On October 29, 2009,  the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia held a teleconference. After reading a letter from His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine, it was decided to express an agreement in principle to bring the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God to the territory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in May of next year. It was also decided to establish a working committee to organize the trip comprised of clergymen of the German Diocese, headed by His Eminence Archbishop Mark. On November 15, a letter from His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion was sent to the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in which the consent of the Hierarchy of the Russian Church Abroad for this trip was granted. 

The Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church likewise decided to set up an organizing committee for the visit. Protopriest Valery Kravets, Head of the Protokol Department of the Kievan Metropoliate, was designated to head this committee.