WESTERN AMERICAN DIOCESE: April 24, 2013
Holy Ascension Church in California’s Capital Greets the Hodigitria of the Russian Diaspora

On Sunday, April 21, 2013, the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent, Protopriest Paul Volmensky of Sacramento, CA, ceremoniously greeted the Hodigitria (Protectress) of the Russian diaspora, the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign" and its caretaker, Priest Nicholas Olhovsky, after which he celebrated Divine Liturgy of St Basil the Great together with Fr Nicholas and the parish clergymen. A large gathering of parishioners of Holy Ascension Church and other worshipers were in attendance as well. Fr Paul and Fr Nicholas then visited numerous homes of Russian Orthodox Christians living in the state capital and its environs, performing molebens to the Most-Holy Mother of God, and blessing their abodes.

The following photographs were kindly shared by Paul Butenko: