KURSK: October 6, 2014
The People of Kursk Bid Farewell to the Miracle-Working Icon of the Mother of God

On October 4, 2014, His Eminence Metropolitan German of Kursk and Rylsk, His Eminence Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany, His Grace Bishop Veniamin of Zheleznogorsk and Lgovsk and His Grace Bishop Paisy of Shchigrovsk and Manturovsk officiated at Divine Liturgy and performed a moleben at Kursk’s Znamensky Cathedral before the miracle-working Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign.”

This great holy icon of the land of Kursk has been in the Kursk Metropoliate from September 23 until October 4.

During its stay in Kursk, over 100,000 people have been able to venerate the icon, receive spiritual strength and consolation, including people of Kursk oblast and pilgrims from other regions in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Znamensky Cathedral was open 24 hours a day so that people could venerate the icon, while priests performed non-stop molebens and akathists.

Despite the early morning, many residents of Kursk came to bid farewell to the icon. Officials of the oblast and city government, headed by Governor Alexander Mikhailov and Head of the Kursk Administration, Nikolai Ovcharov.

The Ruling Bishop of the Kursk Metropoliate expressed genuine gratitude that the visit of the icon was extended in order to allow more people the chance to pray before it, and to visit medical centers, including a perinatal center, an oncological clinic, a children’s hospital) which gave great consolation to many patients.

The people of Kursk hope that the icon will once again return to the land where it was first found. The Queen of Heaven, by Her visits in the form of this icon, brings great joy and helps the faithful overcome daily obstacles and sorrows.

Metropolitan German then blessed all in attendance with the miracle-working icon on the cathedral’s narthex, and the icon then departed, leaving behind the hope for another visit next year.

Press Service of the Kursk Diocese