KURSK, RUSSIA: September 28, 2017
A Delegation of the Russian Church Abroad Participates in Divine Services on the Elevation of the Cross of the Lord in Znamensky Cathedral in Kursk

On September 27, 2017, the feast day of the Elevation of the Holy Life-Giving Cross of the Lord, His Eminence Metropolitan German of Kursk and Rylsk and His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan celebrated Divine Liturgy at Znamensky Cathedral in the city of Kursk, Russia, where the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign” was recently brought.

On the eve of the holiday, Metropolitan German performed all-night vigil and the Rite of the Elevation of the Cross.

Joining the hierarchs for Liturgy the next day were Protopriest Andrei Ivanov, Secretary of the Kursk Diocesan Administration; Hegumen Serafim (Kotelnikov), Prior of Kursk-Root Hermitage of the Nativity of the Mother of God; Protopriest Vitaly Kireev, Dean of Medvensk district; along with clergymen of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia accompanying the icon and local clerics.

At the end of service, the hierarchs and clergymen prostrated themselves before the cross and the miracle-working Kursk Icon of the Mother of God. Metropolitan German thanked Bishop Nicholas for their joint service and expressed the joy shared by many thousands of people of Kursk who have the opportunity to pray before and venerate their native icon. Vladyka German then gave Vladyka Nicholas a gift of a set of bishop’s vestments.

In return, Vladyka Nicholas congratulated everyone on the great feast day and thanked the Ruling Bishop of Kursk for his prayers and hospitality.