KURSK, RUSSIA: October 2, 2017
The People of Kursk Bid Goodbye to the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign” With Hopes of Another Visit

In the early morning of October 2, 2017, His Eminence Metropolitan German of Kursk and Rylsk celebrated Divine Liturgy before the miracle-working Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign” at Znamensky Cathedral in the city of Kursk, along with other clergymen of his diocese.

This was the ninth visit of the great holy icon to the Kursk region after having become, in the 20th century, the “Hodigitria” of the Russian diaspora.

This year the icon was venerated by over 100,000 worshipers of and pilgrims to Kursk oblast, who thereby obtained spiritual consolation and support. Znamensky Cathedral was kept open 24 hours a day for the benefit of those who wished to pray before the icon of the Queen of Heaven, as clergymen performed an endless cycle of molebens and akathists before it.

Early Monday morning, many of the residents of Kursk came to bid goodbye to the Kursk-Root Icon. They expressed hope that the icon would once again be brought to the land where it was first discovered over 700 years ago. The goodness and light that is sensed from the presence of the icon will long be felt in the hearts and minds of the people of Kursk, helping overcome troubles and sorrows.

The Ruling Bishop of Kursk then blessed the city with the holy image and accompanied it to the airport. A delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia then took the icon to Orenburg Diocese.