KURSK, RUSSIA: October 2, 2017
The Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign” Is Brought to Medical Institutions in Kursk

On September 29, 2017, the miracle-working Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign” was taken from Znamensky Cathedral in the city of Kursk, Russia, to visit medical and social centers of the city.

The great icon was taken first thing in the morning by His Eminence Metropolitan German of Kursk and Rylsk to the Church of St Panteleimon the Healer at Kursk’s Clinical Psychiatric Hospital. Parishioners, medical staff and patients greeted the image of the Queen of Heaven with great joy, and prayed for the speedy conclusion of the renovation of the church.

For the second time, the holy icon was then brought to the Oblast Specialized Home for Children. A moleben to the Mother of God was served, during which the children were picked up by staff to approach the icon. The Kursk-Root Icon was then brought to Oblast Children’s Hospital No. 2; the Oblast Children’s Clinic on Kol’tsova Street; Kursk Municipal Clinical Hospital for Urgent Medical Care; the Oncological Dispensary on Pirogov Street and the Oncocenter in Kislino. Moleben services were performed at each institution and the icon was brought to visit the bedridden.

The final stop on the tour was to the Oblast Perinatal Center, which helps young mothers and infants, as well as those preparing for parenthood.

Patients and medical staff alike thanked Vladyka German and the clergymen for the joy they sensed from the visit of the image of the Most-Holy Mother of God. Many approached the icon with tears in their eyes, with trepidation and hope, for the icon brought them consolation and the strength to carry on in their struggle over their ailments.

On the way back to Znamensky Cathedral, Metropolitan German visited Preobrazhensky Church, where those in attendance prayed for the expeditions conclusion of construction, and then to the Department of the Ministry of Domestic Affairs of the Russian Federation, where Vladyka German thanked the officials for their help in arranging the visit of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God to the region.

On the morning of October 2, the Kursk-Root Icon will depart from Kursk and be brought to Orenburg Diocese.