The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

KURSK: October 8, 2018
Metropolitan German of Kursk and Rylsk sends a letter of thanks to the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad

To His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York,
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Your Eminence, Dear and Esteemed Vladyka!

I extend my heartfelt thanks for your blessing for another visit of the holy, miracle-working Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign," which brought us all spiritual joy and consolation.

In accordance with tradition, the icon stayed at Kursk-Root Hermitage until September 25, and after Divine Liturgy, it was taken on a procession of the cross with many thousands of participants to Kursk, where a moleben was performed before Znamensky Cathedral.

The next day I brought the holy icon to many medical facilities: chidren’s hospitals, oncological centers, the municipal hospital “Speedy Aid,” the reanimation center of the oblast hospital, where the entire medical staff emerged to greet the icon, and then prayed during a divine service (moleben) and venerated the holy icon. Those who are gravely ill I visited in their rooms.

This year the miraculous icon visited the ancient city of Rylsk, which was declared a public holiday, and thousands of people were given the opportunity to visit the cathedral and kiss the icon.

I bring my thanks also to His Grace Bishop Nicholas and the clergymen accompanying him, with whom we concelebrated divine services and had brotherly communion.

For all of us, these days were days of joy and spiritual celebration, for which we thank you again and again.

I earnestly ask you, You Eminence, dear Vladyka, to bless the bringing of the miracle-working icon to Kursk again next year, from September 22 to October 4, 2019.

We earnestly and prayerfully wish Your Eminence good health, the many mercies of God and His grace-filled aid in your lofty and responsible labors as Primate of the Russian Church Abroad.

With love in the Lord and profound respect,

+German,
Metropolitan of Kursk and Rylsk