The wonder-working Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, Indicator of the Path for the Russian Diaspora, spiritually warmed the hearts of Orthodox Washingtonians by being with them from December 1 to 8.

On Saturday, December 1, at exactly 4:00 PM, the beginning of the English-language All-Night Vigil, and to the festive peal of bells, the clergy of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist greeted the wonder-working Icon. The Icon was accompanied by its guardian, Priest Nicholas Olhovsky. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, former Primate of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), attended and prayed at this early Vigil. The Icon remained at the cathedral through the conclusion of the later, Slavonic-language Vigil. Over the course of these two evening services, the cathedral’s four priests (rector Archpriest Victor Potapov, Priest John Johnson, Priest Alexander Resnikoff, and Priest Victor Klimenko) heard the confessions of a multitude of the faithful, who were eager to be cleansed of their sins and to be made worthy to partake of Christ’s Holy Gifts the following morning in the presence of the Wonder-working Icon. After the conclusion of the Slavonic Vigil, hearing confessions continued while an Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos, as well as other prayers, were chanted.

On Sunday December 2, the feast day of the Holy Hierarch Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow, a multitude of people prayed before the Kursk Root Icon and an icon of St. Philaret, in which was set a relic of the great 19th century hierarch. Hundreds of people communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, was the principal celebrant at the later Liturgy. Molebens were served after each Liturgy, and each of the faithful received a printed copy of the Kursk Root Icon as a memento of its visit.

The Icon also enhanced the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist with its presence on the great feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple. After the festal Liturgy, once again led by Metropolitan Jonah, the Icon was taken to visit sick and elderly people, who because of illness could not come to the cathedral.

One particularly memorable visit was to an elderly man in a wheelchair. After a moleben was served in the man’s apartment, his wife revealed that her husband had never been baptized. Fr. Victor offered to baptize him. With the couple’s enthusiastic and joyous consent, the rite of the Mystery of Holy Baptism commenced. It was touching to witness with what trepidation he responded to the question "Do you renounce Satan and all his works and all of his servants, and all of his pride?" by loudly and resolutely exclaiming "I do renounce him!" Tears of joy and compunction could be seen on his face. What mercy was shown that man by God! On the feast of the Entry of the Theotokos into the Temple, his home was visited by an icon that appeared 717 years ago, one of Holy Russia’s most revered icons, and in its presence, he was able to receive the Mysteries of Holy Baptism and Communion of Christ’s Holy Gifts. In your prayers, please include the grievously ill, newly-illumined servant of God Sergei.

Every day over the course of the entire week, the Icon would visit the sick and elderly at their homes and at hospitals throughout the Washington area. It was quite touching to see Lydia Anatolievna Feokistova, at age 103 the oldest parishioner of St. John the Baptist Cathedral, pray before the Kursk Icon and talk with the Theotokos as if she were talking with her own beloved mother…

On the evening of Tuesday, December 4, the Icon visited the campus of the University of Maryland. There, a moleben and akathist were served in English, Slavonic, and Greek at a student meeting of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship.

On Wednesday, December 5, the parishioners of Holy Apostles Church in Beltsville, MD received the wonder-working Icon at their church.

On Thursday, December 6, a farewell moleben and akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos were served at St. John the Baptist Cathedral. In his homily, Fr. Victor Potapov shared his recollections of how, in Russia, he had seen people stand patiently in all kinds of weather for many hours, just to have an opportunity to spend a moment with and venerate the wonder-working Icon. Fr. Victor added, "Here, we have had the Icon with us for an entire week! How endlessly we should thank our Lord Jesus Christ for showing us such kindness!"

Wanting to venerate the Holy Icon again and again, the faithful were reluctant to disperse for a long while.

On Friday, December 7, the Icon was taken to the OCA Cathedral of St. Nicholas. At the cathedral gates, the Icon was greeted by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, newly elected Primate of the OCA, and by cathedral clergy. Also praying at the moleben was world-renowned theologian and author of religious works, His Eminence Kallistos (Ware), Metropolitan of Diokleia. In a brief homily, Metropolitan Kallistos said that he had first prayed before the Kursk Icon 53 years ago in New York, and that he will forever have fond, thankful memories of the wonder-working Icon, which imparts to all who turn to it the warmth of Christ’s divine light.

Early in the morning on Saturday, December 8, Priest Nicholas Olhovsky, the Icon’s guardian, took the Holy Treasure to the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City, which on Monday, December 10, will celebrate its patronal feast day.