KURSK, RUSSIA: September 26, 2018
The Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign” is brought on a processionof the cross in Kursk Metropoliate

On September 25, 2018, the Apodosis of the Nativity of the Most-Holy Mother of God, according to ancient tradition, a procession of the cross took place with the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign" from Kursk-Root Hermitage of the Nativity of the Mother of God, to Znamensky Monastery in the city of Kursk, Russia.

The icon, which became the main holy icon of the Russian diaspora in the 20th century, appeared in Kursk in 1295, where the Kursk-Root Hermitage was later established.

On the morning of September 25, His Eminence Metropolitan German of Kursk and Rylsk celebrated Divine Liturgy along with His Eminence Metropolitan Zinovy of Saransk and Mordovia, His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, His Grace Bishop Veniamin of Zheleznogorsk and Lgovsk, His Grace Bishop Paisy of Shchigrovsk and Manturovsk and a host of clergymen.

After the service, to the peal of bells and singing of prayers, a procession of the cross commenced with the image of the Queen of Heaven, accompanied by an enormous stream of worshipers. The first stop on the way was made at Znamensky Church in the town of Tazovo, Zolotoukhinsky region, where a moleben was performed before the miracle-working icon. The icon arrived in the city of Kursk at 3 pm. The icon was joyously greeted at Vvedensky Church, where Metropolitan German blessed the residents of Kursk and the pilgrims, and the procession continued through the streets of the city, which was celebrating Kursk Day. Igor Shchegolyov, Plenipotentiary Representative of President Putin, participated, as did Governor Alexander Mikhailov, Nikolai Ovcharov, Head of the Kursk Municipality, and other officials and leading social figures.

The procession continued to Znamensky Cathedral, where Metropolitan German, Bishop Nicholas and Bishop Veniamin performed a moleben in the plaza before the church. Vladyka German then congratulated the people of Kursk on this annual holiday, and expressed profound joy that they can venerate the Kursk-Root Icon every year.

The Kursk-Root Icon will remain at Znamensky Cathedral until October 3, where molebens and akathist services will be performed around the clock, when worshipers will be able to venerate the holy icon. On September 26, Metropolitan German will visit medical institutions in Kursk with the holy icon. On October 1, the icon will be taken to Uspensky Cathedral in Rylsk.