AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND: December 9, 2010
The Kursk Root Icon Makes an Airborne Procession of the Cross Over Auckaland

On Wednesday, December 7, 2011, with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, the first ever airborne procession of the cross with the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God “of the Sign” was held. The icon, accompanied by the Dean of the New Zealand Parishes of the Russian Church Abroad, Protopriest Vladimir Boikov, and the escort of the icon, Deacon Nicholas Olhovsky, flew around the city of Auckland, New Zealand, on a small plane. The aircraft was lovingly provided by the parishioners of Holy Resurrection Church, Alexander Zapisetsky, the pilot, and Igor Ivanov. They are directors of the company Eagle Flight Training.

The holy icon visited New Zealand from November 29 to December 7, and was met everywhere by believers, Russians, Serbs, Greeks, Rumanians, Arabs and New Zealanders, with trepidation and piety. A photo-chronology of the blessed event is being prepared, and a report is available here: http://www.orthodox.net.nz/news.html