VLADIVOSTOK, RUSSIA: November 19, 2013
Fifteen Thousand Venerate the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign"in Vladivostok

On the morning of November 18, 2013, Protection Cathedral in Vladivostok, Russia, welcomed an ancient holy icon. His Eminence Metropolitan Veniamin of Vladivostok and Primorsk led a moleben performed before the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign.” Vladyka Veniamin was joined by His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco and Western America of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and His Grace Bishop Innokenty of Ussuriisk, Vicar of the Vladivostok Diocese.

Also serving with the hierarchs were many clergymen of Primorsk Metropoliate; praying at the service were clergymen of the Russian Church Abroad.

The miracle-working icon was brought to Vladivostok on November 13 by a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. Some 15,000 people have venerated the image since then .

Priest Dimitry Fedorin, Dean of the First Deanery of the Vladivostok Diocese, commented:

Soon after the ceremonial greeting of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God on November 14 at Protection Cathedral, pilgrims began to line up to venerate it. People would stand in line for over an hour and more . The miraculous icon has been in Protection Cathedral for four full days, from November 14-17; the cathedral remained open 12 hours a day. In our estimation , there were 3,500-4,000 pilgrims a day . Consequently, we estimate that the total number of faithful venerating the holy icon in Vladivostok was over 15,000.

The Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign" has departed for the next cathedral city of the Primorsk Metropoliate, the city of Nakhodka, where it will remain from November 18-21 . In Nakhodka, the icon will be available for veneration at Kazan Cathedral. From November 21-22 , the icon will be in the city of Ussuriisk’s Protection Church, and from November 23-25 , in the city of Arseniev, Annunciation Cathedral.