KURSK, RUSSIA: July 24, 2019
A pilgrimage led by Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada visits Kursk-Root Hermitage

On Saturday evening, July 20, 2019, a pilgrimage from the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, headed by His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, arrived at Kursk-Root Hermitage of the Nativity of the Mother of God. Here, thirty kilometers from the city of Kursk, Russia, the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign" was discovered in the 13th century, where a world-renowned monastery was then founded.

During that time of destruction of the Russian cities and towns by Khan Batu (1295), hunters in the forest near the Tuskar River saw an icon embedded in the roots of a large tree. One of them lifted the image, and as he did so, a stream sprang forth from the ground underneath.

Comparatively recently, a memorial to St Seraphim of Sarov, who hailed from Kursk, sculpted by the artist Vyacheslav Klykov), was erected at the monastery. Having been healed by the Kursk-Root Icon at the age of ten, St Seraphim often visited his hometown.

The pilgrims arrived in time for vigil, and the next day, the feast day of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, Vladyka Gabriel officiated at Divine Liturgy at the monastery’s Church of the Nativity of the Most-Holy Mother of God along with the monastic clergymen. After lunch, the pilgrims visited Znamensky Cathedral and other churches of Kursk.

mcdiocese.com