Patriarch Kirill prays at the main shrine of Russian Diaspora
The Root Icon of Our Lady of Kursk ‘the Sign’ was brought from Kursk to Moscow in the morning of June 8, 2010, by Archbishop Mark of Berlin-Germany and Great Britain and a delegation of the Russian Church Outside Russia, the Patriarchal press service has reported.
From the Domodedovo airport, where the shrine was met by Archbishop Arseny of Istra, the Root Icon was brought to the Church of Christ the Saviour. At the western gates of the cathedral, the miracle-working icon was met by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and numerous clergy.
His Holiness took the icon into the church and blessed the congregation with it from the solea. Then the icon was placed at the lectern in the middle of the church.
Patriarch Kirill celebrated a thanksgiving at the icon, assisted by an assembly of bishops and clergy.
Present at the service were Russian Federation Prosecutor General Yu. Chaika and his deputy A. Zvyagintsev.
After the thanksgiving His Holiness Patriarch Kirill addressed the congregation.
The main shrine of the Russian Diaspora was brought to the Russian Orthodox Church on May 13. It was in Ukraine till May 25 and in Kursk from May 25 to June 8. On June 8 it will be taken back to Munich.