http://www.orthodoxireland.com/Members/ ... 08-26.2508
Kursk Ikon Visits Ireland
Orthodox Christians in Ireland were blessed this past weekend by the
visit of the wonder-working Kursk Root Ikon of the Theotokos.
The ancient ikon, whose remarkable history has been intertwined with
that of Russian Orthodox Christians for seven centuries, visited
Orthodox churches in Dublin and Belfast.
On Friday evening, Father Vadim Zakrevsky of the Russian Orthodox
Cathedral of the Dormition (ROCOR) in London brought the ikon to the
newly-established Russian Orthodox Church of St Peter and St Paul in
Dublin (ROC-MP), where a Moleben and Akathist were served. In
attendance were Father George Zavershinsky, rector of St Peter and St
Paul church, as well as Archbishop Anatoly of Kerch (ROC-Sourozh
Diocese).
Father Vadim then travelled to Belfast on Saturday morning to
celebrate the Divine Liturgy with Father Geoffrey Ready at Holy
Trinity Orthodox Church, a small English-language mission parish
(ROCOR).
On Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, the ikon returned to Dublin
to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church (Greek Archdiocese of
Thyateira), where many hundreds of faithful gathered to worship
together and venerate the holy ikon. The Sunday Liturgy was
concelebrated by Father Ireneu Craciun, rector of Annunciation
church, Father Vadim and Father Geoffrey. Also serving was Father
Deacon Christian Gheorghiu of Annunciation church.
In his sermon, Father Vadim reminded the gathered faithful that the
proper response to the tremendous blessing which the Lord bestows
upon His people is a life of spiritual struggle, prayer and fasting --
fasting not only from food at appointed times, but fasting at all
times from sin, from temptation, from all that prevents us from
honouring and worshipping God in company with the Holy Theotokos and
all the saints.
Speaking after the Divine Liturgy, Father Ireneu recalled the ikon's
first visit to the Dublin in July 1993, when the church was going
through a period of crisis. The community was homeless, having been
evicted from the rented premises they had used for a number of years.
The visit of the holy ikon had brought much comfort in the midst of
this distress, and within a month of the ikon's visit, the current
church property had been miraculously found.
In his remarks, Father Geoffrey reflected on the significance that
this Holy Liturgy and visit of the Kursk Root ikon fell between the
New and Old Calendar celebrations of the Feast of the Dormition of
the Theotokos. He recalled that, on the eve of the falling asleep of
the Virgin Mary, the Apostles who had spread out to all corners of
the inhabited world to spread the Gospel were miraculously brought
together in one place. Father Geoffrey gave thanks to God for a
similar gathering of Orthodox Christians from all parts of Ireland
and beyond, from different churches and different nationalities,
coming together to worship in true unity, sharing One Body and One
Cup. He expressed his hope that this Orthodox unity in Ireland would
be the lasting legacy of the ikon's visit.
Following the Divine Liturgy, Father Vadim returned to London where
the ikon will remain for the Feast of the Dormition. Archbishop Mark
will then return with the ikon to New York later in the week.
