On Saturday, September 21, Orthodox around the world celebrated one of the most revered feasts – the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos.

Divine Liturgy in the cathedral church of the Kursk Root Hermitage was led by Metropolitan Herman of Kursk & Rylsk. Concelebrating with His Eminence were Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, monastery Abbot Seraphim (Kotelnikov), clergy of the ROCOR delegation, and monastery clerics.

The evening prior, Metropolitan Herman led the All-Night Vigil, co-served by Bishop Benjamin of Zheleznogorsk & Lgov, Bishop Paisius of Shchigry & Manturovo, and Bishop Nicholas.

The service was held under the aegis of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.

Praying at Liturgy was Abbess Elizabeth (Semenova), along with the sisters of the Zolotukhino Convent Venerable Alexis the Man of God, as well as a multitude of parishioners, citizens of Kursk, and pilgrims from other cities of Russia wishing to share in the joy of the feast.

At the conclusion of Liturgy, the hierarchs performed a procession around the cathedral and served a moleben. Metropolitan Herman then congratulated all those praying on the occasion the feast of the ancient hermitage, underscoring the great meaning of the feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God.