On Friday, September 22, a delegation of the Russian Church Aboard, led by His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, began their pilgrimage to Russia. Among the delegation are Archpriest Alexandre Antchoutine (dean of Long Island & the Hudson Valley), Archprist Alexander Logunov (rector of Reigning Mother of God Church in Charlotte, NC), Deacon Nicholas Park (cleric of St. Nicholas Church in McKinney, TX), and Reader George Konyev (Diocesan Media Office staffer).

Upon the delegation’s arrival at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport, the clergy and those accompanying them were taken to Kursk by helicopter. The helicopter landed on a field near the Kursk Root Hermitage, where the icon was greeted in procession led by His Eminence Herman, Metropolitan of Kursk & Rylsk. Metropolitan Herman then served a moleben, co-served by Bishop Nicholas, Bishop Benjamin of Zheleznogorsk & Lgov, Bishop Paisius of Shchigry & Manturovo, and clergy of the Diocese of Kursk.

Upon completion of the moleben, Metropolitan Herman greeted the delegation from the Russian Church Abroad, as well as all of the faithful who had gathered to greet the wonderworking icon. His Eminence then presented Bishop Nicholas with a set of blue vestments.