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Samarkand, Uzbekistan: Kursk Root Icon visits one of World’s Oldest Cities

On Friday, September 13 – the feast of the Deposition of the Precious Cincture of the Most Holy Theotokos in a church of Constantinople’s Blachernae Church – the head of the Central Asian Metropolitanate, Metropolitan Vikenty (Vincent) of Tashkent & Uzbekistan and Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan brought the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God to the ancient city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan. Also accompanying the holy image were clerics of the Diocese of Australia & New Zealand.

After the triumphal greeting of the icon in St. Alexis Cathedral in Samarkand, Metropolitan Vikenty celebrated Divine Liturgy, joined by the clergy of the deanery and visiting clerics.

Upon completion of Liturgy, a moleben was served before the holy image, after which the archpastor addressed worshipers with an edifying sermon. Metropolitan Vikenty congratulated the citizens of Samarkand with the great joy of the visitation of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign."

History

Samarkand is one the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, founded in the 8th century B.C. From 1370-1499, it was the capital of the Timurid Empire. In 1868, it became part of the Russian Empire, and from 1925-1930 it was the capital of Uzbekistan. For more than two thousand years, the city was a key stop on the Great Silk Road between China and Europe, as well as one of the main centers of scientific study in the Mediæval East. Among the city’s most famous landmarks is the Ulugh Beg Observatory, one of the most renowned scientific centers of the Middle Ages, which at its peak was the workplace of 60-70 astronomers.

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Samarkand, Uzbekistan: Kursk Root Icon visits one of World’s Oldest Cities - 09/13/19

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Eastern American Diocese | Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia