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Saturday, January 2, 2010
On Saturday, January 2, the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God visited Sts. Peter & Paul Church (OCA) in Jersey City, NJ. The parish was founded in 1907 by Priest-Martyr Alexander Hotovitzky, and for some time served as the cathedra of the ever-memorable Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko). The Liturgy was celebrated by the primate of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude, the Most Blessed Jonah, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada. His Beatitude was co-served by rector Archpriest Joseph Lickwar, Archimandrite Michael (Dahulich), bishop-elect of New York and New Jersey (consecration scheduled for May 8 of this year), secretary of ROCOR’s Eastern American Diocese Archpriest Serge Lukianov, and a multitude of local clergy of the OCA. During the Liturgy, Metropolitan Jonah ordained Deacon Igor Yakunin to the priesthood. After the service, the Metropolitan expressed his gratitude to Metropolitan Hilarion for his blessing to bring the Kursk Root Icon to this marvelous church. On behalf of the First Hierarch and the Diocesan Council, Fr. Serge greeted His Beatitude and presented him with a beautiful copy of the Kursk icon, in memory of the bringing of this miraculous icon to Sts. Peter & Paul Church. A copy of the icon was also given to the rector, Fr. Joseph, in memory of this grace-filled day. A bountiful luncheon was then offered in the parish hall, during which Fr. Serge presented the photomontage of the return of the icon to Russia. Father Joseph stated, ‘Today, Our Lady brought so many to this temple, and fulfilled the prayers of so many in uniting His servants together at the Holy Table of Her Son.”
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