Pochaiyv Theotokos Icon Returns to Ukraine

Ukrainian Orthodox Church

The wonderworking icon of the Mother of God of Pochayiv stayed in Moscow on November 4-15. Initially it stayed at the central exhibition hall Manezh (during the work of the 8th church-public exhibition forum “Orthodox Rus” – on the day of people’s unity”).

Since November 8 the shrine was taken to the Moscow Theophany Cathedral. By approximate calculations throughout this period near one hundred and six thousand people venerated the icon.

In the evening of November 15 the vicar of the Moscow diocese, Archbishop Arseny of Istrinsk in concelebration of the Vicar of the Kyiv Metropolis Bishop Hilary of Makariv and the clergymen of the Moscow churches performed the prayer service at the icon. The wonderworking icon was placed to the car and delivered to the Kyivsky Railway station of Moscow in the company of escort. In the sacred procession the shrine was carried to the railway platform. Separate carriage N.1 of the Moscow-Kyiv train was provided for the shrine. During 20 minutes when the icon stayed by the carriage all those willing who were present at the station kissed it.

The wonderworking icon stayed at the Russian capital in the framework of the sacred procession performed this autumn on the occasion of the 450th anniversary of bringing the Pochayiv Icon of the Mother of God to Volyn. From Kyiv the shrine departed to Pochayiv. In a week the sacred procession throughout the dioceses of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with the icon will continue.

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