Final week of pilgrimage with Sitka Icon begins

Click here for a complete schedule with contact information for the Sitka Icon pilgrimage.

On October 22-23, 2005, Vigil, Divine Liturgy, and an evening Akathist were celebrated by St. Nicholas Cathedral clergy and hundreds of faithful before the Sitka Icon.

NORTH CANTON, OH [OCA Communications] — The two-month pilgrimage of the wonderworking Sitka Icon of the Mother of God will conclude with services at Saint George Serbian Orthodox Church here on Wednesday, November 9, 2005.

In recent weeks, the icon visited parishes in the Middle Atlantic states, New England, and across the south. The icon has been >visiting parishes across the “lower 48” states since September 7.

The Akathistos Hymn will be sung at Saint George’s at 7:00 p.m.

His Grace, Bishop Nikolai of Sitka, Anchorage, and Alaska initially presented the proposal for the cross-country pilgrimage to His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman and the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America in 2004. In the summer of 2005, the icon visited numerous parishes and communities across Alaska in preparation for the pilgrimage.

On October 25, 2005, faithful filled Holy Transfiguration Mission to pray during Great Vespers before the Sitka Icon in Raleigh-Durham, NC.

“The icon was commissioned by Saint Innocent Veniaminov, the first ruling bishop in North America,” said the Very Rev. John Matusiak, OCA communications director. “It has been enshrined in Archangel Michael Cathedral, Sitka, AK, since the mid-1800s.

“The icon miraculously survived the fire that completely destroyed the Sitka cathedral in the mid-1960s,” he added, “and it subsequently was enshrined in the rebuilt cathedral several years later.”

Accompanying the icon during the pilgrimage are clergy from Alaska, who in addition to concelebrating at services in the icon’s presence are offering an overview of the life and needs of the Diocese of Alaska, the “mother diocese” of Orthodox Christianity in North America.

In addition to the North Canton parish, the icon will visit the following parishes during its final week.

On October 27, 2005, faithful packed into St. Mary of Egypt Church in Norcross, GA, to pray before the Sitka Icon.

Wednesday, November 2—Saint Stephen Church, Orlando [Longwood], FL—7:00 p.m. Akathistos Hymn.

Thursday, November 3The Orthodox Christian Mission Center, St.
Augustine, FL—7:00 p.m. Akathistos Hymn.

Friday, November 4Saint Justin Martyr Church, Jacksonville, FL—7:00 p.m. Akathistos Hymn.

Saturday / Sunday, November 5 / 6Saint John the Baptist Church, Campbell, OH—5:00 p.m. Great Vespers and Akathistos Hymn Saturday; Sunday Divine Liturgy and Service of Intercession at 10:00 a.m.

Sunday / Monday, November 6 / 7Saints Peter and Paul Church, Lorain, OH
— 7:00 p.m. Akathistos Hymn Sunday evening; Monday Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.

Tuesday, November 8—Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, NY—6:00 a.m.
Divine Liturgy and Akathistos Hymn.

Wednesday, November 9, 2005Monastery of the Transfiguration, Ellwood City, PA—10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy and Akathistos Hymn.

Extensive photo galleries of the icon’s visit to dozens of parishes are posted on the web site of the Diocese of Alaska at www.dioceseofalaska.org.