Wonderworking Sitka Icon visits NE Ohio Orthodox parishes

The Wonderworking Sitka Icon of the Mother of God

PARMA, OH [OCA Communications] — The wonderworking Sitka Icon of the Mother of God will be available for veneration at several Cleveland-area Orthodox churches October 8-9, 2005 as part of a two-month pilgrimage that began in Seattle, WA on September 7.

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.

“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.”

Numerous miraculous healings have been ascribed to the intercession of the Mother of God as a result of prayers offered before the icon.

“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.

The icon will visit the following parishes across the midwest.

Saturday, October 8Holy Trinity Church, 6822 Broadview Rd., Parma, OH; 5:00 p.m. Great Vespers and Akathistos Hymn.

Sunday morning, October 9Archangel Michael Church, 5025 East Mill Rd., Broadview Heights, OH; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy and Service of Intercession.

Sunday evening, October 9Saint Elia the Prophet Church, 64 West Wilbeth Rd., Akron, OH; 7:00 p.m. Akathistos Hymn.

The icon will also visit two additional parishes in early November.

Saturday / Sunday, November 5 / 6Saint John the Baptist Church, 301 Struthers-Liberty Rd., 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, 2238 East 32 St., Lorain, OH; 7:00 p.m. Akathistos Hymn Sunday; Monday Divine Liturgy at 9:00 a.m.

A complete schedule of the icon’s visits is posted on the web site of the Diocese of Alaska at www.dioceseofalaska.org. Photo galleries of the icon’s prior visits may also be found on the Diocese of Alaska’s web site.