Wonderworking Sitka Icon begins visits to Middle Atlantic, New England states

Continuing its pilgrimage across NE Ohio, the wonderworking Sitka Icon visits Holy Trinity Church, Parma, OH, on October 8, 2005.

ALLISON PARK, PA [OCA Communications] — Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
here was filled to capacity on Monday evening and Tuesday morning, October 10 and 11, 2005, as the wonderworking Sitka Icon of the Mother of God continued its two-month pilgrimage to parishes across the US 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.”

Subdeacons and altar servers surround the Sitka icon at St. Michael the Archangel Church, Broadview Heights, OH on October 9, 2005.

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 the middle Atlantic and New England states.

St. Elia the Prophet Church, Akron, OH, is packed with faithful who celebrated the Akathist service on the evening of October 9, 2005 before the icon left for its journey to the middle Atlantic and New England states.

Tuesday, October 11—Christ the Savior Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Johnstown, PA—7:00 p.m. Akathistos Hymn.

Wednesday, October 12Holy Resurrection Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre, PA; 7:00
p.m. Akathistos Hymn.

Thursday, October 13Christ the Savior Church, Harrisburg, PA; 7:00 p.m.
Akathistos Hymn.

Friday, October 14—Saint John the Baptist Church, Perth Amboy, NJ; 7:00
p.m. Akathistos Hymn.

Saturday, October 15Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral, New York, NY;
9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy and Service of Intercession; Vigil at 5:30 p.m.

Sunday morning, October 16—Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral, New
York, NY; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy and Service of Intercession.

Sunday evening, October 16—Holy Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church,
Brookville, NY; 6:00 p.m. Akathistos Hymn.

Monday afternoon, October 17Saint Sergius Chapel, Chancery of the
Orthodox Church in America, Syosset, NY; Noon Akathistos Hymn.

Monday evening, October 17Three Hierarchs Chapel, Saint Vladimir’s
Seminary, Crestwood, NY; 5:00 p.m. Akathistos Hymn.

Tuesday, October 18Holy Trinity Cathedral, Boston, MA; 6:30 p.m.
Akathistos Hymn.

Wednesday morning, October 19—Holy Epiphany Cathedral [ROCOR],
Roslindale, MA; 10:00 a.m. Akathistos Hymn.

Wednesday evening, October 19Holy Transfiguration Church, New Haven, CT;
7:00 p.m. Akathistos Hymn.

Thursday, October 20Saints Peter and Paul Church, South River, NJ; 7:00
p.m. Akathistos Hymn.

Friday afternoon, October 21Saint Nicholas Church, Bethlehem, PA; 3:00
p.m. Akathistos Hymn.

Friday evening, October 21Saint Stephen Cathedral, Philadelphia, PA; 7:00 p.m. Great Vespers and Akathistos Hymn.

Saturday, October 22Saint Herman of Alaska Church, Gradyville, PA; 10:00 a.m. Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and Service of Intervession.

Saturday / Sunday, October 22 / 23Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Washington, DC; 5:00 p.m. Vigil Saturday; Sunday Divine Liturgy and Service of
Intercession at 9:00 a.m.; 7:00 p.m. Akathistos Hymn Sunday evening.

Monday, October 24Saint Mark Church, Bethesda, MD—7:00 p.m. Akathistos Hymn.

On Tuesday, October 25, the icon will begin a series of visits throughout the southern states.

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.