Wonderworking Sitka Icon visits Midwest parishes

On September 28, 2005, Holy Trinity Church in Overland Park, KS was filled to capacity for the celebration of the Akathist to the Sitka Icon with clergy serving from the Kansas City, Lincoln, Omaha, and Nebraska areas.

WICHITA, KS [OCA Communications] — On Tuesday, September 27, 2005, Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral here was the first of over a dozen parishes across the midwest slated to host the wonderworking Sitka Icon of the Mother of God as it makes its way across the US on 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.”

While the icon had visited a number of parishes in the “lower 48” during the past three decades, the present pilgrimage marks the first time that it is being made available to the faithful in so many parishes coast-to-coast.

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.

Tuesday, September 27—Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, Wichita, KS; 7:00 p.m. Akathistos Hymn.

Wednesday, September 28Holy Trinity Church, Overland Park, KS; 7:00 p.m.
Akathistos Hymn.

Thursday, September 29Nativity of the Holy Virgin Church, Madison, IL; 7:00 p.m. Akathistos Hymn.

Friday / Saturday, September 30 / October 1Saint Mary Cathedral, Minneapolis, MN; 7:00 p.m. Great Vespers and Akathistos Hymn Friday evening; Divine Liturgy and Service of Intercession Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m.

Saturday, October 1Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, Milwaukee, WI; 6:00 p.m. Great Vespers.

Sunday, October 2Saint Joseph Church, Wheaton, IL; 8:00, 9:30, and 11:30 Divine Liturigies, with Services of Intercession after each Liturgy.

Sunday evening, October 2—Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, Chicago, IL; 7:00 p.m. Akathistos Hymn.

Monday, October 3Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chicago, IL; 7:00 p.m.
Akathistos Hymn.

Tuesday, October 4Saint Nicholas Church, Kenosha, WI; 7:00 p.m.
Akathistos Hymn.

Wednesday / Thursday, October 5 / 6Holy Transfiguration Church, Livonia, MI; 7:00 p.m. Akathistos Hymn Wednesday evening; Divine Liturgy and Service of Intercession Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m.

Thursday / Friday, October 6 / 7Dormition of the Mother of God Monastery, Rives Junction, MI; 5:00 p.m. Vespers and Akathistos Hymn Thursday evening; Divine Liturgy Friday morning at 8:00 a.m.

Friday, October 7Holy Ascension Monastery, Detroit, MI; 6:00 p.m.
Vespers and Akathistos Hymn.

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

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

Sunday, October 9—Saint Elia Church, Akron, OH; 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; Divine Liturgy Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m.

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

A complete schedule of the icon’s visits is posted on the OCA web site at http://www.oca.org and on the web site of the Diocese of Alaska at www.dioceseofalaska.org. Photo galleries of the icon’s visits may also be found on the Diocese of Alaska’s web site.