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Published
by the Orthodox
Church in America,
October 7, 2005
Wonderworking
Sitka Icon visits NW Ohio Orthodox parishes
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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 8 -- Holy Trinity Church,
6822 Broadview Rd., Parma, OH; 5:00 p.m. Great
Vespers and Akathistos Hymn.
Sunday morning, October 9 -- Archangel
Michael Church, 5025 East Mill Rd., Broadview
Heights, OH; 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy and Service
of Intercession.
Sunday evening, October 9 -- Saint 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 / 6 -- Saint
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 / 7 -- Saints
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.
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