On Saturday, December 14, 2024, just before the All-night Vigil at Holy Virgin Cathedral His Eminence Archbishop KYRILL of San Francisco and Western America, the clergy and faithful greeted the Directress of the Russian Diaspora, the Wonderworking “Kursk-Root” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, who came to the San Francisco Deanery on Her way to Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Seattle, WA, for the latter’s Patronal Feast Day.

On the morning of December 14 – the day of commemoration of the Holy Prophet of God Nahum and Saint Philaret the Merciful, – His Grace THEODOSY Bishop of Seattle presided at the Divine Liturgy along with clergy of the diocese and the staff and pupils of the Saint Cyril and Methodius Gymnasia at Holy Virgin Cathedral.

On Sunday, December 15, the 25th Sunday after Pentecost, the holy icon was present at both the early and later Divine Liturgies. His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill presided at the second Liturgy with clergy of the cathedral. The bishop’s choir sang under the direction of the choir conductor Vladimir Krassovsky.

On Monday, December 16, the Directress of the Russian Diaspora was present during a regularly scheduled Meeting of the Diocesan Council of the Western American Diocese, where many important topics were deliberated upon that affect the life of the Diocese. The members of the Diocesan Council prayed for the blessing of the Most Holy Theotokos on all of their resolutions and plans.

Then that evening a moleben was performed before Her at the Kazan Church of the Mother of God on California Street in San Francisco. At the time, many parishioners and faithful of San Francisco welcomed the new Rector of the Kazan Church, Igumen Nicholai (Perekrestov). Here again, the Mother of God brought a blessing to this new beginning of the Kazan Church and its community.

On December 17, the “Kursk-Root” Icon traveled to the Northern Deanery of the Western American to support and console the clergy and faithful of Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Seattle, WA, on their Patronal Feast Day.