Metropolitan Hilarion brings main shrine of Russian Church Abroad to Russia

Moscow, September 14, Interfax –First hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Metropolitan Hilarion came to Moscow last Saturday and brought the main shrine of the Russian Church Abroad the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.

The icon will stay in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior for ten days, so that Orthodox believers can have a chance to worship it. The icon arrived to the Cathedral right from the Sheremetyevo-2 Airport.

On September 23, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will bring the icon to the Kursk Root Hermitage, where it was once found.

Bringing of the holy icon to Russia coincides with annual celebrations dedicated to the anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo held on September 21, the Nativity of the Holy Virgin. The Kursk Root Icon was once exactly on this day.

Answering the questions of journalists, Metropolitan Hilarion supported the idea of making the anniversary of the Battle of Kulikovo a state holiday. Representatives of the Orthodox community have earlier promoted this idea and stressed that thanks to the Kulikovo victory, Russia became an independent state.