On the great feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord, Eastern American Diocesan Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan participated in the divine services in Kursk, Russia.

On the eve of the feast, Tuesday, September 26, His Grace led the Rite of the Exaltation of the Cross during All-Night Vigil in the Kursk Root Hermitage, co-served by monastery rector Abbot Seraphim (Kotelnikov). Meanwhile, the clerics accompanying Bishop Nicholas on the pilgrimage – Archpriest Alexander Logunov (rector of Reigning Mother of God Church in Charlotte, NC) and Deacon Nicholas Park (cleric of St. Nicholas Church in McKinney, TX) – co-served with Metropolitan Herman of Kursk & Rylsk at Vigil in Kursk’s Cathedral of the Sign.

On Wednesday, September 27, the very day of the feast, Metropolitan Herman celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Sign, co-served by Bishop Nicholas, local clergy, and clergy from the Russian Church Abroad. Singing the divine service was a festal male choir. The services were held under the aegis of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God.

A stream of the faithful who wished to venerate and pray before the holy image, lasted all day. With the exception of the festal divine services, akathists were read before the icon once every hour.

During the second half of the day, Metropolitan Herman and Bishop Nicholas served an akathist and oversaw the laying of the cornerstone of the future Church of the Exaltation of the Cross in Kursk. Parishioners have outgrown the current church, and thus the time has come to build one larger.