Met. Nicholas Brings Kursk Root Icon to South Carolina Parish
Met. Nicholas visited a South Carolina parish with the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon, urging the faithful to respond wholeheartedly to God’s call in their spiritual lives.
COLUMBIA, SC — Met. Nicholas of Eastern America and New York paid an archpastoral visit on December 27–28 to St. Elizabeth the New Martyr Church in West Columbia, South Carolina, coinciding with the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers. Accompanying the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad was the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, venerated by the faithful throughout the services.
Met. Nicholas presided at the All-Night Vigil on Saturday and celebrated Divine Liturgy on Sunday, concelebrated by parish clergy. During the Sixth Hour, he tonsured Thomas Venkatesh a reader for service at St. Peter the Aleut Mission in Tennessee.
In his sermon, the Metropolitan reflected on the Gospel parable of the “Great Supper,” urging believers not to make excuses in their spiritual lives but to answer God’s call, following the example of the Mother of God and the Holy Forefathers.
Following the Liturgy, he greeted clergy and parishioners, presented commemorative icons, and joined the community for a festal meal before departing with the Kursk Root Icon for pastoral visits.
Previously, the UOJ reported that the Kursk Root Icon had visited parishes in Southern France.
