The
wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God from Sitka, Alaska,
is being taken on a pilgrimage for the first time in history,
to over 60 Orthodox Christian parishes across the US from September
7 through November 7, 2005. This 19th-century icon is adorned
with a magnificent gold and silver metal covering. The icon
was commissioned for Sitka's Archangel Michael Cathedral by
Saint Innocent Veniaminov in the early 1800s and has been enshrined
in the cathedral since its arrival 150 years ago. The icon is
attributed to Vladimir Borovikovsky, a leading artist of the
time and one of Russia's most revered painters. Miraculously,
the icon survived a fire that destroyed the original cathedral
in 1966. Over the years, many healings and miracles have been
credited through the intercession of the Holy Virgin in response
to prayers offered by countless faithful before the icon. It
is believed that the gaze of the eyes of the Theotokos (Birth-Giver
of God) has led to the restored health of those who prayed before
the icon. Because of the sereneness of the Theotokos, the icon
has been described as a pearl of Russian ecclesiastical art
of ineffable gentleness, peacefulness, and harmony . . . the
most beautiful face of the Mother of God with the Divine Child
in her arms is so delicately and artistically done that the
more one looks at it, the more difficult it is to tear ones
gaze away. Below are some pictures taken on October 25 and 26,
2005 during the icon's visit here. |
|