Photo Journal: Holy Protection Russian Orthodox Church, Austin, Texas
A parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. Now at 1701 Peridot Rd., Pflugerville, TX 78660.   http://www.orthodoxaustin.org


Hear our choir (June 6 '09)----Our Father---Trisagion

Visit of the Miraculous Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God to Austin, Oct. 28, 2010

Left: The Holy Icon placed for veneration in Holy Protection Church, 5401-B Clay Ave. (click thumbnail to see greater detail).

The Holy Kursk-Root or Kurskaya-Korennaya Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God came from Lifegiving Spring parish in Bryan, Texas, to Holy Protection parish in Austin, Texas, just in time for 10:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy, Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010--feast of Sts. Euthymius the New and martyr Lukian. Confessions were heard during the Hours. At least 45 people were present at the morning Liturgy, completely filling up our small chapel. The Liturgy, served by Fr. Hieromonk Aidan and Fr. Paul Andreasen (chaplain at Ft. Hood army base) was radiant and beautiful. After it there was a talk on the history, importance, and miracles of the Holy Icon, then straightaway--shortly after noon--a moleben to the Most Pure Mother of God, after which all those present venerated the Holy Icon and were anointed. A delicious free luncheon was offered by the Sisterhood outside, and we were all able to meet a few new friends as well as see some old friends. Meanwhile, inside the Church, people continued to venerate the Holy Icon, with continuous reading from the Gospels. After luncheon the Holy Icon was taken to the site of our new church facility on Peridot Rd. Hymns were sung at the new church (which nears completion), but there was no time for a complete service there; the Holy Icon blessed all the corners of the property and then was raced to Seton Hospital. There, Maria's husband Guy was lying in serious condition. Blessed by the Presence of the Holy Icon, he was filled with gratitude and began to feel better (he was discharged shortly afterwards). Then there was a race to get the Holy Icon back to the chapel for the "open house veneration," during which the faithful present were allowed to read an akathist one by one. Prayers streamed forth from the layfolk in English and in Russian (sometimes briefly interrupted by tears of repentance) until 5:30 p.m., when Vespers began. After that service, and another explanatory talk on the Holy Icon, a general veneration of the Icon ensued. The faithful made their prostrations two by two, all receiving anointing and some blessed bread from Litia. There were 93 people present at the chapel for this service alone--unable to fit inside the building, people clustered prayerfully outside as near to the front door as possible. The Akathist Before the Kursk-Root Icon began to be sung, and a spirit of calm descended upon us. When it was time for the Holy Icon to depart, Fr. Aidan placed It in its velvet carrying-case, and started walking towards the door. Spontaneously, people began to reach out and touch the case, and so it was carried down the north and south sides of the chapel for all to reach and touch one last time. Then the Holy Icon was taken to Fr. Paul's waiting car as people streamed out of the church singing. People did not cease singing hymns and praying fervently, until his car had disappeared from view. In the joyful calm, many people did not wish to leave the church and continued to pray or converse outside, into the night. Someone commented we might as well hold an early morning service, since obviously we were all going to still be there to greet the dawn. Indeed, the visit to us of the Most Holy and Most Pure Mother of God herself, in her wondrous Kursk-Root Icon, was a blessing and a true miracle. At the end of the day Americans and Russians, many Spanish-speaking faithful and those of Romania, Greece, Belarus, Ukraine, Carpatho-Russia, the Holy Land, and elsewhere, had known together the joy and compunction of that Grace about which holy archangel Gabriel said, "Rejoice, full of Grace!" Truly the spirit of Holy Russia, which is Orthodox Russia, ageless and immortal, indestructible, cleansed by the blood of her innumerable New Martyrs, springs up eternal and continues to bring the holy Light of Christ's Gospel to all corners of the world.
     P.S.  A few days later, Guy called to say that a resignation to God's perfect will, together with a profound peace, had come upon him in a way he had never experienced before in his life. This happened a few days after the Visit to him of the Queen of Heaven, and he knew it was because of her Visit. He is continuing to improve, though no prescribed medication or treatment had previously been able to help him. Thanks and glory be to God, and please keep Guy in your prayers.     - report by Fr. Hieromonk Aidan, Nov. 4, 2010

Pictures from the Visit of the Holy Icon (most are thumbnails).



Deborah venerates the Holy Icon of the Mother of God. Back, from l. to rt.: Tatiana, Samuel, Fr. Hieromonk Aidan, reader Mark. 



Michael makes a prostration before Our Most Holy Lady. Back, l. to rt.: Tatiana, Fr. Aidan, Deborah, Rr. Mark.  



Holy Icon, an interesting angle. Click the thumbnail to see greater detail. About 150 people venerated the Wonderworking Icon on its nine-hour stop in Austin.



Fr. Paul Andreasen is a Chaplain at the Army base at Ft. Hood, Texas. 



Fr. Hieromonk Aidan anoints catechumen Joel as Anna looks on. Just behind Joel is the Wonderworking Icon Kurskaya-Korennaya. 



Choir: Michael, Elizabeth, Dominica (our choirmistress) with Helena, Lydia.  



A view of the chapel of Holy Protection. In addition to the services and the prayers and repentance before the Holy Icon, this was a chance for old friends to meet.



Little Michael comes up to kiss the cross held by Army chaplain Fr. Paul.



Altar servers Samuel and Maxim doing candle duty.



The akathist sung later in the evening, at the end of the day's round of services. All told, some 160 persons had venerated the Icon.



The akathist before the Holy Icon of Kursk-Root "Of the Sign" was sung, after Vespers, and a talk on the Icon, had concluded.



The remaining people accompanied the Holy Mother of God to Fr. Paul's car on all sides, singing hymns and praying until the car disappeared from view.



People fellowshipping after the departure of the Holy Icon of the Mother of God. An atmosphere of quiet joy prevailed during and after the Visit of the Mother of God and some of the faithful were reluctant to leave the church. L. to rt.: unknown, Maria, Joel, Maria, Lydia, Marcella, Natasha, Sofia and Sasha, and two visitors from the Greek monastery's faithful.

Before the Mother of God in her Kursk-Root Icon left us, she blessed our new church and Russian Orthodox center on the grounds at our new location, 1701 Peridot Rd., Pflugerville, TX 78660. That is where services are currently held in the church which is to be dedicated to her name later this year by Bishop Peter.

Holy Russia, in Austin, Texas. Glory to Thee, O Lord, glory to Thee!

Thanks to parish photographer and councilman Sergei Larin.   Back to http://www.orthodoxaustin.org