In Russian Orthodox iconography, it doesn’t get much bigger than the Kursk Root Icon. Among Russian Orthodox congregations, they don’t get much smaller than St. John the Theologian Orthodox Mission in St. Francisville.
There’s a huge response when she goes back to Russia. She’s one of the most traveled icons around.”
According to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, of which St. John the Theologian is a part, a hunter discovered the wooden icon lying face-down on a tree root near Kursk, Russia, on Sept. 8, 1295. When the hunter picked it up, a spring of pure water came up from where the icon had been.
The icon appears to be painted in egg tempura paint, which is traditional for Orthodox icons, Harrington said. It is now protected by a metal covering that allows all of the symbols to be viewed. The icon has been housed outside of Russia since 1920, though it has been brought back to Russia since communist rule ended in that country in 1991.
The icon has toured the Russian Orthodox world many times, Harrington said.
The Kursk Root Icon will be part of an hourlong service that will focus on prayers, Harrington said.
Orthodox Christians from other South Louisiana congregations are planning to attend. The church is located at 4603 Old U.S. 61 in the Starhill community south of St. Francisville.
Source: The Advocate
GEORGE MORRIS| GMORRIS@THEADVOCATE.COM