Global Expedition of the Icon of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos Embarks on Third Worldwide Journey
The international fund “Under the Protection of the Mother of God” is launching the third global journey of the Icon of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos on June 21, marking the eve of Russia’s Day of Sorrow. This spiritual expedition, which began in 2017, aims to unite and protect Orthodox communities worldwide under the intercession of the Mother of God.
The icon itself was painted in the Patriarchal Workshop of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra in 2017. Its creation commemorated the 100th anniversary of the events in the Russian Empire that led to the “great exodus” and the global dispersion of Orthodox believers.
The expedition operates in a unique relay format, being passed “from hand to hand, from country to country, and from continent to continent,” crossing seas and oceans. This method fosters conciliarity (sobornost), creating multinational spiritual ties among diverse Orthodox communities. A notable example occurred during its 2020 visit to Argentina, where the icon was blessed for veneration in Buenos Aires churches by hierarchs from the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), ROCOR, the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the Antiochian Church.
As it travels, the icon is brought to the world’s most revered Orthodox shrines, collecting grace to share with those unable to visit these holy sites themselves.
To date, the expedition has successfully united Orthodox communities in 28 countries across five continents, including the North Pole, covering an impressive distance of over 290,000 km. The upcoming third global journey will expand this reach even further, traversing all continents, including Antarctica.
The fund invites everyone to join this sacred mission and become a vital part of this worldwide expedition, thus placing themselves “under the protective veil of the Mother of God.”
Source: http://thepressradio.com
