Czestochowa Icon of the the Mother of God Visits SF

San Francisco, CA –  His Eminence, Archbishop Benjamin, the clergy and faithful of Holy Trinity Cathedral and the Pacific Central Deanery welcomed a visitation of the Czestochowa Icon of the the Mother of God Wednesday evening, July 29, 2014 to San Francisco. The rather large replica of the famous “Black Madonna” has travelled over 40,000 miles, from Russia and throughout Europe to North America as part of a campaign in support of the sanctity of human life.

The original Czestochowa Icon is to be found in the Jasna Gora Monastery in Poland and is much venerated by both Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians. Prior to the Russian Revolution, a copy of icon was presented to the Tsar by his Polish subjects which was subsequently placed in the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg.  

His Eminence, Archpriests John Takahashi and Stephen Meholick, assisted by Archdeacon Kyrill Sokolov and the cathedral choir, prayed an Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos together with many faithful.

More information about the icon and its tour can be found on of the OCA website here.

(Photos by Johann Morse)