From August 27 to September 27, 2026, the wonderworking Tikhvin Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos will visit Moscow and Moscow Oblast. The holy icon’s visitation from Holy Dormition Monastery in Tikhvin is being conducted with the blessing of His Holiness v Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.
The history of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God is shrouded in mystery. According to one tradition, it was painted by the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke during the lifetime of the Theotokos, and in the 5th century was taken to Constantinople by the Empress Eudocia. Protected by the monks of the Pantocrator Monastery during the years of the iconoclast heresy, it remained a beloved site of pilgrimage and prayer until it miraculously vanished, appearing in Rus’ in 1383 near the city of Tikhvin.
The icon was housed in Holy Dormition Church in Tikhvin, around which Tsar Ivan IV had a monastery organized during his reign. Thousands of pilgrims came from throughout Russia to venerate the icon, and the monastery was the site of many miraculous healings. Eventually, up to twenty-four processions per year were held with the icon, which was adorned with a beautiful bejeweled riza.
The icon has undergone several restorations (among which were in 1636, once in the 18th century, 1910, and 1949). Many copies were also made of the icon and put in places of honor across Russia, including in the iconostasis of Holy Annunciation Cathedral in the Kremlin. Moscow alone would have nine churches dedicated to the Tikhvin Mother of God.
During WWII, the Nazis stole the icon, which was eventually recovered in the American Occupation Zone. It was brought to America, where it was kept reverently in Holy Trinity Cathedral of the future Orthodox Church in America, and frequently traveled throughout the United States and Canada. In 2004, the icon was returned to Tikhvin.
A solemn welcoming ceremony for the icon will be held on Thursday, August 27, at 7:00 PM during the All-Night Vigil for the Dormition at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow. The service will be officiated by His Holiness Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia The icon will remain there until September 4.
The faithful will be able to venerate the icon daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with the following exceptions:
- Tuesday, September 1 – from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM; and
- Friday, September 4 – from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
On September 4 at 12:00 PM, a moleben will be served at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, after which the icon will be transferred to Holy Resurrection Patriarchal Cathedral – the main church of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, located in the "Patriot" Military Park of Culture and Recreation in the Odintsovo District of the Moscow Oblast, where it will remain until September 23.
The icon will be available for veneration:
- Friday, September 4 – from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM;
- September 5–22 – from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM;
- Wednesday, September 23 – from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Following a prayer service at 12:00 PM, the icon will be transferred to the Church of the Archangel Michael in the village of Akulinino (Moscow Oblast), where it will remain until Sunday, September 27.
The icon will be available for veneration:
- September 23-24 – from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM;
- September 25-26 – from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM;
- September 27 – from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill, is expected to serve a moleben before the icon on Thursday, September 24, at 11:00 AM.
On September 27 at 12:00 PM, following a moleben, the holy icon will be returned to the Holy Dormition Monastery in Tikhvin.
Click here for a map/directions to the church in Akulinino. Click here for flyers with the icon’s visitation schedule.
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