Source: The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
Kursk, Russia, October 1, 2015
The bronze sculpture depicts Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia and Metropolitan Laurus, who signed the Act of Canonical Communion between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, which overcame the division caused by the Revolution and subsequent Civil War in Russia.
Patriarch Alexy and Metropolitan Laurus are depicted holding the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God "of the Sign,” which has become the main holy icon of the Russian diaspora. The unveiling of the monument was scheduled to coincide with the visit of the icon to the Kursk region. It has become a tradition since 2009 to bring the Kursk-Root Icon to the area for veneration by the faithful of Kursk, where it was first discovered 720 years ago.
His Eminence Metropolitan German of Kursk and Rylsk participated in the unveiling ceremony, along with His Grace Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan and the delegation accompanying the icon on this visit. Also in attendance were regional and local government officials, including Alexander Zubarev, Chief Deputy Governor of Kursk oblast, and Deputy Governor Lyudmila Grebenkova.
Metropolitan German performed a litiya for the late primates, Patriach Alexy and Metropolitan Laurus. All those who participated in the monument project were given the Znamesky Medal, I Level.
The sculptor Andrei Klykov and architect Anatoly Kuznetsov designed and created the monument.
Bishop Nicholas praised the event, stressing the need to preserve unity, noting that a similar monument has already been unveiled on American soil.
