Our Lady of Kursk

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Our Lady of Kursk (Russian: Богоматерь Курская Коренная, Bogomater Kurskaya Korennaya, literally Theotokos of Kursk, Found Among the Roots) is an icon of Theotokos, apparently painted in the thirteenth century and discovered in a forest near Kursk ca. 1300. It has been preserved in the Black Hermitage of the Roots (Chornaya Korennaya Pustyn), an abbey founded on the spot of its discovery.

The icon actually incorporates as many as twelve figures on it: Theotokos, Infant Christ, God the Father above them (with the Holy Spirit as a dove) and nine Old Testament prophets. The image of Theotokos belongs to the Panagia type. It is believed to work miracles. After the Russian Revolution, the icon was eventually brought to the USA, where it is held by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

Easter Procession in the Region of Kursk, by Ilya Repin.

The monastery near Kursk where the icon was held was formerly very rich and hosted one of the largest fairs in Imperial Russia. During the Soviet period the monastery cathedral (designed by Konstantin Thon) was demolished; restoration works are planned. The icon was brought from the abbey to Kursk in a great procession involving thousands of peasants and pilgrims. This ceremony is depicted in the famous painting by Ilya Repin.