The Romanian Orthodox Monastery of St. Demetrius the New in Middletown, United States, celebrated its patronal feast. On this occasion, the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God was brought to the monastery for veneration.
His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Saturday, 24 October, concelebrating with priests and deacons from several Orthodox jurisdictions.
Archpriest George Temidis brought the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God to the monastery, with the blessing of Metropolitan Nicholas of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR).
Miracles of St Demetrius the New
Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas spoke about the life of St Demetrius the New and recalled several miracles attributed to Bucharest’s patron saint.
He referred to the procession with the saint’s relics, held in 1814 during the plague epidemic that affected Bucharest, as well as the help the city’s inhabitants received during a drought in 1827.
“With no other help available, the people once again placed their hope in the prayers of St Demetrius the New and in God’s mercy.”
“Seeing the work of the saints in people’s lives, let us also say with the Psalmist: God is wondrous in His saints!” the metropolitan emphasised.
History of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God
Archpriest George Temidis told the faithful about the history of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, one of the best-known icons venerated in the Russian Orthodox tradition.
The icon was discovered on 8 September 1295 near the city of Kursk, in a region devastated by Mongol-Tatar invasions.
The priest explained that, according to tradition, water sprang from the ground when the icon was lifted, and a small wooden church was subsequently built to house it.
Romanian Orthodox monastery in Middletown
The Monastery of St. Demetrius the New in Middletown, New York, was founded thanks to a donation from Dumitru Minciu, a Romanian who bequeathed his estate to Archimandrite Vasile Vasilache of St. Nicholas Parish in New York.
Following Dumitru Minciu’s death, the estate was transferred, and work began to convert his house into a place of prayer.
Later, with donations, a separate church was built and consecrated in 2011.
In 2015, the monastery was expanded with additional accommodation for monks and visitors, with support from a family in the community.
