By Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – The revered Icon of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos has once again embarked on a monumental global expedition.
On June 21st, the eve of Russia’s Day of Sorrow, the city of Moscow witnessed the official launch of the icon’s third worldwide journey, a sacred mission to reach Orthodox communities across every continent including Antarctica.
This extraordinary pilgrimage, organized by the international charitable fund “Under the Protection of the Mother of God”, first began in 2017. Since then, it has woven a spiritual tapestry across the globe, binding Orthodox believers in 28 countries across 5 continents and even the North Pole, through 290,000 kilometers of sacred travel.
A Journey Rooted in History and Hope
Painted in the Patriarchal Workshop of the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, the icon was created in solemn remembrance of the 100th anniversary of the 1917 Russian Revolution—a turning point that triggered the great Orthodox diaspora. Since then, the icon has symbolized the enduring spiritual bond of those exiled from their homeland, becoming a beacon of unity, conciliarity (sobornost), and divine intercession.
From Buenos Aires to the North Pole
This sacred journey is no ordinary tour. It unfolds in relay format, passed from hand to hand, church to church, and continent to continent, connecting parishes with a shared devotion to the Theotokos.
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In Argentina (2020), the icon was received with solemn reverence, blessed for veneration by hierarchs from the Russian Orthodox Church, ROCOR, Serbian Orthodox Church, and the Antiochian Patriarchate. Similar receptions have echoed from Africa to Asia, the Americas to the Arctic, reinforcing the unbroken spiritual heritage of global Orthodoxy.
A Sacred Expedition with a Global Mission
More than a journey, it is a mission. As the icon visits some of the most revered Orthodox shrines on Earth, it gathers divine grace, bringing blessings to those unable to make pilgrimages themselves. From humble village chapels to grand cathedrals, the faithful are united under the protective veil of the Mother of God, reinforcing a global spiritual family in turbulent times.
Looking Ahead: The Third Global Journey
This new phase promises to be the most ambitious yet. With plans to reach the remotest corners of the world—including Antarctica—this global expedition calls upon the faithful to join the mission, open their hearts, and walk the sacred path of unity and devotion.
In a world often fractured by conflict and distance, this radiant icon moves as a vessel of peace, reminding all that under the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, no Orthodox soul is ever alone.
