St Elizabeth's Mission with blessed with four separate visits of the Kursk Root Icon of the Most-Holy Mother of God in the early years of our existence.  This holy Icon, called the Directress of the Russian Diaspora, normally resides at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign in New York City, but frequently travels throughout the Diaspora to strengthen Orthodox Christians.  The Kursk Root Icon visited our small chapel on Eastern Avenue in Somerville three times: in 1999, 2000, and 2001.  It visited our chapel on North Bridge Street in early 2002.  The photographs above were taken on the latest visit.