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“I will ask consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart”, said the Virgin Mary to the shepherd boys of Fatima in 1917. Today – it is written in a press release by the Fatima Sanctuary (www.santuario-fatima.pt) -, 91 years after that time, a Russian icon was located in the Apparition Chapel of the Sanctuary. The image was carried in procession until the chapel this morning, accompanied with about one hundred pilgrims. “The word icon – explained Msgr. Luciano Guerra, the rector of the sanctuary – was heard for the first time in this sanctuary on 31st October 1942, “when Pope Pious XII consecrated the whole world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary”. The icon will go on being shown to be venerated by believers until this evening, after the rosary’s prayer. The icon was painted in Russia following the specific techniques of the Byzantine iconographic tradition. The Virgin is portrayed with a rosary in her right hand, while in her left hand there is a writing “heart”, surrounded by thorns. According to custom for Byzantine icons, there are a few writings on the icon, which in this case have these words: “Divine Maternity of Mary” and “Icon of the Holy Virgin of Fatima. In You, Unity!”.

News by SIR