Patriarch St Tikhon
Natalia Kurguzova-Miroshnik
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This week, my “artist of the week” is actually a married couple, Konstantin Miroshnik and Natalia Kurguzova-Miroshnik. Unfortunately, I was unable to find biographical detail on them, but their art speaks for itself, I believe. This painting is appropriate for this week in the Church. Patriarch St Tikhon Bellavin was Patriarch of Moscow and all the Russias in the confused period immediately following the Bolshevik Revolution. In fact, many believe that the pressures of the times hastened his death, so, the Church considers him one of the first of the Russian New Martyrs. St Tikhon was ruling bishop of the unified Orthodox diocese in North America before his election as Patriarch. He had a special love for the Church in Alaska and the current bad treatment of the Alaska faithful and clergy by the OCA Holy Synod must distress him deeply. You see, we believe that the saints are very much alive, although they aren’t on this earth. Ask the intercessions of Patriarch St Tikhon the New Martyr to come to the aid of the clergy and people of Alaska. They need it.
BMD
