Following the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass and the farewell at the Torun Cathedral of SS. John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, the Icon, escorted by the police and blue motorcade of the "Katyn Rally," was transported to the Orthodox church of St. Nicholas, the Miracle Worker, also in the famous city of Torun, where she was being greeted by Pastor Nicholas Hajduczenia.
This beautiful, small Orthodox church (tserkov) is located on one side of the street, and right across the street towers a beautiful Catholic church constructed in the neo-gothic style, which testifies to the long lasting co-existence of the two different religious cultures. This Orthodox parish was founded for the military at the beginning of the 20th century.
The prayers at the Orthodox church lasted three hours. The sermon was given by Monsignor Marek Ruminski, the pastor of the Catholic Cathedral of Torun. The presider of the liturgy was the local pastor. After singing the Akathist, the faithful had the opportunity for individual prayers and touching the Icon. This time, the local Orthodox faithful were not the only ones who participated in the celebration, but also many Catholics, who were all very moved by the newly signed agreement between the two Churches, by the Patriarch Cyril, who was visiting Poland, and by the Archbishop Joseph Michalik, the head of the Bishops Conference of Poland. The faithful, gathered, have reemphasized their support for the unity of the two Churches before the Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa.
In the afternoon, after a very solemn and emotional farewell, Our Lady, in the Czestochowa Icon, departed in Her "Life Mobile" for Warsaw. Along the way, many people gathered in local towns and villages. Seeing the approaching Icon, people kneel down and make the Sign of the Cross; men take off their hats, in this manner giving witness to their faith. The shrine on wheels is being showered with beautiful, fresh flowers. Our Blessed Mother is being received in Poland with great love and devotion.