n October 2006 the icon Triumph of the Theotokos (also named the Port Arthur icon) came to Canada according to the blessing of His Grace Seraphim Bishop of Ottawa and Canada.

This missionary project was carried out by Russian public organization 'Blessing Far East' and Canadian charity organization St. Innocent Orthodox Missionary Society as a continuation of icon's glorious and triumphant procession all aver the world.

This icon was executed in Archangel Michael Russian icon art salon exclusively for North America. The new icon is an exact copy of the original (which is in the city of Vladivostok, Russia), exept a few little alterations. The first one is that the inscriptions around the new icon are the words of akathist in English 'Rejoice, the one who made all orthodox Christians of North America leap for joy. The triumph of our Lady of Port Arthur. Rejoice, our Most Venerated Lady, who intercedes for all in every corner of the world', and 'Торжество Пресвятой Богородицы' ('Triumph of the Theotokos') in Slavonic. The second one is that the shore of North America is depicted with a young maple tree and one can see the shore of Russia and an Orthodox church in the distance.

The Orthodox believers of Alaska were the first to welcome the icon, as it is from this northern frontier that Russian missionaries began preaching Orthodoxy all over America in XVIII century. His Grace Nikolai Bishop of Sitka, Anchorage and Alaska gave his blessing for services before the icon in the churches of Alaska.

Vancouver was the first Canadian city to welcome the icon of Port Arthur on October 18, 2006. Then the icon was on a visit in many Canadian cities. On November 5 in Montreal (Quebec), at the meeting of council of the Canadian archdiocese of OCA Bishop Seraphim served a triumphant moleben before the new icon and said his greeting words; he also gave his blessing to have a cross procession with the icon all over the Orthodox churches of North America as a sign of unity and triumph of the Orthodox faith.

St. Innocent Society invites all Orthodox church communities of North America to take part in its new project. With faith and hope we kneel before the image of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ not made by hand, that the most Holy Theotokos holds in Her most pure hands thus giving us help and intercession. O most Holy Theotokos, save us!

O MOST HOLY THEOTOKOS, SAVE US!