On Friday, 3 August, the Orthodox Church in Riga, at the invitation of Aleksander, Metropolitan of Riga and all of Latvia, hosted the Czestochowa Icon. The Icon visited three Orthodox churches in the center of Riga. A constant stream of people who wanted to venerate the Mother of God, came to the churches.
In the afternoon, the time came for the Mother of God to leave Riga and the Icon was driven to Kurland. Our Lady was greeted quietly but with great affection and tenderness in Talsen. That church, is used for both Catholic and Orthodox liturgies; thus, Our Lady showed that the roads come together.
In the evening, the Icon arrived in Ventspils, a beautiful old city and port on the Baltic. The visit of the Mother of God is taking place as the city is celebrating its 722nd anniversary. The pastor of the Catholic Church, Pauline Father Martin, beautifully organized the evening vigil with the singing of songs in various languages. Although there are not many Catholics in the Kurland region, the pews of the church were filled.
