Visit of Miraculous Myrrh-Streaming Icon

On Friday evening, July 15, 2011 the faithful of Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church was granted the blessing to greet the wonder-working myrrh-streaming Iveron Icon of the Theotokos from Hawaii. Priest John Vass led the moleben service and akathist concelebrated by Archpriest Theodore Boback, Rector of St. Andrew Orthodox Church (OCA) and Deacon Michael Bishop of the parish. Archpriest Stephan Romanchak of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church (ROCOR) near Pittsburgh and Reader Nektary, the caretaker of the icon, prayed among the faithful. Well over 100 people, coming from many of the Orthodox churches in Baltimore filled the temple for the moleben and akathist which was sung in both English and Slavonic. The faithful offered to the Theotokos fervent prayers moistened with many tears. In his sermon at the end of the service, Fr. John said that such miraculous icons are manifested to us in order to strengthen our faith, console our sorrows and heal our infirmities. Also, “looking at such wonders we inevitably think about heaven and are thereby inspired to raise up our hearts and minds to more heavenly things throughout our daily life.” Afterwards, both Fr. John and Fr. Theodore anointed everyone with myrrh from the icon. Fr. John noticed that even though he was given just one piece of cotton soaked with myrrh it never dried up despite all of the anointings. He said that instead, it seemed as though the myrrh continued to stream from within the cotton. The Mother of God wanted everyone to be anointed. The heavenly fragrance of the myrrh filled the church. The icon abundantly streamed myrrh throughout the evening. O Most Holy Theotokos, save us!