Visit of the Miraculous Myrrh-Streaming Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos - 10/10/12
Our church celebrated the 90th Anniversary of its founding in October, 2012. Three events marked this milestone in the parish history. The first of these was on October 10th, when the Miraculous Myrrh-Streaming Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos came for a visit. “It was an incredible joy and such a great blessing for our parish to be among those churches that the Holy Icon of the Mother of God visited during the tour to East Coast this Fall” said Father Igor Kseniuk, parish Rector; “Upon entering the church with the Icon, I saw tears in eyes of many of those who gathered for this special evening – a sign that the Grace that radiates from the Icon reached into the deepest parts of their hearts”. The Akathis to the Mother of God was sung. His Grace The Right Reverend Michael, Bishop of New York and the Diocese of New York and New Jersey presided, joined by the Diocesan Chancellor Archpriest Joseph Likwar, the Dean of New Jersey Deanery Archpriest Samuel Kedala, along with 10 other members of the Diocesan and local clergy as concelebrants. Almost 250 people prayed at the service, followed by anointing with a distinctively fragrant myrrh that comes from the Icon. “The anointing itself took almost two hours”, said Father Igor, “but people of all ages, young and old, adults and with little children were patiently waiting in line to be anointed. I am thankful to the Lord that we all were able to have that personal experience of Mother of God touching our hearts and prayerfully sharing with us her Son’s Grace.” At the end of the service, the keeper of the icon, Reader Nectarios, presented to the parish a beautiful copy of the Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God which will be placed in the church for prayerful services and veneration.