August 24, 2009
Mayfield, PA: The faithful of the Pennsylvania Deanery held a pilgrimage to the Protection of the Mother of God Greek monastery

On August 17, the "Hawaiian" Myrrh Streaming Iveron Icon of the Mother of God visited the Greek Orthodox Convent of the Protection of the Mother of God in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Weatherly, Pennsylvania. This visit would be the first time that the Icon of the Mother of God has traveled to the East Coast from Her home in Hawaii. Even though the Icon was scheduled to arrive at the monastery around 6:30 PM, people began to arrive at the monastery early in the day, in order to be present to greet the Most Holy Mother of God. Mitred Archpriest John Sorochka, dean of the Pennsylvania Deanery and pastor of Saint John the Baptist Cathedral in Mayfield, PA, led a group of cathedral parishioners, as well as parishioners from St. Basil's Church in Simpson, PA, and St. Stephen's Church in Old Forge, PA, to venerate this most holy image and be anointed with the heavenly myrrh.

Shortly after 7:00 PM, the bells of the monastery began to peal as the Icon arrived. Fr. Mark Andrews, a cleric of the monastery, received the Icon along with Abbess Olympiada and the sisters of the monastery. As the Icon of the Mother of God entered the crowded monastery church to the beautiful Byzantine chanting of the monastic choir, the presence of our most holy Lady could be felt. As the sisters began a Paraklesis to the Mother of God, the clergy, followed by pilgrims, began to venerate the holy Icon of the Mother of God. It should be noted that with very short notice and just a posting on the internet listing the Icon's visitation schedule, nearly 300 people came to venerate the Icon of the Mother of God.

Fr. Zoran Radovic of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Elizabeth, New Jersey and Fr. Noah Bushelli of St. Phillip Antiochian Orthodox Church in Souderton, PA, anointed the many people in attendance with the myrrh collected from the Icon. After the service was concluded, the bearer of the Icon, Reader Nectarios, was asked to speak about the history of this copy of the Montreal Iveron Mother of God. In his address to the people, Reader Nectarios spoke about the unique relationship of this particular copy of the Montreal Iveron Mother of God and the bearer of the original Iveron Mother of God, Brother Jose Muñoz-Cortes of blessed memory.

After the brief but spiritually edifying talk, many people remained to pray before the Mother of God up until the beginning of the Monastic Liturgy at 3:00 AM. At the same time, a choir of young girls attending summer camp at the monastery sang Orthodox hymns in honor of the Mother of God.

The scheduled itinerary for Icon can be viewed at www.orthodoxhawaii.org.

Oh Most Holy Theotokos, save us!

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese