November 11, 2016
Howell, NJ: Icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts" visits Eastern American Diocese

The Icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts," after her visitation to the parishes and monasteries of America’s West Coast, arrived on the Atlantic coast on the eve of the opening of the Pastoral Conference in Atlanta, GA. The icon illumined the conference’s work from October 18-20, after which it visited St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell, NJ.

On Saturday, October 22, the Icon was brought to the parish’s Russian Orthodox Saturday School. All of the students gathered in the hall, from the youngest preschoolers to the teachers. Cathedral dean and school principal Archpriest Serge Lukianov spoke in detail about the Icon’s history, and anointed everyone with myrrh from the holy Icon. That same day, the myrrh-steaming Icon "Softener of Evil Hearts" took part in the daily procession being performed at the parish, and that evening at the All-Night Vigil in the cathedral, an akathist was served before the wonderworking image.

On Sunday, October 23, the holy Icon was present during Divine Liturgy in Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia Church in Brooklyn, NY. Many parishioners and faithful from across New York City came to venerate the Most Holy Theotokos before her myrrh-streaming Icon.

After lunch, the Icon visited the new church in Brighton, and that evening departed for Russia.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese