November
6, 2010 Howell, NJ:
The Myrrh-Streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon of the Mother of God visited
St. George’s Church
On Wednesday,
November 3, the myrrh-streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon of the Mother of
God visited St.
George’s Church at the diocesan center in Howell, NJ. At 7:00
PM, His Grace George, Bishop of Mayfield, greeted the wonder-working
icon in procession to the peal of bells. After the triumphal greeting,
His Grace addressed worshippers, calling them all to repentance and
correction of their lives, and expressing his hope that, by the
prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos, Christ’s grace-filled Light
might shine in the hearts of the faithful. Bishop George also called
on everyone to lift up their prayers for Metropolitan Hilarion, First
Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, who on that day was celebrating
his namesday.
The general singing
of the akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos was then performed in
Slavonic and English. Bishop George was co-served by parish rector
Archpriest Serge Lukianov, Archpriest Zoran Radovic (rector of St.
George’s Serbian Church in Elizabeth, NJ), Priest Alexey Bocharnikov
(rector of St. Nicholas Church in Chester, PA), and parish clerics
Priest Jonah Campbell and Deacon Leonid Roschko. Also present in
church was St. Vladimir Memorial Church cleric Deacon Alexander Smida.
The faithful filled
the church to capacity and, despite the fairly cold weather, many
stood and prayed outside. During the course of the akathist, the icon
abundantly exuded holy myrrh, filling the church with a sweet
fragrance.
After the akathist,
the rector greeted the myrrh-streaming icon’s guardian, Reader
Nectarios Yangston, and presented him with a copy of the Tikhvin Icon
of the Mother of God as a token of the parish’s gratitude. As the
faithful venerated the icon, Bishop George anointed them with holy
myrrh, and the choir sang various hymns to the Mother of God. Many
didn’t wish to part ways with the wonder-working icon, and prayed
next to the icon late into the evening.
O Most Holy
Theotokos, save us!
Republication
of materials must include a reference to "Eastern American
Diocese www.eadiocese.org."
