April 5, 2016
Brooklyn, NY: Myrrh-streaming Mother of God Icon "Softener of Evil Hearts" visits News Martyrs & Confessors of Russia Church

On Sunday, March 27, the Divine Liturgy for the 2nd Sunday of Great Lent, the feast of the Holy Hierarch Gregory Palamas, was celebrated in Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia Church in Brooklyn, NY, under the aegis of the myrrh-streaming Icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts." The services were led by Archimandrite Irenei (Steenberg; dean of monastic life in the Western American Diocese), co-served by rector Archpriest Serge Lukianov and parish clerics: Archpriest Petro Kunitsky, Priest Alexey Bykon, and Deacon Petr Utkin. Singing at the service was the parish choir under the direction of conductor Nikodim Buryakov.

A large number of parishioners and faithful from other Brooklyn and New York parishes gathered to pray before the wonderworking Icon, and to commune of Christ’s Holy Mysteries. Upon completion of the Liturgy, a short moleben was performed before the holy image, after which the clergy anointed all those present with holy myrrh from the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. That same day, an akathist was served before the myrrh-streaming Icon. From the church, the holy image departed for the administrative center of the Eastern American Diocese – Howell, NJ, where, under the aegis of the myrrh-streaming Icon, the diocesan Lenten Clergy Retreat began.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese