Mirace-working, Myrrh-streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon of the Mother of God
The Wonder-working and Myrrh-streaming Iveron “Hawaiian” icon of the Mother of God is traveling to Eastern Canada for the first time this December. She is being brought to Canada at the invitation of His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and All Canada (ROCOR). To read an account of the miracle, look here.
It is a huge blessing to have her visit Eastern Canada. She won’t be going far enough East to reach our home province. But God willing, she’ll visit the Maritimes someday when we’ve returned to Canada so that we can receive her blessing as well.
The icon is an exact copy of the Montreal Myrrh-streaming Iveron icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, which was stolen from her protector, Brother José Muñoz-Cortes, after he was brutally tortured and killed, near Athens, Greece, just before returning to Canada to celebrate the icon’s 15 anniversary of streaming myrrh. Although the case was never solved, the criminals never caught, and the icon never found, I believe she will return one day and bless us, unworthy as we may be.
To see the icon’s visiting schedule, see here. It seems that it will mostly be going to ROCOR churches, but will also make a stop at the Greek Orthodox monastery in Brownsburg, Panagia Parigoritissa (the Consoler), which we always visit when we’re in Canada. If anyone reading this has the opportunity to venerate the icon, such a wonderful sign of God’s grace in our time, please be sure to bow low to her for me as well.
From thy Holy Icon, O Lady Theotokos, blessed myrrh has flowed abundantly. Thou hast thereby consoled those, in exile, faithful unto thee, and hast enlightened the unnbelievers by thy Son’s light. Therefore O Lady, with tears we bow down to thee. Be merciful to us in the hour of judgment. Lest having received thy mercy we be punished as those who have been contemptuous of it. But grant us through thy prayers to bring forth spiritual fruit, and save our souls. -Troparion to the Iveron Icon, Tone 7.
matushka constantina
