Over the weekend of September 28 - October 2, the miraculous Myrrh-Streaming "Hawaiian" Iveron Icon of the Theotokos was in the Cincinnati area.

Beginning with a visit and service at St James Antiochian Orthodox Church on Friday evening (at which several parishioners were also able to venerate it), the Icon, as always accompanied by its protector/icon-bearer (ikonophoros) Sub-Deacon Nektary, next proceeded to the Hermitage of the Holy Cross Orthodox Monastery in Wayne WV, for the Brotherhood's annual Pilgrimage, where it was for the weekend. Then, returning to Cincinnati on Monday, the Icon came to St George Russian Orthodox Church in Loveland.

Fr. Steven and Presvytera Deborah and over a dozen other parishioners and friends from Christ the Savior-Holy Spirit, joined over a hundred believers from across Southern Ohio and Kentucky to venerate this unique, miracle-working icon. Entering with the Icon into the church accompanied by singing and bell-ringing, Fr Daniel (Marshall) of St George processed with the Icon into the altar, and blessed the church and faithful in all four directions before placing the Icon on a beautifully decorated stand in the center of the church. A Moleben-Akathist to the Mother of God was served before the Icon, led by Fr Daniel and other area clergy from Cincinnati parishes. Dozens of lists of names were prayed for before the Holy Icon, at the end of which the faithful proceeded to venerate the Icon and be anointed with the myrrh, each receiving a small replica icon print and a Q-tip swab moistened with the fragrant oil which has been flowing continuously from the Icon for over ten years now.

Then processing into the parish hall, the Icon was placed on a decorated stand beside the head table, and Subdeacon Nektary gave a fascinating and edifying talk on the origin of the Icon and Her meaning for the faithful, as well as recounting first-hand testimonies of healings. The faithful were again able to venerate the Icon up close and spend more time with Her, as most of the guests had left by that time. This small photo gallery captures a few scenes of this special encounter with the Mother of God and Her Divine Son through this special portal of grace.

You can read Nektary's personal account of the story of the "Hawaiian" Iveron Icon on his parish's website. There is an excellent, 9 minute YouTube video of the 2012 visit of the Icon to the ROCOR Eastern American Diocese, and a nicely edted short video (3:49) of the Icon's 2011 visit to Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church in Baltimore MD which provides a glimpse of what we experienced at St George. Numerous other resources on the "Hawaiian" Iveron Icon can be found on the internet.

From the back of the Icon Print distributed to the faithful:

The Miraculous Myrrh-Streaming "Hawaiian" Iveron Icon of the Holy Theotokos

"From Thy Holy Icon, O Lady Theotokos, blessed myrrh has flowed abundantly. Thou has thereby consoled those in exile faithful unto Thee and hast enlightened the unbelievers by Thy Son's light. Therefore, O Lady, with tears we bow down to Thee: be merciful to us in the hour of judgement, 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."