Hundreds of Orthodox faithful gathered at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Nedelya in Sofia over the weekend to venerate the miraculous Hawaiian Myrrh-Streaming Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, which is visiting Bulgaria.
Since 2007, the icon has been known for the miracle of myrrh-streaming and has traveled throughout the Orthodox world, bringing what many believers regard as the blessings and grace of the Theotokos.
On Sunday, the Divine Liturgy was presided over by Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria, concelebrating with Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), Bishop Isaac of Velbazhd, second vicar of the Metropolitan of Sofia, Fr. Nektary (Yangson), custodian of the Hawaiian Icon, along with clergy from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
In his homily, Patriarch Daniil reflected on the spiritual significance of the miraculous icon, saying that millions of faithful have venerated it over the years while witnessing the ongoing miracle of myrrh-streaming and numerous healings.
“It is a great mercy from God that this icon is here among us, strengthening our faith and allowing us to experience the love and grace of the Mother of God, who is able to heal and sustain us, so that we may glorify God with healed souls and hearts,” the Patriarch said.
He also explained that holy myrrh flows specifically from sacred icons depicting Christ, the Mother of God, and the saints, emphasizing that the phenomenon does not originate from the material itself but from the holy image representing its Prototype.
Bishop Irenei thanked the Bulgarian Orthodox Church for its invitation and conveyed greetings from Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of ROCOR. In his message, Metropolitan Nicholas said that through the Hawaiian Icon, the Mother of God continues to unite Orthodox Christians in “a mysterious and unbreakable bond,” transcending geographical distances, national borders, and historical divisions.
As a gesture of fraternity, Bishop Irenei presented Patriarch Daniil with an icon of the Iveron Mother of God on behalf of the ROCOR First Hierarch.
Patriarch Daniil, in turn, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity given to the faithful in Bulgaria to venerate the miraculous icon and offer their prayers before it. He also presented commemorative gifts to Bishop Irenei, including an epitrachelion, an omophorion, a pectoral cross, a panagia, and an icon of Christ, the Wisdom of God. Fr. Nektary and Archpriest Spasimir Ivanov also received liturgical gifts.
The visit of the icon continued with a public lecture on its history and significance, followed by Vespers and a supplicatory canon to the Mother of God at St. Nedelya Cathedral.
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Source: Patriarchate of Bulgaria, Article: Михаил Тасков, Photos: Весела Игнатова
