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It took hours for the faithful to queue through while being anointed and receiving commemorative cards for the visitation. I was unprepared for the raw emotion of the moment. Many, many people wiped away tears. Some sang with the choir. Many took photos to share with their friends and family. Some visitors took long moments before the icon. Others went up in small familial groups - small children lifted high enough for a kiss, the elderly helped from their wheelchairs or given extra support with their walkers. Some women wore makeshift head-coverings from their jackets or carried barefoot infants and toddler. A few people looked like they walked right off the street having been drawn in by the novelty of all the ringing bells, singing, and full parking spots. Still others shook visibly with emotion.
What was most unexpected was the number of people who went up more than once. It's hard to dismiss the urge to "hurry it up" when the line behind you has overflowed into the narthex. The second time around afforded people the opportunity take more time with the icon and their full, satisfied smiles were heartwarming.
There are still many stops on the visitation trip. I encourage all who are in its path to visit if they can. The schedule is available here.
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ReplyDeleteShe visited a Serbian parish here in town right before she came to you. Usually this parish holds roughly 150 or so people, max. Our priest was expecting a handful of people and the clergy to show up, but to his, and my, and I imagine, everyone's surprise, there were over 300 people there. The place was so packed that people spilled out the doors and down the front steps. An incredible sight to say the least. After the service was over and everyone had a chance to venerate the icon, my priest witnessed and incredible sight. The priest who was rector at the Serbian parish boldly (which seems to be the only way he knows how to do things ;) ) asked Reader Nectarios to take the cover off of the icon, which, hesitantly he did. The sight was incredible. It wasn't just a little bit of condensation that happened to smell nice. When they say it gushes myrrh, they mean GUSHING! It flowed out of the case and soaked the cotton balls thoroughly, soaking not only the icon, but the case and the wood frame that held the icon in place. No one can explain this. Incredible. Glory be to God, who is wonderful in His Saints!
ReplyDeleteMost Holy Theotokos, Save us!
The Hawaiian myrrh-streaming icon attracted a multitude of people to view it at the church because of its incredible ability to produce myrrh.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, this phenomenon must be attributed to a miracle from Jesus.