Olmsted Falls, Ohio, September 23, 2022
Photo: mitropolia.us
The Romanian Orthodox Annunciation Cathedral in Olmsted Falls was blessed with a special guest for its anniversary this year.
Not only was the parish blessed by a visit from His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas for its 86th anniversary, but also by the visit of the wonderworking and myrrh-streaming Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God.
Parish priest Fr. Petru Neaga writes:
As [the icon’s] caretaker, Father Deacon Nektarios, says: “The icon goes only where the Mother of God wishes.” We received the news that the Icon would come to our church when we got the message: “We can come on Saturday evening, if you are available,” and we immediately understood that this could not have been better, as Saturday evening marked the beginning of the celebration of the anniversary of our church with Hierarchical Vespers—celebrated together with our Archbishop and Metropolitan Nicolae, who gives our parish great joy on every anniversary and on other occasions as well.
The celebration combined with the presence of the miraculous icon drew about 600 Romanian, Greek, American, Russian, Ukrainian, Antiochian, and Albanian faithful to the church.
Photo: mitropolia.us
“May the Church remain, through the prayers and grace bestowed upon it, pure and unstained for our children and their children, until the Second Coming of Our Lord! We thank the Mother of God for having visited even our church,” Fr. Petru writes.
The anniversary continued Sunday morning with the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Met. Nicolae, Fr. Petru, and Fr. Ioan Gherman. The service was followed by an agape meal and a artistic program of Romanian songs and poems by the Sunday School children.
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