Sterling Heights, Michigan, August 4, 2023
Nativity of the Virgin Mary MOC – Sterling Heights
Thousands of Orthodox faithful from various jurisdictions and hours away traveled to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary Macedonian Orthodox Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan, late last month to venerate the myrrh-streaming Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God.
The myrrh from the holy icon. Photo: Nativity of the Virgin Mary MOC – Sterling Heights
This was the first time that the icon had traveled with its guardian Fr. Nektarios Yangston to a parish of the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric since it was reunited to the Orthodox Church last year.
The Nativity of the Virgin Church writes: “What a great honor and blessing to have been given the opportunity to host The Miraculous Iveron Icon from Hawaii. It is difficult to express the joy and excitement we felt for this momentous occasion.”
Nativity of the Virgin Mary MOC – Sterling Heights
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated in six languages (English, Macedonian, Arabic, Romanian, Greek, Polynesian) with clergy, chanters, altar boys, and faithful from at least six different jurisdictions.
Nativity of the Virgin Mary MOC – Sterling Heights
Some people traveled as much as 12 hours and some waited in line for more than six hours to venerate the holy icon of the Theotokos.
“All glory to God for bringing us together for this historical moment,” the church concludes.
Watch the Divine Liturgy with the wonderworking Hawaiian Iveron Icon:
OrthoChristian also reported on the icon’s recent visit to the Romanian Orthodox Monastery of the Holy Cross and St. Ephraim the New in Mono, Ontario, Canada, and the Antiochian Archdiocesan Convention in Phoenix.
Read more about the Hawaiian Iveron Icon here.
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