Tokyo/Kyoto, December 17, 2025
Photo: orthodoxjapan.jp
The wonderworking Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Theotokos of Iveron, known for streaming holy myrrh, made its first-ever visit to Japan in late November, drawing hundreds of Orthodox faithful from across the country and around the world.
The miraculous icon, housed at the Iveron Church of the Most Holy Theotokos in Kailua, Honolulu, Hawaii, arrived under the care of its guardian, Fr. Nectarios Yangson. The visit had been planned for 2020 but was delayed five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reports the Japanese Orthodox Church.
Tokyo Reception
Photo: orthodoxjapan.jp On November 21, the icon was welcomed at Tokyo’s Holy Resurrection Cathedral by His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim of Tokyo and over 200 worshippers.
Following prayers of thanksgiving and supplications to St. Nikolai of Japan, Met. Seraphim presented Fr. Nectarios with incorrupt relics of St. Nikolai as a gift to the Hawaiian church. In exchange, Fr. Nectarios offered a large wooden replica of the wonderworking icon.
“This miraculous icon has been traveling the world for over 17 years in response to invitations from Orthodox Christians in various countries,” Fr. Nectarios said, noting the icon has granted various miracles, including physical healings, to those sincerely seeking salvation.
Worshippers venerated the icon and received anointing with the holy myrrh collected on its protective glass.
Kyoto Celebration
The icon’s visit to Kyoto marked the 55th anniversary of the blessing of the episcopal throne at Kyoto Orthodox Church, which had initiated the invitation.
Photo: orthodoxjapan.jp
On November 23, Divine Liturgy was celebrated by three priests. The Gospel reading was proclaimed in six languages: Japanese, Slavonic, Russian, English, Romanian, and Greek. The sweet fragrance from the icon intensified throughout the service.
The delegation from the Honolulu church presented a large replica icon created by the Nativity of the Theotokos Monastery in Pennsylvania, while the Kyoto church reciprocated with a Nishijin textile icon for the Hawaiian church.
Total attendance exceeded 200, with 95 receiving Holy Communion. About 100 people attended the festive meal that followed, which included participants from India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, Hong Kong, America, Russia, and Ukraine. Japanese faithful traveled from Hokkaido to Kyushu, and guests included Romanian Orthodox clergy and faithful, as well as Catholics and Protestants.
The icon’s protective cover was found saturated with holy myrrh, and the sweet fragrance permeated both church and hall. According to participants, this was the first pilgrimage the Hawaiian community had organized, making Kyoto’s selection as their inaugural destination particularly significant.
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