The Visit of a Myrrh-Streaming Icon
Yesterday evening, we received an e-mail from the seminary to inform us that we were going to have a surprise visit from a myrrh-streaming icon. Not too far away, in Taylor, Pennsylvania, an otherwise normal, local Orthodox Church is home to a miraculous icon, the Kardiotissa Icon of the Mother of God.
As the caretaker entered the monastery church this evening, it only took seconds to begin to smell the fragrance coming from the icon. She was first taken up to the royal doors, received by the abbot, and returned to a stand in the middle of the church. At first glance, I could not quite figure out why the image looked so strange, but that was made quite clear when the caretaker later opened up the glass front to the case.
The inside of the glass was covered with a liquid, which was slowly running downward toward the bottom of the wooden case, which had a special compartment full of cotton gauze, to catch the myrrh.
As the singing and prayers of the service continued, the caretaker walked to the case, pulled out the icon and walked over to a nearby child. He turned the icon at an angle so the myrrh would drip off the bottom corner and blessed the first of many recipients. It was a beautiful scene to watch: he slowly progressed throughout the church, giving everybody a chance to catch a drop, with the completely wet icon continuing to drip every few seconds.
Most of us wiped the fragrance on our faces, some made the sign of the Cross, and a few cupped their hands around our noses to get the fullest possible breath. Everyone patiently waited. Smiles were on everybody's faces, especially the adults as we watched the children receive a drip of myrrh. It was like watching children open a long-awaited and much-desired Christmas present: it is questionably more of a joy for the parent watching than the child opening.
What a special blessing to receive the Mother of God and her wonder-working icon. We can only express thanks for her unexpected visit. Sadly, she had to depart, and return back to Taylor. If you are ever driving through the Scranton area, though, and need a nice, quiet place to attend a service, the home of this beautiful icon would not be a bad choice.
As the caretaker entered the monastery church this evening, it only took seconds to begin to smell the fragrance coming from the icon. She was first taken up to the royal doors, received by the abbot, and returned to a stand in the middle of the church. At first glance, I could not quite figure out why the image looked so strange, but that was made quite clear when the caretaker later opened up the glass front to the case.
The inside of the glass was covered with a liquid, which was slowly running downward toward the bottom of the wooden case, which had a special compartment full of cotton gauze, to catch the myrrh.
As the singing and prayers of the service continued, the caretaker walked to the case, pulled out the icon and walked over to a nearby child. He turned the icon at an angle so the myrrh would drip off the bottom corner and blessed the first of many recipients. It was a beautiful scene to watch: he slowly progressed throughout the church, giving everybody a chance to catch a drop, with the completely wet icon continuing to drip every few seconds.
Most of us wiped the fragrance on our faces, some made the sign of the Cross, and a few cupped their hands around our noses to get the fullest possible breath. Everyone patiently waited. Smiles were on everybody's faces, especially the adults as we watched the children receive a drip of myrrh. It was like watching children open a long-awaited and much-desired Christmas present: it is questionably more of a joy for the parent watching than the child opening.
What a special blessing to receive the Mother of God and her wonder-working icon. We can only express thanks for her unexpected visit. Sadly, she had to depart, and return back to Taylor. If you are ever driving through the Scranton area, though, and need a nice, quiet place to attend a service, the home of this beautiful icon would not be a bad choice.
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