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October 11, 2026
19th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST — Tone 2. Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council. Holy Apostle Philip of the Seventy, (1st c. Virgin Martyrs Zenaΐda and Philonίlla, of Tarsus in Cilicia (1st c.). Services Saturday, October 10 – 5:00 PM Vespers Sunday, October 11 – 9:30 AM – Divine Liturgy followed by a brief Choir Rehearsal, a Meeting of people who will be working at the Hawaiian Iveron Icon Visitation and a Sisterhood Meeting. Wednesday, October 14 – 8:30 AM Divine Liturgy 5:00 PM – Choir Rehearsal for the Akathist to the Theotokos 6:00 PM – Akathist for the Visitation of the Hawaiian Iveron Icon Saturday, October 17 – 5:00 PM – Vespers Sunday, October 18 – 10:00 AM – Divine Liturgy followed by the Pork Chop Dinner Activities Thursday, Friday, and Saturday October 8, 9, and 10 – Sauerkraut Pierogi Making Saturday, October 17 – Pork Chop Dinner Preparation Sunday, October 18 – Pork Chop Dinner On Wednesday, October 14, with the blessing of our Archbishop Michael of New York, Saint Nicholas Orthodox Christian Church will be will blessed by a visitation of the Miraculous Myrrh-Streaming Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This icon has been streaming myrrh since 2007. It has been the source of miraculous healings of souls and bodies of many people who have venerated it and have been anointed with the myrrh that has flowed from it. The icon has recently returned from Bulgaria where it was visited by 20,000 people in the first four days of its visit alone, and tens of thousands more over the next two weeks. Since Apostolic times, the Orthodox Church has believed that icons bear witness to “God’s presence with us in the mystery of faith.” The icons are not just human pictures or visual aids to contemplation and prayer. They are the witnesses of the presence of the Kingdom of God to us, and so of our own presence in the Kingdom of God in the Church. It is the Orthodox belief that icons are not only permissible, but are spiritually necessary because “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1.14). (Source: Orthodox Church in America) Icons have been understood as, “Theology written in images and color.” Icons are not just pictures. They are holy images that teach spiritual truth in the form of pictures and are often described as “windows into heaven.” Icons are seen as being necessary aids to worship. The Church honors icons but does not worship them. Icons are not idols. The honor offered to the icon passes to the person depicted in the icon. When one venerates an icon it is like a child who kisses a picture of his of her mother and father showing love for them, not the photo itself.A number of icons are recognized as miracle-working. Some stream myrrh or may weep. Miracles may occur according to one’s faith. Persons who are in the presence of such icons will find them a great help in the increase of their faith and an aid them in seeking God. Many unbelievers have come to faith in God because of the healing presence and comfort that icons provide.There are many miraculous icons throughout the world, and the United States is home to several of them. Among these are “Hawaiian” Iveron icon of the Mother of God that we will be receiving, The Kardiotissa “Tender Heart” icon at St. George Orthodox Church in Taylor, Pennsylvania, and the weeping Lamenting Mother of God icon at St. Paul Greek Orthodox Cathedral in New York City. The icon that we will have the honor of hosting typically resides in Hawaii where it first began to stream myrrh. This icon depicts the Mother of God holding the Child Jesus. The Hawaiian Icon has visited the Ukraine, Greece, Cyprus, South America, Europe, the Holy Land, Romania, Mount Athos, Russia and Serbia. When the Holy Icon was taken to the Republic of Georgia in 2014 over a million faithful came to see it. Icons of the Holy Mother with her Son are among those most commonly found in Orthodox churches and homes. Church tradition teaches that the first icon of this type was painted by the Apostle and Evangelist Saint Luke on a board taken from the table located in her house. All members of our community and any interested persons are welcome to come to see and venerate (if they wish) the Hawaiian Iveron Icon at St Nicholas Church, 28 Cross Street, Auburn, New York on the evening of October 14. A prayer service (Akathist) lead by His Eminence Archbishop Michael of New York of the Orthodox Church in America Diocese of New York and New Jersey, will be held beginning at 6:00 PM that day. Any persons, regardless of faith background or belief who wish to be anointed with the holy myrrh from the icon will be welcome to receive this blessing. For more information, please contact Fr. Deacon David Donch at (315) 237-1932 or [email protected] It is our prayer that in a world that is torn by strife, uncertainty, loneliness, grief and illness, the presence of this icon will give those who come to visit it a measure of peace of soul, mind, and heart, and the assurance that, as the Prophet Isaiah wrote, God is With Us! Fr. Michael Speck Pastor – St. Nicholas Church October 11 Bulletin October 2026 Calendar Divine Liturgy Live Stream Link Click to view the live stream on Facebook (No account needed) |
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