Hawaiian Miraculous Icon of the Mother of God Arrives in Bulgaria

A printed copy of the renowned Iveron myrrh‑streaming icon of the Mother of God, known as the Hawaiian Icon, arrived in Bulgaria on 31 July. The icon was welcomed at Sofia’s Vasil Levski Airport by Patriarch Daniel of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and Metropolitan Daniel, following a decision of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. It was escorted by Bishop Iriney (London and Western Europe), priest Nektarij Yangson, and other clergy.

The icon was first placed in the St. Marina church, then moved to the St. Sophia – Wisdom of God cathedral for a liturgy and a water‑blessing of the Holy Cross on 1 August. A procession carried it to the St. Nedelya metropolitan church, where it remained for public veneration until 5 August. Over the next weeks it visited numerous eparchies—including Samokov, Ihtiman, Dupnitsa, and others—culminating with an exhibition at Rila Monastery on 17‑18 August before departing the country on 19 August.

The icon, recognized as miraculous by the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad in 2008, is said to emit fragrant myrrh and is considered a major spiritual event for Orthodox believers in Bulgaria.