Miraculous Icon of the Mother of God “She Who is Quick to Hear” to visit Cleveland area parishes

LORAIN, OH [OCA]—Saints Peter and Paul Church here is one of two Cleveland-area parishes that will host a visit of the miraculous Icon of the Mother of God “She Who is Quick to Hear,” enshrined in the Monastery Church of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk, South Canaan, PA, Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7, 2010.

On Saturday, Igumen Sergius, recently elected Abbot of the monastery, and Deacon Joseph Lucas, a convert from Islam, will lead a retreat at the Lorain parish at 9:00 a.m. The icon will be present for veneration throughout the day.

On Sunday evening, the Akathistos Hymn and Healing Service will be celebrated in the icon’s presence at Cleveland’s Saint Theodosius Cathedral at 5:00 p.m.

The icon was given as a gift to Saint Tikhon’s Monastery by monks on Mount Athos at the time of the monastery’s establishment in 1905. The original icon is housed at the Athonite Monastery of Dochiarios. Many miracles have been attributed to the original icon, as well as to the copy enshrined at Saint Tikhon’s. A comprehensive history of the icon may be found at sttikhonsmonastery.org/stm11.html.

For additional information on the icon’s visit to Lorain, contact Father Basil Stoyka at 440-277-5281. Information on the icon’s visit to the cathedral may be obtained by calling Father John Zdinak at 216-741-1310.