Today the the Feast of the Icon of the Mother of God, "Joy of all Who Sorrows"

Today is the day in the Orthodox Church where we celebrate the icon of of the Theotokos, "Joy of All Who Sorrow". The following passage is the story of the icon from the Orthodox Church in America's Website..

The wonderworking "Joy of All Who Sorrow" Icon of the Mother of God was glorified in the year 1688. Euphymia, the sister of Patriarch Joachim (1674-1690), lived at Moscow and suffered from an incurable illness for a long time. One morning during a time of prayer she heard a voice say, "Euphymia! Go to the temple of the Transfiguration of My Son; there you will find an icon called the "Joy of All Who Sorrow." Have the priest celebrate a Molieben with the blessing of water, and you will receive healing from sickness." Euphymia did as she was directed by the Most Holy Theotokos, and she was healed. This occurred on October 24, 1688. The icon of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" (with coins fused to it by a bolt of lightning), was manifested at St Petersburg in 1888.

To respond to the questions, "Do you worship Icons?" The answer is a firm NO! We venerate Icons. It's much akin to having pictures of your relatives that have passed away. Do you still love them, even though they are no longer with us?? To you sometimes talk to them? Well, in a sense, that's what we do with Icons. We pray with them, as they are in heaven and are speaking with God right as we speak. Prayer helps when you have many, many people praying along with you.

(removing myself from pulpit)

The Steelers are 2-4. The Pens are 4-3. Hmm It sounds funny, but I think that this year's group of young Canadians, Americans and Russians are a bumper crop of good players..

Again, I call from the top of E-15.

LETS GO PENS! LETS GO PENS!

~R