On Monday, March 9, with the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, the myrrh-streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon of the Mother of God visited the Hermitage of the Holy Protection in Buena, NJ. The visitation schedule was coordinated with the guardian of the holy icon, Priest Nectarios Yangson, and Protodeacon Dimitri Krenitsky. The church had been cleaned beforehand, and a floral border prepared with symmetrical floral vases. Pilgrims began arriving at 5:30 PM.

The serving clergy consisted of: Archpriests Ljubo Milosevic (rector of Holy Trinity Church in Vineland, NJ), Zoran Radovic (rector of St. George Serbian Church in Elizabeth, NJ), and Nikolai Manduke (cleric of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ), Fr. Nectarios (guardian of the icon and rector of Holy Theotokos of Iveron Church in Kailua, HI), and Fr. Dimitri (cleric of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Mayfield, PA). Praying in church were Archpriest Gregory Winsky (rector of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Philadelphia, PA) and Protodeacon Serge Ohotin, cleric and warden of the Hermitage, who assisted visiting pilgrims and provided valuable assistance during the service.

The choir was under the direction of Subdeacon Peter Lukianov of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ.

Due to minor travel delays, the icon arrived at 6:30 PM, at which time the clergy went in procession to the rectory to greet the Most Holy Mother of God. The icon was greeted at the entrance of the church with an escort showering it with rose petals. The church was filled to absolute capacity, with people standing shoulder to shoulder. The attendance is estimated at 80-100 people and was a mixture of every age demographic: infants, babies, adolescents, adults, and senior citizens. The ethnic and cultural demographics of those in attendance represented Russians, Serbians, Greeks, American converts, and a group of Roman Catholic families with children, from various Latin American countries. The service and responses were sung in Slavonic, Serbian, Greek, and English.

The size of the crowd had exceeded all expectations. As the church could no longer hold more people, the overflow crowds stood outside the church on the steps, and some remained in and around the church. The church doors remained open throughout the service, so that the pilgrims outside could still hear the service. The parking area was crowded beyond capacity, so that cars had to park on the main road.

Following the dismissal, Fr. Nectarios spoke about the holy lineage of the Mother of God, and our lenten struggles and the blessings that follow such struggles. He spoke about his two previous visits to the Hermitage of the Holy Protection, and that this current visit represents the third visit of the Mother of God. Following his talk, he called Fr. Serge to the ambo, where he presented a most beautiful replica of the Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God as a gift to Metropolitan Nicholas, to be housed in a place of honor within the church. Fr. Nectarios explained that this gift, prepared by the sisters of the Nativity of the Theotokos Greek Convent in Saxonburg, PA, was a donation from a very pious Orthodox family specifically for the Hermitage. Fr. Nectarios asked that they keep the donors in their prayers.

At this time, Fr. Serge addressed all in attendance with a word of welcome on behalf of Metropolitan Nicholas. Giving glory to God and His most holy Mother, Fr. Serge offered sincere thanks to Fr. Nectarios for the blessing of the icon’s visit. He thanked the visiting clergy, local parishioners, and guests. He humbly asked if people would kindly consider an offering in the donation basket to assist Fr. Nectarios with his travel expenses. He also cordially invited everyone to enjoy some simple lenten hospitality in the basement hall, which consisted of coffee, tea, and some fasting sweets.

Fr. Dimitri spoke last and, again, welcomed everyone on behalf of the Metropolitan. He expressed his deep gratitude to His Eminence for his blessing to ask Fr. Nectarios for a visit to the Hermitage, and he further thanked the icon’s guardian for accepting the invitation and accommodating it on the icon’s very full schedule. He asked that this not be the last visit, but a continuation of many more future visits. The serving clergy were acknowledged and thanked for their support. Local parishioners from Holy Trinity Church were welcomed and thanked for their attendance and support. All people were then addressed and thanked for their attendance. They were acknowledged for the great distances many traveled, with some coming from Washington, DC, Maryland, Philadelphia, Delaware, and South, Central, and North New Jersey.

It was joyful that all the pilgrims answered a call from the Mother of God to be present and greet her holy image.

At 10:30 PM, the last group of pilgrims left, and the icon departed church grounds with Fr. Nectarios.

Protodeacon Dimitri Krenitsky