In Sofia, sick woman miraculously healed before Hawaiian Icon of Theotokos

Patriarch Daniel with the miraculous Hawaiian Icon of the Mother of God at a hospital in Sofia. Photo: Sofia Metropolis

In the capital of Bulgaria, a woman with a severe meniscus injury received a miraculous healing after fervent prayer before the wonderworking myrrh-streaming Hawaiian Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech spoke about the case during the celebrations at the cathedral in the city of Lovech.

The miraculous icon of the Mother of God visited Bulgaria with the blessing of Bulgarian Patriarch Daniel. The testimony about a woman from Sofia being healed of her illness was given after the festive Divine Liturgy in Lovech, celebrated by the diocesan bishop together with Bulgarian and American clergy.

As Metropolitan Gabriel reported, during the shrine's stay in Sofia, a woman who had been hospitalized with a severe knee injury turned to it for help. After praying before the wonderworking image, the patient felt a sudden improvement, and the very next day she was able to come to the icon on her own to thank the Mother of God for the help she had received.

The holy relic arrived in Lovech on the evening of August 8, 2026, accompanied by its custodian, Priest Nektarios Youngson, and Priest Elijah from the city of Cleveland in the United States. Metropolitan Gabriel welcomed the icon outside the Regional Administration building, after which the faithful proceeded in a procession to the Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius.

Immediately after the miraculous icon was brought into the cathedral, amid the solemn ringing of the bells, those present experienced a strong fragrance of holy myrrh, which was flowing abundantly from the sacred image. A steady stream of pilgrims from various parts of Bulgaria and from abroad continued even through the night. Many laypeople, including children, spent the entire night in the church in continuous prayer before the myrrh-streaming holy icon.

The following day, a solemn Liturgy was celebrated in Lovech, at which Metropolitan Gabriel was co-served by Vicar Bishop Michael of Constantia, Bishop Vasily of Dragovitia, abbot of the Troyan Monastery, and clergy of the diocese. Before the icon's departure, Father Nektarios opened the protective reliquary case, and Metropolitan Gabriel collected the fragrant myrrh that had accumulated in a special vessel for the subsequent anointing of the faithful.

As the UOJ reported, hundreds of faithful in Bulgaria welcomed the Hawaiian Icon of the Mother of God.

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