Church Icon
Do icons formulate miracles?Story no.1 Many stories have been told regarding statues and icons of the Virgin Mary. What have she done or formulated so that these tales abound? The family of my in-laws had their own tale to share. Their family name is Azarcon and they hail from Roxas City, Capiz, Philippines. The Azarcon clan has a bequest from their forefathers. For regarding 50 years, their ancestors had prepared the statue of Virgin Mary for a procession. Together with Jesus Christ. The Virgin Mary icon is paraded around the old city. People hold candles for the duration of the procession. When the statue becomes old, a new one is created. Every 5 years, a new gown is sewn, ready for the procession each Resurrection Sunday. As luck would have it, 50 years ago, the statue was handed down to my mother-in-law's family. A week before Holy Week, a big wooden cart would be prepared, cleaned, polished and connected with electric bulbs and prettified with flowers. The Virgin Mary would be dressed in Her most recent gown. The whole family wakes up in the wee hours of the morning of Resurrection Sunday to fetch the cart to the church. (The immaculate Conception Church in Roxas City is one of the oldest churches in the whole Philippines.) The other family in charge of the Risen Christ brings their cart so that the Mother meets the Son. Every Holy Week this is the ritual followed by 2 families. It is a heartwarming, significant experience for the faithful who join the procession. The question would be: What miracle has Virgin Mary created? In the year 1984, Roxas City, Philippines was hit by typhoon " Undang ". Roxas City was in the eye of the typhoon. Many houses had their roofs blown away, trees were uprooted, and the wind was so strong that a humane being could be blown away. The residence of the Azarcon's had it is roof blown away. The wonder of it was that two roofing sheets only remained. In the house of Mike Azarcon was the big cabinet where the Virgin Mary was placed. On top of the cabinet were two boxes bearing two costumes of the Virgin Mary. The costumes were arid and the statue inside did not get soaked. Everybody expected all of Her things to be wet. The rains were not falling down but were blown sideways due to strong wind. This was not natural! The comprehensible statement is simple. The rain would destruct her costumes. The family could not afford to sew a new one, much less three costume, which was the requirement for the Virgin Mary. Her second miracle came to the Azarcon family in year 2001. There were ten Azarcon siblings, who tried their best to finish their studies. Only one did not finish his education, due to his disability to read. This is Raymond, the oldest son. At the begin of his marriage, he held a occupation in the furniture shop closed down and Ray became jobless. His wife, Alicia, is a bookkeeper in their aunt's hardware store. They have three boys, Ian, Earl and Paul. Their mother Marietta, an Australian pensioner, built Ray a huge house so as to accommodate the other siblings who migrated to Australia. The brothers and sisters would come for a visit to Roxas City. Only one sister, my mother-in-law, stayed here in Davao City Philippines. To Ray's credit, he would prepare the huge cart in time for the procession on Holy Week. His wife Alicia and their three boys would pitch in the required tasks. Ray had been doing this task in a faithful manner for 50 years. He and Alicia accepted the obligation without question. On February 26, 2001, one sister passed away. Cynthia passed from physical life of breast cancer at the age of 50. The family was brokenhearted! By the middle of March 2001, came the good news that Alicia won the primary prize in the TV program "Eat Bulaga" in Manila. Alicia purchased 100 pesos worth of Squibb's Vitamin E and was entitled only one raffle ticket. Since an aunt was the owner of Pharmacia Benjamin, Alicia received two raffle tickets instead. These stubs she placed in the raffle box to be shipped to Manila. The prize was a brand new Ford Expedition worth 1.3 million pesos at that time. We all thought Cynthia must have interceded for Ray's behalf. It is the Virgin Mary's way of compensating Ray for all his faithful work. He and Alicia decisive to trade the Ford to a relative for 1 million pesos. The couple was competent to send their children through college. Ian is now a civil engineer, Earl and Paul became male nurses. Not only Ray and Alicia were blessed with this fortunate event. The other siblings of Ray were thankful for what transpired. As what was happening before, Ray was dependent on his old mother for his family needs. A huge part of Australian pension was applied up each month for their subsistence. Alice's salary as bookkeeper was not substantial. There is no other explanation. The Virgin Mary wanted the old mother to be relieved from Ray's dependency. Their old mom had suffered sufficient rearing 10 children. A priest cited this: "God governs us all." When our humane efforts, no matter how outstanding and voluntarily offered with no condition becomes too much to bear, the Divine Will takes over. He removes the yoke from our neck, without further ado. He brings about events that surpass our humane expected values and all our gratitude we offer to Him even insufficient. He is full of blessings to His children.
19C Antique Russia Russian Orthodox Church Signed Icon 1907 @28 1/4 X 22 3/4 inc, 19C Antique Russia Russian Orthodox Church Nativity Virgin Mary Icon 36 x 29 inc, 18C Antique Russia Russian Orthodox Church Mstera Icon @ 1/8 x 14 x 1 1/2 inches, VERY INTERESTING VINTAGE ORTHODOX CHURCH WALL METAL ICON , cast in Aluminum!!!, POLAND 2002 RELIGION CHURCH SAINTS PAINTING ICON SOUVENIR SHEET MINT, POLAND 1982 HOLY MARY BLACK MADONNA RELIGION ICON CHURCH PAINTI SOUVENIR MINT, HUNGARY 2006 CROWN OF STEPHEN SAINT RELIGION CHURCH MILLENNIUM ICON FDC, ★antique RELIGIOUS ICON TIN PICTURE wall hanging 17 1/2 X 23" CHURCH holy, Russia 6150-53 First Day Covers Kremlin Churches Icon Sign of the Virgin, Russian BOOK in English & Russian Church of Intercession at Fili Russian icons, Christ Holy Trinity ANGELS Russian Church Prayer Icon, Ascension CHRIST JESUS RUSSIAN Church Prayer Icon, Handpainted Russian Wooden Laquered Crucifix Orthodox Church Icon Cross Christ, "Tenderness" MARY & CHRIST RUSSIAN Church Icon, Anna, Joaquim, MARY Russian Church Prayer ICON, 7 Swords Virgin HOLY MARY RUSSIAN Church Prayer Icon, Christ Icon Cross White Church Baby Baptism Receiving Crib Blanket, Blessed MARY & CHRIST RUSSIAN Church Prayer Icon, Russian Orthodox ICON Cross Church Pascha Basket Cover Lace Runner Tablecloth, Holy MARY,CHRIST & Saints UKRAINIAN / Russian Church Prayer Icon, Old Slavonic MARY & CHRIST Russian Church Prayer Icon, Lovely GUARDIAN ANGEL Russian Church Prayer Icon, Old Handpainted Orthodox Church Icon Theotokos Romanian on glass with Saints , OLD GREEK PHOTO MEGALOCHARI LOUTRAKI ICON OF PANAGIA GREECE ORTHODOX CHURCH, Christ ICON Embroidered CROSS Church Altar Linen Napkins Set of 4, Enthroned MARY & CHRIST JESUS RUSSIAN Church Prayer Healing Icon Ukraine, CHRIST ICON Cross LG Church Red Orthodox CHRISTMAS Tablecloth Runner, CHRIST JESUS, APOSTLES Russian Orthodox Church Library Icon, Crowns Art Prints, Old Handpainted Orthodox Church Icon Nativity Folk Art Glass Romanian on Glass, Religious Icons Art and Liturgical Reform Church Architecture Books Lot, Handpainted Greek Orthodox Church Icon Theotokos Mother of God with Christ, Handpainted Romanian Orthodox Church Icon Theotokos Mother of God with Christ, Saints Constantine and Helena True Cross Handpainted Greek Orthodox Church Icon , Old Handpainted Orthodox Church Icon Theotokos Mother of God on Glass Paschal, Black Ethiopian Saint Moses Icon Orthodox Church Ceramic Tile African Christian , Orthodox Church Icon Tile Saint Ia The Chinese Teacher Martyrs Boxer Revolution , THEOTOKOS Glikophilusa Saints Greek Russian Orthodox Church Icon Ceramic Tile , Handpainted Saint John Maximovich North America Russian Orthodox Church Icon, Russian Orthodox Church Handpainted Icon on Laquered Wood Mother of God Folk Art, Old Handpainted Orthodox Church Icon Adam and Eve Religious Folk Art Glass Wood, Old Handpainted Orthodox Church Icon Theotokos Mother of God on Glass Christ , NEW IRISH HERITAGE SOUVENIR METAL KEYRING KEY RING IRISH ICONS CHURCH HIGH CROS, MARY, JESUS, John The Baptist Russian Orthodox Church Library Icon Art Prints, Holy MARY "Blessing the Land" Unique Russian Church "Farmer's" Prayer Icon, CYPRUS 1978 CHRISTMAS CHURCH ICON STANDS SET OFFICIAL FDC, St. Francis of Asissi Orthodox Icon Church San Damiano Medal Necklace, Christ ICON CROSS Chalice Communion Church Altar Linen Napkins, Christ Russian Orthodox Icon Cross White Church Baby Baptism Receiving Blanket, Christ ICON JERUSALEM CROSS Church Altar Linen Napkins, Christ Icon Cross White Satin Church Embroidered Altar Runner Tablecloth, Old Slavonic Virgin of the Sign MARY & CHRIST Russian Church Prayer Icon, MARY, CHRIST RUSSIAN Church Healing Icon for Women, Christ Russian Orthodox Icon Cross White Church Baby Baptism Crib Blanket, Russian Orthodox ICON Church Pascha Basket Lace Tablecloth Runner, Christ ICON CROSS IHS Church Communion White Serving Altar Linen Napkins Set, Russian Orthodox Church Icon Saint George San Giorgio Ceramic Tile Miniature , Angel Archangel Michael Mihail Russian Orthodox Church Icon Folk Art Tile Angels, Irish Saints Western Orthodox Church Icon Saint Patrick Padraig of Ireland , THEOTOKOS Glicophilusa Orthodox Church Icon Folk Art Mother of God Tender Love, Orthodox Church Icon Saint George San Giorgio Dragon Naive Folk Art Tile Ceramic,
What is the signification of an 'icon' many times seen in a Greek Orthodox Church? Do they have special blessings or are they merely a form of art? They are not just art. They have been described as "windows into heaven" and "the family pictures". They remind us of Christ, the Virgin Mary, the apostles and saints allround the ages. Some icons are very elaborate, containing a great deal of scenes from an indispensable even, or even telling the whole life of a person. So they are also instructing aids. Properly done, icons are prepared by those with a benediction from the Church (from a priest or bishop, or the abbot or abbess of a monastery), and are "drawn" or "written" (the term "paintde" is not applied much) accompanied by prayer. Once acquired, they are oftentimes taken to the church for a benediction by being in the altar space for 40 days. They might likewise be made on-site in the church in the form of a mosaic or fresco. The use of icons in Christian worship was affirmed at the Seventh Ecumenical Council at the end of the turbulent anti-icon Iconoclastic period. The Council wrote, This being an Ecumenical Council, it was accepted by the (at that time united) Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. It is still esteemed by those churches. Blessings. |
