70 Pre-Revolutionary Icons Returned to Russia

A Russian businessman, Sergey A. Shmakov, has donated 70 icons worth over $1 million to the Russian Orthodox Church. The icons had all been removed from the former Russian Empire after the Bolshevik Revolution and were purchased at various art auctions and stores abroad for return to Russia. More here.

Icon of St. Anna Moves to South Canaan

The myrrh-streaming icon of St. Anna and its caretaker, Archimandrite Athanasy (Mastalski), have taken up residence at St. Tikhon's Monastery in South Canaan, Pennsylvania, which will be holding weekly supplications for the sick before the icon on Sundays. More here.

Dormition of St. Anna

Joyous feast! Today we commemorate the falling-asleep of St. Anna (or Hannah), mother of our Lady Mary. It is said that St. Anna, having born the Mother of God in her old age, fell asleep shortly before the Annunciation after having lived seventy-nine years.

As the Mother of God is in a sense the mother of the Church, so St. Anna is in a sense the grandmother of the Church and many turn to her for prayer and protection just as they do in life to their earthly grandmothers. Because of her love for her children St. Anna has been glorified by many miracles, most notably in our times through her weeping icon (pictured), and is the protectress of many cities, among them Detroit.

More on St. Anna's life can be found here. May her blessing and prayers be with us all!

Greece Seeks Returns of London Icons

Greece is seeking to block the auction in London of six 300-year old icons it claims were recently stolen from Greek Orthodox monasteries in southern Epirus (a region in northwestern Greece). More here.

Icon of Our Lady of Sorrows Visiting Australia

The wonderworking icon of the Mother of God 'Softener of Hardened Hearts' is visiting the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad in Australia. In the West this depiction of the Mother of God is known as 'Our Lady of Sorrows' as it depicts seven swords symbolizing the seven sorrows of the Mother of God. More on the icon can be found here. Its itinerary in Australia can be found here.

"Iconographer Creating Colorful Frescoes at Jackson Church"

A lovely article on the frescoes being painted at my parish's sister church, St. Demetrius' in Jackson, Michigan, can be found here. I visited St. Demetrius' regularly before the new iconostas and frescoes were begun, but since they've been put in the church has been completely transformed and turned into a beautiful example of Orthodox iconography in southern Michigan.

Stolen Finnish Orthodox Icon Recovered

Finnish police have recovered a miraculous icon stolen from Helsinki's Cathedral of the Dormition. Following restoration work the icon will be returned to the cathedral. More here.

Museum of the Russian Icon Opens in Moscow

A new museum, the Museum of the Russian Icon, has opened in Moscow. The museum's substantial collection numbering some 8,000 pieces, only 4,000 of which are currently on display. The museum in cooperation with the Moscow Patriarchate plans to showcase exhibits in New York and other US cities in the near future. More here.

Boy George Returns Icon to Cypriot Orthodox Church

The Cypriot Orthodox Church recently thanked singer Boy George for returning an 18th century icon of Christ stolen following the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus. Boy George had owned the icon since buying it at an auction in 1985, but agreed to return it to Cyprus when presented with proof of its origins and theft. More here.

In Memoriam: Vladyka Job

It's been a year since Vladyka Job's death and it's still hard to believe what happened. I still feel that if I went to Chicago I could just give him a call and meet up with him at Christ the Savior or Holy Trinity or have dinner with him at his apartment near the Moody Bible Institute. He was such an incredible, loving man. I had met bishops before I moved to the Midwest and found myself in the American Orthodox Church's Midwestern American Diocese, but for me he exemplified what a bishop was supposed to be. He was truly Christ's icon in our midst.

I remember waking up in Addis Abeba not feeling well and finding out later that morning that Vladyka had died. I was unable to go to his funeral because of being out of the country, but when I returned to the States I made a pilgrimage to his grave in Black Lick. I do not know what his fate was, but because of changes in certain issues in my life that I brought to him and the continuing strengthening of our Diocese of Chicago I feel that he is still with us, praying for us. May his memory be eternal! Fr. John Matusiak has posted a lovely tribute to Vladyka Job on the website of the Midwestern American Diocese here.