June 14, 2009

Weeping Icon of Saint Nicholas in Hempstead, New York



This amazing video (maybe the best I've ever seen of a weeping icon) was taken by Bishop Savas Zembillas while he was chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. He sent it to me with the following note:

"Long story short: I took this video in the sanctuary of the Cathedral of St Paul in Hempstead, New York, around 3:15 p.m. on June 22, 2008, Sunday of All Saints. This icon of St Nicholas the Wonderworker began to stream a clear, sweet-smelling liquid during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the morning. I don't know what to make of it. It smells of myrrh. I don't know if I would have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, handled it with my own hands, inhaled the aroma for myself. Take a look and see for yourselves. +S"

Apparently it began gushing myrrh on Pentecost Sunday and it was examined by the Greek Archdiocese a week later on the Sunday of All Saints when this video was taken.

I also had the opportunity to visit this parish and venerate this icon in July 2008, a month or so after the miracle, but it had stopped weeping by that time. What surprised me most was that this was not the first weeping icon of this parish. More can be read about these other weeping icons here and the parish website is here.