The Miraculous multiplication of myrrh from the Iveron-Montreal Icon

Brothers and sisters, it is with joy that I would like to share with you the news about an amazing miracle that recently happened to Fr. Protopriest Gregory Kotlaroff.

Here is his story:

“I had cotton wool soaked with myrrh from the Iveron Icon, which I received from Br. Joseph, but it had dried out over the years and was completely dry. Recently, perhaps over the course of a month, during prayer I began to feel the aroma of myrrh from the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. But I didn’t pay any attention to it.  

One day we prayed together with my Matushka, we served a molieben. Suddenly, I felt a strong smell of myrrh. I asked Matushka, “Do you smell the fragrance of the Myrrh-streaming Icon?” She says, “No,” but I smelled the scent. It happened several times.  

Once I came across a brochure, I don’t know where it was printed. It contained the akathist to the Iveron Mother of God and an icon. This pamphlet contained the account of Br. Joseph’s companion, who travelled with him around Mount Athos when he received the Iveron Icon from the abbot of the skete. This witness described how it all happened. When I read this article, it was already late, after midnight. I wanted to serve a molieben with the akathist to the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. When I finished the service, I smelled the aroma again. Then I decided to go to my office to anoint myself with dry cotton wool, which I had once received from Br. Joseph.

In the office, the smell became even stronger. When I took the glass jar in which this cotton wool was stored, it turned out that it was abundantly filled with myrrh, even the bottom of the jar was covered with myrrh. This dried cotton wool previously had a brownish, rusty color, but now it has become light and fresh, as if it had just been filled with myrrh. The jar and its lid also had traces of rust before. Both have also been renewed and became like new. It happened on the night of August 24-25.

I think that what happened is somehow connected to the fact that I had previously read a story about Br. Joseph. We are now in our Church preparing for the canonization of Br. Joseph. Personally, I have always considered Br. Joseph to be a saint because he is a martyr. He was tortured to death. Even at his funeral and at pannichidas, I commemorated him as the Martyr Joseph. I think that the Mother of God sends us Her blessing with such a sign.” Protopriest Gregory Kotliroff. 27-08-2023

It must be said that the miraculous multiplication of myrrh, which Fr. Gregory spoke about, happened many times and to many during the time when the Myrrh-streaming Icon was with us. How joyful it is that although the Icon has been taken away from us, the Mother of God does not abandon us with Her mercy! We believe that this miraculous multiplication of myrrh signifies the blessing of the Mother of God for the canonization of Brother Joseph. After all, it was Fr. Gregory who pointed out to our Bishops that the time had come for the canonization. 

Bishop Andrei