On Tuesday evening, August 31, St. Herman of Alaska Church in Stafford, VA, welcomed the myrrh-streaming Hawaiian-Iveron Icon of the Mother of God and her guardian, Deacon Nectarios Yangson.

Following the arrival of the icon, the Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos was chanted led by Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen; parish rector), and parish clerics: Priest Alexander Laymon, Deacon Joseph Sirko, and Hierodeacon Mark (Sanford). The choir sang prayerfully under the direction of Stephanie Yuschak.

Following the chanting of the Akathist, Metropolitan Jonah outlined the history of the Montreal-Iveron Icon, followed by Fr. Nectarios providing those gathered with a history of the Hawaiian-Iveron Icon, a copy of the former. Nearly 200 of the faithful were able to venerate the holy icon and be anointed by its myrrh prior to its departure.