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San Francisco, CA: Deacon Nectarios Yangson, Guardian of Myrrh-Streaming Hawaiian Icon, ordained to Priesthood

On Sunday, December 4, the great feast of the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple, Deacon Nectarios Yangson, guardian of the myrrh-streaming "Hawaiian" Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, was ordained to the holy priesthood.

The ordination was performed by Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco & Western America, who celebrated Divine Liturgy in Joy of All Who Sorrow Cathedral in San Francisco, CA. Concelebrating with His Eminence were second diocesan vicar Bishop James of Sonora and cathedral and visiting clergy. Liturgy was held under the aegis of the Hawaiian Icon.

Upon completion of the service, Archbishop Kyrill offered words of spiritual instruction to Fr. Nectarios:

"I wish God’s blessings, that he grant you all that is needed for you in your sojourn as a priest. The trials that you experienced before will multiply. The responsibility that you by your free will took upon yourself shall magnify. Remember, for every person that comes to you to seek help, consolation, blessings for things that they need to undertake, you need to take to heart and give all that you can to that particular individual. Give all that you can. For if you for one moment decide not to… then you will answer together with that person for their sins at the Dread Judgement Seat of Christ. But if you give yourself utmost, as much as you can give, then that person has to work to save his soul and he will answer his shortcomings…"

Fr. Nectarios was born on the island of Oahu to a Native Hawaiian family. He was baptized at the age of 12, become the first Orthodox Christian in his family. He works as a detective in his secular job, and serves as a deacon at Holy Theotokos of Iveron Church in Kailua (Honolulu). This church is the abode of the Hawaiian Icon, and Fr. Nectarios will continue his service there.

This year marks 15 years since Fr. Nectarios began traveling with the myrrh-streaming icon. This is the same number of years as Brother José Muñoz-Cortés traveled with the Montreal Icon, of which the Hawaiian Icon is a copy. He has traveled over 100,000 miles by car, not including his flights from Hawaii to the continent and back.

Fr. Nectarios has visited over 1,700 churches around the world – 1,200 in the U.S. and Canada, in almost every state. By God’s grace, Fr. Nectarios and the icon are frequent guests in the churches and monasteries of the Eastern American Diocese. The staff of the Media Office warmly congratulate our dear friend on this important event in his life and the life of the Church. Axios!

Photos

San Francisco, CA: Deacon Nectarios Yangson, Guardian of Myrrh-Streaming Hawaiian Icon, ordained to Priesthood - 12/04/22

Photos: Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese - T. Veselkina

(11 images)


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