Christos Anesti! Christ is Risen!

     HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Mrs. Pagona Catsounis was praying before her Icon at her home in Island Park on the evening of March 16, 1960 she noticed a tear drop sourcing from the left eye and rolling down her cheek. On March 18th she called Fr. George Papadeas, the pastor at St. Paul who drove to her home that evening. After seeing the tears himself he called Archbishop Iakovos who arrived at the home on March 21st. By then a small tear crystallized in the corner of the eye. She was in tears for three days and then stopped.

   After a long silence, a small tear crystallized in the corner of the eye. She was in tears for three days then stopped. After long silent contemplation Archbishop Iakovos directed that the Icon be taken to St. Paul to be enshrined. On March 23rd a procession of many cars, carrying parishioners and Clergy, drove the Icon to the Church and upon reaching it's front walk, three white doves appeared swooping over the limousine and multitude of people who had gathered at the entrance. After the Divine Liturgy, Fr. George remarked that "A Great Sign, and a Special Blessing from above has come to us....and to the world". St. Paul then became a Church crowned with a "Special Blessing", and a steady stream of visitors came from near and far to venerate the Icon.

   On April 12, 1960 Mrs. Antonia Koulis of Oceanside noticed that her lithograph of "Panagia Portraitissa" began to cry. Fr. George, along with the parish Council president, drove to the home. Archbishop Iakovos arrived in the evening and instructed the Icon to be taken to St.Paul on Holy Thursday, April 14. Again thousands of people flocked to witness the tears of the second Icon. Archbishop Iakovos wrote to the Patriarch about the events, and his reply gave an official pronouncement that the Manifestation of the Weeping Icons were "Divine Signs".

   To pacify the doubters, reporters, and non-believers the second Icon was removed from it's frame to see where the tears were emanating. There was no source of tears or moisture on the back of the lithograph. A major New York paper called and asked to have the tears analyzed at a laboratory. The results showed that "the tears were of a oily nature which couldn't be classified among the known elements".

   On May 7, 1960 Mrs. Antonia Koulis called to say that the Icon which was given to her by Bishop Athenagoras of Elaias on behalf of the parish to replace the one she gave to the Church, was tearing profusely. This Icon, also know as "panagia the Hodegetria", was placed next to the other at St. Paul. This Icon, is now in possession of the Koulis daughter, but it's tears, too, had been examined and unexplained.

   Some years later St. Anna's Philoptochos Society of St. Paul raised and donated funds to create a mosaic masterpiece to enshrine our two Weeping Madonna's. In addition to the shrine area itself, the entire Northeastern wall is covered with magnificent mosaic scenes depicting the life and dormition of the Virgin Mary. They are a sight to behold and a fitting tribute to the three manifestations. St. Paul Church, proclaimed a Cathedral in 1988, was founded on the cardinal virtues of faith, love, and hope, and their family of devoted parishioners and Clergy, continue to possess a vibrant spirit worthy of being chosen as caretakers of their beloved Weeping Madonna.

   On June 15, 2008, after Divine Liturgy and the kneeling Vespers Service for Pentecost, one of the miraculous icons began to tear again. A Paraklesis service was chanted immediately for the intercessions of the Ever-Virgin Mary, and a steady flow of people came to witness the miracle throughout the day. Later that evening a Paraklesis service was chanted again and the community offered prayers to the Virgin Mary for the health and salvation of those in need by name. The icon continued to tear, as witnessed by several faithful and the clergy of the Cathedral as well as visiting clergy. We will pray the Paraklesis service every day at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. until further notice. If there are people that you would like us to pray for, please e-mail their names to Fr. Luke at

   UPDATE: We are happy to pray for your LIVING friends and family at the Paraklesis Service, but please give us only their FIRST names, and in a list form. Please do not explain what the need is, as our Orthodox Christian Theology teaches that God knows the needs of each of us.