MOTHER OF GOD OF LIPLJAN (KOSOVO)
April 12, 2004 ERP KIM Newsletter 12-04-04 Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God in Lipljan begins to weep In the church dedicated to the Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus (the new church) in Lipljan, the icon of the Mother of God with Christ has begun to weep. The local parish priest, Father Randjel Denic, observed a trace some 20 centimeters in length under the right eye of the Mother of God on an icon that is part of the iconostasis. "At the very moment I was saying a prayer in front of the icon - Most Holy Mother of God, have mercy on us - I observed a trace that was not there before. The trace, as if that of a tear, starts at the right eye and runs across the cheek of the Mother of God," Father Randjel told Radio KIM, adding that this was a sign and a blessing after the March pogrom given as a gift by the Mother of God to her people. After news of this miracle of God spread, the Serbs of Lipljan celebrated the holiday of the Resurrection of Christ with their priest in great number in the hope that they would survive and return to their destroyed homes. The church of Sts. Florus and Laurus is surrounded by strong forces of Finnish KFOR and most Lipljan church live in the area where the church is located. Radio KIM, ERP KIM Info Service
On the eve of the Resurrection, on Holy and Great Saturday, while praying in front of the icon of the Most Holy Mother of God on the iconostasis of the church of Sts. Florus and Laurus, Father Randjel Denic, the parish priest in Lipljan, observed an unusual trace in the form of a tear appearing from the right eye of the Mother of God. In the tradition of the Orthodox Church, tears very frequently appeared on icons during times of great suffering by the Church, as a consolation to the faithful but also a call to repentance and more intensive prayer. Father Randjel Denic made the following statement for the ERP KIM Info Service: "We served Holy Liturgy in the church on Great and Holy Thursday, Friday and Saturday according to the usual custom. On Saturday after the service, prior to dismissal I turned as usual toward the icon of the Mother of God on the iconostasis and said: 'Most Holy Mother of God, have mercy on us.' At that moment I observed an unusual trace in the form of a tear under the right eye of the icon of the Mother of God. When I completed the service I inspected the icon from up close and saw that there was indeed the trace of a tear some twenty centimeters in length from the right eye across the cheek of the Holy Mother of God. I am constantly serving in this church and I know that I have never observed anything like this on this particular icon," said Father Randjel. In further conversation with the correspondent of the ERP KIM Info Service, Father Randjel said that he and his congregation experienced this sign of God as consolation and encouragement at a time when the Church and its faithful people in Kosovo and Metohija are undergoing great suffering. "On the very eve of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Most Holy Mother of God has shown us that she has not abandoned us, that she is protecting and looking after us, which encourages us all the more to remain in our centuries-old homes ... Source : Weeping Icon of the Mother of God in Lipljan : ERP KIM Info-Service |
