Myrrh-streaming icons

[Andreas Moran]

Dear All,

I rang my wife this evening (she being in Moscow) and she told me something the priest had mentioned in conversation after the evening service. There are very many myrrh-streaming icons in Russia in private homes. It is said that it should not be assumed that an icon which streams myrrh is a manifestation of Divine Grace but that discretion is needed. My wife said she thought it odd that a holy thing such as an icon could be other than holy. The priest replied that just as the evil one may appear as an angel of light, so we may be deceived in this and in other ways. Such icons in private homes ought to be regarded with the usual caveat, 'neither accept nor reject', until they have been 'approved' for devotion or otherwise.

Presumably, myrrh-streaming icons in churches have been accepted in some way by the Church.

Does anyone have any knowledge or comment about this?

In Christ,

Andreas.

[Herman Blaydoe]

As I understand it, the first thing that is often done or ordered by the bishop when told of a myrrh-streaming or weeping icon is to perform an exorcism.

[Sophronia]

As I understand it, all icons whether they will be venerated in home or church are (or ought to be) first blessed by remaining in the altar for varying amounts of time (depending on jurisdictional custom), but at least for the Divine Liturgy. The prayers of blessing that I have heard read seem to imply that the icon receives power to be "wonderworking" in what ever way God chooses, and it is then sprinkled with holy water. Then I would think it impossible for the icon to become a tool of the evil one.
If people are unsure as to whether any icon has received this blessing from the Church, then given what Andrea's post says, they ought to bring it for blessing.
Unworthy iconographer, Alexandra

[Andreas Moran]

Dear Alexandra and Herman,

Thanks for your messages. I suspect that many of these 'home' icons have not been blessed or taken to church. Given the capacity of the evil one for subtlety and deception and his fury at the attraction of the faithful towards holy things, the priest's cautionary words were well spoken.

In Christ,

Andreas.