THE JACKSON ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD
July 24, 2022, Jackson, CA 

Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox community of Jackson, California, celebrated the feast of the Jackson Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God on Sunday, July 24th, with Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and festive meal with music program. We were blessed to have our Bishop Maxim, our emeritus parish priest Stevan Tumbas and some of the councilors, children and parents from Saint Sava Camp, which is organized in its full length again.

The icon was made at the Saint Panteleimon Monastery on Holy Mount Athos, inspired by the famous and wonderworking Iveron Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. It was presented to the parish at the occasion of the consecration of the church on December 4th, 1894, together with the bell and chandelier by the Bishop Nikolai (Ziorov), at the time the only Orthodox Christian bishop in North America. For the first 101 years, while there were no frescoes in the church but white walls, the Most Holy Mother was one of the icons that hang on the wall. When the fresco project started in 1995, the icons were removed from the church to a room in church hall. During a visit to the parish by Bishop Jovan, then of Western America (now of Šumadija), he was able to read the inscription in Church Slavonic on the back of the icon and realize its significance. Therefore he entrusted Protodeacon Triva Pavlov of blessed memory to purchase a proper wooden frame or throne for her. The throne was made in Greece, shipped by boat, and assembled in Jackson. After the return of the icon to the church, the general progress of the parish started and two miracles happened: to a child with speech impediment and a lady suffering from cancer, so the bishop instituted the feast day of the icon to coincide with the previously glorified Three Handed Icon of the Theotokos, July 25/12. In order to have more people gathered for the feast, it has been celebrated for last couple of years on the nearest Sunday.

Most Holy Mother, never cease to pray for us!

Troparion to the Icon, tone 1:

It is truly meet to bless you, O Ever-Virgin Mary and the Most Holy Mother of our God, for you have sent us your holy icon from the Holy Mount Athos, where our patron Saint Sava became a monk, to adorn, protect and guide our holy church, all our families and people who in love and respect live with us in this blessed city of Jackson in California.

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