Holy Trinity Announces Pilgrimage for Guardian of Montreal-Iveron Icon

JORDANVILLE, NY — Holy Trinity Monastery will hold its annual pilgrimage honoring Brother José Muñoz-Cortés from October 30 through November 1, marking the 29th anniversary of his repose. This year’s gathering also coincides with the Feast of the Apostle and Evangelist Luke, the namesday of the monastery’s abbot and seminary rector, Bp. Luke of Syracuse.

The pilgrimage will include hierarchical Divine Liturgies on Saturday and Sunday, both beginning with the greeting of Bp. Luke. A graveside Panikhida for Brother José is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, October 31, the anniversary of his death, with another memorial service planned for Sunday.

Brother José devoted 15 years to guarding the Montreal-Iveron myrrh-streaming Icon of the Mother of God, which became a source of consolation and spiritual encouragement for Orthodox Christians around the world. He was murdered in Athens on the night of October 30–31, 1997, and his body was brought to Holy Trinity Monastery, where he was buried 13 days later. His grave has since become a place of pilgrimage and prayer.

The disappearance of the wonderworking icon alongside Brother José’s murder deeply affected the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. In a 2002 appeal, ROCOR hierarchs reflected on the spiritual significance of the icon’s presence and disappearance, urging the faithful to renew their prayer, repentance, charity, and commitment to the Orthodox faith.

Archpriest Victor Potapov has also encouraged the faithful to preserve Brother José’s memory, recalling his warning: “We must not grow accustomed to miracles.” The annual pilgrimage continues to bring Orthodox Christians to his grave in Jordanville to pray and remember the man who devoted his life to the veneration of the Montreal-Iveron Icon.

Previously, the UOJ reported that St. Basil’s Orthodox Church celebrated its 125th anniversary and consecration.