In prayerful commemoration of the feast of Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco, Wednesday, July 2, 2025 the Divine Liturgy was celebrated. Serving were the Rev. Hieromonk Silvester (Kozhin) of Our Lady of Kazan Russian Orthodox Church in San Diego, V. Rev. Milovan Katanic, the host clergy, and Deacon Dusan Djordjev of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Phoenix, Arizona. Immediately before the start of the Divine Liturgy, our parish welcomed a very special icon gifted to us. The donor of the icon, who had previously been in contact with Fr. Milovan, sent the following note:

Dear Father Milovan,

I want to express my gratitude for receiving the sacred icon into your church. This icon carries deep spiritual and personal meaning and is part of a long-standing tradition in my family passed down through generations on my mother’s side to have her on every household.

I was married in Honduras, and during a visit to the Monastery of Our Lady of Saidnaya, I purchased this icon not only for its spiritual significance, but also to support the convent and the girls’ orphanage. The Mother Superior there, Rev. Mother Febronia Nabhan, who is also my godmother in baptism, has held a special place in my life. After more than two years of unsuccessful fertility treatments, she prayed for me, and by God’s grace, I was blessed with twins Marie Claire, Marie Colette and then one year after Caitlin.

Recently, while praying for guidance about whether I should return to Lebanon, I found myself wondering and praying for clarity, asking that the icon find a place where it would be cherished!

That same weekend, I decided to drive from Las Vegas to San Diego to escape the heat and enjoy the ocean. As I was driving, praying all by myself, my gas light came on and I exited the freeway in search of a nearby Costco. That detour led me to a beautiful area with refreshing weather, and suddenly I saw a beautiful dome. I wasn’t sure if it was a museum or a church, so I stopped to take a look. To my surprise, it was an Orthodox church, and even more surprising, it was open.

As I entered, I felt a profound sense of warmth and faith. The altar was familiar, and though I couldn’t understand the language, the reverence in the space was deeply moving. I noticed a woman with her hair covered in devotion, and I knew I had come to a holy place. I took photos to remember it.

As I drove away, I felt with certainty that The Icon of Our Lady of Saidnaya had chosen her place. I didn’t find the church, it felt as it was shown to me.

I am truly thankful that you welcomed the icon, and it touched me even more to hear that you had once received blessed oil from the very same sacred site, the Miraculous Monastery of Our Lady of Saidnaya. Whether this moment is tied to the unrest in the Middle East or a divine desire to be heard in this part of the world in USA/Serbia, I trust it was guided by the Holy Spirit.

I pray that Our Lady of Saidnaya brings peace and love to all who stand before it, and I humbly ask that you remember me and my family in your prayers.

Thank you again, Father Milovan, for accepting this blessing.

With gratitude and respect,

Samar