The faithful of Holy Trinity Cathedral and Bay Area parishes were honored to welcome the pilgrimage icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary of Czestochowa. on the eve of the Dormition Feast.
His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin of San Francisco’s Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral greeted the Black Madonna with enthusiasm uponarrival on July 29. We were joyfully surprised with such a large turnout for the Akathist that evening. The faithful wanted to strengthen the understanding and devotion to the Mother of God,
her Son, and the sanctity of all human life.
After veneration, parishioners celebrated her arrival with fellowship and libations. His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin presented me with a glass egg and an illustrated book based on the scenes from an Akathist to the Mother of God — another very sentimental moment in our North American pilgrimage with the Black Madonna.