Hoshiv’s Miraculous Icon: A Sacred Treasure in Alberta – Edmonton Eparchy
The miraculous Icon of the Mother of God of Hoshiv is one of the most revered images in Eastern Catholic tradition, known for its powerful intercession and miraculous history. For centuries, the faithful have sought comfort and healing through the prayers of the Blessed Mother before this icon.
The story of the Hoshiv Icon begins in 1704-1705 when nobleman Andriy Shugai acquired two copies of the famous Icon of the Mother of God of Czestochowa in Poland. One of these copies remained in his family and soon became known for miraculous events.
Among the first recorded miracles:
A fire broke out in Shugai’s home, destroying everything—except the icon and the wall it hung upon.
The icon wept tears, witnessed by nobleman Mykola Markovych Hoshovsky, its later guardian.
These extraordinary signs led Bishop Atanasy Sheptytsky of Lviv to declare the icon miraculous and transfer it to Hoshiv Monastery in Ukraine in 1737. The monastery soon became a major pilgrimage site, with official records listing over 117 miracles attributed to the intercession of the Mother of God of Hoshiv.
During the Soviet persecution of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, the icon was confiscated in 1950, its whereabouts unknown. By divine providence, it resurfaced in 1950s New York, where Fr. Nikon Svirsky, OSBM, a Basilian priest from Canada, recognized it. With great care, he secured its return, bringing it to safety in Canada. Since then, the icon has been preserved at Saints Peter and Paul Monastery in Mundare, Alberta.
This year, the faithful in Alberta will have a special opportunity to venerate the Hoshiv Icon as it travels to various parishes, allowing more people to pray before it and experience its sacred presence. Stay tuned for updates on where and when you can visit this miraculous icon.
