A painting of St John the Baptist in a Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago has been seeping oil, which parishioners say has produced healings.
The image in Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Homer Glen, Illinois, has been “sweating” oil since July.
Parishioners believe the oil is myrrh, one of the gifts the Magi gave to Jesus soon after his birth.
The occurrence has seen thousands of Greek Orthodox pilgrims flock to the church in south west Chicago.
Fr Sotiros Dimitrou has been collecting the oil and giving it out to parishioners and pilgrims.
He has collected the oil by soaking it up with little cotton balls.
So far he has handed out more than 5000 samples, the Chicago Tribune reported.
One man who received the oil said he went to a doctor about a blockage in an artery, only to discover that the blockage was no longer there.
Another man said he has become cancer-free after touching the oil.
Fr Dimitrou said he has noticed an improvement in his own health.
He told media that before the oil started to flow, he would frequently pass out at the altar or in his office due to nerve damage.
But now he hasn’t been hospitalised since September and he stopped taking his medication in January.
While Fr Dimitriou admitted that there may be a natural reason for the painting to seep oil, he said he’s not looking to solve that mystery.
“When people see this, it’s just a reminder that God is still alive and still working through us and it’s a reminder that there’s still hope in the world for us,” he said.
Sources
- Daily Mail
- Chicago Tribune
- Image: Daily Mail