HOLY UKRAINIAN AUTOCEPHALIC ORTHODOX CHURCH

The chapel was darkened, lit only by candles in front of icons of the Blessed Mother, candles and lights on the altar and muted sunlight from the fading evening sun. Archbishop Haralambos was kneeling in front of the altar when we came into the chapel, where he had been, we learned later, for more than two hours.

When we entered the chapel, we saw Archbishop Haralambos kneeling in prayer. Later, he told those who were gathered at the chapel that the Lord had told him to be silent.

Little did we know that at that moment we were witnessing a miracle being manifested on the altar. The Lord made His Blood appear on a wooden cross and He formed 12 drops of His Blood on the Artophorion (the golden container of Presanctified Gifts). Archbishop Haralambos was the first to witness the miracle. Then he asked all those present who did not doubt that a miracle had taken place to come forward to witness the miracle. The words of the witnesses and Archbishop Haralambos follow.

Anne:"I felt a pain in my heart for the extreme suffering Christ paid for me and those who are His when He died on the Cross. It humbled me to tears because of the overwhelming love of Christ I felt that He has toward those who are His. I saw droplets of the Lord's Blood on the lid of the golden container that holds the Presanctified Gifts where the Communion Spoon lays. The Blood also was manifested on the Holy Communion Spoon. A large amount of Blood started at the top and flowed down the Cross, which was on the altar. I was thrilled to be a witness to God's Power!"

John:"I did not hesitate going up. I wanted to witness the miracle. But I also wanted to heed the warning from Archbishop Haralambos that we should be careful before coming up, that we shouldn't do it if we had any doubts or if we were just curious. I had no doubts. I have never doubted anything I have witnessed in this ministry, even though there are many wonders I've never been able to explain. Outside the door of this Chapel, it is part of my personality to question everything not to doubt, but to question and analyze and wonder. I confronted myself a sort of spiritual debriefing, if you will. I had to look deep inside my heart. When I got up to the altar, I witnessed the Blood on the Cross, then I saw the Drops of Holy Blood on the Artophorion. I wasn't moved to tears as were others. I have often wondered why I cry sometimes and other times I simply absorb what's going on. Perhaps that's my nature too. It's not that I wasn't aware of emotion. I had consoled my wife after what she had witnessed. I did not question her about what she had seen. She was sobbing, so I knew it must have been quite astonishing. I knew we would find out about the miracle soon enough. To witness a miracle is a blessing in itself. But, later, to be able to taste it is even more of a blessing."

Joy:"I saw the Archbishop call Anne up to look at something going on at the altar. Then she cried and appeared very sad. I wondered what was going on. Then I heard Archbishop Haralambos say there was a miracle and I knew it was the Blood of Christ. My heart was jumping with joy because for a couple of months I've been in awe of the recorded miracles of the manifestations of the Blood and Flesh and would always ponder about it and knew God could do this and I wondered if I would ever see it. I was fearful and just hoped I would have the right attitude towards The Lord as my turn came to go look at the Miracle of the Blood of Christ and I saw the Blood of Christ on the Cross of the Lord. It was being absorbed into the wood and leaving a stain in the wood. There were wet portions still remaining on the Cross of Jerusalem. Then Archbishop Haralambos pointed out the large droplets of Blood on the Golden Box utterly amazing. They looked like real Blood of course they were, are! There was some glistening on the spoon too! I never feel worthy of the Blood of Christ but, I sure do feel wonderful and truly heart-loving to my God Who is able to give us Himself under all circumstances if He wants. We were given the actual Blood of Christ after absolution and repentance by our Archbishop because of Our Precious Lord's Goodness."

Natalia:"I was the last to witness the miracle. I hesitated because I had to search my heart. From last Sunday I felt the awesomeness of the commitment and I had doubt from the mere fact that I couldn't go visit my family at this time. I know too that I must learn so much more, and I was really questioning. And yet there is a part of me that is so strong and searching for this, and there is a part of me that strongly wants to commit. For me the miracle was not just the miracle of the Blood, but the confirmation that I am in the right place. I do not doubt the Miracle. I knew Archbishop Haralambos would not make it up. I couldn't believe that I was to be a part of this ministry and a part of this miracle. What I witnessed was the stain of Blood on the Cross and the large droplets of Blood on the Artophorion ( the golden box containing the Presanctified Gifts). I was not emotional but I was fearful. I was afraid of doing something wrong."

Anne:"At the actual time of receiving Communion I felt the overwhelming love of Christ because I knew my sins were forgiven and I have eternal life, being in the Body of Christ."

John:"When I received the Communion, I felt blessed that I was even there. I asked for the strength to accept that the Lord feels I am blessed or He wouldn't have allowed me to be present to witness this miracle. When I tasted from the Spoon, I didn't taste what others have described. It didn't have a taste, more like a sensation a sensation of Peace."

Joy:"At the actual time of receiving Communion, I experience great joy and amazement and savored the texture of The Blood of Christ. It didn't taste like Blood, but it had the texture of coagulated blood with substance. I knew I was experiencing the Presence of True Blood in my mouth and knew it was The Blood of Christ because of the Miracle. It tasted clean and sweet and truly wonderful. What an honor!"

Natalia:"When I received the Blood I did not taste anything, but I had seen it on the Spoon prior to receiving it. When I didn't taste anything, I was afraid I had missed it. I felt in awe at being a witness to the Miracle."

Archbishop Haralambos:"I bear witness to my four Eastern Christian Orthodox Believers who have stated in their words the miracle and manifestation of Christ's Blood on the Holy Altar at St. Michael Chapel, the Orthodox Chapel of St. Michael Orthodox Church and St. Michael Academy of Eschatology, 4414 Washington Road, West Palm Beach, Florida. I hold true and factual to all they have said. Two of them are my ordained deaconesses and two are members of the Church, Orthodox Seminary, and laity. In addition to their testimony with God's Permission, being His ordained priest to serve His Holy Altar, the following is an exact relating of the factual happenings. Today a holy day of Holy Orthodoxy, specifically the Holy Day of Dormition of the Holy Theotokos, August 15, 2001, I began the service at approximately 5:00 p.m. As usual in special services, I removed my shoes and rolled out the holy cloth depicting the Lord's Supper on the rug before the altar. I lay prostrate before the holy altar for nearly an hour in prayer and meditation. As usual, The Lord spoke to my heart, and in fear and trembling, I lay on holy ground. Reviewing all my sins, I felt extremely unworthy as a priest to serve this altar on a holy day. I was extremely repentant. The Lord asked me to shut all Church lights except the lighted candles placed before the Icon of the Holy Mother. The only lighting was on the altar. The Lord spoke clearly to my heart and mind at this particular service to be silent, for I AM THE LORD. He had me remove a golden chain that had been kept on an Icon of St. Haralambos and in a figure-eight denoting eternity. He had me drape it on the center Icon on the altar connecting Sts. Peter and Paul and spoke the words, 'This represents My desire and wish for my Church to be completed in the Unity of the Faith and True Doctrine 'Orthodoxia'. He then indicated for me to clean thoroughly with holy water a small miniature golden chalice. Then He had me fill it with holy water and place it within the golden chain next to the center Icon of Christ, Himself. On my knees in prayer, with the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom closed, I began to question the Lord's Will in my proceeding in the service and what direction I should take. I even asked myself how would I receive Holy Communion. I knew a Holy Communion Liturgy had been held and celebrated the night before by Bishops Petros and Paul. There was no orthros or presanctified gifts or any residual presanctified gifts in the Artophorion. Knowing I desired Holy Communion, I continued to pray for the intercessions of our Holy Theotokos. The Lord then had me take a very old Icon of the Blessed Mother and Christ Child, laying it prostrate on the Holy Altar, face up. I then poured special holy water, which contains tears retrieved prior from an Icon of the Blessed Mother. I am not positive of exactly the moment, but suddenly on top of the small golden Artophorion, small drops of red liquid began to appear. As I was counting these drops, they began with three, they multiplied, first three, then seven, and finally twelve on the Holy Gold Spoon, which we use for Communion, which lays on top of the Artophorion. I now knew God Himself in Christ and The Holy Spirit The Holy Trinity was providing and consecrating His Blood on His Holy Altar. It appeared to look like red in substance a very bright red wine, but I knew it was His Blood. I began to be tearful. Extremely astonished and in awe. Completely unworthy of this miracle. I began to cry to the depths of my heart and soul, uncontrollably. At this particular time, I was led to ask my Deaconess Anna, the Dean of our College and Seminary, to approach the Iconostasis, not entering the altar, to view the Miracle with her own eyes. She suddenly burst into tears. I had her kiss the Blessed Mother's Icon containing the tears of the Blessed Mother. She went back to her seat. Suddenly and without warning, the wooden Cross from Jerusalem, which was also laying prostrate on the Altar, manifested large portions of the Blood-like liquid. This brought great fear and trembling to my spirit, witnessing actual blood depicting Christ's Blood on a wooden Cross on His Holy Altar. I then conducted the Sacrament of Confession in preparation for Communion for those of us who were present. I warned that only those with no doubt in their hearts could proceed forward to visually witness and receive by the Holy Spoon a portion of this manifested Sacrament. Those who came forward and received subsequently kissed the Blessed Mother's Icon in veneration of Her Holy Day Celebration of Dormition, an Orthodox Holy Day. All present came forward and they were without doubt. All have testified to this miracle in prior written dialog. The following scriptures will underline why I, as a clergyman, believe this mighty miracle has transpired in these last days. Orthodoxia true doctrine is at stake. The enemy is progressively increasing his apostasy and lies, in the churches that proclaim Christ as their Savior. There seems to be a noticeable two-fold purpose for this miracle that I can understand. One, to honor His own Mother, The God-Bearer, on this Holy Day, August 15. The other is to underline His concern and prayer desiring the Unity of The Faith to be only in Spirit and Truth in His Holy Ecclesia. There can be no Unity or compromise incorporating any apostasy, spot, or blemish in His Bride, The Body of Christ. The grace period for His past tolerance of apostasies would seem to be over. The candlesticks, He has warned us about, have been removed. The consequences and acceptance of untruth, generated by the father of liars, will now be felt by those who claim to be His own, yet do not receive and are not in Holy Communion with His Throne, both in Heaven and in the historical, militant Church. The following scriptures, retrieved from the Epistle in 2 Timothy, Chapters 2, 3, and 4, were read with the guidance of The Holy Spirit."

2 Timothy 2: verses 15-18: "Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth, but shun profane and vain babblings for they will increase to more ungodliness and their word will eat as doth a canker, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus, who concerning the Truth, have erred, saying that the resurrection has passed already and overthrow the faith of some."

2 Timothy 3, verse 8: "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the Truth. Men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith."

2 Timothy 2, verses 24, 25 and 26: "And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare and trap of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."

2 Timothy 4, verses 2 and 3 and 4: "Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the Truth and shall be turned unto fables."

The Lord spoke audibly to the Elijah spirit this warning, "Watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, and make full and complete the proof of thy ministry."