Tfre STKANQe MSTeRy of
Tbe weepiNQ madonnas
As she Dm each night, Mrs. Pagona Catsounis
knelt before a small shrine in her bedroom to
thank God for the blessings of the day. Her hus
band, Panagiotis, a restaurant counterman, was
not rich; their home in Island Park, N.Y., was
smalLand crowded. But Mrs. Catsounis felt that
few couples could be as happy as she and
Panagiotis.
She raised her eyes to a picture of the Virgin
Mary whose blessing she had asked two years be
fore when she had been married in Greece. Then
Pagona stopped her prayers. It seemed that the
Madonna's eyes had opened and glanced at her.
Frightened, the young woman watched moisture
form in the corner of the Virgin's eye and slip
down the painting.
Pagona rose slowly and backed away from the
shrine. She called almost hysterically to Panagiotis
in the living room. When he ran to her, he found
her trembling.
"The Virgin is weeping!" she said. He followed
Pagona's stare toward the icon where he saw an
other tear form and run down the painting.
The Catsounises' discovery, in March, was only
the beginning of a strange series of events. For
no sooner had the excitement and wonderment
In two humble homes,
housewives looked up from prayers
to see tears form in the eyes
of pictures of the Blessed Virgin;
hundreds of others claim to have
seen the same phenomenon
what is behind it?
By GEORGE CARPOZI.JR.
over this weeping Madonna subsided than an
other even more tearful icon of the Virgin was
reported. This was in the home of Pagona's sister,
Antonia, and her husband, Peter Koulis, in Ocean
side, N. Y., four miles away.
The second surprise was presaged in a series of
prophetic dreams in which Antonia says she had
a vision of Christ on the Cross telling her: "You
will see what happens on Holy Thursday."
The next day, driven by an "uncontrollable
urge" to burn incense before her collection of 20
icons and say a prayer, Mrs. Koulis went into her
daughter's room where the altar is kept As her
eyes glanced at the icon of the Virgin a litho
graphic reproduction of the Holy Mother of Porta
Itisia she too saw tears!
It was 20 minutes before she could compose her
self and call her husband. "A miracle!" she cried.
"It's our Madonna She is weeping like my sister's
icon wept"
Then, as Mrs. Catsounis had done, Mrs. Koulis
summoned their parish priest, the Rev. George
Papadeas, pastor of St Paul's Greek Orthodox
Church in Hempstead, N. Y.
As Father Papadeas made his way into the
modest home of the Koulises, once again he felt
(Continued on page 18)
What the
Madonnas Mean
By ARCHBISHOP IAKOVOS
Head of the Greek Orthodox Church
In North and South America
Twice in m month' time I have been
railed to witness the weeping of Madonna
The first time, at the Calaoumses apart,
ment, I did not aee the tearing; myself. It
had stopped; but the many others who
had witnessed the tearing were living
proof that the Invisible Cod still speaks
to the hearts of people. When, however,
I visited the apartment of the Koulises
and saw the tearing in the eyes of their
portrait of the Virgin Mary, I was eertain
then that the weeping of the Madonnas
was a miraculous sign sign signaling
spiritual regeneration.
It was my duly to declare the scene
hallowed ground, to read the special serv
ice called Paraklesis, and to offer thanks
giving prayers for the love She manifested
and humble supplications that She con
tinue to be our Hope, Perpetual Helper,
and Protector.
I am making a special trip to Intanbul
to report on the miraculous occurrences
to Patriarch Athinagoras I of Constanti
nople, the supreme spiritual leader of
Eastern Orthodox Christians. I feel a
declaration by higher authority than I
must be made.
I myself am not in a position to ex
plain the deep or remote meaning of the
sign. Only the Son of Cod know the
mind of Cod. I only know dial both homes
from which the Icons eame are humble
shelters places where Our Ldy could,
Indeed, give birth to new salutary hopes
for the world.
In my heart I feel we Americans have
received a sign that the time has come
to revitalise our faith. We are witnesses
to the fact that faith alone can despite
cold rationalism we have experienced
the power which it faith.
"213
COVER:
Ozzie Sweet catches the htgh-ltng aqua
batict of Nancie Rideout, Women' World
Water-Ski Champion, and Btuter MacCalla,
Men's Champ. JVancie't story is on p. II.
UONARO S. DAVIDOW froi'drat and PuMukrr
WAITER C. DREYRJI Vice Pmidemt
PATRICK I. OVOUKf Adrrrli.imt IMrretor
Sond oil advorlitlng communication, to
Fondly Wookly, IS N. Mkhiaon A... CKicogo 1, III.
.
June 12, 1K0
Board of Editor!
ERNEST V. HETN Bdilor-rn-CJiie
UN RARTMAN Kmutict editor
ROtCRT HTZOmON Mumtoinv Editor
MARGARET Mil Fratorr editor
PMllir OTKfTRA Art Pirortor
MELANIf Of PROfT Pood editor
Addmi all communication, about odltortat foaturot la
Fomilr Wokly, 60 E. Mth St., N.w York 22. N. T.
Sob Dritcoll, Irma Holdman, John Hochnrann, Jerry KWn,
Harold London, Jock Ryom Poor Opponhoimar, Hollywood.
0 INS, FAMIIV WEEK1V MAQAIINE, INC., 153 N. Mkhlgon A., Chkooo t. III. All rlgtiH retomd.