The Byzantine Catholic (then called “Greek” Catholic) people in the Carpathian Basin of Europe were poor, but they possessed a great spiritual treasure in their devotion to the Most Holy Mother of God, the Theotokos. And she showed her motherly concern for her poor people by her miraculous icons, the most famous of which is the Weeping Icon of Máriapócs in Hungary.

In the mid-17th century, on the northeastern plains of Hungary, which were then devastated and abandoned by the Turks, in the poor village church of Pócs, on Sunday, Nov. 4, 1696, during the celebration of the Divine Liturgy the faithful noticed that the icon of the Most Holy Theotokos on the iconostasis was shedding tears. As days passed by, the weeping of the Blessed Mother continued until Dec. 8, 1696, when the shedding finally stopped.

Records with the testimony of witnesses to the weeping are still preserved at the University Library in Budapest, as part of the so-called Hevenessy Collection ( vol. XI, p. 401-417 ).

Because of word of miraculous healings attributed to the weeping icon, Emperor Leopold I ordered that the icon be brought to Vienna. Thus, during the summer of 1697, the icon, escorted by a military guard, was transferred to Vienna and on Dec. 1, 1697, was solemnly enthroned on the main altar of St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

Since its arrival the picture has not been seen weeping again but many other miracles and answered prayers have been attributed to it, including the victory of Prince Eugene of Savoy over the Turks at Zenta (Serbia) a few weeks after the icon’s installation in the cathedral. During the World War II, St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna was very badly damaged, but the miraculous icon remained untouched.

To appease the people of Pócs, the bishop of Eger ordered an exact copy of the miraculous icon to be made and sent to the church there, to replace the original. And the Blessed Mother, to prove her special concern for her poor people, again shed tears on the copy of the original icon, between Aug. 1-5, 1715. After an investigation, Bishop Erdody declared that the weeping of icon was found miraculous and, consequently, it could be publicly venerated in the church. Thus, Pócs became a famous pilgrimage center of the Eparchy of Mukachevo.

After construction of a larger church to accommodate the growing crowds of pilgrims, the Basilian Fathers from Mukachevo were summoned to take care of the shrine. The Basilian monks became the sole curators of the Marian Shrine in Pócs, which since that time became known as Máriapócs.

The Mother of God favored her shrine in Máriapócs with many miraculous healings, which were meticulously recorded by the Basilian Fathers in their registers. The shrine, enriched by various papal indulgences, constantly attracted more and more pilgrims, both Byzantine and Roman Catholics, coming from all parts of Hungary and beyond.

In 1905 the Blessed Mother wanted to once more confirm her motherly concern toward her poor people. So, between Dec. 3-19, and again on Dec. 30 and 31, her miraculous icon shed tears for the third time. An episcopal commission ended its investigation on Jan. 12, 1906, when it issued an official statement saying that the shedding of tears was miraculous and should be ascribed to divine intervention.
In 1948 Pope Pius XII raised the twin-spired stone church in Máriapócs to the rank of minor basilica. Pope John Paul II visited the shrine in 1991. Now designated a “National Place of Worship,” the church in Máriapócs housing the miraculous icon is visited by 600,000-800,000 pilgrims and tourists each year.

No matter how far from home they traveled, the Hungarian people revered this place of worship. And those who came to this country and settled in the Cleveland area dreamed of someday honoring the Weeping Icon of the Blessed Mother with their own shrine.

An American counterpart of the Shrine of Our Lady of Máriapócs does exist. Located off Route 422 in Troy Township among the rolling hills of Geauga County, it is very similar to the one in Hungary. The Shrine of Our Lady of Mariapoch is a beautiful, peaceful wooded area to the east of Cleveland, south of Burton. It was purchased in 1955 through anonymous donors wanting to give honor to Our Lady of Máriapócs. This American shrine was dedicated in August 1956 by Bishop Nicholas T. Elko, D.D., head of the Ruthenian (then) Exarchate in America. With this dedication of the grounds, the intentions of the donors were pursued. Through the devoted services of the shrine’s founding director, Father Alexander Bobak, S.T.D., and the Social Mission Sisters and with resources provided by faithful contributors, the grounds were developed for pilgrimage. Improvements have been made throughout the years to enhance the prayerful atmosphere of the shrine.

Open to visitors from the last Sunday in May through the first Sunday in October, the Shrine of Our Lady of Mariapoch draws worshippers from all over the United States and Canada. A Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy (Mass) is celebrated at 4:00 p.m. each Sunday of the shrine season at the outdoor shrine altar.

The Eparchy of Parma hosts an annual pilgrimage around the feast of the Dormition (Assumption) of the Mother of God and vocation-oriented week-end camps for teen boys and girls. Several parishes and other organizations utilize the shrine for days of reflection.

Dinner is served in the café after the Sunday afternoon Liturgy. The Eastern Treasures Gift Shop is open for purchasing religious items.

Open to visitors from the last Sunday in May through the first Sunday in October, the Shrine of Our Lady of Mariapoch draws worshippers from all over the United States and Canada. A Byzantine Catholic Divine Liturgy (Mass) is celebrated at 4:00 PM each Sunday of the shrine season at the outdoor shrine altar.

This year's Eparchial Pilgrimage took place from August 17-18. Your presence made this a real pilgrimage. Maybe it was simply the tears of the Theotokos, tears of joy raining down on our shrine, that did not deter you from attending the annual pilgrimage. (Three times it poured during services only to let up after each service was over.) But you came -- to honor the Theotokos, to pray, to find peace, to join in fellowship with friends from across the eparchy. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” (Ps 133, NASB 1995) You helped create this atmosphere, and we sincerely thank you for your devotion to the Theotokos, who surely rained down great blessings upon you for your attendance at the pilgrimage. 

We look forward to seeing you at next year's pilgrimage, August 16 and 17, 2025.

Hierarchical Liturgy at the Mariapoch Pilgrimage - Aug. 18, 2024

The Miracle of Mariapoch Gala is an annual event hosted by the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma. This year's event took place on May 25, 2024 at St. Joseph Byzantine Catholic Church in Brecksville, Ohio. The evening included a small plate buffet, wine and beer, raffle baskets, and a silent auction. Proceeds benefitted capital improvements at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mariapoch. The gala is always a wonderful opportunity to support the shrine and enjoy a community gathering!

The Shrine is located at 17486 Mumford Road, Burton, OH

Contact & Mailing Information:
Deacon Gregory Loya, Administrator
1652 South Green Road, South Euclid, OH 44121
[email protected] or (216) 272-6790