The revered Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God has arrived in Bulgaria for the first time, beginning a nationwide pilgrimage that will continue through August 19 and include visits to Sofia, the Rila Monastery, and several dioceses of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

The icon was welcomed at Sofia Airport by Bulgarian Patriarch and Metropolitan of Sofia Daniil, according to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. It was brought to the country by a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), led by Bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe. The delegation also includes the icon's custodian, Fr. Nektary Yangson, and accompanying clergy.

Hundreds of worshippers gathered on the icon's first day in Bulgaria for a festive Divine Liturgy and procession at the Church of St. Sophia. The icon was later transferred to St. Nedelya Cathedral in central Sofia, where it will remain available for public veneration until August 5. It will then travel to parishes throughout the Sofia Diocese before visiting the historic Rila Monastery on August 17–18. The pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on August 19.

Patriarch Daniil described the arrival of the icon during the Dormition Fast as "a great blessing" for Bulgaria. He encouraged the faithful to approach the icon with prayer and faith, emphasizing that the primary purpose of veneration is spiritual renewal and a closer relationship with God.

Speaking to reporters, Patriarch Daniil also said that the icon began exuding myrrh again after arriving in Sofia. According to his account, the icon was carefully cleaned and dried following an evening prayer service, but during the next morning's liturgy the inside of its protective glass was once again covered with fragrant oil. The collected myrrh is expected to be distributed to pilgrims together with small icons as a blessing.

The Hawaiian Iveron Icon gained international attention in 2007 when a small printed copy of the image, housed in an Orthodox community in Honolulu, reportedly began exuding fragrant myrrh. In 2008, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia recognized the icon as miraculous and authorized it to travel to Orthodox churches around the world.

Since then, the icon has visited thousands of churches across North America, Europe, and other regions. Organizers say millions of believers have prayed before the image, while many pilgrims have reported experiences of spiritual encouragement, healing, and answered prayers associated with its veneration.