“O Lord Jesus Christ, Who came to earth for our salvation and voluntarily were nailed to the Cross, and endured the Passion for our sins, grant me also to endure my sufferings, which I receive not from my enemies but from my brother. O Lord! Do not hold him responsible for it as a sin.”
This note was handwritten in French by brother Joseph in 1985. It is valuable in that it sheds light on the state of his soul, shows us how hard it was for him to bear his difficult obedience as curator of the Miraculous Myrrh-streaming Icon of the Mother of God, and shows that long before his martyrdom, he sensed what kind of end awaited him.
The Icon's House Society has been renamed The Brother Joseph Memorial Fund, to reflect its significantly amended purpose. Instead of serving brother Joseph and his icon, the Fund will lend support to the cause of the spreading of the story of the Orthodox martyr brother Joseph and of his miraculous myrrh-streaming icon which has now hidden itself from us.
In order to defend brother Joseph's good name, donations will first of all be applied to the costs incurred in retaining an attorney and related miscellaneous expenses in connection with the accused murderer's trial. At the same time, a book about the 15-year long history of miracles wrought by the Myrrh-streaming Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, and about Her curator has been published.
The Fund will also care for those to whom brother Joseph himself had been extending charity, as well as others in need. In accordance to their wishes, the members of the Icon's House remain members of the Brother Joseph Munoz Memorial Fund Contributions may be addressed to:
Jose Munoz Memorial Fund
c/o Russian Orthodox Cathedral of
St. John the Baptist
4001 17th St. N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20011-5302