Eyes of Faith: The Miraculous Blinking Crucifix That Captivated a Pennsylvania Town!
In a small Pennsylvania town, over 300 people witnessed something extraordinary—a crucifix with eyes that seemed to close and shed tears. Was it a miracle, or something else? 🌐 #News #AmbridgePA #Pennsylvania #Faith
AMBRIDGE, PA – We recently launched a new weekly podcast, called Angels and Miracles with Jack Norton. This weekly show dives into real-life accounts of faith, hope, and supernatural experiences that inspire and encourage listeners on their spiritual journey. Tune in for a fresh perspective on how God’s hand moves in mysterious ways.
Today, we’re diving into a fascinating story from the 20th century. It takes place in a small town called Ambridge, Pennsylvania. The year? 1989.
Now back then, Ambridge was a town that had seen better days. It’s about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh and was hit hard by the closure of its steel mills. But despite its struggles, the town held a deep sense of community, especially around Holy Trinity Church.
This church had been around since 1931. It was known for its large crucifix, suspended high above the altar. In January 1989, a local artist named Domenic Leo took on the task of restoring the crucifix. He spent hours carefully working on it, particularly focusing on the eyes of Jesus, making sure they were as lifelike as possible.
Fast forward to March 24, 1989. It was Good Friday, and over 300 people were gathered at Holy Trinity Church for a special three-hour Mass.
Among them was a young fellow named Jim Cvitkovic. The nephew of the parish priest, he was serving as an altar boy. During Holy Communion, Jim looked up and noticed something unusual—the eyes of the crucifix, which were normally open, seemed to be closed.
Startled, Jim asked his brother Tom to take a look. Tom confirmed that the eyes appeared to be closed but wondered if it was just a trick of the light.
To be sure, Jim moved to a different spot, but the eyes still seemed shut. After the Mass ended, both brothers were in tears, and they told their uncle, – the Reverend Vincent Cvitkovic – what they had seen.
Reverend Vincent, along with another priest, inspected the crucifix and saw the same thing—the eyes appeared closed.
He called Domenic Leo, the artist who had restored the crucifix, to take a look. When Domenic examined it, he was shocked to see not only closed eyes but what seemed like tears streaming down the face of Jesus.
Given the crucifix was suspended 22 feet in the air, a ladder was brought in for a closer look. When Domenic climbed up, he saw that the left eye was completely shut while the right eye was slightly open.
A state trooper named Chris Marion, who was skeptical, inspected the crucifix himself to ensure there had been no tampering. He found nothing out of the ordinary and was convinced it wasn’t a hoax.
Another parishioner, named Sue Tolfa, who had seen the crucifix in its previous location, was certain that the eyes had always been open—until that Good Friday.
That same night, a parishioner standing beneath the crucifix claimed to receive a divine message.
He wrote it down to share with his fellow believers. Here’s a highlight of what it said: “I have given this sign for all those who have faithfully come… truly my presence is within this church… within the months to come, many will flock to see what I have done. Welcome them”
While many in the parish were convinced they witnessed a miracle, not everyone was so sure. Some skeptics believe it could have been a hallucination or even a well-crafted hoax. Nevertheless, for many, many years, thousands of people visited Holy Trinity Church, hoping to see the crucifix for themselves.
Despite some folks’ doubts, the parishioners of Holy Trinity Church stood by their experience. For them, it was a moment of hope in a town that has seen more than its share of hardship.
You know, whether you believe in miracles or not, this story serves as a powerful reminder that God’s presence can be felt even in the most unexpected places.
It’s a story highlighting the strength of a community bound by faith, where miracles—big or small—happen every single day. As believers, we know that God is with us, offering signs of His love and grace when we need them most.
Listen to the Podcast
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
We value your feedback! Did you find this article informative, inspiring, or thought-provoking? Leave a comment below and join the discussion. We appreciate your opinion and look forward to hearing from you!
The Church has since been merged (closed) and according to a trusted source then Bishop Wuerl, order the crucifix destroyed. A hammer did the damage and the remains were destroyed.
Hey Aetna! Thanks for the update – very appreciated. That’s such a bizarre end to the story. I’ll have to look into that and maybe publish an update. Appreciate you for reading and commenting! Have a great week! – Jack (and Kitty)