CLEVELAND -- It's an occurrence the Eastern Orthodox faith considers to be a miracle: the sign of the cross has appeared dozens of times on drapes hanging in a Cleveland monastery.

NewsChannel5's Joe Pagonakis reported that the spiritual event that is taking place at St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Monastery has compelled many to help the hungry and the homeless.

The monastery is a converted house, filled with icons and books of prayer and faith, and is run solely by volunteers and Mother Theoninfee, who founded it in 1992.

SLIDESHOW: Miraculous Images Appear In Drapes

The monastery provides shelter, food and a place to pray, and has helped more than 40,000 people over the years.

In the past seven years, about 80 small crosses have appeared in several panels of drapes hanging in the monastery.

The Eastern Orthodox Church has recognized the event as a miracle.

Volunteers say the crosses are a testament to the blessed nature of the monastery put together by Mother Theoninfee.

Thus far, the monastery has distributed 750,000 pounds of food and has helped the needy with critical daily supplies to aid the homeless and the hungry in northeast Ohio.