View source for Protection of the Mother of God

[[Image:Protection.jpg|right|frame|Protection of the Theotokos]]
The '''Protection of the Mother of God''' is one of the most beloved [[feast]] days on the [[Church calendar|Orthodox calendar]] among the Slavic peoples, commemorated on [[October 1]]. The feast is celebrated additionally on [[October 28]] in the Greek tradition.  It is also known as the feast of the '''Virgin Mary's Cerement'''.  

In most Slavic languages the word "cerement" has a dual meaning of "veil" and "protection."  The Russian word ''Pokrov'' (Покров), like the Greek ''Skepi'' (Σκέπη), has a complex meaning. First of all, it refers to a cloak or shroud, but it also means protection or intercession. For this reason, the name of the feast is variously translated as the '''Veil of Our Lady''', the '''Protecting Veil of the Theotokos''', the '''Protection of the Theotokos''', or the '''Intercession of the Theotokos'''.