Difference between revisions of "Protection of the Mother of God"
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| − | The '''Protection of the Mother of God''' is one of the most beloved feast days on the Orthodox calendar, commemorated on [[October 1]]. | + | The '''Protection of the Mother of God''' is one of the most beloved feast days on the Orthodox calendar, commemorated on [[October 1]]. It is also known as [[Virgin Mary]]'s Cerement. In most Slavic languages the word "cerement" has a dual meaning of "veil" and "protection." |
| − | The feast day celebrates the appearance of the Mother of God at Blachernae (Vlaherna) in the tenth century. At the end of St. Andrei (Andrew of Constantinople) [[Fool-for-Christ|Yurodivyi]]'s life (d. around 936; [[feast day]]: [[October 2]]), a group of people saw the Mother of God, St. [[John the Baptist]], and several other saints during a vigil in the Church of | + | The feast day celebrates the appearance of the Mother of God at Blachernae (Vlaherna) in the tenth century. At the end of St. Andrei (Andrew of Constantinople) [[Fool-for-Christ|Yurodivyi]]'s life (d. around 936; [[feast day]]: [[October 2]]), a group of people saw the Mother of God, St. [[John the Baptist]], and several other saints during a vigil in the Church of Blachernae, nearby the city gates. |
| − | + | The Theotokos approached the center of the church, knelt down and remained in prayer for a long time. Her face was drowned in tears. Then she took her veil (cerement) off and spread it over the people as a sign of protection. During the time, the people in the city were threatened by a barbarian invasion. After the appearance of the Mother of God, the danger was averted and the city was spared from bloodshed and suffering. | |
| − | + | The Protection is commemorated most fervently in Slavic churches – probably because St. Andrei was a Slav. The first celebration of the Theotokos's cerement in the [[Church of Russia|Russian Orthodox Church]] dates back from the 12th century and today is celebrated throughout the Orthodox Church. | |
==Sources and external links== | ==Sources and external links== | ||
Revision as of 21:04, October 18, 2005
The Protection of the Mother of God is one of the most beloved feast days on the Orthodox calendar, commemorated on October 1. It is also known as Virgin Mary's Cerement. In most Slavic languages the word "cerement" has a dual meaning of "veil" and "protection."
The feast day celebrates the appearance of the Mother of God at Blachernae (Vlaherna) in the tenth century. At the end of St. Andrei (Andrew of Constantinople) Yurodivyi's life (d. around 936; feast day: October 2), a group of people saw the Mother of God, St. John the Baptist, and several other saints during a vigil in the Church of Blachernae, nearby the city gates.
The Theotokos approached the center of the church, knelt down and remained in prayer for a long time. Her face was drowned in tears. Then she took her veil (cerement) off and spread it over the people as a sign of protection. During the time, the people in the city were threatened by a barbarian invasion. After the appearance of the Mother of God, the danger was averted and the city was spared from bloodshed and suffering.
The Protection is commemorated most fervently in Slavic churches – probably because St. Andrei was a Slav. The first celebration of the Theotokos's cerement in the Russian Orthodox Church dates back from the 12th century and today is celebrated throughout the Orthodox Church.
Sources and external links
- The Miracle of the Virgin Mary at the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople in 911 A.D.
- News item: Bulgarian Orthodox Church Celebrates Virgin Mary's Cerement Today (1 October 2005)
- The Protection of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary (OCA)
- The Most Holy Theotokos of All Protection
- The Church of Panagia of Blachernae
