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==References==<div><references/></div>
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In recent years, the Feast of the Protection has become associated with thanksgiving for the deliverance of the Greek nation from the Italian invasion of 1940. These events are commemorated in Greece in a national holiday known as "Ochi Day" or "No Day," referring to the response of the Greek leader Metaxas to Mussolini's ultimatum.
In recognition of this, and because of the many miracles of the Holy Virgin which were reported by Greek soldiers during the [[w:Greco-Italian War|Greco-Italian War]] of 1940-1941, the [[Holy Synod]] of the [[Church of Greece]] elected in 1960 1952 to transfer the Feast from October 1 to [[October 28]].<ref>Great Synaxaristes: {{el icon}} ''[http://www.synaxarion.gr/gr/sid/1007/sxsaintinfo.aspx Μνήμη Ἁγίας Σκέπης τῆς Ὑπεραγίας Θεοτόκου].'' 28 Οκτωβρίου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. </ref> The [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] also provides for this usage in its parishes in Greece and in the Greek diaspora, and it is generally observed now throughout the Greek-speaking world. The observance includes the chanting of a [[Doxology]] incorporating hymns recognizing the Protection of the Theotokos over the Greek nation, as well as the [[kontakion]] "[[O Champion Leader]]."
==About the icon==
Two different events that took place four hundred years apart are combined in this one icon. Both events took place in the former Church of Blachernae in Constantinople.
The [[icon]] of the feast, Protection of the Mother of God, shows the [[Theotokos]] standing above the faithful with her arms outstretched in prayer and draped with a veil. On both sides of her are [[angels]]. On the lower right of most icons of this feast, are saints Andrew and his disciple Epiphanius who saw this vision of the Mother of God, with the twelve apostles, bishops, holy women, monks and martyrs, spreading her veil in protection over the [[congregation]]. St. Epiphanius is wearing a tunic under his cloak and gestures in astonishment at the miraculous appearance, while St. Andrew, [[Fool-for-Christ]], is dressed only in a cloak.
Below the Theotokos, in the center of the icon, stands a young man with a [[halo]], he is clothed in a [[deacon]]'s [[sticharion]]. In his left hand, he is holding an open scroll with the text of the [[Kontakion]] for [[Nativity of the Theotokos|Nativity in honor of the Mother of God]]. This is St. [[Roman the Melodist|Romanus the Melodist]], the famous [[hymnographer]] whose feast is also celebrated on the same day, [[October 1]]. He is with his choir attended by the [[Leo VI|Emperor Leo the Wise]] together with the Empress and the Patriarch of Constantinople.
:apostles and prophets rejoice together,
:since for our sake she prays to the pre-eternal God.
==Sources==
*[http://www.mgr.org/TheVeil.html The Miracle of the Virgin Mary at the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople in 911 A.D.]
==External links==
*[http://www.ec-patr.org/afieroma/churches/show.php?lang=en&id=02 The Church of Panagia of Blachernæ]*[http://www.angelfire.com/nv2/carthusian/Akathist/protection.html Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos of All Protection]*''[[w:The Protection of the Mother of God|''The Protection of the Mother of God]].'' at Wikipedia]]*[http://www.wscsd.org/ejournal/article.php3?id_article=152 Celebration of Pokrov in Russia]*[http://goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=738 The Feast of the Holy Skepi of the Theotokos], October 1 ([[GOARCH]])*[http://goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=650 Holy Protection of the Theotokos], October 28 (GOARCH)
[[Category:Feasts]]
[[Category:About Icons]]
[[ro:Acoperământul Maicii Domnului]]
