Difference between revisions of "Protection of the Mother of God"
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[[Image:Protection.jpg|right|frame|Protection of the Theotokos]] | [[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 Orthodox calendar among the Slavic peoples, commemorated on [[October 1]]. It is also known as '' | + | 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'''. |
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| + | 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'''. | ||
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==The feast== | ==The feast== | ||
| − | The feast day celebrates the appearance of the Mother of God at Blachernae (Vlaherna) in the tenth century. At the end of St. [[Andrew the Fool-for-Christ|Andrei (Andrew of Constantinople) | + | The feast day celebrates the appearance of the [[Mother of God]] at Blachernae (Vlaherna) in the tenth century. At the end of St. [[Andrew the Fool-for-Christ|Andrei]] (Andrew of Constantinople) [[Fool-for-Christ|Yurodivyi]]'s life, he, with his [[disciple]] St. Epiphanius, and a group of people, saw the Mother of God, St. [[John the Baptist]], and several other [[saints]] and [[angels]] during a vigil in the Church of Blachernae, nearby the city gates. The Blachernae Palace church was where several of her [[relics]] were kept. The relics were her robe, veil, and part of her belt that had been transferred from Palestine during the fifth century. |
| − | 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 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. |
| − | == | + | ==Celebration of the feast== |
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. | 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. | ||
| − | The feast day | + | The feast day commemorating the [[miracle]] is celebrated with an [[All-Night Vigil]], with many of the same elements as occur on [[Great Feast]]s of the Theotokos. However, this feast has no [[afterfeast]]. |
==History== | ==History== | ||
The Russian ''Primary Chronicle'' noted that the intercession of the Theotokos was needed for the protection of the people of Constantinople when a large fleet of the pagan Rus, led by Askole and Dir, was threatening Constantinople. The invading fleet was defeated and the event remembered. Strangely, the feast came to be considered a very important feast by the Slavic Orthodox Churches but not by the Greeks. | The Russian ''Primary Chronicle'' noted that the intercession of the Theotokos was needed for the protection of the people of Constantinople when a large fleet of the pagan Rus, led by Askole and Dir, was threatening Constantinople. The invading fleet was defeated and the event remembered. Strangely, the feast came to be considered a very important feast by the Slavic Orthodox Churches but not by the Greeks. | ||
| − | A twelfth century Russian chronicle describes the establishment of the intercession as a special feast day honoring the event. Within a few centuries churches began being named in honor of the | + | A twelfth century Russian chronicle describes the establishment of the intercession as a special feast day honoring the event. Within a few centuries churches began being named in honor of the Protection of the Mother of God. |
[[Image:St Basil Cathedral.jpg|thumb|right|200pxl|Pokrovsky Sobor (St Basil Cathedral) Moscow]] | [[Image:St Basil Cathedral.jpg|thumb|right|200pxl|Pokrovsky Sobor (St Basil Cathedral) Moscow]] | ||
| − | Among these churches two that are world famous are: in Moscow, the | + | Among these churches two that are world famous are: in Moscow, the ''Cathedral of Intercession upon a Moat'' (Russian: Храм Покрова "на рву," ''Cathedral of the Pokrov upon a moat''), which is popularly known as the [[St. Basil's Cathedral (Moscow)|St. Basil's Cathedral]] and in Bogolyubovo near Vladimir, the ''Church of Intercession upon the Nerl River'' (Russian: Церковь Покрова на Нерли, ''Tserkov Pokrova na Nerli''). |
| − | The Moscow cathedral was built in the mid 1500s by Tsar Ivan IV and the Bogolyubovo church was built in 1165 by Prince Andrew Bogoliusky. In [[Novgorod]], the Monastery of the Intercession of Our Lady (Zverin Monastery) was also built during the twelfth century. | + | The Moscow cathedral was built in the mid 1500s by Tsar Ivan IV and the Bogolyubovo church was built in 1165 by Prince Andrew Bogoliusky. In [[Novgorod]], the [[Monastery]] of the Intercession of Our Lady (Zverin Monastery) was also built during the twelfth century. |
==Hymns== | ==Hymns== | ||
| − | [[Troparion]] (Tone 4) | + | [[Troparion]] ([[Tone]] 4) [http://oca.org/FStropars.asp?ID=102824] |
:Today the faithful celebrate the feast with joy | :Today the faithful celebrate the feast with joy | ||
:illumined by your coming, O Mother of God. | :illumined by your coming, O Mother of God. | ||
:Beholding your pure image we fervently cry to you: | :Beholding your pure image we fervently cry to you: | ||
:"Encompass us beneath the precious veil of your protection; | :"Encompass us beneath the precious veil of your protection; | ||
| − | :deliver us from every form of evil by entreating Christ, | + | :deliver us from every form of evil by entreating [[Christ]], |
:your Son and our God that He may save our souls." | :your Son and our God that He may save our souls." | ||
| − | [[Kontakion]] (Tone 3) | + | [[Kontakion]] (Tone 3) [http://oca.org/FStropars.asp?ID=102824] |
:Today the Virgin stands in the midst of the Church | :Today the Virgin stands in the midst of the Church | ||
:and with choirs of saints she invisibly prays to God for us. | :and with choirs of saints she invisibly prays to God for us. | ||
| − | :Angels and | + | :Angels and [[bishop]]s worship, |
:apostles and prophets rejoice together, | :apostles and prophets rejoice together, | ||
:since for our sake she prays to the pre-eternal God. | :since for our sake she prays to the pre-eternal God. | ||
| − | ==Sources | + | ==Sources== |
| − | * [http://www.mgr.org/TheVeil.html The Miracle of the Virgin Mary at the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople in 911 A.D.] | + | *[http://www.mgr.org/TheVeil.html The Miracle of the Virgin Mary at the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople in 911 A.D.] |
| − | * [http:// | + | *[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=102824 The Protection of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary] ([[OCA]]) |
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| + | ==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:Feasts]] | ||
Revision as of 18:57, October 4, 2007
The Protection of the Mother of God is one of the most beloved feast days on the 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.
The feast
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, he, with his disciple St. Epiphanius, and a group of people, saw the Mother of God, St. John the Baptist, and several other saints and angels during a vigil in the Church of Blachernae, nearby the city gates. The Blachernae Palace church was where several of her relics were kept. The relics were her robe, veil, and part of her belt that had been transferred from Palestine during the fifth century.
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.
Celebration of the feast
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.
The feast day commemorating the miracle is celebrated with an All-Night Vigil, with many of the same elements as occur on Great Feasts of the Theotokos. However, this feast has no afterfeast.
History
The Russian Primary Chronicle noted that the intercession of the Theotokos was needed for the protection of the people of Constantinople when a large fleet of the pagan Rus, led by Askole and Dir, was threatening Constantinople. The invading fleet was defeated and the event remembered. Strangely, the feast came to be considered a very important feast by the Slavic Orthodox Churches but not by the Greeks.
A twelfth century Russian chronicle describes the establishment of the intercession as a special feast day honoring the event. Within a few centuries churches began being named in honor of the Protection of the Mother of God.
Among these churches two that are world famous are: in Moscow, the Cathedral of Intercession upon a Moat (Russian: Храм Покрова "на рву," Cathedral of the Pokrov upon a moat), which is popularly known as the St. Basil's Cathedral and in Bogolyubovo near Vladimir, the Church of Intercession upon the Nerl River (Russian: Церковь Покрова на Нерли, Tserkov Pokrova na Nerli).
The Moscow cathedral was built in the mid 1500s by Tsar Ivan IV and the Bogolyubovo church was built in 1165 by Prince Andrew Bogoliusky. In Novgorod, the Monastery of the Intercession of Our Lady (Zverin Monastery) was also built during the twelfth century.
Hymns
- Today the faithful celebrate the feast with joy
- illumined by your coming, O Mother of God.
- Beholding your pure image we fervently cry to you:
- "Encompass us beneath the precious veil of your protection;
- deliver us from every form of evil by entreating Christ,
- your Son and our God that He may save our souls."
- Today the Virgin stands in the midst of the Church
- and with choirs of saints she invisibly prays to God for us.
- Angels and bishops worship,
- apostles and prophets rejoice together,
- since for our sake she prays to the pre-eternal God.
Sources
- The Miracle of the Virgin Mary at the Church of Blachernae in Constantinople in 911 A.D.
- The Protection of our Most Holy Lady the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary (OCA)
