Difference between revisions of "Protection of the Mother of God"
m (→Sources and external links: add local link) |
(Merge Intercession article with this article.) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[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 ''[[Virgin Mary]]'s Cerement''. | + | 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 ''[[Virgin Mary]]'s Cerement''. |
| − | 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 | + | In most Slavic languages the word "cerement" has a dual meaning of "veil" and "protection." The Russian word ''Pokrov (Покров)'', like the Greek ''Skepê'' 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. [[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. | ||
| + | ==Celebrated 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 comemorating 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, Pokrov 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'''. | ||
| + | [[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 '''''Cathedral of Intercession upon a Moat''''' (In 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''''' (In 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== | ==Hymns== | ||
[[Troparion]] (Tone 4) | [[Troparion]] (Tone 4) | ||
| − | |||
: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. | ||
| Line 18: | Line 33: | ||
[[Kontakion]] (Tone 3) | [[Kontakion]] (Tone 3) | ||
| − | |||
: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. | ||
| Line 24: | Line 38: | ||
: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 and external links== | ==Sources and external links== | ||
* [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.] | ||
| Line 32: | Line 45: | ||
* [http://www.angelfire.com/nv2/carthusian/Akathist/protection.html The Most Holy Theotokos of All Protection] | * [http://www.angelfire.com/nv2/carthusian/Akathist/protection.html The Most Holy Theotokos of All Protection] | ||
* [http://www.patriarchate.org/ecumenical_patriarchate/chapter_4/html/blachernae.html The Church of Panagia of Blachernae] | * [http://www.patriarchate.org/ecumenical_patriarchate/chapter_4/html/blachernae.html The Church of Panagia of Blachernae] | ||
| + | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Intercession The_Intercession] | ||
| + | *[http://www.wscsd.org/ejournal/article.php3?id_article=152 Pokrov Celebration of Pokrov in Russia] | ||
| + | |||
[[Category:Feasts]] | [[Category:Feasts]] | ||
Revision as of 16:13, 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. 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 Russian word Pokrov (Покров), like the Greek Skepê 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.
Celebrated 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 comemorating the miracle is celebrated with an All-Night Vigil, with many of the same elements as occur on Great Feasts of the Theotokos. However, Pokrov 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 (In 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 (In 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
Troparion (Tone 4)
- 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."
Kontakion (Tone 3)
- 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 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
- The_Intercession
- Pokrov Celebration of Pokrov in Russia
