The Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos

Life

The Church has from of old glorified the Most Holy Theotokos as the protectress and defender of the Christian race, who by her intercessory prayers propitiates God toward us sinners. Countless times the help of the Most Holy Theotokos has been manifestly shown to individuals and to nations, in peace and in war, in monastic deserts and in populous cities. The event which the Church commemorates and celebrates today demonstrates precisely this enduring protection of the Most Holy Theotokos over the Christian race. On October 1, 911, in the time of Emperor Leo the Wise (or the Philosopher), there was an all-night vigil in the Church of the Theotokos at Blachernae in Constantinople. The church was full of people. In the back of the church stood Saint Andrew the Fool-for-Christ with his disciple Epiphanius. In the fourth hour of the night the Most Holy Theotokos appeared above the people with her omophorion spread out upon her hands, as though covering the people with that garment. She was clad in gold-adorned purple and shone with ineffable radiance, surrounded by apostles, saints, martyrs, and virgins. Saint Andrew, seeing this apparition, pointed it out to the blessed Epiphanius and asked him: "Do you see, brother, the Queen and Lady over all, how she prays for the whole world?" Epiphanius answered: "I see it, Father, and am struck with awe!" For this reason this celebration was established, to remind us both of that event and of the constant protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, whenever we prayerfully seek that protection, that covering of hers, in our afflictions.

From the Hymn of Praise

Saint Romanos in the midst of the serviceAppeared upon the amboAnd sang a wondrous hymnIn an angelic, sweet tone: