The Protection of the Theotokos – October 1. I’m a couple of days late in posting about this Feast of the Theotokos but it is dear to me so I wanted to mention it.

On Sunday, October 1, during the All Night Vigil, when the church was overflowing with those at prayer, the Fool-for-Christ St Andrew (October 2), at the fourth hour, lifted up his eyes towards the heavens and beheld our most Holy Lady Theotokos coming through the air, resplendent with heavenly light and surrounded by an assembly of the Saints. St John the Baptist and the holy Apostle John the Theologian accompanied the Queen of Heaven. On bended knees the Most Holy Virgin tearfully prayed for Christians for a long time. Then, coming near the Bishop's Throne, she continued her prayer.

After completing her prayer she took her veil and spread it over the people praying in church, protecting them from enemies both visible and invisible. The Most Holy Lady Theotokos was resplendent with heavenly glory, and the protecting veil in her hands gleamed "more than the rays of the sun." St Andrew gazed trembling at the miraculous vision and he asked his disciple, the blessed Epiphanius standing beside him, "Do you see, brother, the Holy Theotokos, praying for all the world?" Epiphanius answered, "I do see, holy Father, and I am in awe." (more information on the OCA site)

Ironically, the Byzantine Empire was being sieged by the pagan Slavs. Ultimately though, the feast fell out of usage in the Greek practice, but beloved in the Russian practice.

In the PROLOGUE, a Russian book of the twelfth century, a description of the establishment of the special Feast marking this event states, "For when we heard, we realized how wondrous and merciful was the vision... and it transpired that Your holy Protection should not remain without festal celebration, O Ever-Blessed One!"

Therefore, in the festal celebration of the Protection of the Mother of God, the Russian Church sings, "With the choirs of the Angels, O Sovereign Lady, with the venerable and glorious prophets, with the First-Ranked Apostles and with the Hieromartyrs and Hierarchs, pray for us sinners, glorifying the Feast of your Protection in the Russian Land." Moreover, it would seem that St Andrew, contemplating the miraculous vision was a Slav, was taken captive, and became the slave of the local inhabitant of Constantinople named Theognostus.

Churches in honor of the Protection of the Mother of God began to appear in Russia in the twelfth century. Widely known for its architectural merit is the temple of the Protection at Nerl, which was built in the year 1165 by holy Prince Andrew Bogoliubsky. The efforts of this holy prince also established in the Russian Church the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God, about the year 1164.

On the Feast of the Protection eight years ago, I stood in our now Parish Hall - then our temporary chapel - in shell shock as my mom had just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. That Liturgy remains burned into my mind, holding my two year old, praying hard to the Theotokos for her protection for my beloved mom. It was sparsely attended (it must have been a weekday Liturgy) and I remember my priest mentioning the Theotokos comforting her son just as mothers comfort their sons as he pointed to Xavier. I also remember his words of comfort afterwards and reflecting on them as those scary days and weeks unfolded. While I nearly lost my dear mother that winter, I am happy to announce that she is still with us, and I look forward to her visit next month. Because of this memory, I have a very soft spot for this feast, and try to attend Liturgy on the date. It was definitely a treat to have it be on Sunday this year.

And, because it is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and I know of several recent diagnoses, I ask that you educate yourself about this horrible disease and hope you’ll join me in praying for those who fight it. And, I look forward to the day that it is eradicated.